I’ve seen a few differing opinions on this, so, taking covid out of the equation, do you as a breeder have a cut off point to a waiting list, or do you have an open book and just be honest with people as to how many are on it?

If you do have a cut off to your list what do you base it on? Average litter size for the breed, plus a couple more maybe?

Also, if you then end up with more puppies than homes on your waiting list, how do you go about finding suitable homes for the remaining puppies?

Just as an aside, I personally do not mind if this thread naturally ranges in the topic as discussions tend to do that in real life!

Assuming the litter have not been born, I would always want the best homes possible. If a home came along which was a performance home, wanting to 'do stuff' with their dog, they would take priority over others on the list who would get bumped off or down (assuming everything else was great as well!). I actually score homes as A, B or C when they complete questionnaires. A=they absolutely have to have a pup, I really like this home B=this is a pretty good home which wants to do something with the dog but might not have loads of experience and C=not sure about this home and would prefer not to place a puppy here if better options (A or B!) come up.

I've always been so picky about homes, after 450 enquiries last time I had 8 homes I accepted. So I've never had the problem of having too many homes. And whilst there might be more demand at the moment, I bet the number of really good homes has not increased...

I had a little book into which I put enquiry names, if I had no litter on the ground (so I didn't know how many puppies would be available).  We had somebody within the Club keeping names of breeders with litters and only once to my memory, were sales slow so I had to put my name on the KC list.  Something I never did again as I found myself listed with known puppy farmers.   Many times when I phoned back once I had a litter with puppies available, I'd find they'd gone elsewhere - even to a completely different breed.  Word of mouth worked well within my breed at the time.

Even with enquiries, I made no decision about which home, until I'd met the people.

I tend to tell people once I have more than 3 - 4 for each sex if a litter is fairly imminent.

If some way off, then I will take suitable enquiries on the basis I will write to everyone once bitch comes in season to see who is still with me.

If I still have a large number over 3 - 4 per sex I will advise them of this, and say I will pass them onto other breeders planning later than me or they can wait and see.

Once bitch mated I recheck, and confirm state of play.

Once bitch confirmed in whelp (or not) I email again, and see if any dropped out.

If not pregnant, pass on to next breeder, be that someone with excess pups, or someone planning.

When pups born I will sort out who I can allocate a pup to. If I have insufficient of one sex, but more of other, I will see if the unlucky ones will be happy with opposite sex.

If I still have pups left (single or very sex biased litter). I will advise on my website and our Club Secretary that keeps a list of planned/available litters.

It is highly likely that I may get referalls from other breeders whose litter was oversubscribed.

I will ask those I have offered a puppy to send me a 10% deposit, (only refundable if I can't supply the puppy for unforseen reasons), so that we all know where we are, and I don't end up with unlucky people hoping for a cancellation, and can pass them onto another breeders list.

My breed is numerically small, and both litters and suitable homes are 'Feast or Famine' and always breed with the knowledge that all pups may not be homed by 8 - 10 weeks, but when suitable homes become available.

I like to have all on my list vetted from the outset, they will either be existing owners known to me or those I can rely on, or first timers I have met who have researched the breed well.

I like to use the waiting time for relationship building.

I like this A.B, C idea 1234, might steal it!

I wish our club kept lists Mamabas, would make things so much easier

Brainless this pretty much exactly what I do

I must say I do find out what people want to 'do' with pup.

As a breed we are low in numbers and desperately need new enthusiasts who will show, and potentially breed.

I plan litters in the hope that some of the pups may be able to make a useful contribution to the gene pool. Always thinking of the potential next generations, and what there would be available for them to be bred to.

So I often hold back the best in a litter of each sex for a more serious home if I am unable to keep one.

Also breeding for ones own lines means placing pups usefully.

If you loose your own breeding, as.I have done this year, then hopefully you can get them back.

I have my hopes pinned on 3 planned litters to be bred by others, all 3 first time breeders in my breed. In 2 cases.I bred the bitch, and chosen sire goes back to my breeding, and the first due to be mated I bred the bitches Great Grandmother, and the Sire's Mother and Great Grandfather.

Unfortunately I can only have second choice from these litters, and for fairness will ask the Stud owners to help the breeders make their choice.

I will probably ask that they put that pup away until I have chosen.