Hi
I have been following comments made about a blue Staffie, I went to a breeder of the Akita, who i had booked a male pup from before the pups were born. I paid my deposit of £100 when the pregnancy was confirmed by a vet and we agreed on a price for the puppy. When the pups were born, I was told the only male left was a pure white male, but i had to pay over £200 more than the rest of the litter would be sold for because he was pure white. Not sure if i wanted a pure white i am now being told i will not get my deposit back if i pull out now. However i did not expect to be told as i DID have pick of the litter that the only male left is a white and i need to pay over the odds. Is this right? Should i just leave the deposit and not take the puppy? Take the pup and pay over the odds? or argue my case and possibly get my deposit back?
Any help would be great! I am very confused, this will be the first pedigree dog i have ever bought

I could be going in totally the wrong direction...but why did you place a deposit before even seeing the pups....surely problems like this are bound to arise, as you had no idea what you were getting because you of course hadnt seen them.
How reputable is this breeder?

There are several members on here that have Akita's, hopefully someone will be able to advise you, but my first thought is to contact the Akita Club and talk to someone there, they may well know this person or even have them on a puppy list.......if so, I am sure they would want to know about the problems you are experiencing.

Yes, in hindsight you should not have put a deposit on a puppy you have never see, but I am sure you know that now.

Legally speaking I am not sure this is right on the breeders behalf, certainly it is not ethical. I would also be tempted to contact Trading Standards.

I am sure there are a lot of questions you could ask the breeder to find out whether he/she is reputable, somehow I very much doubt it. Wait for an Akita person to come on to advise you further with this.

In the meantime why don't you registar as I am sure there are questions someone would like to ask you.

I feel very sorry for you, but I would stay well away from this breeder, you are very unlikely to receive the support you will need with a dog like an Akita.

Regards
Sandra

1. How can you pay a deposit for a MALE puppy before the pups are born? No one knows what sex they are going to be!
This is outrageous, I can almost understand paying a deposit for 'a puppy' before they are born but to state sex before birth is surely impossible

2. The price was agreed at the time of the deposit, that is the price you pay.
3. You had "pick of the litter" but this is the only male left?? The words "pulling a fast one" come to mind here.
4. The price has gone up because of the colour??? Words fail me

In your position I would have a chat with Trading Standards regarding what is binding when paying a deposit (did you get a receipt for it?) as they have changed things not you. Then armed with the information you have acquired I would decide what I want to do. If this was to tackle the breeders then the words Trading Standards have some clout and should help you either get your deposit back or get the pup at the original price.
After all if you were buying a car would you expect to lose your deposit if the garage charged you a good deal extra for a rare colour when you ordered standard??

Someone more knowledgeable about these things should be along soon but in your shoes that is what I would do.

Dill

I agree with all that has been said. Dont know the legal position, but it would logically seem that your deposit was given for a puppy at an agreed price, so by increasing the price, it is the breeder who has broken the verbal "contract". On the moral point, I dont see how anybody can ask for deposits for puppies when they dont know how many there will be and what sexes. Is she saying that if there was no puppy of whatever colour, you would not get your deposit back? Personally, if it were me I would give this person a VERY wide berth, whether I got my deposit back or not, and chalk it up to experience, as I would not be able to trust she would give me the "back up" that a good breeder should.

I certainly don't take deposits on pups that aren't even born.I have a Bullmastiff who is in pup now and i have taken preliminary bookings for these pups at this stage but I don't expect them to pay deposits yet. W hen the pups are born than i contact the each person who has booked a pup and let them know exactly how many have been born and what sex e.t.c and then they can pick their pup when its about 4 or 5 weeks old and then leave a deposit which then secures the particular pup that they want and then pay the balance when they collect the pup when its old enough. I find this the simplist and fairest way, as other people have said you don't know how many dogs or bitches you are going to have until they are born.