Hi im new to the board - i have read a lot of your post and found some really usefull information. i have recently decided to breed my lab - all tests have been done with excellent scores. Having read about the puppy contracts - i have decided to use one which i think covers all that it needs - but how do i go about telling prospective purchasers - that in order to buy a pup they have to sign and accept the terms of the contract - do i tell them on the phone or show them a copy first? - all views greatly appreciated.

Speaking as a buyer , i would expect a contract to sign.I think that showing buyers the contract on their first visit is fine.If they have the dogs best interests at heart they wont mind signing.
Anyone who seems put of will visibly show this , then you can better judge your perspective owners.
Remember , the contract is there to help you try and pick the best owners.Broaching the subject of the contract should not worry you , for if they dont want to sign , are they likely to want to care for it best?
HTH
Zo

As a buyer I would not be put off by a contract but I think you would need to explain clearly to people what it is and what the purpose of using them is.Some people don't even know what KC reg is,never mind a contract but it does not mean they are going to be a bad owner.They may have years of experience of X-bred dogs and have decided to take the plunge into the pedigree dog world .I would want to be told as soon as I enquired about the pup as this way everything id 'upfront'.
Any one who doesn't want to sign a contract will then have the option of looking elsewhere-their loss.
Regards Archer.

Hi,

As a breeder (and sometimes buyer), you definately should expect to sign a contract of some description. We always tell them when they come to see the pup, when we are explaining about worming times etc, we say something like:-

You will get a puppy pack when you come to collect your pup, in there will be food, book, etc etc and there will also be a contract for you to sign, to say that you must return the puppy to us if you can no longer keep it or no longer want it, that the parents have all been eye tested, hips done etc etc. and you will get a receipt showing the dates your pup has been wormed, the price you paid etc etc.

So far, everyone has been happy about this and we have had no problems.

Good luck in your new venture and hope everything goes well, you have obviously been very sensible about it and done all the right things. :D

manda
X

Hi, once you are happy with your prospective purchaser and are willing to sell them a puppy you can e mail them a copy of the contract to read, so that they know well in advance whats in it.

hi thanks for all your replys - i have drawn up the contract. included everything - i hope, the main things are the dogs are pets, can be returned at any time, are all healthy, vet checked chipped and parents test scores. endorsments. i am going to ask them to sign a contract for me to keep - is this normal -i just want to make sure i have proof if i ever need to track the pup down - is this normal?

my puppy pack is goingto be a holdall 2 puppy bowls 2.5 kg off food a piece of the vetbed, loads of leaflets a a toy, diet sheet, training needs and an exercise sheet - (i hate to see overwieght labs - then people say - ohh its because he/she is a lab - the are always heavy) a list of numbersand adresses - kc, skc lab clubs etc all my numbers (even my grans in case they cant get me for some reason) ohh and poop bags and the next course of wormer. and of course the contract. iis this enough - or is there anything else? i just want to do the best for the pups - when i got mine she only had 3 days food and 1 bowl. if i didnt know anything i think i would feel lost, i want them to be prepared. off course before i sell the pup i will make sure they know all the implications and expense - and that they are not just gonna take it home and put it in a corner and hope for the best. - (someone once contacted me and though that as they had heard labs were easy to train 1 pup class a week would surely be enough to fully train a pup, and it would be fine being alone 12 hours of they day when they were at work.)

i am going to ask them to sign a contract for me to keep - is this normal -i just want to make sure i have proof if i ever need to track the pup down

Hi,

Sounds really good to me, I would certainly be very happy if I was buying one of your pups. You seem to have included all the right things and helped the new owners out in every way possible. :D

Just a thought, how about adding a list of training clubs or trainers in their area, you can log onto the APDT site and get a list of trainers in all the new puppy buyer areas, then there is no excuse not to take their pup for training ;)

manda
X

thanks everyone for the great advice. I am just anxious to do the right thing by the pups.

FTAO:manda - never thought of giving them a list of clubs - that is a good idea - deffinatly will give them a list of all the clubs in their area.

thanks again for the advice - i was so worried about wether i was doing the right thing. its good to hear reassurance.

x

Hi Lovelab
you sound like you have got everthing sorted! but your quite right you need to keep a copy of the sales contract (signed by both you and them) for your own records.
I now email a copy of the sales contract to people when they ask to be put on the waitng list , we used to wait till people came to pick a puppy but found people would come and then be put off! not this mattered because if they didnt want to abide by the contract I wouldnt consider them a suitable owner for one of our puppies but in the long run it saves you time and energy vetting people who arent going to be suitable! so before we add their name we know they have seen it and approve! if the person is genuine they should accept your conditions and be happy to abide by them
Good luck with your future breeding plans

Are contracts enforceable? Doesn't ownership pass over once the dog has been bought and paid for and can't the new owner do as they wish? I thought I read that contracts are not enforceable - might be worth checking with a solicitor first....

Chloe :)