Hi,
I am new to this site,and forum.My wife and I have just said goodbye to our beautiful 15 year old Chocolate Lab.We are heartbroken without him.He was our second Chocolate lab.He was show dog stock,where as our first was working dog stock.Both were just pets to us.I say just pet.they,like for most people,were as much a part of family as our daughter is.
Anyway,we live in the Lake District,great place for dogs to live,and we feel we have been great owners for the last 25 years to our dogs.
So when our boy had to be put to sleep last week,we knew we wanted another to fill the house with happiness again.
I found Champdogs online.It looks the best place to ensure we get a dog with good breeding,and minimalise the risk of health problems.
So....to my question....is it normal for breeders to not reply when you email them about availability of a recent,or upcoming litter ?
We have messaged 3 breeders so far,only one has had the decency to reply..unfortunately her dogs had all gone.The other 2 haven't even bothered,one of them on their ad says no time wasters,yet they can't be bothered to reply to me.
I have got to admit,I did have a quick nose about on here,and it appears I made a faux par.I told of our previous dogs,but then asked if I could be provided with availability and costs.After a quick read on here,it appears you shouldn't ask "how much " the dog will be.Personaly, I can't understand why price is erellavant,but I assume this is why I haven't received a reply ?
Money is not an issue in us buying our next lab,but I thought it was "acceptable" to ask,as it is rellavant.
Those that have prices already available to view seem to be anything from £600-850 for a lab...that is fine.I only mentioned pricing in the email,because if some where to state £1300 or so,I obviously wouldn't want to waste their time any further.
As stated we just want another family pet,no showing,no working,just good breeding like our last 2 wonderful dogs.
Any advice as to how I should be approaching this matter would be gratefully appreciated.

As a breeder I always give the price of the pups both here on Champdogs and on my own website so it's very rare for me to be asked. I'm afraid it's a pet hate of mine (excuse the pun) when a price isn't clearly displayed, whatever is being sold.

I love the sort of email that gives me lots of details about any previous Labrador ownership, the family and how day to day care will be provided for a puppy.  I try to reply within 24hrs but unfortunately, not all breeders check their emails regularly. Keep looking, the right breeder will be out there.

Thank you for your reply.
You would think breeders would include the price they are asking.That in itself would stop time wasters.If they see a price,and either can't to wont pay the asking price,then no contact would be made.I mentioned in all inquires about owning labs,and where we live.As you have mentioned,maybe I should add next time that I am in the home most of the time,and therefore the puppy would never be left on his own.
I guess I just assumed everyone who sells puppies would be courteous and had the decency to acknowledge an inquiry.But it wouldn't do if we were all the same I guess.

I assume it's only a few days ago that you contacted breeders, as your old boy only died last week? (Can so sympathise.) Don't forget that at the moment Crufts is keeping a lot of us extra busy, especially those that travel far and end up staying in a hotel etc. The other day I was up to date pretty much with my e-mails, after spending the day at Crufts yesterday I have 137 e-mails sat in my inbox, and as I will be at Crufts tomorrow and Sunday, this will only get worse. Only taking a breather at the moment in between bathing dogs etc. So fingers crossed, you may well still get replies.

I ignored the emails that said I want a male and how much and when can I collect as I want one.
Those who said a bit about themselves, where they live, about their working lifestyle - so how long the dog would be left each day and what experience they have with the breed. Asking how much at the end of the email shouldn't be an issue but when its the first question I question why that's the most important. Asking if they have any left and asking about the parents as well of the pups.
If they've be inundated which they might have it might be worth looking at breeders who haven't advertised a litter right now and those who breed healthy dogs from what you like and ask if they have any plans for a litter in the next year. You may have to wait but that would be my suggestion and go on a waiting list and see if you can meet the breeders and their dogs to decide if you want to be on a list too.
Maybe get to a lab breed ch show and go and meet the many dogs, breeders and owners too, that's always a good way and its how I started in finding a breeder.

. I have tended to ring people when I was looking and pretty soon you get a feel for how the conversation is going. must say even if pups went available everyone I spoke to in the two breeds I have was very nice. By the end of the conversation having explained about my self I usually felt confident to ask that tricky " how much " question. Breed clubs are definitely worth contacting as many have a litter secretary to point you in the right direction

Thanks for all replies.
Looks like I will need to provide more info to potential sellers.
I will not ask about the price,but to be fair,we do want a Boy and not a girl,so surely that is OK to mention.
I do hope this doesn't sound rude,as it's not meant to,but are breeders mainly concerned ( quite rightly ) as to the type of home their "babies" are going to.
Or is it," they have mentioned price,so can't afford it".... I can ignore them.

To be fair...I didn't take into consideration that it was crufts this week.

Good breeders care where their pups go to, anyone who only cares about the price is not the person for their puppy

I don't think asking price is a problem just if that's the only thing you ask. For example if I get an email just saying "Have u got pups, how much?" I'd be warie of them. But if someone showed more intrest and asked about price as well I wouldn't see it as a bad sign.
For me if the person seem more concerned about price and if they can get a puppy now I'd be worried how they will view their dog, will it get vet treatment when needed or not due to price, will they give up on it if they are impatient ect. But if someone as you have done tells me about themselves as well as asking price it shows that they have put some thought into it and implys they see their dog as more than just an item for sale.

Some breeders may not reply (when I was after my girl one never replyed) it could be they have just been busy and forgot or it could be the litter is all spoken for.
You may have more luck just contacting breeders you like the sound of and asking to go o t their waiting list rather than looking for a litter. They way they are not busy with the pup and it will give you both more time to make sure your happy woth each other.

Are you aware that on Champdogs there's the facility for getting notifications whenever new litters are added? You'll need to get on a waiting list to really stand a chance of getting a puppy from most reputable breeders and it's going to mean waiting rather than being able to get a puppy now, but it will be worth the wait, although I know that on a day to day basis it's hard trying to get over the enormous hole left in your life by the passing of your previous dog. Just to add, I think it's a good thing to say if you have a preference for one sex or another, it helps breeders manage their waiting lists - though bitches often aren't quite so cooperative when it comes to producing enough of each sex.

First of all condolences on your sad loss.   It hurts.   Next the Lakes are a great place for a dog to live - HUMANS TOO!!!   I'm filled with envy as this, apart from maybe Austria, is the one place I'd love to be able live.   So many memories of happy family holidays on a farm just outside Keswick.

As for your new puppy and breeders not responding.   Breeders are busy people and all too often, unless they do have puppies available, they don't bother to reply to emails.   A phone-call might be better but if they haven't replied, it's most likely they have no puppies.  Not that this isn't rude.  

Try the Breed Club - ask for the names of known good breeder-members much as belonging to a Club is usually an indication of somebody dedicated to their chosen breed.   And Breed Clubs have Codes of Ethics which should rule out BYB-members.

Don't do what my nephew did years ago, when, after coming to me for recommendations (he was torn between a Choc.Lab and a Border Collie - I suggested the former), by the time I got back to him (same day, within hours) was already with a local breeder and bought.  That puppy had had both hips and an elbow operated on by 8 months of age.   It was at a time when Choc.Labs were all too popular, with BYBs churning them out.   In other words, you may have to look on this as a project, so you get a good puppy - is the breeder of your last dog still active?

ps   Price is relevant for most of us!   But I do get twitchy if 'how much' is one of the first questions from a prospective breeder.
Crufts - well gundogs were yesterday so even if they are 'otherwise engaged', this weekend should produce a response .... phone them - people don't always check their emails regularly.

http://www.champdogs.co.uk/litter/39655    Reading the text, it seems these pups have all been sold - don't like the eye on dad?
http://www.champdogs.co.uk/litter/39669    Travelling, but ....?

I'm a potential puppy owner and have been on a waiting list with a breeder for, about a year by now i should think.  In fact i went on the list before the list even existed, because i saw she wasn't too far and liked the look of her dogs so emailed and asked if she was planning a litter which she wasn't quite yet, but was in the future.  We have young children so waiting was fine by us.  With one thing and another the planned litter had to be put off for a few seasons, but we are now hopeful of a puppy in early summer.

I too had contacted several breeders, some who gave no response whatsoever, some who gave worrying ones (for instance one i emailed in about June last year asking if a litter was planned and the reply was "yep, due 10th July, £700, deposit of £100 now if you want one" - i ran a mile!).  It took time to find the breeder we have settled on.

So for me it depends what you want from your breeder too.  I feel with the breeder i have found i will have lifelong (life of the puppy!) support, advice and help if i needed it.  If i wanted another puppy in the future she would be my first port of call - even if no longer breeding i would trust her to point me to another good breeder.  I have spoken on the phone with her several times, and we email too.  She has had a good chance to get to know me and by extension what our household is like, which is important as we have not owned her breed before.  In fact i have enough regard for her that i feel lucky she is considering us as a home for one of her dogs, as she is very selective and her dogs are very popular.  Whereas when i first went into this (i'd never owned a pedigree dog before, having had mongrels and/or from rescues previously) i looked on it more that the breeder would be grateful for my money! (i laugh at this now!)

I'm sorry for your loss, i understand the urge to be getting on with finding a new puppy to join your family.  But i would say wait first until crufts is over - a lot of the best breeders will be there.  And then give it some time.  Maybe if they are rude and don't get back to you it's because it isn't meant to be, and the perfect breeder, with the right puppy, is waiting out there for you to find them.

Thanks again for all comments.
I guess I was just a bit naive about how I expected the whole process would go.I suppose I just thought they were selling,and I was buying.I now realise I need to sell myself,and my lifestyle to the breeder.My original messages to the breeders who contacted explained our recent loss,and having labs for 25 years.I put that we live in Keswick...supposedly the most dog friendly place in the uk.It was only the last comment where I asked for info regarding availability and cost.I just assumed that would be a standard request to find out whether they had any available pups or not.
I have now written a template that I will use to any breeder I may message in future.It explains our home status,we are fortunate enough to own our home mortgage free,with a large piece of ground with it.We live on the edge of town,so many great walks are on our doorstep.I have added employment history,family members and info explaining  that any pup will never be left on his own....any young pup who joins our family will have a great life...just as Chip had for the last 15 years.Of course we were really the lucky ones for every minute of that 15 years.

> I do hope this doesn't sound rude,as it's not meant to,but are breeders mainly concerned ( quite rightly ) as to the type of home their "babies" are going to.

You've hit the nail on the head.  I almost interrogate prospective new owners.  I expect them to tell me how often they change their underwear and if they shop at Sainsbury's.  Ok, ok I'm exaggerating a tad, but you get my drift.  And I bet that anyone who was advertising over £1000 for a pup were back yard breeders.  Reputable people are not money mad.

I once had a lovely Chihuahua boy for sale.  He was particularly tiny and I got pestered by the handbag brigade.  My Chi's are allowed to play in the compost heap with the Collies.  I turned down lots of people and eventually was contacted by someone who had a dog  from me a couple of years before.  They were the sort of owners that anyone would choose.  They didn't actually know that I had a pup available, and had just expressed an interest in another dog because they loved the temperament.

I invited them for a visit.  I did say that I would like them to bring their dog with them.  The kettle hadn't even boiled before these two boys were playing chase and having the time of their lives.  I was 100% happy for him to go back home with them.  And I reduced my selling price by £200 just because I was so happy about his new home.

So yes, it means an awful lot to me that the "right" forever home is there for my precious pups.

Just to add, again, that although most things are done online these days, I'd PHONE re getting a puppy.    An again, breeders are busy people so even if they do spent time checking their emails, my take on it would say unless they have a litter available, they will move on.   And if you do email, try to keep it brief.   All the questions can/should be asked face to face.   I think breeders may be too busy to wade through loads of information in an email to be honest.   Let them ask the questions (which they should) either on the phone, or whan you go visit.

Just my view.

I have to say that I much prefer the first contact to be by email, this way I can digest the contents easily & reply accordingly. Also you have always got the reply to questions asked & other useful items, which can be looked at again without trying to rely on your memory.

There are some breeders who prefer the way I do & others who prefer telephone contact...cant be easy for the new buyers to know which to chose

When I was looking for a puppy about three years ago I felt happier emailing rather then phoning as I didn't want to disturb people who were busy and feel terribly guilty doing so. I also asked if the breeder wasn't planning a litter during the year would they be prepared to recommend anyone who might be. I ended up being asked for my phone number by a breeder so she could phone me when she had some free time. Had a really helpful and interesting chat with her and was able to find out about my dogs breeder amongst other things.

I am always a little put-off by people whose FIRST question about the litter is, 'how much are they?' (or only question!!!).  I don't mind people asking, but surely there are other things they want to know just as much, if not more??

I do cut people some slack though - not everyone realises how they come across and how it sounds to a breeder to get only this question, so I wouldn't write someone off just because that's what they'd asked.  I'd want much more info about them to determine if they were a suitable home.

You sound very sensible, I think most breeders would be delighted to have an enquiry like yours. I agree that it's rude to not even reply to say 'Sorry, all pups have now gone to their new homes/are spoken for' but not everyone is as considerate as you.(I understand that everyone has demands on their time, esp when you have a litter to look after, but how long does a brief but polite email take to send? Especially as it probably won't be the first one that has been sent, so just a matter of copy and paste. They never know when someone might drop out or if you would also be interested in a future litter etc so shortsighted to ignore, I would suggest.)

I would normally leave an enquiry about price for a second email and then it would be the last thing I mentioned, along the lines of "By the way, can you let me know how much the puppies cost please? Thank you for your time again, I look forward to hearing from you when you get a moment".

>I am always a little put-off by people whose FIRST question about the litter is, 'how much are they?' (or only question!!!).  I don't mind people asking, but surely there are other things they want to know just as much, if not more??

This is why we recommend that a price is always supplied on Champdogs adverts. Not everyone has a blank cheque book when buying a puppy and most people have a set amount of money for the actual 'purchase' of a puppy. There is little point spending hours on the phone asking-all-the-right-questions if at the end of the conversation the puppy is out of the persons price range. That way everyone knows where they stand from the start and avoids embarrassment and disappointment later. Adding the price to an advert will save everyone time in the long run.