Just wondering really. I know there have been several discussions on here about whether to take a deposit and the consensus seems to be no, but if you were buying a puppy and were asked for a sizeable non-returnable deposit would/should you pay?

I only ask because I have never taken deposits but a friend is looking for a puppy now and has found one from what seems to be a very reputable breeder but the breeder wants a £200 deposit which will only be refundable if something happens to the puppy eg fails its vet check. Friend likes puppy very much and is happy with the breeder etc. But as the puppy is only 5 weeks old and friend wants to show so is just worried if she pays the deposit and the puppy doesn't develop as expected she might be stuck with a pup not quite what she wants or lose her deposit.

Breeder won't promise to keep pup if no deposit paid. this is a numerically small breed so puppies not easy to come by.

Personally in this situation where the puppy is to show then no I wouldn't as I'm no where near experienced enough to spot show quality in a 5 weeks old pup. And I doubt many people are if they are honest with themselves as they change so much in the first couple of months.

I definitely wouldn't pay a £200 deposit for a 5 week old puppy that I wanted to show.  I don't start choosing a puppy until it's 6 weeks old and don't make my final choice until 7 - 8 weeks.

No chance. Too many things can go wrong. There will be other puppies.

I paid a £250 deposit for my girl.
I didnt pay any deposit for either of my boys.

I think it depends really. I would not put money on a dog if I didnt trust the breeder 100%.

But the breeder needs to the buyer 100% as well as the buyer trusting them.  With trust then there is no need for a deposit. 
If one of my buyers changed their mind for whatever reason, then I'd prefer that they didn't take the puppy than take it rather than lose their money.............

Agree with Westcoast...I dont take deposits ..I like to have full control once money changes hands you are then under obligation to sell the pup.

Maybe the breeder has been let down by buyers in the past .... it could be testing the true interest of the buyer in thier eyes they may think if you leave a hefty deposit then you are keen. You say the breed is bred in low numbers I would think this would be an advantage to the breeder that the puppies would be sought after.
If I really wanted the pup I would be asking why they require such a large deposit and ask what happens if the pup isnt of the quality you want for the ring? Ask for an agreement in writing as to what is acceptable to you as well as the breeder.
Seems very complicated to me personally I would wait and go elsewhere.

I agree trust from a breeder to a buyer is important too which is why I always get to know a breeder before I get a pup from them that way they know everything they need to about me. My latest addition to my family is a lovely little boy, I met his breeder at a show in October and we kept in regular contact until December when she told me she was having a litter and wanted to know if I wanted a pup. We then kept in weekly contact via email and phone and even know we are in weekly contact with her and meet at shows.

very good point westcoast!!

> If one of my buyers changed their mind for whatever reason, then I'd prefer that they didn't take the puppy than take it rather than lose their money.............

Me too!  If a puppy went because people weren't prepared to lose their deposit, I would always wonder afterwards,,,,,,

We have always paid a deposit but it is usually a small amount of about £50, we also take deposits again only £50 and don't push for them I infact knew one of the families was looking at several litters and said not to put a deposit down until they had seen them all then decide which litter was best for them. With 2 of the buyers they looked when home to discuss what they had seen then came back a few days later to put the deposit down it acted like a cooling off period, but to be honest if somebody really wanted to pull out we would probably do a refund anyway.

As we wanted to keep a boy ourselves to show we didn't let people in to view until about 7/ 8 weeks as the stud owners came to look and help us choose our boy there was no point doing it before then.

If the breeder is being pushy about it walk away,

> if you were buying a puppy and were asked for a sizeable non-returnable deposit would/should you pay?
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If, with my experience, I saw a fabulous pup which I had every reason to believe would make into an exceptional adult/ or posessed bloodlines I craved...then yes, I would pay.

But since that is as likely as been struck by lightening, I would say in most cases No!

> If one of my buyers changed their mind for whatever reason, then I'd prefer that they didn't take the puppy than take it rather than lose their money.............

yep yep yep.

dont take deposits,for this exact reason.id worry that they would only be collecting the puppy because they may be affraid to lose x amount.
i have had a lady ask to pay me in full she was so in love with him,i declined and said trust me he's going no where she did and we built a good freindship from this trust.
I can understand the breeder may be worried the buyer may let her down but id much sooner still have the bubba with me happy and welcome and find him/her somewhere eles.however long it takes.as others have said shes probably been let down a few times..maybe but still i think 200 is a lot to ask for non refundable and especially a show puppy only at 5 weeks,id like to hear what the breeder has said regarding the pups show potential....how can she know??

thanks for all the coments your feelings all match my own. Friend is probably going to see the puppy this weeknd. I will advise her to think very carefully before handing over any money.

Yes, I've paid deposits (not £200) though, but not until I was 100% sure that this was the pup I wanted though.  I've walked away from litters/matings far more times than I've actually gone ahead with it.

> Breeder won't promise to keep pup if no deposit paid. this is a numerically small breed so puppies not easy to come by

I would rather wait a long time to find a breeder whom I trusted and trusted me...

When choosing a pup from another breeder, I have offered a deposit, and have always been refused... the bond and trust between breeder and prospective owner should be formed before pup leaves for new home.. a deposit does not play any part in this.

I have just finished a gruelling 2 weeks vetting prospective puppy owners, and I was amazed at how many of them asked to pay a deposit... my pups are not even born yet... how can anyone make a promise when we don't know what will be available...(is this a sign of the times? )

Only once have I ever taken a deposit, and I didn't know it was coming :-)   I had one boy in a litter from Hunter, and after promising him to a family, she sent me a check for the full amount...

AT 5 weeks old, you cannot tell if the pup is show potential.. I don;t even look at my pups until 6 weeks,(for show purposes) so no-one gets to choose, let alone pay for it.  pups may look superb while breeder holds in a show stance, but at 5 weeks, movement could still be a bit wobbly

Only your friend can decide what to do, but even a £50 deposit should be sufficient.. £200 seems a bit OTT to me

I take a £50 deposit, it's enough to stop people just messing about, but not so much that someone would have a puppy they didn't want just because of it.

Most buyers have to travel a good distance to visit and collect and will spend more than that on fuel for the car.

In a numerically small breed like ours there are not many pups, but not that many potential owners at the drop of a hat either. 

Once I have told someone they can't have a pup from me as pups booked they will have gone onto another breeders waiting list and it would then be unfair of me to come back to me if I got a cancellation.

It might then take a few weeks or a month before another suitable potential owner comes along.

I have to agree substantial deposits are not a good idea, but a small amount provides reassurance for both breeder and potential new owner. 

In my very first litter with just three pups to find homes for I passed up quite a few good potential homes to other breeders only two find two of the three had changed their minds last minute or had actually put their names down with several breeders to hedge their bets.

By the time I re-advertised adverts came out in dog press pupa were 14 weeks before going to their new homes.

If people are not happy to leave a deposit then they take the chance that the pup may be offered to another suitable home that is willing to make that commitment.

Ok  (prepares to be shot down in flames) but i do agree with deposits for two reasons :

As a buyer - I've researched for ages,both temerament and look and breeding lines and found a litter that i really really want - I want to know that once the breeder has met with me,home checked me and we have spent hours getting to know one another that I am on the list,that i can prepare and have a pup coming home.Its security , no matter how much you trust the breeder.

As a seller - If I dont like the person,they wont be allowed to leave the deposit,if i get a funny feeling - same thing - there is no difference in agreeing to take the deposit from some one you like and trust as there is to taking the full purchase price on the day.
By taking a deposit you can feel a little more secure that the person you really like who is perfect for your baby is comitted to having your baby.Sometimes they are on paper,but you dont see them again come 8 weeks.Also,I would not want to run the s=risk of losing perfect owners becuase they felt they might be bumped off a list as no security.

I guess its different cos in my breed everyone takes deposits,and usually goes on a list a few years before.Its usually a 10% deposit

We were asked for a £50 deposit for our Yankee pup, just so the breeder was sure we weren't time wasters. I was happy to pay because hubby was set on that breed, colour and sex, and at that point we could only find the 2 from this litter in the whole of the UK.