I have two bitches who have been fighting for a while and it has got to the point where they are starting to injure each other. I have come to the descision that I will rehome the younger one. Problem is the breeder wants her back but I would prefer to rehome her myself.

The breeder says she is responsible as she bred her which I understand, but I am the one who has been living with her for the last 3 years. The breeder has only seen her for a few minutes in all this time and has not spoken to me very often since I bought the puppy so she really has no idea what sort of home she needs.

I am the one who knows all the ins and outs of my girls personality and feel I am much better placed to find her the right home. I am quite happy to involve the breeder in the process. I also feel it would be better for the dog to go straight to the new home rather than to go back to the breeder for what could be months and the be rehomed again. Although it will be difficult I will keep the girls apart until I find the right home for her.

At the breeders she would have to spend a lot of time in a kennel where she is used to living in a house and having a lot of time spent with me.

The contract does say I have to return her which I was happy about at the time but now I really feel it is in the best interests of my dog to rehome her myself. It is breaking my heart to do so and this disagreement is making everything worse. Is there anything I can do? or am I being unreasonable wanting to find her a new home?

The breeder is being responsible, i too put this in my contracts, and have only had to re-home once. We came to a mutual agreement that we would find her new home together. She stayed with her owner the whole time so as not to upset her more than neccessary (so i fully get your point about not returning her to go into kennels) We both spoke to and met the new owner and were both very happy. The original owner does not keep in contact with the new owner as this would be too upsetting, however i do and i have now said i am here for the new owner should she ever need me for anything.

My pup (well 18 months) ended up with a great new home with acres of land and another rottie to play with, she had always loved other dogs so this was a happy ending (well as happy as it could be)

Try and work with your breeder to find the best for your girl. Best of luck x

what you have done sounds ideal and what I would like to do, however my breeder will not discuss it at all, just says she wants my girl back so she can find the new home and says she won't consult me about it. I know she feels responsible having bred the pup, but she only had her for 8 weeks, I have had her for over 3 years and feel just as responsible. I appreciate the breeder is trying to do the right thing but in this case I don't think she is. if I do go a head and find a home for my girl what can the breeder do. Could she take me to court? I just want my girl to be settled in a nice home.

I know where the breeder is coming from as a breeder this is being fully responsible for any puppy you bred & I would want the dog to return to me depending on the situation(if the dogs are fighting, I would deffinately want it back).
I would want to find the new home as I would then be fully happy & would be satisfied a puppy I bred is in the right home.

I do understand what you are saying but you agreed to return her if you needed to when you bought her.

This is a really difficult one.  On one hand the breeder is doing absolutely the most responsible thing (what we spout at folk all the about being prepared to take pups back at any time) but at the same time you are not the average 'novice' dog owner by the sounds of it and IMO there is always room for negotiation especially if it benefits the dog.

As a breeder, I would like to think that if I had taken the time to think about how responsible and sensible the owners were I'd do everything I could to keep things as simple, straight forward and as unstressful as possible for all concerned.

Surely there's always room for compromise and with a little communication, a more suitable, happy arrangement can be found. 

Sometimes what's set out on the contract isn't always the best course of action years down the line, despite it being a very important thing to do in the first instance.

Good luck x

Difficult one. Playing devil's advocate is she wanting to take charge of the rehome as she will be selling on this dog and gaining from doing so?
I agree that I would want to play an active part in rehoming any dog I had bred and would want to have access to it to assess it's true character, however I would hope that I would take the wishes of the present  owner into consideration.

Is there any neutral party who you both know who may be prepared to mediate?

If it were of my breeding I would be pleased that you had been honest and not rehomed behind my back.

Good luck.

Nobody can take you to court.

I always make it clear to new puppy owners that, in the event that the pup does not stay with them, then I would want the pup returned - at ANY age.

However, you have obviously given this great consideration.  I agree that, given the time that she has spent with you, then you know her best.

I would be only too pleased that you were being so thoughtful, and, having contacted me, I would be happy to give some leeway here.

The breeder has no hold over you in law. 

> I know where the breeder is coming from as a breeder this is being fully responsible for any puppy you bred & I would want the dog to return to me depending on the situation(if the dogs are fighting, I would deffinately want it back).
> I would want to find the new home as I would then be fully happy & would be satisfied a puppy I bred is in the right home.

I do understand this but I know my dog much better than the breeder these days. She has several quirks that would make her a disaster in the wrong hands. If I were to return her to the breeder to assess she may not show the behaviours for several weeks or months as rescue dogs often don't show problem behaviours until they have been in their new homes for a while.
And living in kennels is not the same as living as a pet in the house. In addition the breeder is very old school in her training ideas and has on several occaisions suggested that I need to use punishment when trying to resolve the fighting problem and has been very scathing of my positive training and thinks having a behaviourist is wasting my money. The thought that my beautiful girl might end up being harshly treated worries me no end.
I also  feed raw and do minimal vacs, both things the breeder disagrees with. I want to find her a home with someone who has the same ideas as me about training and raising dogs but I think the breeder will not be as choosy as I will be.

> Playing devil's advocate is she wanting to take charge of the rehome as she will be selling on this dog and gaining from doing so?

I don't think it is that but I think she might have thoughts about breeding from her. 

I didn't tell her the behaviourist had advised spaying both of them. I really don't think it would have been a good idea to breed from her if she hadn't been spayed as I found out after I got her that her mother also has a lot of the problem behaviour she exhibits.
That might actually solve my problem if I tell her that she has been spayed then she may well change her mind about having her back.

> If it were of my breeding I would be pleased that you had been honest and not rehomed behind my back.

I would much prefer to work with the breeder as she has more contacts with people that might want a dog from her breeding. I just want to be able to help in the process ans to speak to the new owners direct so they know what they will be getting. I won't interfere once she has been rehomed, I just want to make sure she has the right home.

> The breeder has no hold over you in law.

But I did sign a contract that I would return her. I did think at the time that I would be happy to do this it is only now several years down the line that I realise that it is not the best thing for my girl. I can't afford a legal battle.

To me the breeder sounds like a good one.  She cares about her breeding, hopefully knows her breeding well and as to who would be a suitable new family.  Just because she wants her back and you not to be involved does not mean that she's in it for the money but so that you can take a step back and not have to worry about things.

She may have only had her 8 weeks but if she's like me she would have thought for years what male would be suitable, whether her dogs were good enough to breed from etc. so before your pup was born hopefully she put a lot of thought and effort into things.

Don't think, contract or not, the courts would make you return the bitch because she is your property. However it would be best if you and the breeder could get together and work out a plan that would be best for this bitch, if needed ask the breed club for help.

Tricky! It is the sign of a good breeder to want the bitch back, but I would have thought she ought to let you have input, after all as you say, you know your bitch best. If you suspect she wants her back for breeding, might it be worth saying she is spayed and see if she loses interest in having her back? (I know, I'm very sneaky!) I can see how a good breeder wants to know what's happening with a dog they bred, but it does sound odd that she intends to take her and not involve you at all. Have you a new home in mind? You could assure the breeder that you will pass on her contact details to the new owners and request they keep in touch?

IMO for what its worth, I think that if I had owned a dog for three years and for whatever reason I couldnt keep it then I would hope that the breeder would realise that I knew the dog better than they did, but offer advice and support to rehome from the owners house especially if the breeders set up was completely different, ie kennels v home environment.

Due to the contract (which I know isnt actually inforceable, its more of a obligation thing) then I would ring them and let them know what was happening and ask their advice.  I would certainly ask why they wanted the dog back with them and then not involve you whatsoever.  You could always just say to the breeder that you are very uncomfortable with what she is suggesting and go straight back to the breed club and via their rehoming section that way you have done the best by the dog, which after all is the one that is in the middle of all this.

The problem is, its issues like this which come up, which make people perhaps reading this thread perhaps not contact their breeder in times of trouble :(.

To me the breeder sounds like a good one.

i don't think they are.  The OP said that the dog mother had the same issues, going on good breeding practice and what people avocate on this forum the bitch should not have been bred from.

i too also thought that you had to give the dog back as it states but apparently you don't.  Its is good to have this as a safe option if you ever need it and know the dog can go somewhere safe.

i agree she should work with you and the dog stay with you until the time was right for her to go.  She knows you and there is no need to rehome twice.  If the breeder did want for breeding/keeping her in the family then she should be honest with you, but given her behaviour (the dogs) she might not be suitable for this.  It depends what caused the behaviour and what breed, it could be a natural thing and maybe needs a different approach to train her.

Maybe listen to what the breeder says about retraining and conbine it in a better way with what you already know.  maybe a little more firmness with the dog in your voice or give her time outs (as it happens).  Are the dogs competing for top dog.  Always take one away when fighting this might make the a little more submisive or spey just one of them.

Unfortunately, I know a breeder who has a contract saying anyone who has taken one of her pups but wants to re-home has to return to them to her no matter how long they have been in their current homes.

There have been several occasions that I know of that the owners have experienced problems with the dogs behaviour.  On each occasion they have insisted that they know their dog best.  On two instances that I got involved in, one owner had had the dog 7 years, another five years.

The breeder asked if I could give any advice.  I spoke to both owners.  I recognised several instances where the owners were handling the dog incorrectly and also 'misreading' behaviour or the reason/motive for the behaviour.  I gave some advice.  Sometimes the advice was rejected out of hand, sometimes they half did it.  Sometimes one family member implemented the changes but others didn't.  Having reached the point of contacting the breeder to re-home the dogs, their commitment was shaky.  In both instances, the dogs were eventually returned to the breeder.

In both cases the breeder and I agreed on what was being done incorrectly by the previous owners and also on waht action to take.  In both cases the breeder made assessments of the dogs and made handling changes to correct previous mistakes.  Both dogs went on to be  re-homed, the new owners knowing full well how to handle them based on the breeders experience.  The dogs found loving, caring, understanding homes.

Sometimes breeders do know best and being removed form the 'problems/quirks' the dogs have can best see how to handle them.

I can understand your need to be involved but your breeder may have years of knowledge and experience that should't be overlooked.  Is there any way you can work together?

Thinking about this more, I still stand by what I said before but maybe the breeder (not justifiably) is the sort that just gets angry about a home not working out and therefore is demanding the dog back through her anger?  Does she seem angry? 

I do understand anger/frustration when a home decides to return a dog for stupid reasons but when it's justifiable and the communication levels between you and her are obviously good, then there's no need to be adamant about such a direct course of action.  Compromise is key here I think.

To me the breeder sounds like a good one. is there posts missing, I only see where it said the breeder wants the dog back..everything else is speculation.

Personally I would want a compromise with the breeder, I think it is worth being fair to both parties, However, I do believe if her temperament is an issue she should be spayed in your possession then you know for sure she will never be bred from.  I personally would never sell or return a bitch without sound temperament to anyone without spaying it.  Ask the breeder to help you find a pet only home. If she is 100% genuine that would be to her exact liking. 

I worked my way though that story :-)  BUT if it was handling issue I would imagine this has all been discussed at great lengths before getting to this rehoming.

Unfortunately, I know a breeder who has a contract saying anyone who has taken one of her pups but wants to re-home has to return to them to her no matter how long they have been in their current homes. What is unfortunate about that?

You have to also remember just because someone has experience overcoming or partly correcting issues DOESN'T mean the dogs doesn't have issues..  Some dogs do have issues and not all can be corrected.  I can't imagine a person having a dog 7 years would make a light decision to give it up. Just MHO

Are both your dogs the same breed?

From a breeders perspective when an owner is in a desperate situation the worry would be that the dog was not re-homed as well as it might be, but in a rush, due to stress of emotions, inexperience with homing etc.

I am a breeder who breeds within our home, so do not have kennelling facilities, so my prefered situation would be to home a dog from it's current home if the dog was safe there. 

Your breeder may find it easier to have her breeding back physically as she may be in the position of regular enquiries for older dogs, and of course it is much easier for her to arrange for them to visit her.

I very much doubt they have plans to breed from her, but if her temperament is unsuitable I would be looking at spaying her first anyway, so that should not be an issue.

You need to calmly say that you wish to keep her until a home is found for her, that she can safely be kept apart from the other,a dn of course be prepared to meet peopel that she may refer to you.

i side with the responsible breeder. id move (and have done so!) heaven and earth to make sure it would come back to me rather than be rehomed .

But I did sign a contract that I would return her. I did think at the time that I would be happy to do this it is only now several years down the line that I realise that it is not the best thing for my girl. I can't afford a legal battle.

Actually it really doesn't matter that you signed a contract with her - dogs that re sold come under the sale of goods act ans as such she is your property to do with as you wish.  She has no hold over you, I think the fact that she won't let you be part of the rehming proces and wants the dog to come bck to her and spend time in kennels when that is not what she is used to does not show her having the dogs best interests at heart.  You are quite right she is your dog and you have every right to have a say in hwere she lives in the future.  Given that you are being more than reasonable by informing her and allwoing her to be part of the process if she chooses then she really doesn't have a leg to stand on.  But really legally she wouldn'thave a hope of holding you to anything.

It may be the case that you can keep her at home and get breed rescue involved and they will help you find soeone siutable and checked that has experience with the bred while she stays with you until the suitable family is found.  Goodluck.

I agree ideally you'd work together - but ultimately if you can't your responsibility is to the dog not the breeder - you must do what you think is best for the dog.   You can't know for sure which of you would find the dog the best owner for the future but weigh up the arguments on both sides and if you still think you should rehome her yourself then do that with a clear conscience. 

As a 'responsible' occasional breeder (only had two litters in my 20yrs of being involved with my own breed),
I'd be mortified if any of my puppy people felt that they couldn't come to me and let me know that they
needed help with rehoming their dog (for what ever reason).

I do have a contract that asks that the dog is returned to me if there is any need for rehoming.
What most have indicated here is that a 'contract' is worthless when a breeder tries to protect their pups.
Why do we bother? (Because we do care!)
Because even though we only may spend 8 weeks with each puppy we rear, most reputable breeders do
still care for all their pups even after they have left our homes.
What owners may or may not realise in those 8 weeks the bonding is very strong, some breeders may have
had to hand rear or supplement the pup or pups in the litter. We've spent many hours in the 8 weeks rearing
those pups, making sure that they are cared for, fed correctly, played with, socialised.
I don't breed that often, I breed when I want something myself. I am limited on numbers that I can keep (mine are indoor dogs and not kept in kennels).
However it is each an every time a very strong feeling of mixed emotions when each puppy comes to leave
the nest, it's soo hard (often I've had a last few minutes of panic where you think you can't let puppy leave), oh and we do have a good cry too even thou you know thru your vetting process you have
a super home for that pup.

In this case I would say if you can work with the breeder and explain the reasons why you feel the way you do
if they are reasonable they will realise that you also have the dogs best interests at heart.
It might be worth involving a respected member of the breed club if you feel the breeder isn't listening to your
reasons. You really don't want to 'burn bridges' if you can help it. Some 'old school' breeders can be very well
respected even if their 'set-up' isn't considered the 'norm' from the outside (i.e. kennels).
If you alienate the breeder, they may well pass their concerns on to others within the breed and when the time
comes and you want another of the breed it may be that breeders might refuse to sell/home you a pup/dog.
Some breeds can be very tight knit communities especially within the higher ranking 'kennels'.
So if the breeder doesn't seem to be reasonable it may be best to go via a breed club so that you can get
other perspective on your 'case'.

I have helped one of my pups (who was a young adolescent) who was having issues with behaviour (through incorrect socialising after leaving me, and through incorrect training advice by so called dog trainers).
I was able to help put the family incontact with a qualified trainer that was well versed with my breed.
The family especially the lady of the house were very committed to the dog and have managed to turn alot of the undesired behaviours around with lots of hard work and committment to turning him around.
This was when some of their extended family members were saying to have him put to sleep.
I let this family know that I was there for them whenever they needed me.
I would have taken the dog back as even thou he was no longer owned by me he's still
my responsibility, he carries my affix, I bred him.
I owed him as I brought him into the world and I made the choice who he lived with.

I consider myself lucky with all the homes my 'pups' have (1st litter is now in it's 9th year and the 2nd litter is 3 years old). They are all able to keep in contact with me.
I am always pleased to hear from all, and I do try to contact them all at least twice a year around birthdays and Christmas to check up on how they are all getting along.
I would hope that they would come to me if they ever need to rehome as I'd be so gutted to learn if one of my own
had gone thru a rescue or private rehome and not know where all of my pups were.
Another reason for knowing where your pups are is to be able to monitor health and longevity of your lines.
Also if a unexpected health problem does rear it's head you can contact all owners of dogs who may be at risk.
Or conversely if a dog of your breeding does come down with an illness or health issue the owners can flag this
with you as it may occur in a pup/dog that you hadn't kept yourself and possibly would be unawares of a problem
that may mean that you have to change your breeding decisions.

So with everything there are breeders and there are 'breeders' that go above and beyond...and then there are puppy homes and then there are puppy homes that do go the extra...

Guess what I am trying to say is that we all have a moral duty to do the best for our pups...
and hopefully the relationship with breeder and puppy owner is such that you both will eventually be able to have a positive outcome for the dog involved in this sad situation.

Good Luck!

thanks to everyone for their input. the breeder is now away for a week so will speak to her again when she gets back. I do hope we can come to some arrangement where I can be involved in finding a new home as I really don't want to fall out with the breeder . Just want to do the best for my girl.

> It may be the case that you can keep her at home and get breed rescue involved and they will help you find soeone siutable and checked that has experience with the bred while she stays with you until the suitable family is found.  Goodluck.

Breed rescues expect reputable breeders to take responsibility for homing their own breeding as this breeder is willing to do. 

Their resources are probably sorely stretched already with a popular (and exploited)breed like this with plenty of dogs bred by those who take no responsibility for them after, and they end up in rescue.

I would insist your girl stays with you until a new home is found by the breeder & you along with your girl get to meet the new owners several times before a decison is made.
I hope it all works out well for your girl. x

Breed rescues expect reputable breeders to take responsibility for homing their own breeding as this breeder is willing to do. 

Their resources are probably sorely stretched already with a popular (and exploited)breed like this with plenty of dogs bred by those who take no responsibility for them after, and they end up in rescue.

I'm very actively involved with rescue and am involved with some specific breed rescues and was giving my experience of both.  I don't know the breed of this dog, I don't think it's relevant but I know it's never as cut and dried when a breeder wants to take a bitch back and certainly not all breed resuces automatically judge an owner for not wanting to hand a bitch back to a breeer particularly when the owner is being incredibly good about the whole thing.  I'm sorry but a breeder having it in their contract that they will take a bitch back and then doing what the op is describing them as doing does not automatically make them responsible breeders.

I have personal experience of a breeder from who I rehomed a bitch when she was 6 motnhs old, who did have that in all her contracts, then ensued a legal battle when she decided the bitch that she had homed to me because it wasn't of breeding standard, ie too small, had a hernia and had skin problems and she decided she wanted a litter from her because the other bitch was that she kept was aggressive.  I am now fostering the brother of my girl (who stayed with because once a breeder has rehome a dog they have no claim on them under the eyes of the law)! because despite having that in her contract she wouldn't take back the lad that she should have been responsible for when he was needin a new home for genuine reasons.  So I'm sorry but having that in the contract does not automatically make a responsible breeder and the op sounds like she is a responsible owner who is putting thought and care into the rehoming of 'her' dog!

As I said breed rescues are often only to happy to help out on the rehoming front and pointing potential vetted owners in the direction of a dog that may suit their individual circumstances and that will be requiring minimal resources because she is already spayed and will be staying in her home environment so want require any kenneling costs!

Is your bitch speyed? We have a breeder in my breed  who always likes to have the dog back to rehome but if the bitch is of the right age and health test etc done.Always has a litter out of them before they are re homed.
My own pups that i have bred the new owner have also signed coontract to return them to myself but i would go and visit the animal if  like you the owner wants to rehome their self and work together from there. It would 100% come back here if it was going to end up in recue.

I am just pointing out that breed rescue is not for resolving disputes between a  breeder willing to take their responsibility for re-homing and relinquishing owner, but to help dogs that have no-one looking out for their welfare.

In a popular breed like this (Golden Retriever) I expect their work load is quite large enough.  Not fair to be adding to their workload.  Of course seeking advice from rescue is another matter.

I am just pointing out that breed rescue is not for resolving disputes between a  breeder willing to take their responsibility for re-homing and relinquishing owner, but to help dogs that have no-one looking out for their welfare.

I was advising the op that maybe the breed rescue, of which there is more than one, would be a potential port of call for the rehoming of her bitch, that would have homes likely waiting that will be experienced with the breed and homechecked and potentially will match the right family with the dogs needs.  Thre was no mention of them resolving disputes. 

You have no idea whether this beeder is looking out for the best interests of the dog or not andcertainly from the info we have from the op it doesn't sounds as if she is, it sounds like she is putting her needs, whatever they are, first!! But I certainly am sure the op is looking out for the dogs needs and lots of rescue will help with that, breed rescue or not.  This dog does have someone looking out for it's welfare and that is clearly the op and rescues do help in situations like that I can assure you! In fact rather than feelinr it unfair that their work load is being added to often people are only too happy to help in genuine cases like this!

Really don't see any point in commenting further - I wish the op luck in rehoming your dog, don't be pushed into anything you don't want to do or don't feel comfortable about

My contract says that pup can and should come back to me at any age, but that in a situation like yours where you are able to keep the dog until a suitable home is found, that would be considered and you and I would jointly look for the perfect home.

The reason I wrote it that way is I'm well aware that several years down the road I don't know the dog as well as you would, and also for the least amount of upset and distress for the dog.  What's the point of it coming home to me for a week or two to just be sent on somewhere else. 

I hope you can come to some sort of agreement.  Really it's about what's best for the dog..  I hope she becomes a bit more flexible and the two of you can find the perfect home together.

This is what any reasonable breeder would do - weigh up whats best for the dog.

If the owner can cope and is happy plus is honest with all behaviours (some people
can be naughty and not be honest about the 'bad' behaviours) then sometimes best for the dog
is to go from the current home to the new forever home.

However with litigation cited more and more frequently these days we have to also
be aware that if owners aren't honest with behaviours we may well be putting ourselves
at risk when rehoming. So with my sensible hat on - I would want to spend time with the current owner
and the dog trying to witness any behavioural problems.
That's why some breeders do feel it's better to bring the dog home for a few weeks so that
they can get to know the dog properly and test the dog themselves in different situations etc.

I suppose with all we can put reasons of why all reasons have their pro's and con's.

To be honest if I found myself in this situation I would have the bitch spayed before she left me.  That way you know damn sure that your baby cant be abused in anyway to make some money for anyone.  If the breeder is still strongly voicing her need to help rehome you know it is for the right reason.  Plus it means in her new home she can only be wanted as a loved pet, which is all the OP wants for her.  If the dogs temperment isnt sound, and she is already mature I see spaying as the responsible route to take.

> The breeder has no hold over you in law <.

But I did sign a contract that I would return her. I did think at the time that I would be happy to do this it is only now several years down the line that I realise that it is not the best thing for my girl. I can't afford a legal battle.

The clause is not enforceable though! The dog is your property to do as you please (as it were).

If I had to rehome my dog that I got from a breeder, I would want to be majorly involved, but would also understand that the breeder wants to be involved too. I am lucky to have an excellent breeder who I know would co-operate. (I also have a godmother for my breeder dog who would be the person adopting him if anything happened to me and that would be the best possible home for my dog). It would have to be a joint effort, but no way would I give a dog back to a breeder if I could accomodate his needs until a new home is found. And to be honest, I'd be worried if a breeder would want to take a dog off of a caring owner as you are if you can confirm that you can keep both your dogs safe until a new home is found.

Vera

I think the only answer here is that there IS no clear cut answer. Every situation is different, people are different, dogs are different. What is the best action in one case isn't necessarily the best in another.

I too had a Golden bitch who didn't get on with my other bitches -she would outright attack my other bitches and considering they are Malinois, it says a bit about this bitch -I mean it's almost laughable when you think about it.... But it was the poor Malis ending up stressed out etc so we decided we had to find a new home for the Golden. I had a good home lined up but the breeder said she wanted the bitch back and not re-homed by me.(I had offered to put her in touch with new owner of course.) As a breeder myself, I saw the breeder's point of view and told myself if it had been me, I would have preferred to have the bitch back, so that's what we did. Handed her over with detailed explanations of everything that had happened, hip and elbow scores that I had had done, everything. Was told "oh how strange that she did that" and that we'd be informed very soon of how she was doing and when she was found a new home etc. After a few weeks I hadn't heard anything at all so contacted the breeder to ask how things were and got a right snotty reply saying she was surprised I was bothered as it had all been my fault and it must have been my dogs attacking this bitch and not the other way around, but not to worry she now has a new home and a new name and is finally happy. Oh and she had clearly been neglected as she was too thin etc! (I'd rather have my dogs lean than on the heavy side.) Well that was the last contact I'll ever have with THAT particular breeder!

It made me think though, if we as breeders sometimes can come across too harsh when taking a dog back from a buyer. I had taken one back that I bred when the owner felt unable to keep him and now it occurred to me that although I never accused her of anything (she'd done nothing wrong), I hadn't been in touch with her for some time to let her know how the dog was doing and maybe she felt she couldn't ask, so I mailed her and told her how the dog was (all fine) and she was really happy to hear from me and said she thought of the dog every day.

Not sure what breed you are talking about but the suggestion to enlist the help of breed rescue should be a good option. I would definitely want to meet the new owners a few times, walk with them, get your girl used to them before she goes to live with them. Do a home from home rehoming. The breeder could put people in touch with you but I would not send the dog to live in kennels. I WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE HER SPAYED BEFORE SHE GOES TO SECURE HER FUTURE. The contracts that breeders draw up show good intentions but are not legally binding. As a breed rescue co-ordinator I can tell you that it is a rare breeder who actually WANTS to have back an older dog (unless it is entire!)
Cynical (not me!)

> As a breed rescue co-ordinator I can tell you that it is a rare breeder who actually WANTS to have back an older dog (unless it is entire!)
> Cynical (not me!)

You are right most would prefer to home from one home to the next (though if there are temperametn issues i can understand wanting to physically assess the dog in their own possession with their own dogs).

My worst nightmare would be to have an entire dog back physically, as I own only entire bitches and no segregation facilities.

Do you have a solution yet. Have managed to come to an arrangement with the breeder.  hope all is working out well.