I recently bred a litter of large breed pups, I had one smaller pup in the litter and I sold her for less than the rest of the pups because I knew she would never be any good for showing although the buyer did tell me he may intend to breed her, he bought the pup at least 7 or 8 weeks ago. I always quote on my puppy pack please take your puppy to the vet for a checkup within 48hrs. I bred two healthy dogs which have top UK bloodlines, I played by the rules although i didnt have them scanned for heart problems because it isnt normally an issue in this breed.
I am a very honest breeder and would not sell anyone a sick pup and at the time of sale this puppy was healthy and I had been speaking to the buyer to see how the pup was doing and he never mentioned it being sick. The buyer phoned me just yesterday and told me that the dog hadnt been well and a vet said it was either a liver shaunt or heart problem following tests it has turned out to be dilated cardiomyophaty. The buyer has phoned me today saying he doesnt want the pup no longer and has demanded a full refund for the pup, I am yet to speak to my vet about this and I also intend to seek legal advice about the matter before I hand over his money. I have told the buyer to send me up the results of the tests and il show them to my own vet I also want a second opinion on the dog and I will have both parents screened for this problem. I want a bit of advice from breeders on what to do, I want to stand over my breed and give the buyer back his money but do i really have to do this??? Is it my problem 8 weeks down the line?? what would yous do in my situation?? I dont want anyone to buy a pup from me that turns out to have a heart problem but legally do I have to give him a full refund or is it just one of those unfortunate things??

If you have actually stated in writing that puppies should be vet checked within 48 hours and the buyer didn't do this, I think you are within your rights to keep the money because the fault would have been picked up weeks ago and you would probably have felt much happier about a full refund under those circumstances (I know I would) on the other hand, do you want your puppy to stay with someone who can send it back after 8 weeks, I would be too attached by that time and would have to keep it.
Poor puppy

If it was me, yes, I'd give a full refund as the sale was only a few weeks ago, not a few months or few years -and you did know the pup was wanted for breeding. Whether I'd have to or not wouldn't come into it, it would come down to my own conscience and how I would like to be treated myself had I been the buyer. Although legally if sold for breeding it isn't fit for the purpose it was sold.

If you know the puppy wasn't fit for showing, how can she really be fit for breeding? I would buy the poor girl back regardless of her health, just to get her out of there--he doesn't sound like the right kind of owner to me.

> get her out of there--he doesn't sound like the right kind of owner to me.

My thoughts exactly.

yes I would take pup back and decide where to go heath wise from there on.

Also I take puppies at 6-7wks for my own vet check before they go to thier new homes ..and also suggest a vet check  from new owners own vet.

Two things spring to mind, first the pup is not suitable for purpose so the purchasers are entitled to expect a full refund and possible compensation, the second, to me most important, I would want that poor little unwanted pup back.

personally I would get the pup back as soon as possible, I brought a beautiful puppy, who had heart problems, the breeder knew but decided not to tell us, however we found out within a couple of days she had a severe heart condition, knew she may not live long and treatment would be in the £1000's however in that short time we had become so attached we couldnt part with her, especially knowing the breeder was not going to seek treatment for her, so how anyone can have a pup for 8 weeks and be willing to part with it is beyond me, We are now broke lol but have a beautiful lively three and a half year old lab, who has cost a fortune but has given us so much love and laughter back, we dont know how long we will have her but every day is wonderful, she has everything she needs and has had an operation (balloon angioplasty), she was given 6 sickly months life span without treatment, but with she is still going strong happy and lively, it doesnt sound as though your buyer is prepared to help the pup, so I would have her back in a heartbeat if it was me

Snap - any reputable breeder would only use a good quality bitch, and regardless of heart problems sounds like this puppy is not a good enough example of the breed if she can't be shown. You might be within your rights to point out you said to take to a vet within 48 hours, but if it was me I would get the puppy back asap, specially as this new owner is happy to send her back after having had her for several weeks.

As you sold the pup for less, knowing she was far too small, I don't understand why you knowingly let her go to a home where she would be used for breeding.

And, whether up to standard or not, all my pups are endorsed when they leave.  Even if I keep a bitch, I still endorse the whole litter.  I thought the majority of reputable breeders did this.

You are responsible for the litter as soon as you mate your bitch.  I don't see how anyone could leave her in a home where she isn't wanted.  I would refund the full price, and collect my pup, and bring her home.  I don't see how seeking legal advice will alter the fact that having her back is the ethical thing to do. 

Dilated Cardiomyopathy can be hereditary so one or both of the parents may be at risk
as can the other siblings in the litter.

Bloodlines it doesn't matter whether they are top show lines or not very desireable lines
health troubles don't discriminate.

Thing is you don't know if the problem is an issue or not in your breed
if breeders aren't being honest and 'hiding' health problems it could well be an issue that has
been hidden under the carpet and now a case (your own) has come tumbling out..

Agree with the other posters give man money back for puppy, bring puppy home.
If indeed it is dilated cardiomyopathy sadly puppy may not have long to live.

Once you've had tests done on your own dogs (parents of pups) you may need to feed back
to your own breed council and the breeders of your own dogs as people will need to be aware
to consider their own bloodlines and what they should do to prevent this issue becoming widespread/common
in your breed.