Hi, just wanted some thoughts from you all on whether you would be happy to sell a pup to a couple who already have two dogs. The dogs are of the same breed as mine so i know that they are experienced in the breed but wonder if it is a good idea. Their present dogs are aged 8 and 6 so are not youngsters and are one of each sex. I just think its a lot to cope with but I also think that they must know what they are letting themselves in for. Its strange cause I have sold one of my pups to a couple that have not got a dog and I feel totally at ease about it as they just seemed right.

Are you worried about the situation or is it a niggling feeling you have that this home isnt right?????
Lea :)

I do go a lot on instinct so....if your instinct is raising such questions as would seem from your post, then I think I would look long and hard at this couple....what is it you are unsure of, I wonder - their handling of the puppy?   The way they talk about the other two?  

Can you talk to someone else in your breed who might know them better than you?

Margot

I'm not a breeder but I know many people on here have more than 2 dogs together living in harmony whom they enjoy and love greatly :)  Do you know whether or not the couple have had 3 or more dogs together?  Maybe they are wanting the 'new addition' to grow to be a good companion for their 6yr old for the time when the 8yr old heads over the "rainbow bridge".  Personally I believe that if the couple are in a good financial situation, have a suitable home, are in good health, provide plenty of exercise/playtime/mental stimulation for their existing dogs and treat them with the utmost care as well as give them an abundance of love then why couldn't they do it with 3?

I agree with peewee. we are thinking of the same thing ourselves ours are
4 and 7 short lived dogs 10/12 yr lifespan so yes, we will be looking to find a pup in about
2 years perhaps thats what they are doing ?

or do you have other reservations

Donna

Why don't you go and meet their dogs?  How they behave and what condition they're in will give you a good indication of whether it's likely to be a suitable home for one of your pups.  Lots of people have more than two dogs and are quite competent in looking after them properly.

Thank you all for your very quick replies. I don't know what it was about them that made me think twice. They did mention that they wanted a girl as they had spoke to their previous breeder who had told them that a girl would get on better with their boy as he can be a bit tempremental. My partner just says to tell them no if I feel uncomfortable about them but I am too soft and like to give people the benefit of the doubt and trust that they know what they are doing.

I don't know what it was about them that made me think twice.

To be honest, if you feel like this, don't sell them a puppy. I have a friend who breeds shar-pei and several times she's sold a puppy against her gut feeling and the dog has always ended up coming back. I've even been there in the past when a puppy has gone and even I've KNOWN it would be back before it's 6 months old and sure enough it was.

I am too soft and like to give people the benefit of the doubt and trust that they know what they are doing.

If you're normally 'soft' and are having reservations, definitely don't do it!

What breed are they?

Boxers

I have 3 Boxers...
They are all bitches. Upto the end of last year all were entire.

They are now 8 yo (in May) 5yo (in July) and 2yo (as of Jan).

Boxers average age is 10yo, so they aren't excessively long lived
Yes you will get some over 10 but on the whole the average is 10. :(
So perhaps they are making sure that their younger Boxer isn't left on it's own
when the time comes to say goodbye to their older dog?

It depends, if they are willing to put the work in everything will be fine.
I can take the younger two out together walking. There's no way that I can
manage three dogs on my own, nor would I take three dogs out.
So I have to do two or three shifts depending on training etc.

My three live in harmony.
:)

I always prefer selling to people who already have the breed, and I think the ages of their present dogs is a good sign indeed -they didn't give up on them as pups or youngsters and still have them.

Ditto what Goldmali says.   They have sensibly spaced out their dogs agewise, I have had 4 dogs together of the same breed and currently have three - 2 bitches & a dog plus I have my sisters CKCS at the weekends (Another bitch).

There is a good age gap, and if they are expereinced surely they can judge ehat they can cope with.  As I found five of my breed easy enough to deal with, and am finding ONLY three a bit strange, I may be the wrong person to judge. :D

I have 5 dogs living here at the moment, although one is my mum and dads!  Three girls aged 12, 5 and 8 months and two boys aged 7 and 3, they get on brilliantly 90% of the time :d

When we bought our third pup we currently had 2 bitches, one aged 8 and one aged 7, one of the same breed and one of another (but similar sized) breed. We bought the pup to fill the gap when the two oldies moved onto the Bridge. As it happened the 'pup' was 7 years old and had 2 litters by the time that happened!

Can you put your finger on what makes you unhappy?

Gut instinct is always good. I would sell to someone who already had 2 dogs. Could it be another reason why you seem unsure about the home.

And meeting them and seeing what your own dogs make of them is usually a big help. I tell puppy AND kitten buyers that if my adults and youngsters don't like them, there will be no sale. Twice I have ignored what the mother of a litter thought of a buyer, twice the mother was proved right, and I will never make that mistake again.

I have four dogs that live happily together (all Dobes) 3 bitches aged 7 months, 3.5, years and 5.5 years and a 3 year old castrated male.

Go with your gut instict - if there is anything that worries you no matter how small then dont sell.  I turned away several people when they came to see my litter last year, and I am glad I did because all puppies went to the right homes and I dont have sleepless night :-) 

I understand your worries as I have just had a similar senario.  It wasn't the people, I was worried that my pup may get bullied or would not get on with the other two dogs, one is 7 the other is 5. But I know many people with more than 2 dogs, the age difference is good, so I decided I was being silly, the only provision I made was that if there was a problem now or a few years down the line they would not send my pup off to rescue and would return him home to me, they agreed to that so I am happy and hopefully they will all live long happy lives together. As much as we try to find the best homes for our pups it usually is a gamble, I am happy in knowing I would get him back.

I have boxers and love them - if my house was big enough I'd have 10!  I'd be ok to let someone who already has boxers take one of my puppies, at least I'd be happy in the knowledge that they've alreay got boxers and are experienced with them

Good Luck

Jac

Thank you all for your replies. I have now offered them one of my pups on the understanding that they will return her if ever they feel it necessary. They were chuffed to bits which made me feel that maybe I had made the right decision. I actually feel much happier now that I have had this response from you all. I kind of knew it made sense as they have boxers already and that was what I originally wanted for all my pups to go to people that knew the breed. I was just worried that the other two might pick on her and not welcome her. There is only so much you can do though, I think she'll be fine.

Ive only just read this thread, but i though i would just say well done, you sound like and resposible breeder who obviously cares about where your puppies go. Well done. ;)

sarah xxx