can anybody tell me how many names you take on your waiting list?
i have been speaking deeply with prospective owners etc, litter has not been born yet! but due to pups breeding and parents health scores etc i am getting a lot of interest.

I suppose it would depend on the breed, on how many pups they tend to have and on how easy they are to find suitable homes for. For my border collie litter I had 6 people on my waiting list - which I thought would be an average size litter. My girl had 4 pups, 2 people backed out anyway :rolleyes: so I only had to dissapoint 1 person.

For a borzoi litter I would want more people on the list than I was likely to have puppies as they don't (IMO) make ideal pets for everyone.

If I bred labs or cocker spaniels for example I wouldn't be too concerned about having more than a couple on my waiting list as these breeds make excellent pets so would be easier to find good homes for.

>>>>parachute on, waiting to be shot down :D

" as these breeds make excellent pets "

I would say perceived as making good pets, as there are pletny of breeds that make just as good or better pets that the general public just don't know about.

Keeshonds are one breed that comes to mind for me.

I don't like to take more than 3 for each sex, as I usually have 4 to 7 pups and hate disappointing people.

but then what is a waiting list??? Is it a list of people interested....is it a list of people you have vetted and met and are 100% sure about???? I have a list of the former...about 20 of them......only 2 are vetted by me so far....so what are peoples criteria for a waiting list please?

for me it's met and am sure about :)  That said I'm on a waiting list for a pup (early 2009 hopefully) and haven't been vetted although I've known the person vaguely in passing for 20 years.

Those I am happy to let have one of my pups, if there are enough.

I agree with Sam there are actually two types of waiting lists, the interested parties list as I like to call it, which can go from anything from 10-20+ people.

This list is then whittled down by inviting people to meet your bitch, (and if possible the stud too) talking about anything and everything to do with the breed and raising a pup, getting to know them and making your mind up as to who out of these perspective owners would be the best owners for your pups, also getting an indication of how many are looking for show or working dogs or just loving pets, (sorry don't know your breed) and making a balance as to what each one is looking for and more importantly what they can offer your pup.

Some people will want a specific sex, or even colour some won't mind.

Put the clients into categories of what they want in your own personal preference as to who gets first choice of each sex etc.

Take your time in getting to know people you will soon find that that list of 20+ has suddenly become 8 or even less, it is important to get it right. It is never too soon to start your waiting list.

Good luck. :-)

I don't see the point in an interested parties list, hard enough to keep track of people you are actually willing to let gave a pup.

People who have a casual interest I send to the breed club for the puppy/planned puppy list that the club secretary has, or suggest they contact me when I have the pups to see if there are any left.

If my bitch hasn't even come in season then I suggest people contact me once I ahve mated the bitch, unless they are after a pup from specific parents then I woudl as soon put them in touch with someone who ahs a pup left or whose bitch is due shortly.