After months of looking for a puppy we have been in touch with a breeder who has a new litter. After my initial excitement it suddenly dawned on me that during the current lockdown rules I would be unable to meet the pup or ( if lockdown continues) eventually pick it up. Common sense tells me that its a shot in the dark to rely on photos and videos but I just wondered if anyone has bought a puppy without meeting it in the flesh (or fur) beforehand.

DaisyW:> I just wondered if anyone has bought a puppy without meeting it in the flesh (or fur) beforehand.

As a reputable Breeder I had a litter ready to leave early December 2020 whilst in a locked down part of the UK.  Although my 'allocated'
New Puppy Owners had been vetted well before the mating of the parents, I had a larger than expected litter and had 2 puppies available.
I had to rely entirely on telephone calls, videos, zoom and weekly emails with the other two interested parties and had to trust my intuition
as they had to trust theirs.

It's a two way street and holds you in good stead to build trust well before collection/delivery date when either party still have the opportunity
to pull out.

I bought, twice, from breeders when we lived overseas and needed new stock.   However, in both cases, I KNEW the breeders and they knew me so knew what I wanted.  The first was my foundation bitch and I went to the breeder of the sire of my second hound and his breeder went to her so between them, they could choose what bitch of that litter would be best to send to me.   They got it right.   The second was a male I wanted/needed for his bloodlines so again with photos only (it was before vids.) I bought him.   She was 5 months at the time she joined us, and he was 7 months, so not small puppies and it was fairly obvious how good both were.

Buying a puppy and meeting breeders surely can't be considered 'essential travel' at the moment although as I understand it, delivery companies can pick up and deliver puppies.   If you want to risk not seeing the puppy or meeting the breeders beforehand ok.

This is only my view. I would not be happy never meeting a breeder and pups unless I had previously known them .
Its such a difficult market atm full of scams and high prices for me photos videos etc arnt enough.  I would need at least one meeting to see exactly what was what .
As for rules it only an opinion but I too don't see that puppy purchase would be seen as animal welfare .given that the authorities are said to be clamping down it would be a risk and even then u would have to do the transaction outside the home for safety

I did with my current male.

BUT I knew the sire and dam of the puppies in the flesh. I had judged them both in stakes classes at our clubs championship show.

I have known the owner of the stud for over twenty years she bred the last stud I used as well, I knew the stud parents and grandparents in the flesh.

I knew the mother her parents and grandparents in the flesh, I knew the breeder for over twenty years.

I know the breeder of the puppies for over fifteen years and she also knows me this is the important thing we all know each other our dogs by name even.

But to buy one of someone I don't know never in these circumstances

It must be very hard for buyers at the moment and very easy for scammers and dodgy breeders. If buying a puppy unseen in the fur there will always be a risk especially if you don't know the breeder already.
If you do to ahead with buying a puppy during the lockdown I would want a number of vedio calls with the breeder and their puppies and dogs. As otherwise the photos and vedio clips could have been pinched from somewhere.
If it was me I'd likely wait and see what happens with the lockdown and use the time to find a breeder rather than a puppy and get on their waiting list.

We have decided to put our search on hold for the time being.  Our little dog died earlier in the year and choosing and meeting her for the first time (14 years ago) is a lovely memory. When we went to meet the litter, she chose us! We also met and were fussed over by her friendly Mum and Dad. She proved to be a wonderful, happy, loving and loyal little dog. Im probably sentimental but I think I have to meet my future pup in the flesh before committing.

You could also check a breeders reputation within breed circles.

Do they belong to Breed clubs, Canine Societies etc.

Some I am sure would be able to put you in touch with former puppies that are happy to provide reassurance.

I bought Finn Norwegian Buhund by recommendation from Breed club. Breeder was highly regarded in breed. Very few puppies born each year as well, so choice did not come into it.

It seems that in addition to not being able to see the pups but the cost of a pup seems to have increased by 150% in the last 10 months (very disheartening and unjust.  I was searching and waited until now (as my children are old enough) but feel priced out of the market.  It seems that simply buying a puppy now is a rich man's game, almost like buying a porche!

Right now with restrictions puppy viewers can't enter into a breeders home or garden.
What could be done is a pen out the front if the house in a public place and 1 or 2 pups in there to view by the breeders home.
Not ideal but there is no legal way of doing it another way.

We have given up for the time being. The price of our breed (miniature schnauzer) is starting to edge up again since start of latest lockdown. It would seem very few puppies are being bred by reputable breeders. Lots available on P4H. We have contacted a few on this site but as soon as we asked about health checks we hear no more.