This morning I received a text " Juat seen your name on Champdogs. Do you have any puppies?" . Is it me as I find this totally unacceptable way to contact a breeder re a puppy?

Yes.......... Txts are no good, especially as an introduction, gosh never had that ever.........you can't say much in a text can you? Especially if nothing follows re: a selling point of themselves as good potential owners. It kind of makes you not want to bother asking any questions and putting the effort in to find out, if they cannot be bothered to do so themselves..... and think you just give pups to anyone who txts, I guess you feel like not replying.......... In fact I don't think I would.

If they are really interested and really think themselves suitable, then they will eventually phone and speak to you, one would hope.

I know the world is txt mad, but some things need much more effort, especially taking on a potential life, it just feels extremely rude and flippant.

Way of the world I guess, and the way some people think............very strange.

Thanks Carrington. I did delete the message and have not replied but thought that maybe I was harsh due to the fad of texting at the moment. Glad I am not on my own.

IMO you did the right thing, you may expect something like that if enquiring at a pet shop, or someone who breeds for profit, but not a way to approach a responsible breeder, whoever sent the txt should have known that, if they didn't, probably not an owner you'd want for your pups anyway.

They have the chance to redeem themselves if we've got them wrong, they have your number so it's up to them to approach in the correct way (for a reputable breeder)  to respond. x

Just a text...I've seen this in adverts but never used it. I have sent an email a bit long winded about me, home, environment,lifestyle to breeders, if a reply (sometimes none!) We exchanged emails then we had a phone conversation! Too many people rely on texts and have forgotten the art of polite communication.I have loads of texts now from hospital, dentists, doctor appointments all alert you by text.I guess cheaper than postage fees and paying staff to type and file letters.
The next stage be an order by online form only and ship by courier the mind boggles

As I rarely switch on my mobile phone, a text is unlikely to reach me. For me, a mobile is carried for emergency use only, guess I'm showing my age.

My approach to breeders has been pretty much the same as saxonjus, although I wonder if Ive been a bit over windy sometimes and put a breeder off.

I've noticed adverts where you can only contact a breeder by email. 

Personally that would put me off as a potential buyer as I would prefer to speak to the breeder over the phone (if I don't know them) and then face to face.  But the world of puppy buying seems to have changed so much.

I don't have a mobile phone and there is no reception here anyway.

> I've noticed adverts where you can only contact a breeder by email.  <br />

I don't normally advertise as such, I have a website for the dogs, and let our breed club know of plans, very rarely used the KC or Petplan list, though never had a puppy enquiry from the latter, but do use their Puppy cover.

I must admit I prefer first contact by email much easier to get questions and answers in writing before speaking to someone.  Also much easier to put off unsuitable people at this stage.

I am loathe to give out my Telephone number until I am happy with the enquirer in principle.

Agree Brainless about email. You can get much more info from an e-mail as I always forget stuff on a phone call and am easily sidetracked (getting on a bit). I only advertise on KC website and Champdogs, when needed. Not advertised a litter for a while as I get enquiries all the time, however a text is unacceptable. I also had one a couple of months ago. "do you have pups?" answer "no" even though I did at the time. If people cannot be bothered, then neither can I.

Agree

I keep a 'Web presence' here on CD with a link to my own webpage .
I only list 2 champion bitches to show the type I breed and how extensively I health test.

Yesterday I had a phone call ..prompted by the caller viewing CD..
....asking if "Those two are for sale".

They are nearly 8 and nearly 6 !

I only have email as my phone will link to my business and thus my address.
I've however had many emails with really poor spelling asking for a 'mail' 'puppie'
And many asking for a male and how much.. I did start replying for them to tell me more about themselves which in general I wouldn't get a reply, now I'm telling them they are all reserved and as I can't be doing with these people.
I've had the same person contact me from various different emails and the reply has still been the same... Essentially they are all reserved pending meeting the remaining owners

I am loathe to give out my Telephone number until I am happy with the enquirer in principle.

I agree, I prefer first contact to be e-mail if possible, unfortunately, as I guess with most of us a lot if not most of our puppy enquiries will come via our previous puppy owners so they give out my phone number, humph!  It is inconvienient as with working from home it's a pain to get disturbed, running a household, family, half way through a shower (many times ) half way through a meal and of course having dogs to care for, don't people just always ring at the wrong time?

Still, guess that is what an answering machine is for, but alas if they call you by phone and leave you their number, you have to reciprocate by phone too, and those first questions and chatting can take upto an hour, so much easier by e-mail, copy and paste the questions, done in 2 mins, such a difference....... and then if happy the face to face meetings which I don't mind taking an hour or so.

As a buyer I am not to good on phone as get quite tongue-tied lol. So have always emailed the breeder as never wanted to disturb them never knowing what the right time to call. So introduced myself through email and then organise a time and day to call when they felt me right for their pups which means everyone happy. And find I'm more comfortable talking on the phone after a few emails between us.

Nessa

As I rarely switch on my mobile phone, a text is unlikely to reach me. For me, a mobile is carried for emergency use only, guess I'm showing my age.

I never give my mobile number out, the only people who have it are family and close friends. I had to give it to the KC when registering pups recently and they went and added it to my AB listing which I asked then to remove straight away please! This way I KNOW that unless the number that shows up when my mobile rings is in my address book and therefore has a name attached to it, it won't be anyone I want to speak to, and hence I simply do not answer.

I must admit I prefer first contact by email much easier to get questions and answers in writing before speaking to someone.  Also much easier to put off unsuitable people at this stage.

I am loathe to give out my Telephone number until I am happy with the enquirer in principle.

Agree 100 %. I also save every single e-mail I ever have received from a puppy buyer, so that I know exactly what was said initially. It's amazing how stories sometimes change all of a sudden, and unless you have it in writing, it can be hard to remember exactly what was said.

> As I rarely switch on my mobile phone, a text is unlikely to reach me. For me, a mobile is carried for emergency use only, guess I'm showing my age.

Oh how wonderful to hear this.  I am not the only person on the planet that doesn't have a mobile phone as an appendage to myself! 

You sound so normal.

>> As I rarely switch on my mobile phone, a text is unlikely to reach me. For me, a mobile is carried for emergency use only, guess I'm showing my age.<br />Oh how wonderful to hear this.  I am not the only person on the planet that doesn't have a mobile phone as an appendage to myself! 

>You sound so normal.

me too, and mine doesn't do fancy stuff, it phones and receives/sends texts not much else.

You have the same phone as me 

How wonderful to hear that there are so many normal folk out there.

As a puppy purchaser and not a breeder I myself have sent out similar messages.  It's my way of ascertaining the quality of the breeder I may have learned about.  Puppy buyers need to check out the breeder just as much as the breeder needs to check out the buyer.  If a breeder responds to such a cryptic message with Yes and details about how to send the down payment then they are off my list.  If they ask me a few questions or seem open to dialogue we may continue a conversation.  I am reluctant to reveal too much about myself at first because I need the breeder to question me so I can evaluate the breeder.

What kind of message would you prefer to receive as an enquiry about puppies?

ETA: I have assumed it's the brief wording that's objectionable, not the delivery method.  I myself might send my message by email or phone.

If a breeder responds to such a cryptic message with Yes and details about how to send the down payment then they are off my list.  If they ask me a few questions or seem open to dialogue we may continue a conversation.  I am reluctant to reveal too much about myself at first because I need the breeder to question me so I can evaluate the breeder.

You've got a point, but I for one would not reply to such a message, I would instantly discard it as unsuitable. People that give no details at first contact almost always turn out to be wrong for my pups, in fact I don't think I have ever sold a pup to such a person.

I did start replying to emails saying I want a female/male as how much. Though I asked them questions about them and not answered their question on price.
I then moved to all reserved and now I can't even be bothered to reply

gosh now I don't know how I would approach a breeder. in the past I have contacted by phone not txt ! then moved to emails if requested. you have all got me worried now. I don't think txting would be a method I would use though

Furriefriends I am sure that a lot of breeders prefer phonecalls and as many others prefer e-mails, so you can't go far wrong using either. If I advertise, I only give e-mail address as I prefer that (likewise on my own website and on CD), but my phone number is listed on the KC website so I have to take some calls. Text however I'd really not like.

Are you planning on another pup soon then? Lol
Always worth trying two methods d available email and phone x

Lol not for a few years yet  hamds more than full but I do like to plan

I have to say my much preferred first contact is email, I can then reply when it is convenient to me. I only had a phone call recently when I had only been back from a show about half an hour. I wasn't overly keen to talk puppies at that time(I don't have any either), so probably didn't come over very well. Whereas if I received an email I would have replied when ready.

I need an email to tell me a little about themselves as even if I don't have pups I need to be sure if I'm passing on someone whom is a potential puppy owner I would consider or not.

As someone that suffers from social anxiety, I find picking up the phone quite daunting. I prefer to email or facebook message with people rather than call as I that can send me into a panic attack when I don't know a person. However, when I do message/email I do introduce myself properly, my dogs/cats tell them a bit about where I live etc before asking about puppies/stud dogs or whatever. Once I have exchanged a few emails I am more than happy to talk to someone on the phone, just for me that initial contact is quite difficult.

I have received texts before regarding puppies/kittens and I often reply "please email me (insert email address) with more about yourself and what you are looking for" If they bother to email I can normally work out whether they are likely to be good homes or not.

> I have received texts before regarding puppies/kittens and I often reply "please email me (insert email address) with more about yourself and what you are looking for"

I have done the same referred them to my website (and boy I hate texting out a web address) and to email me after.  so far none of these have ever done so ;)