My litter are 5 weeks old now, and have all but one (now) been found loving new homes, around an hour ago the family that were going to take one of my pups phoned up to see if they could collect the puppy today, as they say they now booked a holiday and want to spend time with the puppy and get it into a routine, forgive me for this but my first reaction to them was a very angry one, as pointed out they were expecting to much of me and the said puppy.  When they were first invited to come and meet the puppies and the dam, they left a deposit (even though i never asked for one), anyway i have asked them to come tommorrow to collect they deposit they left for the puppy. Please tell reassure me that reacting in such an angry way that i have done the right thing, thinking about it now i was really rude (im not that normally inclined to behave in such a manner i am normally a very placid and laid back person, but i was angry, and still am).
I love my puppies to death, and want whats right for them and the new families they are going to be homed with, but i have been made to feel by these people that im in the wrong for not doing what they wanted, i also pointed out that they were not old enough to go yet anyway, dispite their protests.
Have i done the right thing?, by being so rude and exploding with anger at the same time?
Nikki

You are within your rights to refuse to sell to someone who would want a puppy far too young to leave it's litter & yourself

The puppy needs to be with the litter to learn how to be a dog for starters & also cannot be vaccinated at such a young age so couldn't safely go out anywhere

Depending on the breed 6 weeks is too young let alone 5 weeks, I got my last cavalier when he was 8 weeks old(it's normally 10-12 weeks with my breeder)only because she knows me very well(already have three of hers)& that I know how to bring up puppies correctly, the rest of the litter did not leave until they were 12 weeks old

Stand your ground & return their money & then you are free to find a home where your puppy will be treated properly

I don't know what breed you have Nikki, but 5 weeks old is far too young to leave, so the basic answer is, yes, you are right to refuse them. Crikey, how long are they going on holiday for? A month? Two months? If they're not happy for you to look after the pup till they come back they don't deserve a pup. My pups never leave before 7 1/2 weeks.

Remember, they are your pups. You don't have to sell them to anyone if you don't want to.

I wouldn't allow a puppy to go that young what ever the breed :( I had a couple ask if when they take the pup if we would babysit cause they were going away for x-mas and chose just to keep the pup a month longer this way it wouldn't be confusing for the pup, mind you they did come and visit lots to see her and then picked her up on their way home....Could you not just keep the pup till they come back if they seem like descent people, just explain that it is much safer for the pup and they can enjoy their vacation instead of worrying about a pup since she is so tiny all their time would be pup and they wouln't enjoy them selves..Then when they get back they can enjoy their pup and do some bonding :)

I can't understand why they would book a holiday if they knew they were getting a puppy? I could never leave a young puppy to go on holiday as it is such a vital period of their lives. I think you did the right thing, as if they are willing to leave the puppy a short time after getting it settled then they are not committed to it. Just had a thought were they going to take pup with them?

Hello

Thanks for the responses, they didnt say how long they were going away for, i tried to be as polite as i could without being nasty to them, however, they were having none of it as they had left a deposit, which i never asked for in the first place, they presumed that they could pick up the puppy when they wanted, to fit in with their lifestyle.
I am happy now that i have asked them to collect the deposit they left tomorrow, as gut feeling says they dont deserve one of my puppies, shame really, as they seemed so nice at the time, but i saw them in a different light this evening.
Nikki

If this is an indication of their behaviour, at least you found out before they took the puppy....

I believe that having accepted a deposit you *may* find you have entered into a contract with them - you might need to check this out.......  can you not hold the puppy for them until they get back from holiday?

When i went to look at my new pup (at 4 weeks) we had already booked a weeks holiday,the breeder just kept her an extra week for us we collected her at 9 weeks.

No freakin' way!!!!!! They're YOUR dogs. Those idiots don't care about the dogs' welfare if they expect them to be taken this early. And if they don't know any better, then that's just as bad. I'd never sell a pup to someone who is that ignorant about dogs and that pushy. You're totally, 100% correct in your gut feeling. I don't think you've entered into a contract at all. If you haven't signed anything and you've returned their deposit...forget it. Anyhow, if I had a contract or any paper forms, I'd stipulate that I reserve the right of refusal to turn over the pup at any time, including after the pup is in the buyer's possession....if I feel that it is not in the pup's best interest regardless of any deposit, and the deposit would be returned or whatever. I've seen it that way many times in contracts here. If the pup is not being cared for or mistreated in any way, (breeder's opinion) back it goes to the breeder. Period. So, you're saving yourself a worry and heartache later on by refusing it in the first place. Those people don't sound like proper dog people.

You go girl!!! 

Oh....editted to say: I re-read your post and I gathered that these people weren't pushy persay. But still, if you don't have a good feeling about them, it's your perogative. You don't need to get angry with them anymore. You could just say that you don't think going of a vacation with a new pup is a good thing. What did they seem like? Did they seem like they'd be nice to a dog or did they know anything at all about having a dog? My breeder talked with me many times on the phone and with other breeders I had spoken with before she considered me as a buyer. She got to know what I knew about dogs, about my history with dogs etc, etc. You probably need to get to know people a little better before turning over a pup so you feel good inside. I hope this turns out ok for you and the pups.

Carrie