I recently had an enquiry from someone local who seemed only concerned about breeding from any bitch I had available (despite stating in advert endorsed). She then messaged to say the dog would be a present for her mother but wanted to know if she could ever breed for her mother’s information (bearing in mind she hadn’t even viewed the puppies yet). Things didn’t seem right to me and I cancelled the viewing. No viewing so I felt it quite easy to cancel.

However I’ve had another couple travel a reasonable distance for a pup (they could have done the visit in one day, but chose to stay locally overnight). Initial contact was by email, she seemed quite abrupt in some ways with her questioning but I thought to myself that you can’t pick up tone in email and was pleased she offered information about herself - children had grown up and left home and she seemed like was looking for a puppy to now care for and I agreed to meet her. Despite telling me in an email that she’d ‘grown up’ with dogs, on meeting she told me she barely remembers her pet dog as a child (as she was so young). She asked lots of questions, from what size bowl to use and how to toilet train and I helped as best I could with advice and also forwarded by email an advice sheet. During the visit she said she might want a puppy from her chosen dog in the future and I stated that the advert did say puppies are endorsed not to be used for breeding (her inexperience with dogs, to me, meant this wasn’t something she should be thinking about at the moment).

I have emailed her updates, photos and videos. A couple of days ago she emailed me saying that her and her husband are guessing the puppies have fleas as they are scratching ‘quite a lot‘ in the video I sent her, and she’d appreciate it if I could treat her puppy for fleas, not just for the puppy’s sake but contamination in her car and her home.
I looked back at that video and there’s very little scratching. I replied to her email to state puppies don’t have fleas and reminded her that the vet would have also spotted this in the recent health check. I explained puppies only wear their collars for puppy videos and photos so they aren’t used to wearing them (hence the, really, very occasional scratch) and I assured her that puppies would go to new homes with everything they need and hoped new owners have confidence in my experience and care for them.
Her response was that it was a legitimate concern as these things happen, and she’d see me next week (for collection).

I am trying not to take my concerns personally and consider the new home from the puppy’s point of view. But I have taken a couple of days to consider how I feel about this home for a puppy of mine, and I have thoughts of returning her deposit.
Any thoughts?

Hi Greenfield

I would follow your gut instinct and not allow a puppy to go to this home.

I’d return the deposit, they don’t seem the dog type!

Echo...go with your gut..it is best for your puppy

I would agree, return the deposit!! What came to mind for me was; Is this the mother of the original person you declined? The stories sound awfully similar and people can be very devious. My friend, when vetting potential puppy parents, had declined one possible owner only to find this person’s friend making an enquiry to get her a puppy ‘by the back door’. On this occasion Facebook was very useful as the two were clearly listed as friends!

No, the first person was local and the second people drove 3/4hrs to get here (with an overnight stay). I think that’s what’s making me feel concerned - that they travelled a distance and I’d be ‘letting them down’ (I know though... they’re letting me down too!) I also have someone travelling over 10hrs to get to me and I’ve had no problems there at all. I am trying to take a step back and think about it but two nights and mornings I still have doubts and I’m already writing the ‘sorry but no’ email in my head. It helps having others’ perspectives on this, so thank you.

Yes, if you have any doubts at all about any prospective buyer, dont go any further with them. Choose your words carefully, i.e. dont say "I'll keep the puppy for you" say "I'll reserve it for you until you view".  After an initial contact always speak with them on the phone not by email.  You get a much better idea of people when speaking to them. Sure, use email for sending pedigree/care advice and to confirm what you want to, about any conversation youve had,  by email but everything else --on the phone. As a bonus you get to hear lots..ie  badly behaved children in the background..:-)

Your puppy, your choice but if you're having doubts about them then return the deposit. if the alarm bells are ringing now, imagine how worried you're going to be if you actually let them have a puppy.

Just to clarify, I did not accept a deposit on this puppy until I’d met them. Alarm bells have been ringing since then, after emails following their visit.
I’m writing the email now, I’ll let you know how I get on!
(But as always, lessons learnt here!)

As the others have said, always listen to your gut. If you feel you have to think of reasons why they're okay to have a puppy, then they're not. It seems awfully rude to say no, but it'll save you a lot of worry and upset in the future.

Perfect example of why I would never take a deposit. I don't want to feel obliged to sell a puppy if new info surfaces about the buyer and I don't want a buyer to feel obliged if they have doubts.

I don’t feel obliged by a deposit. I view that puppy as mine until a contract is signed and full purchase price has exchanged hands. There’s far too many people ‘thinking about’ getting a dog - I’ll always use deposits but each to their own.

Not a breeder (and don’t intend to become one) but I agree that if something doesn’t feel right you shouldn’t go ahead.

The people are going to be upset and possibly angry, but dealing with that has to be better than potentially feeling guilty and worried that you may have let a pup go to a less-than-perfect home.

And if you’re not happy now, think how you’ll feel if the puppy goes to them!

> that they travelled a distance and I’d be ‘letting them down’

I've had this feeling myself, but, awkward though it may feel, you don't have to see them again.

I had a lady phone me regarding a puppy.  I asked her lots of questions prior to agreeing that she could see the litter.  I was concerned that she was expecting to collect the pup right away (I like prospective owners to come at least twice.)

However, it was a 4 hour drive, and I was trying to see her problems.  I did, however, say that I would like to meet the children.  Well, she came with a friend.  I made them a drink right away.  They stayed for 2 hours, and her 3 children ran riot, while she didn't bat an eyelid.  So I guess it was the norm for her kids not to be told off.  Then the boy said how funny it was that their Chihuahua always hid behind the settee to get away from their big dog.  I was gobsmacked.

I waited a while, then said "I'm sorry but I don't think that you're suitable for one of my puppies."  I only had to feel uncomfortable until they left.  But I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

> The people are going to be upset and possibly angry, but dealing with that has to be better than potentially feeling guilty and worried that you may have let a pup go to a less-than-perfect home.<br />

Exactly!

If you have a gut feeling that somebody isn't right for one of your precious puppies, don't sell to them!   It might be awkward at the time, but far better that than to sell to the wrong home and have it continue to haunt you.

I had a litter of 4 surviving puppies from a much anticipated litter (of 9) which had given rise to some interest from fellow breeders.   There were two of each and I was going to keep one of the 2 bitches.  One breeder booked the other bitch and a male and another breeder the other male.   Hindsight is a wonderful thing but both people came to see the puppies - different days and thank heavens, they didn't both decide on the same male.  

However, as time went on, the one taking just the one male became increasingly pushy to the point all I could see was a life-time (his) of her on the phone with perceived problems.   In the end (and I'd not taken a deposit from either) I made the decision to keep that male myself with his sister and let the other two go to the first breeder.   Which as it turned out was a HUGE mistake but that's another story.  I know she was very upset but I made my decision which at the time was difficult, but letting him go to her would have been even more difficult, going forward.

Again hindsight, but what I should have done with that litter was keep both bitches and sold the males into pet homes where I had access to them had I wanted to use them at stud, or shown them!    Never again would I sell to a fellow breeder I'm afraid, and never did.

>I waited a while, then said "I'm sorry but I don't think that you're suitable for one of my puppies."  I only had to feel uncomfortable until they left. 

And another way to word it is "I'm sorry, but I don't think any of my puppies will be right for you".

I find it easier to tell people by email, so I would make it clear when we meet in person that I need to consider everything and will let them know - then, if I need to tell them they can't have one, I can do it by email and it's easier to do, I find.

Just wondered how things went?

I don't really understand the thoughts behind taking deposits when you're a responsible breeder.

I've seen plenty of adverts from the average back yard breeder stating "Deposit secures" - meaning "You are guaranteed to get a puppy if you pay a deposit". But if you are responsible, you will not guarantee anything until you are 100 % certain that the prospective buyer is right for one of your pups. So paying a deposit doesn't guarantee that the buyer gets a pup. Some argue that taking a deposit will stop the buyer from going off to buy a pup from somebody else instead. I want my pups to be the buyer's first choice, so that when they have decided on both myself as a breeder and my litter, they don't want to go elsewhere. If they do, well then I've had a lucky escape.

If somebody has paid a deposit and decides to not buy a pup or go elsewhere yes the deposit should be retained, but again, it's a lucky escape for the breeder, and I certainly would not want anyone to buy a pup just because they have paid a deposit they don't want to lose. So what actual use is a deposit? It does not guarantee the buyer that they will be sold a pup, nor does it guarantee the breeder that the buyer goes through with the purchase or that it will be the right home for your pup.

I agree.  I don't take deposits.  I find it muddies the waters about who owns the pup and what kind of demands the buyer can then make (visiting pup, things you do etc) and they often act like they own the pup already.

I take a deposit only after I have met the new prospective buyer AND their family.  I don't take the money from them when they visit.  I ask them to go home & think about the committment to the puppy for it's whole life and give them a deposit form with info on this commitment.  I have found this stops people possibly looking for a breeder closer to them or available sooner and gives them a 'buy-in' to your litter.  I also don't sell to anyone further than a 2 hour drive away so that extra visits are not a burden AND the  puppy doesn't have to have a long drive ahead of it on it's first day away.  Each to their own but this works best for me.  I would agree on the going with your instinct bit.100% that will tell you all you need to know.

> I don't take deposits.  I find it muddies the waters about who owns the pup and what kind of demands the buyer can then make (visiting pup, things you do etc) and they often act like they own the pup already.

And this is exactly how I felt and what happened with the pup sale I felt I had to back out of!!   Sometimes we just have to go with our gut instinct.