I have a breeder that has been to me for stud on a couple of occasions with my dog. Her bitch's last and final litter she offered me a pup in return for a stud fee before the mating which isn't very common to hear of these days with the price of pups vs stud fees so I felt very touched by the offer and accepted this. Nothing was in writing, nor do I feel it needed to be as our relationship is on friendly terms, not business-like.
I went to visit the pups over the weekend to choose and during the visit, she did mention that although the pup was mine, she did expect a financial contribution from me for the pup. To which I'd already thought in my head of offering something as purely a gesture to contribute towards upbringing the litter, worming, kennel club applications etc. But she was suggesting the financial contribution would be somewhat closer to the cost of the sale price.
I am now feeling in a predicament what to do and wanted other breeders opinions on this please to help my decision. My stud fee is usually £300, which was free. She is hoping to sell the pups around £1500. And although shes said she doesnt want the difference, or as much as the sale price, her expectation is something. So, although it would have been ideal for this to be mentioned in our verbal agreement, what does everyone else think is fair for both parties, as I want to remain respectful to her situation also.
In all honesty, if it wasnt for the fact the pup is sired by my stud, i wouldnt be looking to purchase a puppy as I dont have spare cash lying around for a puppy over Christmas time. It seemed an ideal opportunity but now i dont know what is for the best. I want to maintain a good relationship with the breeder. Has anyone done this before?

What a predicament, I can absolutely understand you wanting to stay on good terms with the breeder, but on the other hand I think she has changed the agreement. A pup for the stud fee means a pup. I've had several stud fee puppies over the years in 2 different breeds.

Way back (30+ years ago) when I was still fairly new to showing I did have a similar situation, I had booked a pup from a very successful, well known breeder (no relation to my dogs) and after the pup was born this breeder asked to use my champion dog on her champion bitch, I was really pleased and of course agreed. Back then it was common to get a pup for the stud fee and I just assumed this was the case, that it would transfer to the other litter. I travelled to the other end of the country when her bitch was ready, we mated them and I picked my pup up from the other litter. The breeder then asked me what my stud fee was, my dog had only been used once before and I got pick of litter for that, but I didn't have the confidence to say this as a young person fairly new to showing. I asked what she thought and she said she only charged £50 for her champions, my pup was £400 so I had 350 left to pay which was a huge amount of money for me back then. I didn't argue to maintain good relations but I learned the lesson to get things in writing, you may have to so the same.

As an amount I would suggest maybe £200/300 to cover costs.

Hi thanks for your response. I was actually thinking around the 200/300 mark myself, this being the maximum i can comfortably offer. But i cant help think she would feel insulted by this. I am drafting up a text message to send her to basically ask what her expectation is and if she would prefer to sell the pup and offer me the stud fee instead then I wouldn't be offended. At the end of the day I dont want her to wish she hadnt offered me the pup. But i want to sort this soon as I don't want my heart to start ruling my head as I met the pup and taken pictures, now I might have to give up the idea entirely

This is why, even if it was happening a lot in my breed (puppy for a stud fee) amongst fellow breeders, I always far preferred to take a stud fee.   If I was interested in the mating, and ready to take in another, I'd do that later once the litter was safely on the ground.  Now stud fees are lagging behind puppy prices, it's not so much a puppy in lieu situation any longer is it.   I think you have to ask her what she's looking for in terms of payment. 

Again always get it in writing is how I operate.

Thinking on about this situation - at the moment the breeder has used your stud dog and now has a litter and hopes to sell each puppy for £1500.  You haven't even had the going rate for the stud without which she's not have a litter.    Seems to me she's able to call all the shots.  All too often these friendly dealings end up in tears which is why I found it cleaner to take a stud fee and again, perhaps think about approaching the breeder for a puppy if I wanted one and the breeding interested me.

Yes certainly will not be agreeing to anything like this again, always taken a stud fee however with it being her girls last litter and us being on good terms, I thought her offer was genuinely just a kind gesture in return for all the assistance I've given her over the past few years with her breeding. The situation has made me anxious now about what the right thing to do is for both of us.

Agree with the above she has changed the agreement. What she originally offered was a puppy as a stud fee now she is no longer offering this but a discount on a puppy as a stud fee.
If it was me I'd ask for my normal stud fee instead and if she ever wants to use him again get it all in writing.

Was there complications with the litter meaning she now wants money for this pup to cover expenses?

Yes i think I'm going to offer 250 as my financial contribution which i think she will likely turn down knowing she can make more. There were no complications, all pups delivered naturally and now 3 weeks old and thriving. I think with the recent demand dropping and pups being harder to sell may contribute as to why she would rather I have one for a reduced fee but had i known this is what she actually wanted from me then i would have taken the stud fee

> Now stud fees are lagging behind puppy prices,

Later -  This isn't apparently necessarily the case.   I've just heard of a breeder in my main breed using another breeder's young dog and he cost her £2K which is the top end for a puppy now.  There were other restrictions placed on his offspring too, which I won't go into here.  Suffice to say I'd really want that stud dog to even think about using him.

Hindsight sys you should have got it in writing, as friends and money/deals often come unstuck a question not really relevant what if the litter had been one pup or none where would you have stood then?

Whatever you decide I wish you well. But whatever you do I suggest you get all deals with the bitch owner in writing from now on, even with regards this possible pup a clear contract, and sole ownership with no restrictions etc or whatever you want it to be but definately in writing signed and sealed.  Four corners of a contact cannot be breached by either side.

Recall the old adage "no good deed goes unpunished" as my Nan used to say.