How do you breeders know that your potential puppy owners are telling the truth?  I recently purchased a puppy and it was worse than a job interview question wise.  I must have passed as she let me buy my pup.  I tried to be totally honest, didn't hide the fact that I already had 3 dogs (could have done quite easily).  We live 3 hours apart so it wasn't like she could just pop round to inspect me.  Somebody could tell a load of porkies, a breeder sell a puppy believing its going to a loving forever home but that might not be the case.  Do you just go on instinct?  Do you ask trick questions?  Just interested, as hopefully won't be buying another puppy for a very long time as mine are all still youngsters.

I would generally consider a person already owning dogs as being a plus point (as long as they weren't young pups).

It really ahs to be gut instinct and trying to ask the right questions. 

Hi Sheltpap,

As Brainless says a lot is down to gut instinct when having a conversation with prospective owners.  I was a very anxious "mum" re. new owners but all went to homes which either were experienced in the breed and so either already known to me or other breeders who could vouch for them plus I had home checks and a vet reference done on two where the owners were unknown to me completely but who I'd decided I liked :P  Having said that, I also had a lot of contact with prospective owners before they were allowed to have a puppy and several visits to see how they got along with the pups and also with my adults :)  I often find my dogs to be a better judge of character than most people ;)

It was vitally important IMO that as a breeder I felt I could have a good rapport with new owners because I wanted to help as much as possible to get over the many hurdles faced in the first few months of socialising and training and also wanted them to feel comfortable and encouraged to keep me updated.  Just over a year later everyone keeps in touch either in person or by emailing pics or a quick phone call.   Regards, Teri

Thanks.  I too like to keep in touch with the breeders and will actually be meeting up with one of them next week at an agility event.  I love to show them off and it's nice for her to see how they're doing.  Photographs and a quick note are a must every Christmas too. 

What really strikes me is the fact that a lot of breeder will say they wouldn't sell a pup to someone whos has never had a dog (or aeven a dog of the same breed). I bought my first sheltie 14 months ago, i had dogs before but not shelties and my husband has never had dogs before, i think we're doing ok but I feel very lucky that the 2 breeders i found trusted us enough to give us one of their pups

I understand what you're saying Ludivine, but IMHO there are some breeds of dog that shouldn't be given to novice owners. Particularly some of the larger guarding breeds. Of course the same can be said for any breed that hasn't been brought up correctly but I'd rather deal with an out of control westie than say a bullmastiff - which before anyone shouts at me is a breed I love :)  In the same way that you wouldn't recommend an arab horse for a novice rider. I have a litter of 3 week old border collies at the moment, they are all going to people who have had collies before and understand how they need to be kept mentally and physically entertained. An exception would have been made for a genuine dog person but I wouldn't let one of them go as a first dog - just my opinion and I don't mean to cause offence :)

I think you're probably right Chaumsong. My 2 older dogs were my first dogs, and as they are spaniels they are reasonably easy to manage. I know they aren't the best behaved dogs around, but they aren't the worst either. The only thing I might say about the breeders is that one of them was happier to let me have my puppy when I admitted to buying another puppy of another breed, and as I have now found out, 2 puppies the same age can often be a mistake! But I think they would have been ok if I hadn't bought the bitch puppy!

Hi LucyD, it's a mistake that is really very common. I only found out on this forum that other people think getting two pups at the same time is a bad idea. From my own experience I would agree but some breeders I know still recommend two pups - to entertain each other!

These are not generally responsible breeders, as the chances of rehoming being needed for one or both of the pups is higher when there are two, but that kind of breeder doesn''t take back pups, and is more than hapy to get two pups sold in one go.

A good breeder want sto load the dio e as far as is humanly possible for the pups to end up in a god lifelong home.  For this reason many will restrict the kind of people that can have pups. 

For example it is possible to work and own a dog, but most people haven't got or don't realise the long term commitment this will entail to put the dog first when they are not at work, early morning walks, daycare for the pup, restricted social life etc.  Not to mention neighbour problems if the puppy sufers from seperation anxiety.

People with small children may be under pressure and when something has to give it is going to be the dog not the child.

Two pups or dogs too close in age ans again more work strain and stress, not to mention destruction to the home and yep the dog is the one to get moved on.

Inexpereinced owners with large gurading breeds, get it wrong in their upbringing and the only choice may be euthanasia for the dog, not what the breeder who loves their dogs would want.

It is in the breeders own best interest that as far as is possible the first home is the last home.

It is no joke taking back, rehabilitationg, and then trying to find a new expereinced home for a returned dog that will inevitably have some issues.  Not to mention that it may not fit into your own canine family.  You may like me not have segreagation facilities, so a dog that doesn't get on well with others, or a male when you have in season bitches will mean finding somewhere to boarde the dog.

A lot of people think it's because of my bitch puppy, but they lived with her for 2 months before it started, and I think the trigger was partly her, partly us splitting the two boys up for separate holidays for 4 days, and partly just their age. I will never let anyone have a puppy if they already have one, if I ever breed!