Hi all
My pups are due to leave home this week end and I am 150% happy with all the new owners...however after numerous calls to one of them this week with no answer I am becoming very concerned about the lengh of time this pup may be left alone. I have met the people three times and they are very nice, seem to have taken on board all my advice, are happy to comply with and sign my extensive contract of sale and I was happy with them however now the doubts are kicking in...will there be someone home for most of the day, ( They assure me there will be, work arrangements seemed to be fine)why is no one answering my calls, (Have they been spinning me a tale?) is there a perfectally good explanation ?, how can I reassure myself, I can only go on our home visits and what they are telling me but somewhere this last week I have felt a bit uncomfortable. My heart is telling me to back away, I feel this puppy is a little live wire and will need constant stimulation. Maybe if she was a quiet girl I would feel different but she is the life and soul of the pack! Would I be doing them a disservice by doubting their word or doing the puppy harm be not changing my mind? My only thought is to place this pup in a loving life home and I now have doubts. ( I also have a wonderful couple who have just lost one of my breed...vetted and ready to go awaiting my next litter, maybe this is clouding my judgment as if they had appraoched me before I had agreed to let family one have the pup they would have been my first choice).
Any thoughts from you well educated CDers ?
Aileen.

Once the doubts start kicking in it's hard for them not to take over.    I, like you would be very concerned.  Is the answerphone on?  If so, leave a message and ask them to contact you and make a note of the times you have tried to call and they haven't answered.  Perhaps you could postpone letting this puppy go until you are happier with the situation.

Hi
Yes I have left messages both yesterday and today with no reply...maybe they have changed their minds? I can cope with that no problem, I never take deposits for this very reason so I always have the option to change my mind at the last minute and I make it very plain to my new owners that I retain that option if I feel the need to use it.
I would just hate to let them down if I am just being paranoid!
Aileen.

I have to say if it was me, i would be quite conserned.
You say you have left messages and they have still not got back to you.
when I got my second girl I rung my breeder everyday to she how she was, especially in the week before she was coming to me as I was that impatient and excited about it :D

I think you should try contacting them for the next few days and if you still dont hear anthing then go with the other couple you have lined up.

If they are not contacting you at all perhaps they are away ? If I was taking ownership of a new pup and had a message during the day I would have called that evening without fail ;)

If you are doubting before your puppy leaves, you may well live to regret the puppy going if/when things go wrong.
I always trust my instincts, if it feels wrong, just dont do it.
In your case the welfare of the pup is paramount. It is not just about tomorrow, or next week, it is about finding the right home for the dog in adulthood for the next 15 yaers or so.
If you cant get them by phone, go round to the house. They may have a very beleivable reason for not answering the phone, family crisis etc. You must get to the bottom of it. If you cant you should find a more suitable home for the puppy.

Could they be having a last minute trip away before pup arrives?

This is the thing...I would not wish to disappoint them if this is the case but they are due to collect tomorrow and I am worried I have had no contact since they came to visit last Sunday. All seemed well then and they made no reference to being away this week. How can I be sure that they are all they seem? I have never been worried before and it is making me doubt my judgement. Maybe it's the old age kicking in!!

Simply confront them.

Have you got a mobile number of just home phone ?

I would leave a message and say that there is a problem and it isn't convenient to come and pick the pup up as agreed. Then wait for the to call. if they have gone away then they will tell you ! If you are happy then just say that you have too many people coming tomorrow and so arrange another date :)

That's a great idea!

Before we bought our own puppy home, we had a few days away. We knew it would be impossible for a while once the puppy had arrived, so went whilst we could. I think, if you have changed your mind about selling this couple a puppy because you now have a better offer, then you should be honest and tell them that is the reason. The reason for their lack of contact could be 100% innocent  :)

This is why I am trying not to let that fact colour my judgement.
I am nothing if not honest and will certainly tell them the reasons if I change my mind. I just think I am being a little overcautious as up until now I have been very happy with them.
I just wish they would call back.
Putting them off for a day or two is not a problem...I just want the home to be the right one.
I place my pups very carefully and have got it right many times before I usually have no doubts about my jugdement and cannot really give a reason this time as to why I am being so paranoid!

I don't think there is anything wrong, they certainly would be calling you back if there was a message left.

Just ask them when you see them, they could even have phone problems, the best instincts are those when we meet people, on a phone, internet, people can decieve you, by meeting them you get a much better idea of what they are all about, you seemed happy with them before this incident so I would go by your instincts previously.

They don't need to report to you that they are going away, I don't tell anyone when I am going away, how do they know they can even trust you, many burglaries happen through word of mouth gossip at who is away, when and where. ;-)

They certainly will not be buying your pup and then going out for days at a time will they? Even if they lied and they work full time, they would still be home in the evenings to get your message and come up with an excuse, why no-one was in.  They have not replied so they can not be there, or there is a line problem, that would be my assumption anyway. For all you know there could be an emergency, someone rushed to hospital, someones death, there are so many reasons for them not replying.

The only other answer is you were given faulse details.................but,  if you have spoken to them on that phone number before then again they just are not there or have phone trouble.

Give them the benefit of the doubt and wait to hear from them. :-)

I like others would be concerned, Merlot.

If they did not mention they was going away before they collect the pup, then I would have alarm bells ringing if there was no answer at home!

I would go with my gut feeling, if I had doudt then I would act on it.
You could confront them and ask why no one had returned your call or been in all walk when you phoned.  Maybe there is a reasonable explanation, but I would be concerned.
With my litter I had vetted everyone, and one couple told me their plans of a Holiday before they collect the pup, so I held on to him for a couple of days longer, but they had told me so I had no reason to be concerned.
Oh Merlot, I wish I had a clear answer for you!!  I know it is very difficult, but go with your gut feeling

i agree with LJS plan...but....is there any way you could go there to their house before tomorrow and just see whats going on?

My puppies all went to their new homes exactly a year ago.  I do remember the week before the pups left two families desperately trying to get all their Christmas shopping done, so they would have nothing to destract them as the puppy arrived.  Another couple went down to London to their daughters, as they knew they wouldn't be able to visit before Christmas.
Can't believe a year has gone that quick!  Hope everything turns out OK.

Unfortunately no, they live about four hours drive from me and with pups about, not to mention big dogs it would be impossible to go this weekend. I will just have to wait patiently and hear their reasons when they ring, I have tried the mobile as well with no luck and have now left messages on both home and mobile phones. The ball is now in their court...no call before tomorrow and it will be no puppy. We have not arranged a time yet so I feel justified in needing a call before allowing the pup to go.( We did expect a call to let me know a time it was arainged on the last visit fir them to call me this week some time) If they were just to turn up tomorrow with no time arainged I would be none too pleased,  good manners requires a call to let me know a time I think.
Even the pilot flying the plane taking two pups to Jersey has phoned more often this week to make sure all is well, and he is just doing his job!! Pity he is not a prospective owner he seems to be a genuine dog lover!!!
Aileen.

Perhaps they are trying to do a few more hours at work, before the puppy comes, maybe they have got to take extra unpaid leave to be with the puppy?  Dont discount them until you have found out what has happened.  They could have had a family disaster or something.  I would have expected a phone call out of courtesy as well, but sometimes things happen that we have no choice about.

I know only too well there could be all kinds of reasons why they have not contacted me, however I do feel if they have problems a call to let me know would be in order. I know I would call, i feel it is only fair to all concerned. The day I broke my knee we were due to go and meet some people and I had rung them before the ambulance arrived to inform them of my accident ! Maybe now I am old and grey I find less and less curtious people about,  If it were me and my phone was a problem I would use a friends phone to contact them., besides I have left messages on both home and mobile numbers.
I have been calling for three days now.
Aileen.

I think i would be very suspicious, i know that there may be genuine reasons for no contact but if youre buying a pup youre usually desperate to find out how they are doing and when you can pick them up.and at least have the manners to let you know if they have changed their minds or have some problem with taking it. I have  had people seeming like wonderful owners phoning and visiting then 2 or 3 days after they were suppose to pick up their pup tell me they changed their mind ,I now ask for a non returnable deposit. If you dont hear anything tomorrow i would let the pup away to the other people ,

Merlot,
What are you worrying about? They are your puppies and your gut instinct is not happy. You dont owe these people anything and although you dont want to upset anyone, you  probably have plenty of more perfect owners awaiting one of your pups.
The pup is your responsibility not the people.

I do hope this turns out all right for you. I am smiling a little to myself as I could feel the same as you as I am a worrier. Also I trust too much and always have really, so I would be thinking they have gone somewhere in anticipation of the busy time ahead.
You did trust them, so go with your gut reaction when there is contact.
I also have to say I personally would be phoning apologetically the breeder checking on the welfare of 'my baby' on a very regular basis. As I imagine a lot of buyers have done with you.
Karen :-)

A sneaky thing, but is there a freinds mobile you could borrow, and try calling them on it, not with holding the number? if they are avoiding you, they could be watching what number appears. if they see a strange number they may pick up. You could always say your phone has a problem, if they ask why you are using another one.

Why would you need to go to all this trouble, she/he's not desperate for these particular people to have her puppy surely?

Quite true, I am certainly not desperate for these people to have a pup and of course the choice is mine as to weather or not they do but I do not like to let anyone down if they are genuine. However it is now 6pm and after countless calls and messages I still have not heard a thing, so, my instinct now is to await tomorrow and take it from there, if they turn up unannounced I will tell them it's not convenient and ask them why they did not return my calls. If I am happy with the reasons then we shall rethink it all. If I am unconvinced about the reasons then it will be a "Sorry but no thanks"...won't be the first time and probably not the last! If however they do not arrive, well they obviously were not the people I thought they were. Better to find out now than in a few weeks time and have to have my baby back to rehome.
I am gratefull for your replies, it's helped me get my head round it better, Will keep you informed of the outcome.
Aileen.

Good luck, be strong and congratulate yourself for trying your best to do the right thing, a rare thing.

Reading between the lines, I suspect that they may be having cold feet about taking the puppy.
Given that they haven't returned your calls, and should be collecting form you tomorrow, then I suggest you leave an answer message, saying that you have been trying to contact them to let them know that they cannot collect the puppy as arranged and that they must call you within the next 24 hours. Then say that if you do not hear from them , you will release the puppy for sale elsewhere.
I can't see a good reason for not picking up mobile phone messages ( di you try texting as well?), and there aren't many places where you can't get a signal for days on end, so it does seem they are avoiding you.

Well the long awaited call has come in and I am pleased to report they they were in fact away for a few days in Cornwall (Not best known for it's mobile coverage). We have talked long and hard and my fears have been completely dispersed, I am glad to say my initial decision to let them have a pup has been upheld and all is well.
Thanks everyone for your valuable input , At least I know now I was not wrong in my initial assessment of these people. I was begining to judge my own mind!!!
Aileen.

Great news....you see first instincts are usually the right way to go!

Perhaps I'll be lucky enough to see your 'Jersey Babies', should they show.

Karen ;-)

Really glad that things worked out to put your mind at rest. We all take the responsibility of homing our precious pups with the right people, very seriously.  You probably felt 100% better once you'd had that phone call and chance to chat!

Thought I had guessed right, the last opportunity to get away before pup or new bay very common thing to do.

Glad it has worked out. It is a very worrying time when pups are due to go and it doesn't help when there are potential niggling doubts.

Well, after leaving umteen messages on both home and mobile fones, I would want to see if they were simply avoiding me, to get a straight answer out of them. the use of a new number may solve it all, and the OP can move on. no more effort than all the calls already made, and saves time waiting for someone to arrive who possibly won't.

Hi,
If you have sudden feelings about them, act on them!! You wouldn't be getting the feelings if there wasn't a reason. Have you had feeling about the other homes? If the anwer is No! well! there is your answer!
Yes! people do tell porkies, I had puppy buyers say they were at home, I rang at diffrent times and no one was there from early till late. I didn't sell them a pup.
Regards
Denese

Have you read all the thread ? the people were away on holiday for a few days

Exactly. Days of diatribe for nothing more than a couple of people taking a few days break. Their crime? Failing to inform the puppy police. Could we not keep it in perspective, make sure of our facts, before we start imagining all sorts of miscreant happenings, and laying down assumptions where none may belong.

It would be a shame if this forum were to go the way of so many before it, my feeling is; leave the sniping where it belongs, somewhere else.

If we all assume that everyone on this forum is perfect, raising perfectly happy puppies, then we will have no need for the self congratulatory and trumpet blowing tone that seems to be creeping in to some of the posts. The posts actually read as if Breeders have nothing left to learn about raising dogs, the CHOSEN beings of the dog world and the ONLY ones capable of caring for, and breeding from, our canine friends. A little smug, no?

The milk of human kindness also appears to be missing. Puppy buyers need not be treated like potential criminals or puppy beaters. Are we not being a little smug in assuming that just because we are 'breeders' we automatically must know best? How many of us were given the third degree when buying our first puppies?
Had we been found 'wanting' by the seller, some or all of us would not be dog owning breeders now.

Moonmaiden has it correct, They were away for a few days. Plain and simple, no crime, no pretence, no falsehoods; just a holiday.

>How many of us were given the third degree when buying our first puppies?

All, I hope. It shows a breeder cares deeply about their puppies.

But this thread was resolved happily two weeks ago, and there's no need to resurrect it. :)

I said the same myself, but it is the breeders responsibility to be sure of the homes they allow their pups to go to as is humanly possible, if nothing else for pure self interest. 

If your a responsible breeder if anything goes wrong you could end up with the rehabilitation and re-homing o the puppy, in some cases things may be so bad the pups character has suffered to the extent of needing to be Put to sleep. 

The pups are the breeders and it is entirely up to them what qualities they expect from a potential home and their selection criteria is their own, and in fact rescue societies often have far harsher and arbitrary criteria to adopt a pet.  From my own experiences I tend not to make too many hard and fast criteria.  I was a single Mum with a toddler and a pre school child when I bought my foundation bitch of my current breed, yet have come unstuck selling to a stay at home Married Mum with young children.  Similar things can occur over work, a stay at home person may neglect the pup more than someone making good care arrangements.

But whatever the breeder has the right to sell to who they see as fit, as they have to live with the consequences.