I want to ask this question as I was wondering whether this is usual nowadays. I have never had a litter before so always bought dogs in, I have always paid the price asked and never questioned it. However, I have had  number of enquiries regarding my forthcoming litter and most people have not even asked the price, (some of these are people already in the breed so will have an idea of what the price will be anyway). But I have also had people ask for all sorts:

Reduction in price because they really wanted a bitch but will settle for a dog (as I already have a lot of people wanting bitches)
Bitch puppy for free and when they breed her they wanted to give me a puppy back (someone I have never met...a phone call)
Free gundog training from my husband
Club polo shirt

If it wasn't so annoying I would think it was funny. So...is this usual nowadays - anyone got any other good stories to add, or witty suggestions on what to say to these people?

> If it wasn't so annoying I would think it was funny. So...is this usual nowadays

Not had this and if I did I would give my stock reply " I only let dogs go to people that I like".

I used to get enquires for boxer puppies stipulating colour, sex and exact markings and ready on a certain date... my reply was " Oh let me just go and check the shelves to see if one is in stock".
That used to be ironic back then but, as it has come to pass, a real scenario with some puppy dealers these days...it's what the internet savvy public have become accustomed to I'm afraid.

Reduction in price because they really wanted a bitch but will settle for a dog
Trying it on ... why should a bitch be more valuable than a dog and vice versa - not the case in my breed/line!

Bitch puppy for free and when they breed her they wanted to give me a puppy back (someone I have never met...a phone call)
Puppy farm alert

Free gundog training from my husband
Club polo shirt
Is that one or the other or both together?! Neither a bargain in my book, specially if you breed and own pugs!! :-)

suggestions on what to say to these people?
Bog off?  ... without wanting to appear rude of course! :-)

As Trialist says - trying it on - I would ignore enquiries such as these.

In some breeds the bitches are more expensive than the dogs, so this may be a normal question from these people.

I would tell everyone that I don't let pups go to new homes unless you have met, and like, the owners.

Thanks for all your replies, I thought they would be along those lines LOL!

The funny thing was, we did meet a couple, liked them, thought they would be good owners for our breed etc, etc. Told them to go away before and discuss between them before making any decisions, they then came back with three out of those four suggestions in a e mail! My first reaction was 'cheeky...' and that's why I wondered it if really was a sign of the times and if the protocol of buying a pedigree dog had really changed that much!

Never ever heard or seen anything like this before.

> Never ever heard or seen anything like this before

Pam,  I think you and I lead a sheltered life...either that or work has gotten around what sort of reception these people would get if they phoned us   :-)

Nope never had anyone ask me such questions and if they did I'd politely send them elsewhere.  Dogs and bitches I sell for the same price, so don't have that problem.

So so true LOL :-D

All very cheeky aren't they? I would have to say "Surely, you jest!"

I have never in all these years had anything like that until a couple of years ago, but now I realise there are true nutters out there.

My waiting lists are always done well in advance of whelping, thank goodness so I don't get these type of people thinking your desperate for homes and they can call the shots, but one of my puppy owners from a previous litter had a neighbour of hers fall in love with her dog and she was very interested in a pup, when she learnt I'd had a litter she un-be-knowingly to me, passed my number onto this lady.

I received said phone call with interest of my litter and this lady asked whether I would let her take one of my pups for a couple of weekends to see how she got on with a pup and then bring it back during the week. I couldn't believe what she was saying, I had to ask her to say it twice incase I had misheard. I told her that breeders didn't lend their pups for try outs, she seemed totally miffed, seriously miffed, she really thought she could have a pup for the weekend. I happily told her that my litter was all homed anyway.

What planet are these people seriously from??????????   :-D

> I received said phone call with interest of my litter and this lady asked whether I would let her take one of my pups for a couple of weekends to see how she got on with a pup and then bring it back during the week

Not everyone is like you though!

Last year I had a phone call from a distressed lady, after she had been to see a pup with her daughter and family.  The people told her to take pup home for the weekend to see if the daughter got on with him.  Fatal!!  And spiteful!  :-(

When they went back to say that the daughter was overjoyed, the price went up by £100 and the daughter was distraught.  She was a sensible 12 year old, and worked free at weekends at a local kennel, just to be with dogs.  I felt that the girl had more than proved to her mum and dad that she was responsible enough for a terrier of her own.

I think the mum made the right decision though.  It would have been dificult, but not impossible to find the extra money, but she felt that it had been done in a very underhand way, and wouldn't give them the satisfaction.

What kind of breeder was that? We're supposed to fully vet potential owners to make sure they are suitable for our pups and have no doubt whatsoever before allowing our pups anywhere.

I agree that was extremely cruel, for the pup in having the poor thing confused by being passed around from home to home and worse for the young girl. So they let her take the pup for the weekend with no payment, quite trusting of the breeder too! Then put the price up when she wanted it!

Well, I hope that you let the family have a pup if you were happy, the previous breeder was a charlaton, I've never heard of such a thing, ever!

Blimey what stories. :( I've never had anything similar with puppy buyers but get it frequently with kittens. People seem to think kittens should always be cheap or free, never mind that pedigree cats of breeding quality cost more than many breeds of dogs to buy, kittens cost a fortune to rear, you keep them for 13 weeks before they are sold, they are sold fully vaccinated from health tested parents etc. I get weekly emails from people asking for a kitten "must not cost more than £100" or even less than that. Not to mention all those asking for a kitten no more than 8 weeks old! They all get deleted.

My oldest dog's breeder told me she had a telephone enquiry for her litter: "How much for people on benefits?"

I had all sorts calling up with odd requests. Unfortunately my other half was a little hapless and didn't realise that I had a waiting list and therefore thought he would be incredibly helpful by advertising the puppies! This resulted in a load of calls with people getting irate at me for 'selling the puppies before they were born'. I had not sold them, I simply called the people on the waiting list, it was an emotional time. I don't believe in selling the bitches for more than the dogs in my breed, which is my fathers influence :) So in response to the reduction in price, I would tell them that if they want a bitch to go elsewhere. Oddly enough, like you I had lots of calls for bitches which set the alarm bells ringing, I always fear that they only want them for breeding. Likewise with the bitch puppy for free, tell them that youa re not interested and that's that.(I lack tact obviously)

I had the same Marianne :(    Most often it was "but I could get a Moggie tomorrow for nothing!"    my answer was If they didn't appreciate the costs of tests/vaccs, care and time involved in rearing the kittens and didn't think a Burmese kitten was worth that money then they definitely should get a moggie then I'd put the phone down while they were still sputtering :-D

My answer to how much for people on benefits would be that it's twice the price!

Ive just had one asking me to take a video of my B/T pup....they want her in the show standing position....when I explained they were only 4 weeks old..the woman said "she should be able to do it"...I asked what she actually wanted the puppy for..well showing and breeding of course came the reply..I told her there were endorsements on the pedigree...reply.."oh there are ways round that, dont worry about it"..told her she wouldnt be having one of my pups.

>My oldest dog's breeder told me she had a telephone enquiry for her litter: "How much for people on benefits?"

I had a puppy that I had to advertise (seen and rejected, poor lad! by all on my waiting list) and when he was 12 weeks old got a phonecall asking how much the price had gone down to, seeing that he was older now! My response was that hw was now fully vaccinated, house trained and walking well on the lead, so there would certainly be no price reduction! Needless to say I still have him, 10 years on.

My answer to how much for people on benefits would be that it's twice the price!

I was on benefits when I got my first pedigree dog, I think that comment is rather rude. I covered the insurance and the feeding costs by myself and had the company while I was studying.

> I was on benefits when I got my first pedigree dog, I think that comment is rather rude.

I feel it would be justifiably rude, if the potential buyer was trying to get the price down by saying they are on benefits!

Not price reduction I was speaking about, it was the fact because someone was on benefits they'd be asked to pay double the price, and basically rejected!

Not everything is black and white

> Not price reduction I was speaking about, it was the fact because someone was on benefits they'd be asked to pay double the price, and basically rejected!

That's not how I read it at all, to me it inferred that a price reduction had been asked for.

The point was the person on benefits expected to pay LESS. Would they also ask the same of the petshop when it came to buying dog food?

Had a family come to visit the pup I had chosen from my litter for them, Dad made a comment that he could buy 2 GSD's from the paper for the same money as my little one.  I told him to go buy a paper and showed them out.  The wife has kept in touch for the last 6 years or so and still one day hopes to have a Papillon.

> the person on benefits

LOL I had someone describe themselves as self sufficient, later found out they had never worked in there life and were on benefits, nothing against people who genuinley need the help but to use "self sufficient"  !!!!!

I get calls from potential puppy owners, who ask price, I tell them, they then say they can get them £'s cheaper in Wales, so I tell them to go to Wales then, wish them luck and say goodbye.

I remember a few years ago I was letting a 3 year old girl go, never advertised her just waiting for a perfect enquiry from preferably an older couple with no kids or dog. Anyway this really lovely older couple came to see her they had previous had 4 terriers.  They fell in love with her right away and I liked them. so I asked the to come back 4 or 5 times to build a relationship with her.  They then asked if they could take her away to the vets to get her checked for their PDSA cover...  I said " WHAT"..

Anyway, the just of it was that every dog they had was cover by the PDSA because of the financial situation.  I asked them over and over again why they thought it was their God given entitlement to have free PDSA cover.

They were lovely granted but they never got her.

This for me is a perfect example of why our country is in the mess it is in.

>My answer to how much for people on benefits would be that it's twice the price!

>I was on benefits when I got my first pedigree dog, I think that comment is rather rude. I covered the insurance and the feeding costs by myself and had the company while I was studying.

My bet is that you didn't ask for a reduction in price because you were on benefits ;)   Dog food and care (vaccs, vets etc) cost the same however much money you have.  

I saved for years to be able to afford my pedigree pup and never once thought of asking for a reduction in price ;)

But have you thought how very rude it is to ask a breeder who has spent a lot of time, care and money rearing a litter for a reduction in price under any circumstances?   There are choices for someone on benefits if they want a dog, they could save up until they have enough money or they could get a rescue - many pedigrees have welfare and rehoming as part of the breed club activities.

So, Blue, because those people couldn't afford insurance or veterinary prices, you decided they shouldn't own a pet?

> What kind of breeder was that?

You tell me!  :-(  I know what I thought!

> I've never heard of such a thing, ever! <IMG class=qButton title="Quote selected text" alt="Quote selected text" src="/images/mi_quote.gif" width=20 height=10>

Nor me, I was gobsmacked and disgusted.

> Well, I hope that you let the family have a pup if you were happy,

The young girl was everything she sounded when I met her, and both parents were great, I had no hesitation.  The girl got on the floor and played with the whole gang, there was no problem with any of them.

The nice thing for me personally, was an email telling me all about him, what she had done with him, how she was reading the book I had given her.  Her sincere pleasure was a joy.  At the end of the email, after sending her love she put.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE I GOT A PUPPY!"  :-)  :-)  :-)

And it's great to get updates and photos from the young lass.

> So, Blue, because those people couldn't afford insurance or veterinary prices, you decided they shouldn't own a pet?

No I think she just means they shouldn't own her puppy. I totally agree, the puppies we create are ours to place in the most suitable homes, not created just to make folk who cant afford them happy.Its not a right to own a dog without being able to face the consequences of large finacial outlay.

I have let a dog go to a man on benefits (who I knew already) when he approached me, told me his entire situation and asked if he could have a dog. In the event of anything happening to that dog he couldn't afford to pay, so we agreed to share him and I'd pay.

Not many situations like that though are there?

> My bet is that you didn't ask for a reduction in price because you were on benefits.

Hear hear.
I have been in that situation at points in my life too. I never asked for a reduction because I was SO committed, I had waited years to get the price up ready and up front.

When I was in better times and occasionally had a litter of carefully bred cats, I would have put the phone straight down on anyone who dared to negotiate price. The one time I didn't, I lived to regret it... seemed the perfect owner, worked for vets, finally agreed to pay the price but after 6 wks it almost got to the courts. Same person still has cats; buys & rehomes them regularly on a serial basis. (Oh yes and found out she left the vet job owing them thousands). Should have trusted my instinct from the first. Feel very sorry for the other breeders since who have also been taken in... at least I got my kitten back, others didn't, and won't.

> I have let a dog go to a man on benefits (who I knew already) when he approached me, told me his entire situation and asked if he could have a dog. In the event of anything happening to that dog he couldn't afford to pay, so we agreed to share him and I'd pay.

That is fabulous, and if I was ever in such hard times as that chap, I would be praying someone like you would give me such a break.

> That is fabulous, and if I was ever in such hard times as that chap, I would be praying someone like you would give me such a break

He was the perfect man, experienced, sensible, caring and home alone all day! Perfect match I thought.

If you cannot afford basic insurance then NO you should not have a pet. If you can't afford a basic insurance policy then how can you ever treat a pet when ill.

It is not a God giving right for people to have things paid for them or that someone else should foot the bill. An pet is regarded as a luxury item ( one or two exclusions) If it is a luxury you have to be able to feed and care for it.

The attitude of people today thinking everything should be paid for them drives me up the wall. Next people will be asking for us to put fuel in their car.

"Next people will be asking for us to put fuel in their car."

made me smile i had a family that wanted 1 of my pups afew years ago ,she siad has i live about 2 hours away can you send me pics of each dog and ill pic 1 :0 ,i told her if shes not willing to travel to see the pups ,to go eleswere! she had the cheek to ask would i drop price so she could but petrol in her car to come lol i just laugh at her and put phone down!

IMO thats a bit of an un fair statement to make Blue.

I have 2 dogs and 2 cats. 1 of the dogs is un insured, but when he needed vet treatment back in January we paid for it. We couldnt afford it but we paid it. If he were to become seriously ill we would find a way to pay his bills, if it meant we went without something so be it.

So because I cant afford another insurance payment a month should I not own that dog? NO I dont think thats right. I dont ask others to pay my vet bills, food bills etc I pay them all myself.
When I left my husband and was a single mother with the dogs etc I couldnt afford insurance. Were my dogs well cared for, yes they were. Did they ever go without NO. I went from working part time to full time so I could afford my dogs and my house.

My dogs love me and I them and I would never see them suffer or go without, and I'm sure many people that cant afford insurance etc feel the same way.

NO I dont think thats right. I dont ask others to pay my vet bills, food bills etc I pay them all myself. So why are you commenting on my post?  If you have paid your own bills then you are not asking others to do it.  The fact you managed to pay the dog bills and can't pay the insurance is a bit confusing but hey that is everyone's entitlement to fund their dogs as they choice as long as THEY do.

MY POINT is it is not a God given entitlement this PDSA means tested support and people should not just expect it and go out and select a dog knowing or thinking someone else will pick up the vet fees.  In fact I think it is outrageous that people do.

>If you cannot afford basic insurance then NO you should not have a pet. If you can't afford a basic insurance policy then how can you ever treat a pet when ill.

Expecting PDSA support and not being able afford insurance are two totally separate matters. There are very many ways that people on low income can cover unexpected bills without having insurance or expecting charity support.

Some of these pup enquiry stories are shocking ! The blatant cheek of some people !

Nothing is black and white though is it ? So for me, if a family seemed ideal for one of my puppies, having met them several times, but they then admitted vet costs would be covered by the PDSA I am not sure that I would instantly reject them on that basis. But I do see your point Blue.

No its not a god given right for support, BUT some people have no choice.
My old neighbour had horses and dogs for years but after an accident was left having to claim disability. This meant she was entitled to support with her dogs, ie PDSA. Her animals were the only thing she really had in her life and had that been taken away she would have ended up a broken woman. The PDSA saved her elderly Lab when she got cancer, she donated as much spare cash to them as she could as a way of thanks.
Sometimes why people have to accept this help is not all black and white, most would probably like to be able to pay themselves. But I dont think the fact someone has help from the PDSA should stop them having the pleasure of a pet. Especially when an elderly couple or someone perhaps a little disabled is involved.

The only reason I commented is because you post said if someone cant afford basic insurance they should not have a pet.

Expecting PDSA support and not being able afford insurance are two totally separate matters. Really :-D

There are very many ways that people on low income can cover unexpected bills without having insurance or expecting charity support.

Of course there are. I don't think anyone is saying that isn't the case BUT you have to be prepared to take responsibility.

No its not a god given right for support, BUT some people have no choice.

Of course everyone has a choice.

The PDSA scheme should be those that find themselves in a troubled situation having had the animal first BUT I do not agree with people buying animals based on the idea they are already covered by the scheme.

EDITED To add people genuinely who cannot afford £10 basic insurance on a dog should not be taking on another dog. IMHO

To add people genuinely who cannot afford £10 basic insurance on a dog should not be taking on another dog. IMHO

My boy is not £10 for basic insurance, I wish he were :)

I agree a pet is a luxury. I just think an elderly couple who want to take on a older dog for the last few years of its life shouldnt be refused because they would use the PDSA. Maybe I'm just too soft, I just think in that sort of case both the pet and the people can benefit.

But people asking for reduction in price because they are on benefits, or any other reason are just plain ignorant to the work involved in raising a litter.

i agree 100% here bullmastifflove.....plus i had a pup go to a lovely family ,ticked all the right boxes i even went to their house to make sure it was suttable for this breed ,we became very good friends ,she did take out insurents for the 1st year but didnt renew ,she couldnt aford it ,but couldnt use pdsa as both working! so for me knowing a older dog would get treatment is a plus if everything eles was great!

EDITED To add people genuinely who cannot afford £10 basic insurance on a dog should not be taking on another dog. IMHO

If insurance were only £10 I am sure many people would jump at the chance to insure their dogs. The premium  for just one of my dogs is nearl four times that amount.

There is definately cheap policies around that will cover the basics.  I just did a search on Compare.com and got 12 policies for under £10 infact AFI and E-sure where less that £6 for basic cover. :-)

Softness will not help the pet unfortuately.  I would always take any dog back I bred and cover any fees for it's health BUT I certainly would not be supplying animals to those who sit back and let the state pay everything for them and the dogs ( if they didn't have)  :-)   People do find themselves in trouble AFTER getting the dog that is life , no grumbles about that.

blue pdsa is not state run,it doesnt get any money from taxpayers ,people can use pdsa if they get a discount on their council tax. and when i found out about the no insurent i offerd to help her out ,she loved the dog to bits and would never rehome because she couldnt aford insurents at that time. but ive took dogs back for all sorts of reasons :)

I realise the PDSA is not actually run buy the state it a sheme,  I used the word state as a loose use of words to cover everything BUT it is definately funded by tax payers :-D

I am on a rant :-) I just get tired of people in this country thinking they should get hand outs left right and centre.