Hi,
I've been on a particular show breeders waiting list for three years and I still waiting for a show potential puppy. We keep in contact on a regular basis with updates and photos of new litters and everyday chit chat. Finally afer a long wait I got a little 4 month old male pup of them, as I'm somewhat new to the breed. I took their word when I collected the pup that it had show potential, however I did have doubts and highlighted faults I noticed but they assured me that the pup was show quality and should do well in the ring. Shortly afterwards I took the pup to a Champ show and a few of the fellow exhibitors in my breed (whom I trust) aggreed with me and advised I contact them back. I got back in touch and they agreed they would offer me another show quality puppy at pet puppy price once they had another show quality puppy available, I kept the original little chap as a pet as they advised me to either pethome him or keep him.
I'm here still a year later and once again I've just received another update to let me know that the puppy I was in line for now will not make the ring and they are going to keep the little one as a brood themselves and I'm top of they're list for a show quality puppy.
I reviewed our correspondenaces from the last three years and on 4 different messages they have stated " I'm top of they're list" (earliest dating back to July12).
Im starting to get frustrated now as I feel I have wasted time and could have enquired with other breeders for a puppy.

Should I move on and look else where???

The short answer is Yes.
They may well be breeders who only breed when they require another for themselves, which may be yearly or less often.
I waited 8 years before I was able to breed again for my self & I am hoping to have a litter at somepoint next year at the soonest(waiting on seasons & best time of the year), which will be 2.5 years after my last but I may well leave it until the next year.

It certainly isnt easy to say if a puppy is going to be good enough & they can only be potential & not guaranteed..alot can happen after 8 weeks...ok yours was 4 months.. which certainly is not the time to be picking them. Even the best breeders can get it wrong & they admit it.

Well personally I would not trust someone who differentiated in price between pet and show (other than perhaps a small discount for serious non standard/mismarks, such as white boxers, very poorly marked Bostons etc).

Otherwise how longs a piece of string and what is show quality???  It could be argued and dog that is sound and resembles it's breed is showable. 

Show quality being any exhibit a judge would not withhold a prize to.

For some a show quality dog is one that would be winning CC's.

In that case I have had 6 out of 9 that weren't LOL, though two of those have had RCC's and another gained her stud book number, and I still have hopes for the youngest, maybe even second youngest.

When I collected the puppy at 4mnths I had doubts but after been reassured I trusted her...fellow exhibitors highlighted the same things two weeks later...I just thought see should have known her own stock better.

When I collected the puppy at 4mnths I had doubts but after been reassured I trusted her...fellow exhibitors highlighted the same things two weeks later...I just thought see should have known her own stock better.

When I collected the puppy at 4mnths I had doubts but after been reassured I trusted her...fellow exhibitors highlighted the same things two weeks later...I just thought see should have known her own stock better.

When I collected the puppy at 4mnths I had doubts but after been reassured I trusted her...fellow exhibitors highlighted the same things two weeks later...I just thought see should have known her own stock better.

When I collected the puppy at 4mnths I had doubts but after been reassured I trusted her...fellow exhibitors highlighted the same things two weeks later...I just thought see should have known her own stock better.

When I collected the puppy at 4mnths I had doubts but after been reassured I trusted her...fellow exhibitors highlighted the same things two weeks later...I just thought see should have known her own stock better.

I do appreciate that puppies do change and all dogs have faults.
I also want to point out that this lady and her husband have always been nice.
I suppose I really just wanted feedback on whether I should go ahead and contact other breeders as I'm 4-5 years waiting around the sidelines of the ring and I see so many newcomers ( alot newer than myself) winning lasses and cc's or should I stick with the one breeder and remain just on the one waiting list?

If it's this breeders dogs you admire then I would wait, if there are dogs producing stock you admire equally well then I think I'd call it a day and speak to other breeders about their forthcoming plans.

I certainly would not hold a potential puppy owner on a list if they could get what they wanted from someone else.

At least you've been able to get on a show breeder's list! I have several people who have vaguely said they will keep me in mind, but litter after litter pops up with pics of stunning puppies on facebook and they always say 'all already spoken for'. :-( And they wonder why show entries are falling and why people breed from mediocre bitches!!!

I suppose Lucy...would it be very rude to enquire around with other breeders while saying nothing to the current breeder whose list I'm on...is that frowned upon and a big no no?

Tell the breeder you are looking elsewhere because of the long wait, then start putting feelers out.

I'm afraid I feel....when you try to breed the best for YOURSELF and very few litters.....you really don't have any obligation to anyone else...especially if you tell people that from the outset.

Like yourself iv been on a few waiting lists for several years, I now put myself on 2 lists...  I do tell both breeders and I wait it out for the best quality puppy. It works well for me as I don't have to start from scratch with research and contacts if say one bitch doesn't take or say a particular breeding didn't produce the quality.

Have you tried him in the ring to see how he gets on? or are his faults too obvious? or have you only just got him and he's not old enough yet?

No I never showed him...might try that but he just isnt a nice as you see in the ring...however we do love him as our little pet.

When I bought in beyond our foundation bitch, who came from a breeder I knew well and who was producing the type I liked, I bought in for the bloodlines first.   If the puppy turned out good enough to show, that was an added bonus.  Mine is a breed that can take quite some time to mature, with many 'ugly stages' along the way.   Which is why we also would only buy a 'show potential' puppy.    And I too would be wary of somebody who puts different prices on their puppies, show or pet.    If you want a definite show dog, you'd really be looking at one with some wins under his belt already - with a correspondingly higher price!!

There will always be other breeders so you don't need to stick with these people?

Can I just say that in some breeds (my main breed are Rhodesian Ridgebacks) it certainly has been the convention for the 30 odd years that I've been involved, to charge different prices for correctly marked or mismarked puppies and we can be amazed to see someone charging the same price for all puppies in a litter! Breed does make a real difference

I did say that mismarks may be less, but to charge differentiating prices overall for show prospect or pet is not a good idea.

After all no-one can be sure a pup will fulfil early promise.

I would be upfront, specially if they ask. Of course the breeder is primarily breeding for themselves and are not obligated, so it never hurts to have a couple of lines that you admire where the breeder might consider you one day!