I sold an 8 week old puppy to some people I thought would provide a good home to her about two years ago.  They have now informed me they wish to return the bitch saying that she is too much for them to handle.  The question is - should I refund their money?  The bitch is a good example of her breed and the owners have responsibly undergone the breed specific health tests (she is clear of any health problems)

What would other breeders do?  I would appreciate some advice please.

I wouldn't give them their money back.  you wouldn't take a car back to a garage after 2 years and get your money back would you?

I wouldn't expect to have any money back but that is me :)

If they have come back to you then I would think that they have some sense rather than just selling her on and wouldn't have thought that money is an issue and they just want to see her going to a good home.

Lucy

Nope I wouldent , its not your fault that they cant handle the dog . You did your bit you paid the exspences out to breed her . if they want to give her back then thats up to them :)
Make sure when they bring her back you get her signed back over to you :) . Are you ok with finding this girl a home ?  if your not put in your search engine dogpages they will help you :) goodluck

If they cannot handle the dog then it must mean that their training was either no good or more likely, non existant! In the strength of that someone is going to have to work hard on this bitch just to make her livable with! I figure, if anything, YOU should be paid for putting their poor training right!

Regards, John

I would gladly take her back rather than her end up - Gods knows where.  I would charge board and keep, cost of advertising, vet bills etc.. and decuct it from the price I sell the dog for and then give them whatever is left.

No, i think your doing enough taking the pup back and finding a new home for it, i just hope they give it back, and dont try to sell it on, once they know you wont give the money back, if this happens then i might be inclined to give some money back,to make sure it doesnt fall into the wronghands, good luck   x

I don't knoiw about your breed but in mine you wouldn't give anything back for a dog this age, as you will no doubt have to rehome her free fo charge after rehabilitating her.  I have never charged anything for a dog I ahve rehomed working on the principle that if the new owners wanted they could by a puppy which is a clean page, and the trouble they will need to go to to retrain the dog means they get her for nothing.

If I had to to save the dog being exploited I might pay something on the basis explained, which in reality would still mean nothing as her keep etc will outweigh the price.

I would pay up to about half price for a pup under 6 months or so as it could still be resold, but again costs need deducting.

gosh, ive just read it again, missed the years bit , thought it said 2 months !!

I would take her back immediately - with no second thoughts.   As the breeder, I put this point forward in my contract with the new owner.   But I would not be prepared to "refund" her price to the original owners.    There would need to be a time of adjustment, a time of evaluation and then a plan forward.   Maybe this bitch cannot be rehomed anywhere else, and may have to live out her life with you, or maybe, after training, maybe there is a home out there for her.  How much would a prospective owner pay for a 2 year old bitch?   It would depend upon the bitch.  If, as would appear from your posting, she has little or no training, then she is not going to be very "marketable" to one and all, and the price paid for a puppy is not the same as the price that can be asked for a 2 year old untrained dog.   If the dog was well-trained, had good positive results in all the relevent breed health checks, had a reasonable showing career - then such a dog would have a value - but then her owners wouldn't be asking you to take her back :( .

Even M & S don't refund money after a period of 2 years.     

I would say to the original owners that if, after careful evaluation, that I would be able to rehome her with a new owner paying for her, they would receive the balance (if any) after deducting costs for health checks, training, and boarding for however long it took to find her a new home.

I just hope that this resolves itself - and that you can find her a forever home.

Margot

I would take the bitch back, as my main concern would be the welfare and safety of the bitch.

I do wonder why though it has taken 2 years to realise they can't handle the poor girl?

There are people willing to re train or train a dog you just have to know where to look for the right home .I wouldent rehome her for free id charge someone who wants her , rescues ask about £100 for cross breeds and  £150 now for pedigree dogs you dont get any papers with them ,they charge because there checked by the vet , micro chipted , wormed and de flead if she needs to be , least then you know your sending her out fit and healthy and you need to get the amount you have paid for all that back :)

Although I have never been in this position. If I was, I would take the bitch back immediately before they have chance to pass her on to someone else and if 'money' is an issue I would either refund part of the money or state that a part refund would be made when the bitch has been rehomed.

I wouldnt give a refund. I give a "sliding scale" in my puppy contract of the amount I will refund if a dog is returned so there can be no argument.

I would take the dog back and promise to forward any money you received less any expenses to you. This way they will hand the dog over. I would worry if you were too adamant that they would receive no money at all for her they may likely keep her and sell her elsewhere and you would never know where she ended up.

Cheek I know but better to get her first them worry later. By not committing to figures of money if you rehomed her for £50-£100 tough on them but get her first.

I think the breeder should always take back the dog/bitch if they are responsible but reading peoples replies can I just ask how you convince owners to return to the breeder if there is no payment at all ?
I agree that one shouldnt expect a full refund but surely this factor may put off some owners from returning to the breeder and instead sell the dog on.....
Just a thought

I thiunk this is maybe a breed specific thing as in my own breed an adult put in the paper to sell is unlikely to find a home, they just don't appear to have any resale value, probably as no one thinks they could make something out of one not being fashionable must haves.

Someone who had one from a commercial outlet was trying to sell it for months and ended up contacting rescue to home it for them.

That is exactly what I did when one of mine was returned due to a change in circumstances Blue, this was stated in my contract as an encouragement to the owners to do that in those circumstances mindfull that the contract is not binding in law and they could sell it in the pub if they chose too.
If the expences, which covered feed, grooming, advertising etc., exceeded what I had received from the new home (I would never part with a dog for nothing) then they they would have dreceive nothing but as I received more why should I make a profit?

Hi, we took a rescue bitch in December.  She was two and was returned to the breeder in November due to nipping someone.

The breeder usually charges £100 for costs but we paid £140 to cover her getting neutered.

Unfortunately on Saturday past we returned her to the breeder.

Aside from the acute heartache we now feel for letting the dog down I would never ever expect under these circumstances to ask for any money back.

I hope the current owners show maturity and respect and return the dog to you without any problem.