Hello--I have visited the Champdogs site often and am wondering if the breeders here are averse to selling a dog to someone who lives in the United States.  I have sent a specific breeder a couple of EMAILs with specific background regarding myself, my home environment, the fact I am in the States and explained that I have interest in their older Terrier male puppy (who I believe would be the perfect companion to our current 5-year-old Terrier bitch) but have received no response. I understand the costs of shipping and am willing to pay for this.  I think it's rude that I receive no communication at all; even a "no thanks" would be appreciated.  What are your thoughts, breeders?  Thanks in advance---

Not necessarily I'd say. Breeders are just like ordinary people, something may have come up and they didn't check their email or similar. One very successful breeder I know who regularly breeds champions in more than one breed, can have bad days/weeks when they drink.... Someone like her could have put up an advert and then forgotten about it...

Not everyone is willing to export, some are some arnt. Some people don't reply to enquiries if they are not interested, I've had it happen to me when I was looking for a breeder. But you cant take the behaviour of one breeder here as representative of all the breeders.
I would contact another breeder. But if your looking for a companion you may find it easier to not import, the breeder may think your email is from a scammer hence the no reply or they could just be rude.

Personally I only export if it is to somebody I already know, or who comes recommended by somebody I trust. The reason being that should the dog ever need to be rehomed, it would be extremely difficult to get it back if it is in another country. But I do reply to enquiries and explain this, and recommend breeders who are happy to export.

Apart from one time, (accompanied, and to a friend of a friend in Norway), I used to turn down any export enquiries too. I worried what would happen if the puppy didn't match expectations, and I really do not like the idea of unaccompanied journeys. I did reply to enquirers though, saying that I was honoured to be asked, and explaining why I would not supply a puppy. It is only manners to do that much.

Also remember that email is not the most reliable form of communication, your emails could have got sent to a spam folder, lost in the vastness somewhere. If you're really interested in a pup from this specific breeder call them.

As somebody who lived for a while in Canada, importing into Canada from the UK when needed, I can say that the breeder (British) of my foundation bitch HATED exporting her puppies/youngsters and usually only did if she knew the people (as was the case with me).   I wanted a good bitch intending to mate her to my second UK bred hound and knowing that, she had the breeder of my second hound 'help' her decide which would be the best of two she had available, to send to me.   That's the ONLY way I'd have got her to send me anything.   And it was done by phone, NOT by email!!   She much preferred all her buyers, domestic or elsewhere, to visit and choose the pup they wanted!   Quite sensible if you think about it as it avoided 'disappointment' when opening the travel crate!!  As was the case for me with another pup (7 months when he arrived in Canada) who I'd bought from another UK breeder I'd known for years, having been sent photos.   He wasn't really as good as I'd hoped BUT he was really bought for his bloodlines, much as he did gain his Can.Ch. and ended up back of all our subsequent litters, both Canadian-bred and back in the UK.

Many breeders will export to the US, but equally, many won't.   However not to answer an email is bad manners in my eyes, but perhaps your email didn't arrive, or perhaps as she has nothing available, she's simpy not bothered to tell you so.    If you really want her specific lines, why not phone!!

ps    It is the holiday season right now, and even if she's not away, if she boards, she may be ultra busy and equally not have anything available.   A quick email to that effect would be polite tho.!

Thank you all for your responses!  I do understand all of the concerns that were brought up.  I do want to mention that my emails were sent through the Champdogs site so I can’t inagine them going to a spam folder.  We have had 2 Welsh Terriers (and currently have our Welsh Terrier bitch) as well as an Irish Wolfhound in our household since 1983 and in fact one of our Welshies did come from a Champdogs breeder.  I will continue to try your community for a dog and give a call this week.  Again, thanks again!

I found my breeder through Champdogs and we moved very quickly to a normal email address. The impression I got was that the contact function isn't hugely good. It's very very old type web design used here.

If there's a phone number I'd try that. If not then perhaps another email in a few weeks time in case they are just on holiday.

>The impression I got was that the contact function isn't hugely good.

The contact function works just fine The problem arises when members do not add Champdogs.co.uk to their safe senders list and, have over zealous spam filters in place (either their own or in most cases their Internet Service Provider's). ISP spam filters will pick up on all sorts of words and bin them, but they seem to really go in to meltdown if the word 'bitch' is included in the email title Members are advised to make sure that they add Champdogs to their safe sender list and they are also advised to check their Champdogs mailbox (link on My Account menu) on a regular basis (copies of all emails sent and received are placed there) just in case something has been added to their own junk folder.

Breeders ignore emails for all sorts of reasons and far to many to list here. We can not force breeders to reply to emails but recommend that they acknowledge them if nothing else. That's basic manners after all ..

> I do want to mention that my emails were sent through the Champdogs site so I can’t inagine them going to a spam folder.

Actually I have had those go into Spam. Not very tech savvy, so don't know how to add someone to safe list until after I have accidentally found them in Spam.

>so don't know how to add someone to safe list

Google came up with these help options. You just need to narrow it down to your ISP and/or the email client you use.