I thought I'd share my recent experience with other breeders...

While I was out today I received a call on my mobile from a chap asking if I bred dogs.  I replied yes & asked him if he was looking for a puppy as I presumed that is why he was ringing.  He replied that he didn't want a puppy but wanted to see my dogs & referred to one by his pet name.  I asked him why he wanted to see my dog if he wasn't interested in a puppy or a stud.  He said he just wanted to see him & was standing outside my house!  We live out in the country & by now I could hear my dogs barking like mad in the background.  As you can imagine I was starting to panic by now wondering why this stranger was outside my house & what was going on with my dogs.  I also had two 7 week old puppies in the house which I feared for as well.  (No I'm not advertising as they're reserved!)  I proceeded to tell this chap that maybe he should have contacted me first before visiting my house so that we could discuss his requirements.  I told him that I had no plans of breeding another litter during the next year & he said that he had a 9 year old GSD that might die one day & he might want another.  He went quite defensive when I started to ask more questions & hung up with my dogs still barking in the background.
By now I was convinced he was outside stealing all the dogs & I would come home to an empty house.  I rung my nearest neighbour who is also a vet & asked her if she would rush up to the house & check up on him.  I then sped home as fast as I could.
When I arrived home he was outside chatting with my neighbour.  I said to him, don't you think it would have been courteous to phone first, & he replied 'don't bother I'm off'! & drove away.  Apparently he'd told my neighbour that he'd come from Cheltenham or something like that & had been to West Wales to see some dogs & decided to call on me on the way back.
Now don't get me wrong, I love to meet people & the dogs don't mind it either, but my dogs were clearly unhappy with whatever he was doing while I was away.  Furthermore, I like to speak to people first before inviting them to visit me to check they're the sort of people I would like to own one of my pups or raise one of my dog's litters.  I certainly wouldn't deal with anyone who just 'arrived' off the street.  To make matters worse, a Spaniel puppy on the next farm was stolen last weekend, so I'm totally paranoid at the moment.
Maybe this chap was genuine, but he certainly needs to learn the correct etiquette when dealing with breeders.  How many times are unscrupulous breeders slagged off?  What about the unscrupulous public?
Anyway, if this was a lucky escape & he is up to no good, then other breeders should be made aware.  He was well spoken, although drove a scruffy old car.  There was a woman with him.  He must have got my details from this site as it's the only site that displays my mobile number (which I've now removed).
If anyone else has had any similar experiences then please let others know.

Nicola

Admin edit

I wouldn't display your address you never no what freaks are out there...If they are that interested they can always call....I no when I had people come see my litter I always had hubby home or my mom over just to be safe...One time a guy came over who seemed very nice on the phone and I was the only one home so I brought Taz and Cuervo's in, I felt much better with my two big dogs in the house.

Yes that would of had me worried and I would of freaked out as well he had NO right to be on your property without your say so, never mind being around your dogs.

Since your dogs are outside do you have locks on their runs and maybe an alarm to be on the safe side? Sorry I'm always pariniod about stuff like that. I do hope all is ok now :)

Hi Nicola

Personally I would remove your home address from your website too as there is a link to that from your Champdogs profile. There are just too many creeps around these days unfortunately so the only contact details on a personal website should be an email address.

Karen

I think you're right to be suspicious I certainly would have been.  I'd also keep very vigilant for a long while yet.  Good luck :)

Thanks for the advice everyone.  I'm now removing my personal details from display & keeping a watch out.

Nicola

Hi Nichola

Did you make a note of his description, the registration number or make and colour of car and ask the police to make a record of it?  Do you have a note of his mobile phone number?.

The theory being, the more suspicious incidents and actual incidents we report the less excuse the plice will have to keep cutting their numbers - and it might help catch someone doing something at some point

Hi Christine,

Call me dopey, but the only details I have are what I've already written, although I do have a record of his mobile number on my phone.  I was more interested in getting in & checking my dogs than recording details.  Once my husband saw that they were all ok I then proceeded to give him a piece of my mind, but he really wasn't interested & just wanted to go.  If anything else suspicious occurs I'm sure my neighbour will have a better description of him as she kept him chatting for a while.  She's a bit naieve (sp?) & thought she was doing me a good turn by telling him how wonderful my dogs were & that she was sure I wouldn't mind him seeing them!  She was horrified when I told her what I really thought his motives were.
You read so much of dog / puppy thefts in the papers that we all must really watch out.
We questioned the police once about how we stood if someone got onto our property uninvited & the dogs bit them.  They replied that we'd really be in the sh*t & the dogs would probably have to be destroyed.  That's the law for you!  I'm afraid I wouldn't have much faith in them in this instance.

Nicola