I have a quandry.....If customers want their website linked to mine, i am happy to do so....however one person has asked to have a link on my site and Im not sure how to tactfully say no. The problem is he does some things I am morally unhappy about....ok he hip scores and eye tests his breed...but...he breeds 2 or 3 "pet" litters a year and reading his website suggests that anyone who turns up can take a pup without too much forethought. Do I raise these matters and let on my disapproval or am I being oversensitive on the basis that I am perhaps, more fussy than most about breeding.

> am I being oversensitive

No you are not IMHO.
I always think these moral decisions can potentially come back to haunt us.

It depends how far you want to go.
If you wish you could say no and tell him your reasons why, or, you could take the easy way and say that you would prefer to leave it as it as and be an independant website. I see what you mean that he does some of the right things by hip scoring but he undermines that by breeding several litters a year

Do they put a link to you in return?

Just say to him that you don't want to give the impression of agreeing with his breeding practices, which you don't, but that other customers may take it that way if you have a link to him.  I'm not very tactful though, so can't really help much.  But best to be honest with him - hopefull he would respect that.

ETA: You could put a disclaimer on your Links page.

I think you are going to have to bite the bullet and just explain it as gently as you can.  You can do gently can't you Sam? :-D  You never know you might manage to put enough thought into his head to reconsider the circumstances that he breeds as the fact he wishes to be linked to you suggests he holds you in some regard.

sorry i wasnt specific in OP....i should have said this is a business client and its my business (canine photography) site I am referring to and not my own hounds website.

Oh well, you could have a go anyway.  No choice really.  It's either that or accept him or maybe never be in the office :-)

What about saying that you do not wish to put links to breeding websites as that might be construed as you prefering one breed over another??????

What a nightmare.

If it were me I think I would have to say no and I do understand where you are coming from.

Lokis Mum has a good idea, but just say no, you do not owe anyone a reason.

There's a good book I read called "Why do I feel guilty when I say no" honestly I read it and I now say no.

You have asked on here for opinions but if you're honest with yourself you probably know in your heart that you aren't happy with the idea and don't want to include this persons link on your website.

You don't have to justify your reasons to anyone so a polite no should suffice, if they enquire as to why it is then your decision to tell them...and there's no harm in being honest.

You don't want to regret your decision 6 mths down the line.

Don't do something just because you feel that is what is expected of you.

Sam, you don't seem to have any other breeders linked to your photography site, unless I have missed them, which makes it easier surely as you could refuse simply on that basis.

isabel you have missed them....all 26 of them!!! :)

> isabel you have missed them....all 26 of them!!!

Oh!! :-D  I just saw the societies and what have you.  Well, that makes it a bit trickier doesn't it.  Back to plan B and being gentle :-)

lol at isabel :) :)

Hmmmm, does he show his dogs?  Maybe work along the lines of the breeders you have on your site do and the pictures you take of their winning dogs are good advertisement for you and that is the basis of you allowing them on.  You have to stick to your morals but it's also important you don't upset a client.