I wonder

1588 Views 12 Replies 7 Participants Last post by gazoo02, May 14, 2007

sundobe

Discussion Starter · May 14, 2007 (Edited)

eace: So lately I have been looking at some breeders in the US for a potential show prospect. I have contacted a few of the bigger names to see what they had planned, if they would be willing to have a show prospect go to Canada, what terms they had for puppy owners, and a multitude of other questions.

I got back some very standard answers which typically fit into what we so often discuss here on DT, which is good. However, there were a couple that truly surprised me in the area of pricing and the failure to mention anything about a contract. The price of the puppies was $3500.00USD, which to me seems to be way out there :confused2 . Along with the failure to mention anything about a contract or conditions of buying a puppy kind of leads me to wonder if they are: *just selling a puppy for a big price tag with little to no consideration of it truly being a show propect; *they have no interest in the puppies future in regard to breeding or resale etc.. *there may be a capitalization of people's naivety and potential tunnel vision to have a puppy from a 'big name' breeder.

Either way, it makes me wonder what is going on there? Do these folks truly care about providing potential owners and puppies with the best fit and therefore the best chance of have a happy and successful future? Or are some individuals perhaps a little too tired and maybe even jaded about the whole breeding - puppy person thing to really care?

eace:

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sundobe

Discussion Starter · #6 · May 14, 2007 (Edited)

Murreydobe said:
While $3500 is on the high side, I do know puppies who have sold for that much who were worth every penny..I'd have to see the puppy and the pedigree before I decided if it was totally out there or not. Conversely, I know of puppies that sold for a whole lot less who were worth a whole lot more.

I think you're making the mistake of thinking just because someone shows their dogs and might have a well known name means they're a reputable breeder, and that's not always the case. It *should* be the case, but it isn't.

But you also could be jumping to conclusions that there is no contract-could be they don't get into that until later in the process, once you pass their screening and are approved for a puppy.

I can tell you in *some* cases there are major instances of breeders trying to capitalize on the naivete of the novice, coming up with terms that no one with any experience would ever consider. When I've heard about this, it usually seems to be trying to sell puppy bitches on breeder terms, wanting entire litters (plural) back in addition to a high purchase price. While giving one or maybe even sometimes two pick puppies back isn't unusual, it's outrageous to expect someone to give back entire litters. That kind of agreement is heavily weighted on the side of the seller, and should be avoided.

Actually, I do not assume that a well known name is a reputable breeder. What I was doing was contacting breeders, both big names and small, to check into them further. Like I said, I asked a multitude of questions, about their plans for breeding (who, what and why), health & longevity, temperment, what they are trying to accomplish with their breeding programs, and more.

It would be logical that one would not go into the details of a contract until they passed screening. However, I would expect some kind of mention of it at the beginning, rather than just outlining how much to pay and when/where to send the deposit.

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sundobe

Discussion Starter · #11 · May 14, 2007

dobesanddragons said:
And from what I understand contracts are only worth the paper they are written on and the people the contracts are between. I know someone will correct me if I am wrong but even with both parties living the US - contracts can sometimes be very time consuming and hard to enforce even in the States - much less different countries.

I am not really having a hard time. I am just find it interesting that everything form pricing through to contracts can be so all over the place, somehow (and it could very possibly be me being completely naive) I expected more consistency (for lack of a better term). Especially considering everything I have gleened from all of you experienced and savvy people over the years!

I agree about the contracts, and have stated as such to many of the breeders I have had the priveledge to communicate with over the past many months. They too have agreed, and have helped me understand that it is truly more of an agreement of trust between the two parties than anything. (at least that is how I am taking it to be)

It could very well be that these breeders quote me nothing but high prices to 'send me packing'. I guess asking questions may not be my forte, I do try to communicate as directly and honestly as possible as to make the best use out of both my time and the breeder I am communicating with. Still I have had two that continue to send pictures of puppies to me (I must have been put on some sort of list or something). I have spoken to some of the breeders I have emailed and they have not had any complaints about my initial communication (and I asked!

) Though email and the internet being what it is, I do see where the lines get crossed often to complete misunderstandings.

I should add, I just thought I would share my observations with everyone and this is totally not intended to knock any breeders or their practices at all!

eace:

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sundobe

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 14, 2007

gazoo02 said:
I agree and that was my first thought. I know for me personally, the initial contact is a standard letter giving information about health, pedigree, sire/dam, my expectations of the litter, and asking what their expectations are, and a questionnaire for me to learn more about them. Basically, I am trying to put my feelers out and it also allows the person to decide if this is something they are interested in. If it all sounds good then discussion about contracts and other stuff begins….

Yes! That is completely reasonable to what I believe one would expect. That's why I was so suprised to receive replies like 'girl A is being bred to boy B, price for show prospect is $3500 USD, send your deposit of $XXX to....'

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