perrin Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I would have thought that it is only sensible to ask the price first!? Politely of course. How are you going to know if you can afford the puppy if you don't ask. It would make for an unpleasant surprise if you fell in love with the breed and puppy only to find out it was way way over your budget. It was one of the reasons we narrowed our list down to a Dalmatian. We needed to be realistic about how much we could afford to spend on the purchase price taking into consideration if the pup needed transporting as well as further vaccinations and future desexing costs. Not to mention setting up for a new puppy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minxy Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I would have thought that it is only sensible to ask the price first!? Politely of course. How are you going to know if you can afford the puppy if you don't ask. It would make for an unpleasant surprise if you fell in love with the breed and puppy only to find out it was way way over your budget. It was one of the reasons we narrowed our list down to a Dalmatian. We needed to be realistic about how much we could afford to spend on the purchase price taking into consideration if the pup needed transporting as well as further vaccinations and future desexing costs. Not to mention setting up for a new puppy. I guess. Depending on what your main priorities are. I never asked a single breeder for a price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raz Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) On price, I would check the breed page for the breed here for the puppy sales to see if a price is mentioned, otherwise I'd ask here on the forum for a ballpark figure before starting my emails to breeders just to get a rough idea Edited October 27, 2011 by raz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJean Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) I would have thought that it is only sensible to ask the price first!? Politely of course. of course. I don't mind if someone asks me about price in the first question. Its a logical, unknown to ask and has a direct impact to the buyer. Anything that asks me about breeding, I'm going to turn back on the buyer and ask them why they want to know. If we're going to discuss breeding, no problem, we can discuss breeding plans, goals, agendas until the cows come home. But know what you are talking about. Price is important because price is linked in with purpose. A pet puppy may cost $1800 but a puppy for future show/breeding from the same litter may cost you $5000. So yes it is important to know about price. Edited October 27, 2011 by lilli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roova Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 you just don't need to ask some of those questions straight up and frankly I would think your a bit weird Although if you were buying a puppy from me be prepared for an inquisition I don't mind answering any questions a breeder would want to ask me, but I definitely want to ask them back! She's taking my money and I'm potentially taking on a family member for the next 15+ years! If they want me to stagger out questions over multiple phone calls I'm not sure I'd want to do that. 'Have the parent's had health checks?', 'Ask me again next week'. Hmmm The first question I'd ask is "How much?" Yikes, I couldn't bring myself to do that. Its a factor but only one of them. I do agree finding out at the end they wand $3000+ a pup changes a lot of plans. It might mean budgeting another year (or more). I think I'd freak out breeders staring with that question more than I already am! Sorry Roova but I was thinking 'far out if I was a breeder and sold this person a puppy she'd probably be sending me war and peace size updates about the pup every week' The questions are mostly so I feel safe with the breeder, not that I plan stalking them :D I think you've got to remember that if you're looking at a popular breed, the breeders you'll be contacting might be getting stacks of email enquiries so lengthy emails might get sent to the bottom of the queue It's a fairly rare breed and when I spoke to her on the phone she said she had a lengthy wait list. She couldn't stay on the phone long and said she would send me photos and I could send her my other questions. When she got them she could have replied with 'you have too many questions, phone me back about them' or maybe she just though I have a wait list and there's easier people than you out there, I couldn't be bothered. :D It's a lesson learnt either way which is probably a good thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MellG Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Your edited list of questions looks fine by me, I always reply to puppy enquiries with a detailed email about our dogs and our helth testing etc so alot of your questions would be answered by my initial response anyway. But I am involved in Frenchies, and sadly I get alot of enquiries from would be puppy farmers, or pet people who want to breed to get their money back...so I would be thrilled to get your list of questions as it would indicate to me that you are genuinely interested in the breed and doing your research. As breeders we cant complain that people aren't researching their breed and looking for ethical breeders of we aren't prepared to take the time to educate them and answer their questions. I am more then happy to answer a hundred and one postive questions then have have to answer the same horrid question - I want to breed, will you sell me a pup I can breed with.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I think its way too many questions! But having said that; breeders and rescue groups often have similar questionnaires that they expect potential owners to fill in, so I think it is fair to ask them, especially as you're new to doing this. If I was the breeder I wouldn't be put off, but I wouldn't individually answer each question; probably just give you a paragraph or two about my breeding program and dogs (how I raise them etc) and a bit about the breed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kia Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 The emails I don't like getting are "what do you have available and how much?" I much prefer a small overview of the home situation and their experience with dogs, some general questions about the breed as to how they may fit in to that home situation and if there are any health issues that you need to be aware of. My emails back tend to contain a lot more info than the person has asked :D and often I have questions that I ask them. More than half of those emails are usually the end of contact.... As a breeder we need to educate the general public about our breed and what they need to check for and weed out those that would not be good owners or would supply to BYB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raz Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 The questions are mostly so I feel safe with the breeder, not that I plan stalking them :D I didnt mean in a stalkerish way - I meant in a lengthy over detailed way I think it's great you're putting so much thought into this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roova Posted October 27, 2011 Author Share Posted October 27, 2011 (edited) Have the parents had a litter together before? There was a thread on DOL I read at some point about someone who bought a puppy which showed aggression at a very young age. When they contacted the breeder they were told other puppies from the litter had the same issue and the puppy was taken back. The breeder said she would never be putting those two dogs together again. I ask the question so I can then lead on with has the breeder had contact with the puppies again, and how they went if show dogs. I figured this would show if she cared if the aim of putting those two dogs together was achieved. On price, I would check the breed page for the breed here for the puppy sales to see if a price is mentioned I keep my eye on the ads but most are surprisingly short and sweet. Most don't have price. Some give lots of info which basically cover half my list but I guess others leave it up to the buyer to ask what they want to know. Thanks Mell. When I spoke with ** she was amazing with my questions! So friendly and answered everything and more and I guess set me up that other breeders would be the same. She might have thought I was OTT but she didn't show it, bless her! Edited October 27, 2011 by Roova Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gayle. Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 The first question I'd ask is "How much?" Yikes, I couldn't bring myself to do that. Its a factor but only one of them. I do agree finding out at the end they wand $3000+ a pup changes a lot of plans. It might mean budgeting another year (or more). I think I'd freak out breeders staring with that question more than I already am! Isn't that one of the first things you need to know when you're buying something though? If I'm looking to buy a car, one of the first things I do is check the going prices for the make and model I'm interested in and if it's out of my budget, I cross that one off the list. I know breeders don't like to put puppies in the same category as other "purchases" but the fact is that they need to be paid for and the person thinking about buying one needs to know they can afford it or are prepared to pay that amount. I really don't get the reluctance to advertising prices. It would save breeders having to deal with those "How much?" emails they all seem to hate and it would save potential buyers having to ask the question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raz Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I would actually give her another go, Roova. She was really polite in her knock back so she seems like a nice lady. I would say something along the lines of - I realise now I was a bit exhuberant with my questions but I'm really passionate about getting the right pup or something like that, and add a blurb that if she didnt think she could help in that regard, would she mind recommending another breeder. Failing that I would ask on this forum for recommendations for that breed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Some of your questions are really good ones & others are not relevant. Eg my breed would never get socialisation with horses & cows. What for ? They are so small I would not want them in a field with horses or cows. How do they cope with meeting different dogs & size dogs ? At a few weeks old I am not likely to be taking them around dogs other than my own. I like all your puppy questions but that list is so long I would wonder about OCD However I would answer an email like that but would think it odd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Is my experience that asking a breeder how many they have is like asking for them to run a mile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shellbyville Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 If I got an email like your first one with all the questions. I would send back a polite email either asking for your phone number so we can talk over the phone, or could you ring me. I find when you have a conversation with a potential puppy buyer most of the questions you have would be answered and you could ask them and it wouldn't seem quite so intrusive in a conversation. As a breeder i appreciate people asking me the price first, because if they honestly cannot afford my price or just are not prepared to pay that amount, it saves a lot of time wasted on the phone or emailing back and forward. I find it very frustrating to answer a lot of questions and then when the question of price comes up they may say oh thank you...and goodbye. Where all the info I have just spent up to an hour on the phone talking about could have been avoided. My advice would be ring the breeder and just ask the questions (maybe not all at once) in a conversation, so they can get to know you a bit as well. I do applaud your effort in research and thought put into it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 I'm happy to tell price first up, can save a lot of time, but I wouldn't answer all those email questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tess32 Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 If I got an email like your first one with all the questions. I would send back a polite email either asking for your phone number so we can talk over the phone, or could you ring me. And that's a good response. I can't believe any breeder would dismiss someone based on the fact that they haven't experienced buying a puppy before and are therefore a little gung ho with the questions. Even worse is hearing someone would turn you down for a RESCUE dog based on that....what are we doing now, people have to have the perfect first email to save a dog from dying now? Geezus. At least it shows she puts thought and effort into buying the puppy. Approaching breeders can be a bit intimidating, and also a bit of a 'how on earth do I begin' thing. People say go to shows, and yet you turn up and of course, everyone is busy showing so if you approach at the 'wrong' time, you could get some less polite replies. There's no HOW TO, so maybe both sides need to be a little more flexible in how easily they dismiss someone. I don't like talking on phones, so I'd email first - those kinds of things have * no bearing * on how good an owner someone is. I've seen dozens of threads on here about puppy buyers who don't say much, and now when someone has put the research in, they get dismissed as a potential buyer! It's not that hard to see how someone could see the dozens of 'you should ask this' questions on DOL and then think it's absolutely fine to just ask them in an email. Some of them would have been one response answers anyway, I don't think it would kill anyone to answer them, and if you truly don't have the time just SAY that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toy*dog Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 im a breeder and i think it shows you have put a lot of thought into all of this. very commendable HOWEVER, emails are sort of like distancing yourself from people as i always say in emails you are unable to show emotion and tone and there is alot of blanks to fill in so encourages alot of assumption by both parties. i've had that with buyers before, chose to send them an email and because its behind a screen and not in person people tend to say alot more than they would if it was face to face, boy do i know that one. they get the wrong idea and the conversation degrades from there talking to a breeder and visiting can give you a general feel for why a breeder is breeding and whether they are knowledgable enough or not. and how they look after pups and what you can expect and what they can expect it does go both ways. i agree with most on here, your list of questions in an email is a bit in your face type thing, and you have to remember that breeders like everyone else have busy lives and some are not able to answer questions like that or type out an email, much better to ring and talk to the breeder and that way most of your questions can be answered in the first conversation. people feel much better about answering questions on the phone. if i got a list like that i wouldn't be put off by it i'd just suggest to ring me also as others have said on here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Is my experience that asking a breeder how many they have is like asking for them to run a mile. But buyers should ask about the breeders dogs - they matter too. No way I'm going to hand my money over to someone who I don't believe is ethical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted October 27, 2011 Share Posted October 27, 2011 Is my experience that asking a breeder how many they have is like asking for them to run a mile. I don't understand that ? What is wrong with asking it ? I know if someone said they had 40 dogs I would have to ask do you have staff to help to look after them. I can't imagine say 2 people with outside jobs having time for that many, especially grooming long coated breeds too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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