Hi, I have just received an e-mail and I really can't believe the cheek of some people. She posted me an e-mail asking me if she had read right and that I was asking that price for my puppies.(which are now all sold now anyway) It came across to me sarcastic as if it was way too much. This has just hit a very raw nerve with me at the moment as these pups are my world and alot of blood and guts has gone into raising them. They are worth every penny and no I am not making a profit and thats what makes me so cross. Do people realise what is envolved. I think not. Sorry finished moaning now.

Slightly different but someone mailed me this week , asking how much I sold my puppies for , she had a pet litter from her 2 dogs and wanted to know how much I charged so she knew how much to advertise them at. Said she was a champs member.

I've had that as well! Cheek - and they werent even breed club members

I had an e-mail the other day (and get them frequently) requesting a kitten, "must not coss more then £100". Properly reared kittens cost just as much to rear as puppies if not more in fact as they have to be fully vaccinated when they go and not sold before 13 weeks, and still people think they should get them for nothing or next to nothing.  Wonder if these same people go into shops and ask if the price for that large TV really is what it says on the price tag?!

Hi

I had a email from a guy about my pups

he started these pups sell for the avarage price of XXX . So he will pay me this price. He wants it when it is 6 weeks old so will be collecting on such and such a date. I am selling for double and he aint getting one lol.

Yes people actually do go in to shops and offer less for the ticket price. My step brother took my mum into a well known electrical shop to buy a new fridge he haggled the price and managed to get a free delivery and removal of the old one.

Wendy

i was contacted by a lady , who wanted a pup for herself & one for her niece, she asked , " how much discount for 2 ?" she didnt even get one :D

Marianne, I have never bought white goods, furniture, jewellery or anthing else pricey with a large mark up without negotiating the price :).  You really ought to try it, it very often brings results :)  Wouldn't dream of doing this with a well reared puppy or kitten though.

LOL seems I haven't lived then, it would never even have occured to me! :)

I must admit if somebody wants 2 KITTENS off me I DO give a discount (and am often asked) simply because with kittens it is far preferable to have 2 littermates, as opposed to in puppies. :)

Just ignore her. There are some true idiots around which just set out to upset and wasste other peoples time. One just has to try and rise above it, keep in good humour and know that YOU know what you are doing (and can justify what you are charging) even if they make you start to doubt yourself on the long dark nights ;-)  ;-)

Too many people think the Friday Ad is the be all and end all of buying a puppy ;-)

Di

i had an equally laughable one yesterday wantng to know if my hound pups (not that i have any at the moment anyway!) would "strive to escape & attack the neighbours cattle" and also would it "be suitable for keeping the rabbit population down"...stil not sure if it was a wind up or genuine!!!

I used to breed Burmese and lost count of the times I was told on the phone "how much?  but it's only a cat! "  My reply was always that if you want a cheap cat you can usually get moggies free! - but they always whined back that they wanted a pedigree Burmese :rolleyes: :rolleyes:   I never sold to anyone who questioned the price of a well bred, carefully brought up, tested, vaccinated, registered pedigree kitten ;)  If they don't appreciate what they're getting, they shouldn't have it ;)

Just another example of the 'Want it now, have it now' handbag generation :( :(

Just would like your experience on the best way to let puppies go. Should I let them all go on the same day or stagger it. Just want to do whats best for mum. They will be 8 weeks and had their first injection done. So I thought maybe a couple of days after I could start letting them go as their families are asking when they can collect them. As most of them have to travel quite a way they obviously need to organise themselves. Your experiences would be very helpful

You're better off letting them go a few days BEFORE 8 weeks and not vaccinating them, because the new owners will have problems with getting the same vaccine for the second injection and in some cases that can even mean vets wanting to start over with the vaccine they use and disregarding the first one completely, still giving 2. Also it adds extra stress to be vaccinated AND move to a new home so close together. My own vets won't even vaccinate a new puppy I've bought if I've only had it a day or two, they say they have to have a few days to settle first.

If it helps at all, the breeder we got libby from staggered the days the pups left home, and libby was about 7 and half weeks, and as Marianne has said, unvaccinated :)

I'd start letting them go slightly before 8 weeks; some one weekend and some the next. And I wouldn't vaccinate them in case the new owner's vet uses a different make and has to start the course again.

Hi

I asked this question the other day and it was moved to the general section. I have decided because of the replies I got to let my pups go at 7.5 weeks.

I have asked the people to come on the same day. I didnt want anyone being left on there own. I only have the 3 pups so it is easier. Also I am going to find it very difficult to let them go so would rather get it over in one day.  Then take mum for a  well earned walk and cry my eyes out in the woods.
Plus with them going at 7.5 weeks they have a couple of days to settle before getting there injections at 8 weeks

Wendy

I would, certainly let them all go on the same day. Mum is away and apar from them except for brief moments of play by 7/8 weeks latest, so get her back into the other dogs routine by 6 weeks or so, walking, feeding, sleeping etc and then truely, tits the VEY rare bitch that shows any signs of missing her pups when they go, quickly or slowly.

Di

I'd say it depends on the size of the litter. Agree with above post, most bitches don't seem to miss their pups.
I like to spend some time with each family, before they leave with their pup. The paperwork has to be done, and explained, the feeding list gone through, and it's a good oportunity for the new family to ask about things they've been thinking about, but have forgotten to ask. All this takes time. Of course it varies, an experienced dogowner takes less time than a family getting their first dog.
To me, three pups per day, is maximum. I feel all drained both mentally and emotionally afterwards, and don't think I could cope with a whole litter going on one day. Besides, I don't want more than one owner getting their pup at a time, it's important they all feel they and their puppy are the center of the breeders attention.
Good luck with the pups and their new homes! Don't forget to have plenty of paper tissues at hand :p
Karen

HI

I agree with Karen. In my case though I have spent ages with the new owners already. They have been out loads of times to see their babies and we swap emails daily. So every thing that needs to be covered has been done. I have done this because it means I dont have to say to much when they come out.I know I will be  a wreck, make a complete fool of myself and cry buckets the min I see the cars pull up. It will be a case of heres your pup and her bag of goodies, thanks for the money, mail me later. I have already talked through what will be in the bag and paper work.  I have also applogised in advance that I wont be at my best when they come. I am having a why am I doing this to myself moment again

Wendy

You'll still need to sign paperwork, contracts, document explaining the endorsements, issue receipts and insurance cover notes etc. It all takes time.

Hi

All done

Because of the breed I dont have any KC documents or endorsments

But the other stuff I have spoken to them about and gone through. I would rather do it this way to as they are more likley to listen and take it in when they visit than when they are collected and excited about their new baby.

I am lucky they are all going locally so the new owners have been able to visit a lot and we have been able to chat loads while playing with the pups. Different if they were coming hundreds of miles.

I am at the end of the phone or a email if they need to contact me at any time once the pups have left.

Wendy

had to say my bit on this one

why do people think that pups and kittens are like cars and that they can get a discount on them, i would never in a million years dream of offering someone less than there advertised price if i was looking to buy. i have the sam with the birds of prey i keep people want me to breed them and offer me money to sell them.lol not a bloody chance

julie

Cannot get much worse than the chap that rang me and asked if I would do an exchange for a DDB, he had a 1998 Ford escort.

Oh if I could have got my hands round his neck, good job he was at the other end of a phone

Lynn

To add a nice story: I always have a waiting list for kittens, sometimes the wait is a year or more -my breeds are common but some people are prepared to wait if they know what they want and therefore won't go elsewhere. Anyway pretty much every day I get mails along the lines of "I want a kitten next Thursday, can't cost more than £100" or "How much are your kittens?" and no other info given. Either I reply just saying there's a long wait (don't even bother asking questions, it's a waste of time -IF they get back to me DESPITE the wait they've been adviced of THEN I ask), or I don't reply at all.

Then the other day I got a long mail from a family who explained they had seen my website and was in tears because one of my cats reminded them so much of theirs that had just died -theirs had been 22 years old! (Average lifespan for breed 12 years!) They lived far away, but they were prepared to travel and were prepared to wait for a kitten, told me everything about them etc. Let's just say they went right up to the very top of my list! The right home and the right attitude counts for everything with me -plus they had already cared for a cat for so many years and that says a lot.