hi all

I will be finding out later this week if my bitch is with pup.  I am getting her scanned next weekend.  i have already had people getting in touch with me mostly by email about the up and coming litter.  i have told them all to phone as i rather talk to someone to see if they are real interested in them.
what i wanted to know is what other people on Champdog ask
i ask:
about the house
about the garden
how many people live in the house
do they have children and what age
do they work
will there be some1 at home most/all of the day
do they have any other dog/animals
i think that is about it so what do other ask as i would like a few more question
thank you all

Hi,
I always ask if they've had a dog of this breed before, if not have they ever had a dog before, if so, what was it, how old was it when it died, what did it die of etc. What they expect the dog's role will be in their life.
Hope this helps.
:)

Whenever we get contacted about litters we always ask why are you buying a Stafford as a lot of the time they want a showdog but at 6 weeks old when they first come to view the litter it is not always certain that the dogs will have show quality even if they are CH to CH bred. You should be selling your puppies as pets FIRST and if the dogs happen to have show potential then it is a bonus to the buyer. Find out from the buyer if they have any knowledge of the breed and if not try to tell them as much as you can, good points (the cuddles, the noises etc) and bad points (stealing food, jumping on the bed with muddy paws, barking at three in the morning when a fox or cat is in the garden) as it is better for someone not to take a puppy off you than bring it back in four weeks and say they are not compatible with their lifestyle. We usually ask to have photo's sent to us once every 6 months or so just to see how or boys and girls are getting on. Ask the same questions over and over until you get the answers you want. If someone changes there story about where they live or how long someone is at home for then I'd tell them that you don't want to sell a puppy to them. As a breed that is seen as being vicious it is so important that the Stafford doesn't fall into the wrong hands and used for any illegal practice as certain European countries such as Germany are trying to outlaw the Staff. Good luck with the scans anyway and hopefully you will soon have a few sore toes from all the nipping.

hi,also ask how much they "holiday" & what provisions they will make for your dog if they dont take him!

Ask if they would be getting the puppy insured, and what health checks they are looking for, this should give you some idea what research they have done into the breed they want.

My questionnaire is as follows:
1.  Why have you chosen to have an ********? 
2.  What attracted you to the breed? 
3.  Please indicate whether you intend to show your puppy, or participate in some other working
             activity - for example, working trials, obedience or agility, etc. 
4.  Do you have any experience in any of these fields? 
5.  As part of the sale agreement, I intend to put the following breeding restrictions on each puppy:--  2 eye tests to be undertaken, 1 at 12 months, 1 at 2 years- Hip scored at 12 months, score to be
             no more than 11-  Clear elbow score.Are you happy to accept these restrictions? 
6.          Do you have plans for the future, with regards to breeding from your ******? 
7.  The sale agreement also contains the restriction that the puppy must not be exported - are you
             happy to accept this restriction? 
8.  What facilities do you have at home to meet the needs of an active *****? 
9.  How large is your garden and is it well fenced? 
10.  What exercise facilities are available to you? 
11.  Do you have any childrenIf so:How many?Aged? 
12.  Will they be taught that a puppy needs lots of rest while it is growing, and that it is a living
              creature to be respected, and allowed its own space? 
13  Do you have any other dogs?If so:How many?What breeds?Are they of good temperament? 
14.  Will the puppy be left on its own during the day? 
15.  If yes, will there be someone available to let it out on a regular basis? 
16.  Will the puppy be caged (crated) penned, or kennelled for its own safety when it is left on its own?
             If yes, please state which 
17.  Will the dog live in the house with you, or will it be kennelled? 
18.  Finally, if for any reason, you find that you are unable to keep the puppy or adult dog, do you 
             agree to offer it back to me in the first instance? 

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire - it is important to us to know that our puppies are going to the best homes possible!   We have put a lot of love and energy into our dogs, and we need to know that the homes they are going to will do the same.

Hope this is of help!

Hi Lokis mum

thank you for that it is very help full i may borrow a few thing of you :D

i also think that the going on holidays is a good one

In my experience the honest ones also tend to give this information freely themselves :)

Agree with your questionnaire apart from one thing - which I'm sure has been brought up before

'If for any reason I am unable to keep the dog I will return it'

I got my baby from breed rescue and signed a similar agreement but I'll be honest - if anything happens to me he goes to my mother, my sis or my best mate.  I told that to the person who handed him over and she said ' don't worry - that'll happen'. 

Makes a bit of a mockery of the agreement - to be realistic, most dog lovers will already have a prefectly suitable 'new' owner should the problem arise and they are signing the agreement because they love the dog.

I'll tell you now that my lad wouldn't be taken out of this family or I'll haunt whoever did it.  And I don't care what I've signed.

If anything happened to me, Joe, my two would go back to the breeders.  My family are all nice people and quite a few of them are dog lovers but it doesn't necessarily follow that my dogs would be right for them, after all if they had wanted that breed wouldn't they have one by now?  Personally, I would prefer their breeders to find them a new home with someone that specifically wanted them rather that give them to family to care for out of a sense of duty.  However if any of my puppies owners landed in difficulties and felt there was a member of their family or friends keen to take over, then of course I would be happy to give my blessing.

Wow Lokis Mum I'm very impressed!!  I was actually surprised when I got copper that the guy that had him firstly asked me if I had a garden, if I worked full time and if I had honestly thought seriously about having a dog.  I said yes yes yes (all were true but I could have lied).  I thought he might have checked me out but he just put the dog in my arms and said good luck with him.  Copper couldn't have a better life but I could have been just anyone (well I probably am just anyone :D)  I don't think you can ever vet anyone 100%  but you have to do the best you can. 

CG

Oops I just read my own post and I actually don't work full time - only part time and thats why I got the doggie in the first place.

CG

Hi....

From a buyers point of view....

We were asked a lot of questions, but asked even more heh. That was after researching what breed appeared to be suitable for us at this point in our family life. We have been dog owners but this was a new breed to us.

We were also very keen to visit the pups where we could see the mother - [father we didn't, but were happy with that as he is an easily reseachable dog and kennel].

As a buyer taking on a pup for life distance was very low down on our priority list - as it happened we couldn't have gone much further heh. I often see people saying they want a breeder in this or that area, or this or that county... while that is a nice to have, I personally would wonder why someone put that as a 'must'. Not saying all those posters have it as a must, am sure for many it's a preference ;).

Bottom line, the more questions I was asked the more comfortable I felt - it gave me the impression that the breeder cared about thier dogs and that says it all.

Finally, I would suggest that a reason for the questions is given - as a long time dog owning family I understand the reasons, someone else may not... after all it's for the protection of the dog and for the family and if explained in that way up front before the first question it doesn't come across as a 3rd degree.

Good luck with the pups ;)

regards Dave

The other thing is to go off your instincts.in the past the one person i had my doubts about turned out to be a real pain in the neck, complaining that the pup was biting when she was mouthing etc.if you have any bad feelings about any of the buyers dont sell to them..that;s what we have instincts for.Good luck!!

Hello I'd second that Miloos, but as a purchaser I would say don't buy from a breeder who you feel iffy about, one who doesn't ask anything other than how you are going to pay.

Most potential puppy owners I think expect to be vetted in some way. I did and was. But it was all done through chat.

Karen

Natalie
I think any decent new owner will quiz you too :)

the fac t that someone worked full time would not automatically preclude it- depending upon the answers to the next questions,we have sold  to people who work fulltime:  it all depends upon how far forward people have thought through the details of actually owning a puppy!   Lets face it - a mum of 3 (under 5) young children may be at home all day, but may not have as much time to devote to a puppy as a full time worker who is prepared to have someone do some puppy walking in the middle of the day, but who can then devote all time at both ends of the working day!

We (my OH and 2 Kippers and me) all work full time, but because of judicious arrangement of that full time working means that our dogs are left for a maxium of 3 hours per day at any time - and even then, I'm arranging for puppy socialisation to take place  with our "labbie babbie".    It just needs working out!

Margot (and apologies for any mistypes - I've split red wine on my keybaord - what a waste!!")

I have also homed puppies (and vetted and passed people to Rescue) to people who work fulltime. There are many jobs where you can take the dog with you! Shift-workers often work complementary shifts so that the dog is not left unattended all day. This is where the 'third degree' questioning is vital.
:)

thanks Lel

i would worry if they did not ask many questions,

Lokis Mum....do you mind if I ask a question.I dont breed so I have never had hip scores done on my dogs.Would you expect everyone who had one of your puppies to have them hip scored regardless of whether they were going to breed from them ,if so for what reason.
Thankyou

It would be lovely if all the puppies could be hip scored as having them all done would give a much clearer picture of the scores the parents are producing.  Unfortunately it is an expensive proce3dure, one requiring a general anasthetic and owners son't want them put under for no benefit that they can see to their dog.