We have bought a puppy. I haven't seen her yet as she is 350 miles away and the only weekend I could get up there was the weekend of Crufts, so her breeder wasn't there, plus she was really too young to chose then. her breeder has chosen her for me, and the puppy is the one she would have kept for herself if she were keeping one. I trust her decision as she has been in the breed for years and judging for over 20.

Anyway, I spoke to her last week, as she was sorting out insurance for us. We hadn't yet decided on a pet name, so  she filled it as 'undecided'. I saw some photos of the whole litter when they were younger, but I haven't seen a photo of just our pup yet and it's killing me! The breeder explained that she needed one person to stand the pup and another to photograph her, which I understand.

I know she has now taken some photographs, as she told me when I spoke to her on Monday.  I know she is buys, as although all the other pups int he litter have left, she still has mine and one other there and obviously the rest of her dogs, but it is literally killing me waiting! I emailed her yesterday to say we have decided on a pet name, and what it was. When do you think it would be OK to ring and 'remind' her about the photo? Or is that being a pain?

It's not being a pain. :) You're an excited puppy buyer and as a breeder I would LIKE that. I take photos of my pups and put them up on my website once a week from the day they are born until the day they are sold, so buyers can watch them grow. 99.9% of them won't be formal at all, just snapshots of puppies being puppies.

Hi jackson - if you were having one of my pups I'd be only too glad for you to keep in regular touch :)  I'm sure your breeder is just very busy and I can certainly relate to the difficulties in getting puppy pics when single handed - its virtually impossible to get much more than a blur LOL.

My latest "kids" were on web cam via MSN for much of the time so even when piccies weren't available they were being regularly oooohed and aaaahed over :-D
  Perhaps your breeder has one and can set it up for you to get a preview?  You wouldn't need your own web cam - only the breeder :)

Good luck, Teri

Thanks, obviously I won't actually die. :-)

I have some news about the ferry now, as we have managed to change it so we go from Stranaer instead of Liverpool, which will be better for the dogs, I think. (going to Belfast)  So I have an extra reason to ring.

I would be pleased if potential owners/new owners rang me every 5 minutes, but I can talk abotu dogs all day, and am ahppy chatting to anyone.  I appreciate not everyone's like that.

The webcam thing is a great idea! I think I might do that when I have my next litter. (although that won't be for some time!)

How exciting !! What breed are you getting?

I'm getting a pup at the end of the year and unfortunately my breeder doesn't have a computer :-( I write her lots of letters and she said to phone her any time I wanted, so I think most breeders are only too pleased to hear from potential puppy owners. At the end of the day, breeders want to be assured that their "babies" are going to great homes, and if you're really keen that's good.

Thanks, she is a Golden Retriever.

I didn't have to ring, the breeder emailed me the pictures a little while ago. Puppy is absolutely stunning, eveyrthign we could have wished for, and has quite a personality apparently! I can't wait to meet her!