AlanMatic Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Fair enough & understandable in that context. Personally I conduct email conversations as close to possible as a 'real time' convo, and can't ever imagine asking "how much, whaddya got" on the phone without even a brief intro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allerzeit Posted October 28, 2011 Share Posted October 28, 2011 Even better are the text messages that just say "how much?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toy*dog Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 (edited) Only relevant for breeds that require specific health testing as babies, like luxating patella in toys and spinal x-rays in Bulldogs. Most breeds just have a basic vet examination at the first vaccination. no, testing for luxating patella in toys at vaccination time say 8-16 weeks is not recommended, it is a condition that develops as the dog matures, much better to test for patella lux at around 12 months old and above as any younger and the manipulation may do some damage on such young bones. and theres no point in testing so young as many dogs seem to develop this condition when they are older not that young. Dealing with PL for about 26 yrs now, written articles on it just incase you haven't heard of me, been plastering the info on here for about 6 yrs now. Edited October 29, 2011 by toy*dog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 Only relevant for breeds that require specific health testing as babies, like luxating patella in toys and spinal x-rays in Bulldogs. Most breeds just have a basic vet examination at the first vaccination. no, testing for luxating patella in toys at vaccination time say 8-16 weeks is not recommended, it is a condition that develops as the dog matures, much better to test for patella lux at around 12 months old and above as any younger and the manipulation may do some damage on such young bones. and theres no point in testing so young as many dogs seem to develop this condition when they are older not that young. Dealing with PL for about 26 yrs now, written articles on it just incase you haven't heard of me, been plastering the info on here for about 6 yrs now. Does that apply to all breeds? My only experience with it is with some very experienced breeders of a breed a bit bigger than a toy that is prone to patella problems. They have never had a dog develop a problem if the patellas are tight at 6 weeks. Of course you need a very experienced vet to feel for it and most wouldn't have a clue how to do it safely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toy*dog Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 i'd say it varies from toy breeds to bigger breeds, toy breeds are bit more fragile and i have a specialist with whom i've consulted for many years on all of this, and spoken to many toy breeders but not of the bigger breeds so i'd say that it would be a bit different given that the pups are much larger in bone structure than a tiny toy breed. it does vary from vet to vet they all have different opinions and breeders opinions and experiences also vary somewhat too i've found. this is a bit OT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaCaMa Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Hello DOL'ers , I see this thread has grown cobwebs, but if I could drag it out to ask a few things...1. Should I tell a breeder early on that I'm looking for a companion dog, not to breed or show? Or is that irrelevant? 2. Because I am not into showing dogs, does it matter if I'm not all clued up on titles & awards etc... My priority is a great breeder who loves animals & breeds happy, healthy pups. 3. Is it appropriate to say if you are looking for a boy or girl pup? I'm quite happy for a breeder to actually pick a pup they think would suit our family best, but would like to pick the sex myself, although would take any advice onboard also. I have read alot about buying a pup from a breeder, but advice in books & online seems to vary a bit, and you all seem to be a knowledgable bunch, so thanks in advance for any replies :) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty Miss Emma Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 When I got Kenzie I let the breeders I was in contact with know what sex I wanted and why, I also let them know my intentions for the dog (interested in dogs sports and wanted a great pet, at that point not interested in showing or breeding), let them know a bit about what I knew about the breed, also my previous experience with dogs/animals and who/what lived in the household. From all of that a conversation evolved with a couple of breeders so they ended up finding out a lot more about me. I did specifically leave some information out and in some ways that worked well for me, as I had some breeders email me straight back saying we'd love for you to have a puppy (and I was thinking, but you don't know about x or y or z so how do you know I'll be a good home!!). But those with whcih the conversation evolved ended up helping me a great deal in general and in the end one of them chose Kenzie to come live with me (I wouldn't budge on getting a girl, but she chose the best girl within the litter to fit in to my home - I was a first timer with pups so it was best that she do the choosing on that front!!!). Personally I think it's good to be honest about your intentions as then breeders can help you get theright dog, be it through them or through another breeder that has dogs that better fit you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Hello DOL'ers , I see this thread has grown cobwebs, but if I could drag it out to ask a few things...1. Should I tell a breeder early on that I'm looking for a companion dog, not to breed or show? Or is that irrelevant? 2. Because I am not into showing dogs, does it matter if I'm not all clued up on titles & awards etc... My priority is a great breeder who loves animals & breeds happy, healthy pups. 3. Is it appropriate to say if you are looking for a boy or girl pup? I'm quite happy for a breeder to actually pick a pup they think would suit our family best, but would like to pick the sex myself, although would take any advice onboard also. I have read alot about buying a pup from a breeder, but advice in books & online seems to vary a bit, and you all seem to be a knowledgable bunch, so thanks in advance for any replies :) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1. yes tell them you are after a pet. 2. no it doesn't matter if you don't know about titles etc but make sure you know about what health issues your chosen breed could be prone to, if there are any actual tests that could help show up those issues and if the breeder has done them. If there are no actual tests what steps has the breeder done to help lower the incidence of potential health issues. Go into this over two or three emails/phone calls. 3. Nothing wrong with having a preference but be prepared to be told you can't choose the sex. Listen to the reasons the breeders gives you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allerzeit Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 1. Should I tell a breeder early on that I'm looking for a companion dog, not to breed or show? Or is that irrelevant? Absolutely! This is totally relevant :) If a puppy buyer doesn't tell me this in their first contact, I will ask it as one of my first questions, as it's very important information to know. 2. Because I am not into showing dogs, does it matter if I'm not all clued up on titles & awards etc... My priority is a great breeder who loves animals & breeds happy, healthy pups. It wouldn't matter to me at all if you didn't know about titles and awards. 3. Is it appropriate to say if you are looking for a boy or girl pup? I'm quite happy for a breeder to actually pick a pup they think would suit our family best, but would like to pick the sex myself, although would take any advice onboard also. I don't see an problem with a puppy buyer having a preference for male or female, there are often very legitimate reasons for their preference, as long as they understand that I can't guarantee that I will be able to match them with their preferred sex, which it sounds like you do understand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaffy Magee Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 I just realised this was an old thread right before replying but Ive decided to reply anyway. I as a breeder would answer those questions if they were sent to me. Its a hell of a lot better than an email that says "Do you have any puppies and how much?" We try to drum it in to peoples heads about buying from an ethical reg breeder and ask lots of questions, so Im happy to answer should I be asked. If it makes the puppy buyer more comfortable with the process then good, thats how it should be, imo. It shows they are doing their research, which is more than most do, and I appreciate that. It just looks like a scary list because its written infront of you but if you had a conversation with the breeder it would flow easier and maybe not appear so full on. Along with the questions though, I would like to hear a little about the buyers themselves. I love getting emails where the buyers have put thought into it and "introduced" themselves properly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W Sibs Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 OMGoodness the list of questions :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDJ Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 I too just realised it was an old thread, but my two cents worth is..... :) I would not ask these questions via email - a short answer would probably miss important information and/or result in follow up questions, and lengthy answers would take way too much time (the only exception would probably be hip/elbow scores if you want to keep the info - but then again, if they dont have a litter at the time whose scores do you want (especially if they have a couple of different lines). My personal thought - give them a buzz and have a chat. If you are comfortable with that, ask to go and visit at a convenient time. 10 mins will answer most of those questions (you will see their environment, how they interact etc, etc). If you want a pet - say so..... nothing wrong with that and the pup with the best temperament may not be show quality. If you have a preference for a male or a female, say so .......... again nothing wrong with that. Just if you prefer bitches I would make it clear you dont intend to breed. I had a dog and went to look at a bitch. Took my boy (left him in the car) and when the breeder was seeing me off she picked him up and subtly checked if he was desexed. I didnt mind that and it put her mind at rest that I wasnt going to be breeding. Certainly appreciate that questions are usually asked in very good faith. But some things can be hard to explain to 'lay people'. When we bred (think 30 years ago :D ) and people rang for a pup, we explained they were pet or obedience only - not show quality (this was in the days before different registers and we run on the show stock ourselves) and most peoples response was 'what is wrong with it'. After trying to explain about fronts, heads (or whatever) I found it easier to explain that most people wont win beauty contests but that does not mean there is anything 'wrong' with them. Show (and in some cases obedience) results dont mean much when looking for a companion dog - the temperament is what counts and it needs to be a temperament that suits they buyers lifestyle :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angelsun Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 I don't have a problem with your list...as a buyer, you have as much right to scrutinize a breeder as we do, you as a buyer...breeders often ask this many or MORE and demand a LOT more of the buyer, and many will take offense to being asked so much...way I figure it, I love that you give a rats patootie about the dogs, and where they come from enough that you would ask all this. I as a breeder would have no issues going through each one, and putting an answer to it....you might not get a big answer each one, but you would get something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dasha Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 Even though it is an old thread...... I think all the questions in that list are valid. The set out of the questions looks scary but you could easily ask them during a conversation as some of them would be very short answers. I think with the number of questions the BREEDER asks a potential owner, then analayse and pick fault with, and basically make them just through hoops, the potential has just as much right to sus out the breeder. I mean breeders always say you should form a good relationship with the breeder so this would be a way to see if you liked the sound of the breeder to know if you wanted to continue the relatioanship and buy a dog from them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizT Posted June 15, 2012 Share Posted June 15, 2012 (edited) Okay just seen it's an old thread but it obviouly has come up again for a reason? It's interesting to see the "boot on the other foot". :laugh: My puppy buyers tell me they felt like they were going for a job interview and passing every stage was exciting and scary...but that they were glad I did this as that is the kind of breeder they were looking for! Try to begin with general questions and see what information is forthcoming from that. Eg. Ask about Health Testing as see what transpires in that conversation topic. You list reads like an inquisition and quite frankly many people would be a bit put out about a "How many dogs they have" question, as some would label them a "Puppy Miller" purely based on what they personally consider too many dogs. That really isn't any business of the puppy buyer IMHO. Most of what you need to know should flow on in a conversation (or several) with the breeder. Sure, use you 'list' as a personal 'checklist' but don't subject a person to all this in one hit. We (youself included) are all very busy in our day to day lives and no-one has time to sit down and do a "survey" or "interview", but most would be happy to talk about any concerns you have. I would be happy to see a buyer who is that interested in what they are about to invest a great deal of emotion into. Edited June 15, 2012 by LizT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becks Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 Hello DOL'ers , I see this thread has grown cobwebs, but if I could drag it out to ask a few things...1. Should I tell a breeder early on that I'm looking for a companion dog, not to breed or show? Or is that irrelevant? 2. Because I am not into showing dogs, does it matter if I'm not all clued up on titles & awards etc... My priority is a great breeder who loves animals & breeds happy, healthy pups. 3. Is it appropriate to say if you are looking for a boy or girl pup? I'm quite happy for a breeder to actually pick a pup they think would suit our family best, but would like to pick the sex myself, although would take any advice onboard also. I have read alot about buying a pup from a breeder, but advice in books & online seems to vary a bit, and you all seem to be a knowledgable bunch, so thanks in advance for any replies :) Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 1. yes, it is good to say what sort of dog you are looking for (hobby wise) 2. yes it is a good idea to understand some titles eg if you are looking at a breed that has show lines and working lines, you need to know if you want the highly active working line or the more laid back and generally more glamorous (hairy) show line. Being able to recognise the titles in the pedigree will help to see what sort of background the litter has. 3. yes. i ask if people have a preference to sex and colour (if I have a litter with more then one colour), along with the type of temperament they are looking for, as there can be a big range within a breed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tapua Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 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. Ditto I am with Shellbyville - I am happy for anyone to ask questions I applaud your intentions even if the execution in writing is missing the mark IMO. I would probably ring you if I got such a long winded email and run through the questions with you - answering all your questions via emal would be like writing an essay which is going to be marked. I would also ask you to visit my kennel - its easier to alleviate your concerns if you can see the set up and not rely soley on written discriptions. May I suggest you ask a few breeders if you can meet them at a show and or visit their kennel if they are comfortable with that. As a breeder I want to get to know you and check that you are what you say you are too :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheridan Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 I've recently discovered that next time I get a puppy I have to ask if dew claws are removed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest english.ivy Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 (edited) not paying attention Edited June 16, 2012 by english.ivy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becks Posted June 16, 2012 Share Posted June 16, 2012 The new question for this thread is on post 106 no need to answer the OP anymore!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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