Hi
Some time ago I placed a deposit down for a puppy due to be born in the winter since that time I have had my doubts about the breeder and have also found the perfect puppy.  Obviously I have to let the other breeder know that I am not taking a puppy from them but sent them a deposit some time ago.  Will I get the deposit back.
Has this happened to anybody else?

hope someone comes along with more info for you ..I personally would never take a deposit on a puppy not even born !

If the puppy hasn't been born, or wasn;t at the time I would expect any reasonable person to return your deposit.  I hope you have let them know that you have found another puppy.  You will simply have to ask.

I have never taken a deposit unless there were pups already born, so that I knew whether they were spoken for when I get other enquiries.  In that case I would expect to keep the deposit if the new owner changed their minds to cover the cost of readvertising, and time wasted.

Simply, the answer is no, unless of course the breeder feels extra generous.  The moment you paid a deposit you entered into an agreement with the breeder to purchase a puppy.  By not going ahead with the purchase you have broken the contract between you and the breeder.
It is not advisable to leave a deposit unless you have seen the puppy and are 100% certain that you will not change your mind other wise you have to forfeit your deposit.

sorry to butt in... but is it normal pracitice to take a deposit on a litter not born ? 

I wouldn't but some people do. 

In my own breed people have traditionally never taken deposits, and some have only recently started doing so because of time wasters becoming more common, and finding that at collection time the new owners had changed their minds, got a puppy of another breed etc. 

This leaves the breeder who may have been passing surplus enquiries on to other breeders in the position of having to advertise the pup, which with the specialist press will mean another couple of weeks before advert is printed, time which would be best spent in a pups new home.

I find taking a deposit means that new owner is sure they are getting their pup, and the breeder is more certain that the prospective buyer is serious.

When people have come to see the pups at about 5 weeks then I will take deposits, if for any reason after that time they change there minds I would return the deposit if, I still had people waiting on the list but if not then the deposit would go to readvertising and keeping the puppy untill a new home was found

If the pups have not been born how can you know how many pups will be born and therefore how many deposits to take?

that what i thought!!!!  I don't take deposits as i would hate to think that someone would only cone back because they had put money down on a pup .... just the way i do things :)

I agree with you Brainless, the breeder i am getting my new pup takes one deposit when the pups are born and a second deposit when the pups are 4 weeks old and will only return the deposit if the pup dies whilst in her care..She too has been let down in the past with time wasters and then having to try good homes for the pups that are left..All pups from the recent litter have been sold..

Jane..