Four weeks ago we brought a lovely puppy, the breeders confirmed at the time of sale that it was vet checked and healthy & wormed,they also paid for vaccinations.However we feel that we have been mislead by these people as we have found the puppy to have faults, it was sold to us as a pet.We have been in touch with the breeders who seem upset with us they have offered for us to take the puppy back and our money be refunded is this reasonable for ethical breeders to do this?,or is it a sign of guilt that we feel let down by these people?

first what are the faults,

Of course its reasonable it proves they are caring responsible breeders!!  After four weeks of you owning the puppy be glad that they have offered to take the puppy back and refund your money!!

i think they are reasonable breeders to take the puppy and a refund your money,not guilty,and it depends on the faults.where they health issues that arrive when the pup was born or rasied,or one,s that have come to light since you have had the puppy.?????

Good Lord, what more do you want??

You are not happy with the baby they sold you, they had it vet checked and paid for the innoculation etc.  So it has faults, it might interest you to know that the perfect dog has yet to be born, all dogs have faults to some degree or another. You were not buying a washing machine or a car!!!  If the puppy has health issues, then they are not fault so much as their vet who checked the puppies.

They have offered  to take the puppy back and refund your money, can't think of anything else that anyone can do.

and yes as an ethical breeder that is exactly what I would do in similar circumstances!!!!!

If you are not happy let them have the puppy back, get your money back and buy a stuffed toy :-D

Ditto !!!

It doesn't sound to me that the breeder has anything to feel guilty about. It would have been helpful to know what it is that you consider a fault, and just what impact the 'fault' would have on a pet puppy. However it is normal practise for breeders to take back puppies that are, for whatever reason, being parted with by the buyer. It is something that is to be aplauded.

You could join the board and discuss further if you like, it's free.

Dawn R.

You need to specify what sort of faults you mean. If you mean comformation, and it is meant as a pet, does it really matter? It is difficult to tell if a puppy is 'perfect' anyway because they are so young, any breeder will tell you that. My dog turned out to be overshot and his tongue hangs out all the time - cute as a pup, but he looks a bit daft now. But he isn't going in the show ring so who cares? To be honest, from what you have said, I'm not suprised the breeders are upset with you if you want to get rid of your "lovely puppy" just because it's got faults, whatever they are. Sounds to me like they are happy to refund the money and take the pup back because they aren't happy leaving it with someone with your attitude. Sorry if I have misread what you mean, but I can only go on what you wrote and you query seems really strange to me. It is a puppy, not a toy brought from Tescos that is sent back because it's not what you expected.

Claire

I do hope that you return your puppy to the breeders.  They must be very worried to think that their baby is living with people who don't think it's the best thing since sliced bread!
There isn't a dog born that is perfect - not even Champions.  No wonder they are upset!

I agree that you did need to specify what faults in your original post, because it reads as faults according to a breed standard which, if the pup was sold as a pet, surely does not matter? :)

I would not expect a perfect dog from a pup anyway because you never know how it will turn out as it grows. One of my most special boys had a couple of faults but he was the most wonderful loving and faithful companion.

If however you are referring to some other faults, maybe medical, that is a bit different but i still feel the breeders are acting very fairly.

Lindsay
X

I am sorry, but what were you expecting, perfection?. I paid a lot of money for a pup from Nor. & Int. Champion. specifically to show, as he developed so did a few faults, one of which meant getting marked down in the ring, so he is no longer shown. But to me, he is perfect, he is a pet and a much loved part of the family, I would never dream of giving him back to the very well respected breeder. I met her at a show and spoke of his faults and she offered to have him back, I refused. Do the pup a favour and give him back to the breeder, he deserves better!!!!!!!

Kay

Well said Kay - my thought exactly.

I agree with you kayc, if i was the breeder i think that i would of gone and collected the pup and given them the money back straight away,

I agree with everyone else, what more can they do?  If the 'faults' are mere show-ring faults, what do they matter as you say you bought the pup as a pet?  If you judge the pup to have character faults then that could be more to do with your inexperience (everyone makes mistakes with their first puppy).  If they are health problems that have taken a month to develop, then how could the breeders have known what would develop a month down the line (especially if the pups were checked by a vet). 

I don't understand what you expect the breeders to do?  Why do you feel that by giving you a full refund they are not being fair?  I'm not trying to judge you, but without more details it is impossible to give more than an obvious answer. 

I once had someone who bought a puppy, then rang me 3 years later saying he didn't want the dog anymore, and could he have his money back plus a contribution towards his costs for rearing him!  He was convinced he was in the right in asking this.  If I didn't agree he said he was quite prepared to take him out in the country and shoot him.  Oh and by the way he had mated him to a rescue bitch belonging to his friend, with no papers, and could I sell the pups on their behalf because they were having trouble getting buyers who would pay "a decent price". 

You see, it's not always the breeder who is the baddie.

To be honest, I read it that the guest has discovered health problems with the pup - perhaps a heart problem or something? It also sounds to me as if they are questioning the breeders actually having the pup vet checked? It also sounds like they have fallen in love with the pup and don't want to give it back - even for a refund?

Indeed you could be right Chloe, but my own response was to the actual question asked. Which was, 'is it ethical for breeders to offer to take back a puppy and give a refund' or 'is it a sign that the breeder is feeling guilty'. As I said it would be worth debating the point if we could be told what faults were causing the consern.

It's not a term I would use to describe health problems, but maybe thats just me, my background is showing, so faults to me are conformational and therefor not usually an issue in a pet puppy.

I hope the guest registers and joins the conversation.

Dawn R.

Hi Chloe, after your response, I read and re-read op's message, and I still read it as faults. If it were a health problem, surely it would have been appropriate to say this. Maybe it is just me but a puppy either has conformation faults, or health problems, both very seperate issues.

Guest, why not join the forum.

Oops, very nearly ditto Dawn :)

fair enough... i was looking from a slightly different perspective in that they sound like a novice dog owner to me so perhaps wouldn't use "faults" in the dog-context - if you know what I mean? I've confused myself now :D