My pups are 8 weeks old,and are starting to leave this weekend,not sure how I'm going to handle it.What do you people send with them?I am sending all the relevant paperwork,a membership form for our breed club,and a bag of quality puppy food.Do you send a piece of their vetbed,with the smells from mother and siblings on it?I'm so worried about how my pup is going to cope in his first few nights on his own,even though he is going to a lovely active family,and am still worried about the possibility of them returning him one day.

Why are you worried about the possibility of puppy being returned ? Of course, as a responsible breeder you must be prepared to take puppy back at any stage in his/her life should circumstances change in the family or whatever . We do not breed in order to fill up rescue centres with rejected puppies. On the other hand, I assume that you have carefully selected your puppy buyers and spent a lot of time with them . By now you should be sure that they are going to the best possible homes and that the families are fully aware of the responsibility of dog ownership.

As far as what should be taken,you should give the new owners a file containing registration document and 5 generation pedigree. information regarding worming programme and full advice about vaccination, socialisation and training. Full advice on diet plus a generous sample of the food puppy has been eating and advice about where to buy the food. Any health checks puppy has had should be documented plus copies of health test results of parents. You must provide a sales contract, signed by both parties, each keeping a copy , free insurance cover note and receipt for the money paid. I provide a cuddly toy plus a muslin nappy smelling of mum. This is the minimum you should provide. Always offer to be 'on call' to advise on any problems.

I would never be worried about a family returning a pup, especially in the early days.     You can do all the homework on people until you're blue in the face, and occasionally things just don't work out for reasons you can't predict.     

Have you set out a puppy contract for them, stating, amongst other things, what happens to the pup if they can't keep it for some reason (at any stage of its life)?   I can send you a draft if you PM me.

It's just part of being a responsible breeder  that you take on board that you may have to take any of the litter back at any stage of their lives.

Pups are usually fine if you ask the new famly not to stress the pup out unduly - don't leave it screaming in a locked crate all night........bit of (slightly ) smelly vet bed is a good idea, wiped all over Mum.

Jo

I have vetted my homes,and have turned one owner away.I'm happy with the other families,they have joined our Club forum for advise and been to observe at our Club training days,found training classes etc,so are prepared for their pup.
I have all necessary paperwork,and pedigrees,sending a 3kg bag of their food with each pup.

As well as the blanket  with the scent of litter mates/dam/other dogs in the family I put each pup to sleep alone in a carrier 5 days before they leave me, they can see their litter mates, so far not had any complaints of seperation problems when they get to their new homes.

If the dog is going to a different part of the country I send them away with a 2 litre bottle of our tap water so they can be weaned over to their local water over a few days to prevent upset tums.

We all worry when sending pups out into their new world, just make it clear you are there for support and advice regardless how old the dog is.

I wasn't really upset when our pups went; a little when the last went because we'd had him until 12 weeks and I was starting to get attached. His sister stayed so it wasn't so hard. To be honest I was so happy with the homes that it felt amazing to give a puppy to them, knowing how loved they'd be and the adventures they were going to have. At 8 weeks they were becoming little dogs, they needed to be with their new families.
I send with them;
Paperwork - KC papers, microchip details, eye test results, eye test parent results, contract copy, manual of breed traits, training, puppy care, worming records, and feeding sheet.
Food they've been eating
Scent blanket (I use muslin clothes)
Soft toy to sleep with that smells of the litter
Chew toy
Socialisation CD (fireworks, etc)
Clicker
Fine metal comb

Other bits and bobs find their way in there too, and I put it all in a cotton tote bag and write the puppy's name on in fabric pen.

I wouldn't worry about him returning if you've chosen his family well. If he does, then you're lucky, because he's come home instead of into a rescue centre. :)

Thanks I saw my 1st pup off today,and cried my eyes out,even though he's going to an exellent home,the next one is going to a close friend so I don't think I'll be as bad,and we're keeping one so at least my house won't be totally pup free.

Brilliant Rhodach !

i do the same send them with our tap water too :) its surpiseing how pups tums can get upset with water change x