What do people do about deposits. I havent asked people for a deposit but have had a couple of people offer to send me one which I have accepted. Should I be asking for one to ensure the homes I have are serious about the puppies?

I'd never take one, ever -and have never been asked to pay one, either. If you accept a deposit, it could be argued that if you change your mind and don't want to sell to that person, then you'd still have to as you've accepted a deposit and therefore agreed to sell. Also do you really want people to have your pups because they worry about losing a deposit? If they change their mind they should be able to pull out -you don't want anyone taking a pup who isn't 100 % certain it is exactly what they want.

Never take deposits here either.

Never take deposits.. nor have I ever given one.

But.. I did once.. I had one boy with around 5 homes waiting.. and had spoken to a girl who lived a 7 hour drive from me.. her husband abroad on business and she was wanting to wait until he came home to come visit pup.. and sent me a deposit to hold him for her, as it turned out, it was the right home, but I did make a point of writing that it was a 'holding deposit' and not a contract of sale deposit, and if I thought they were not the right family for my pup, deposit would be returned, as it turned out.. it was the perfect home for my boy

I cannot see the point in taking deposits, in most cases a raport and trust is built up with owners while on the waiting list.. usually before pups are even born, and in the main, before mating has even taken place.. you should know by the time pups have arrived which homes are on the top of your list, and who you are going to have to let down.  Taking deposits leave you with little options on choosing your best homes..

It also smacks of a 1st come, 1st serve basis, with lack of care and thought of where puppies go

Some people can pull out for very real reasons, others can simply change their minds.. and in every case, I would rather give a deposit back, than have an owner take my puppy just because they dont want to lose a few ££'s, so what the point of taking deposits in the 1st place..

It also smacks of a 1st come, 1st serve basis, with lack of care and thought of where puppies go

Indeed -I think all adverts that say "A deposit will secure your puppy" is totally offputting and instantly makes the advertiser sound like somebody who will sell to anyone who will pay up. Even if they're NOT it sounds like it, so it will give them a bad name. In fact it makes me shudder to see it. It's so common in BYBs that it has almost become a trademark of them.....

No I never take deposits.  I am in regular touch with the families who've booked pups and am forever asking questions.  If at anytime I'm not happy then I want to be able to withdraw my offer of a pup without the complications of a deposit.  Similarly if the family change their mind about the breed, their circumstances, commitment or me (I always say that if they don't like me than don't have one of my pups because they'll be stuck with me for the next 14 years!) then I want them to do so BEFORE they take the pup and not have the money as a consideration. :)

It's always better to keep a puppy for an extra month at 8 weeks and find the right home that to have it back as an untrained adolescent at 12 months because it went to the wrong place because of the deposit! :)

i agree with you there marianne ...i was ripped off with a deposit not long ago ....i would never leave a deposit again ,and also never ask for deposits .

> I cannot see the point in taking deposits, in most cases a raport and trust is built up with owners while on the waiting list.. usually before pups are even born, and in the main, before mating has even taken place..

>Taking deposits leave you with little options on choosing your best homes..
> It also smacks of a 1st come, 1st serve basis, with lack of care and thought of where puppies go

I generally don't look at online sales sites for dogs, however a recent thread sent me off on a quick google search which then threw up some of the most mind boggling sites - I genuinely never realised there were so many online sites for selling dogs, and I don't ever want to look at them again.

Some of the 'adverts' are heartbreaking, but probably not for the reasons one would usually imagine.  I can live with the 'sad rehome' due to change in circumstance (although I'm not sure how many are true), I'm even semi ok with the ok with the ones where owners have changed their minds about dog ownership, but some of the 'intentional crosses' are just abhorrent.  A gross mis match of dog sizes and incompatible breeds.  One thing many of them have in common though is a very sales aware wording.  It is obvious that these are not the sort of breeders that would be operating waiting lists.

To the OP, there have been a raft of threads recently looking at the differences between show and working breeders, and pet breeders.  The issue of deposits and waiting lists do seem to be another distinction.  Most of our well established show breeders, like Kay has mentioned, have no need of deposits - their buyers are often known to them or have time to develop a relationship.  Many of the online pet breeding adverts make a big point of asking for deposits and as Kay has said it smacks of 1st come 1st served - some adverts even quote this phrase!!   I think if it were me, I'd be reading all these adverts and making sure to position myself well away from this type of puppy seller.  If I were looking to buy a dog online I'd be much more comfortable with someone who emphasises the need for a perfect home for their beloved puppies and explains that potential owners will be vetted in some way.