I've emailed the breeder and found out she is having a litter between two dogs I really admire. Excellent temperements/health checks all done etc.
The bitch is definately in whelp, and pups are due early next month. I'm on the waiting list.

I've never had a dog from a breeder before, all mine have been rescued.

So, my question is..  What happens???

Will she tell me when the pups are born? How long til I can visit? Do I choose the pup from pics online or when I go there? Does she need a deposit? Is she going to have a home-check? What if there aren't enough pups in the litter - does she meet everyone and choose the best owners, or is it in waiting list order? etc.

Thanks

Hi Ana, it all sounds very exciting :)

You need to ask your breeder all these questions though as they differ from breeder to breeder. Most breeders are delighted to have someone keen and asking tonnes of questions :)

Personally I emailed my prospective puppy owners (PPO) at 3am as soon as the 1st pup appeared and then after they were all born, and then every day after that with regular photos too. Visiting is again a personal decision, some breeders don't like visitors too early and others encourage it. With my borzoi boys I visited them the day they were born and then at least once a week afterwards. I let my ppo visit every week, I seen this as a chance to get to know them better too. The breeder may choose for you, this has happened with three of my past zois, I didn't mind as 1 became a champion, 1 had 2 ccs and several open bis and the other a rcc. Or you may get to choose your own pup, but probably not have the full litter to choose from depending on who is in front of you in the puppy queue. Deposit & home check are again very much up to the individual breeder.

So, basically this reply is of no help whatsoever :D

Good luck though, keep us updated, Jane

jane, i think your post is helpful :D its one persons experience, opinion and views, and thats what the op is after :)

To the OP.......dont be afraid to email the breeder and ask what you have asked us! I'm sure she wont mind enthusiam and be far happier that you are interested, than not :) Everyones views are different, so she will tell you how she does it, and how she works out the spaces on her list, just in case there are not enough of the sex you want to go round. She will understand the disapointment that could be felt if there are not enough, and if you know what to expect it will be better for you in the long run. Have you visited her yet? I think most breeders like to meet the people that may have a puppy early on, and it gives you chance to see at least Mum, and maybe a picture of dad, if you have not seen them yet. you can get a 'feel' for the breeder, and she for you.

So, go on, bite the bullet and email her :D I bet she dont bite...:D :D

With the breeders I've got pups from, they phoned me as soon as possible after the litter was born, to tell me that there was a pup for me, of my chosen sex.

We could visit from 4 wks onwards.

The breeder selected the best pup for me, the last time round, based on my requirements and what I wanted to do with the pup (show and work her).  At first I was a bit miffed that I couldn't choose, but I now think this was an excellent system because the breeder knew the pups far better than I could, as she had spent 7 wks with them by then and knew their strengths and weaknesses.  (She only assigned pups to owners at 7 wks.)  Also, it meant that there wasn't a kind of "first come, first served" effect of the people who got there first having the biggest choice - "your" pup would be waiting for you whether you picked it up at 7 wks, 7 and a half or 8 wks.

She didn't take a deposit.  She didn't do a homecheck. 

No one knew where they were on the waiting list - personally I think she had a list of preference based on the homes people were offering and not on the order of enquiries.  She would home pups to the homes she liked best.  Any homes left over, she called and told them there wasn't a pup for them.

I think, rather than obsessing about the litter now (which I know is tempting!) you should focus on finding a good training class in your area and watching it.  Check out: www.puppyschool.co.uk  or www.apdt.co.uk

Hi ana_x,

All breeders are different, but if you are on the list then you have theoretically been accepted, as otherwise the breeder should have let you know that your home or set up is not suitable well before the litter is born. You will then be on her list in preference order. It is very unlikely that the breeder will do a home check, I know I do mine via address and postcode and have a good look around the area via the Internet.

I always when possible meet prospective owners on my list, before the birth so that they can meet the parents, look at all health and KC certificates and basically so that I can decide whether they are going to be suitable owners and what their needs are in order to help match pup to owner and lastly which order they will be on my list. (Not all breeders will do this, it is just something I like to do.)

If you have already declared which sex you would prefer that is a big help to the breeder and as soon as the pups are born she should ring you in order to let you know colours etc of the remaining pups.

If there are not enough pups then she will call in preference order. (Unless she has no preference and then it will be first come on the list.) So make sure you impress the breeder.

Breeders will vary greatly so I can only advise via my own practise, I do not allow visitations until 4 weeks, but what I do is send photo's and updates via the Internet to help people to choose their pup, a deposit will then secure that pup, I then forward these photo's for the next 4 weeks so that the new owners can watch their pups grow with me.

At 4 weeks new owners can come and visit their pups as often as they like, most will come 2 or 3 times until collection, giving them and myself a chance to bond with each other and them with their pup.

Good breeders should offer puppy packs and tons of advice throughout the life of your pup.

I hope you are successful in getting your chosen pup. :-)