[Quack Quack]

Seriously, I can see how people fall into the trap of buying Puppies from Pet shops. I have contacted no fewer than 6 seperate breeders over the last 2 weeks. One has gotten back to me 13 days later to say he has 1 female pup available, when asked when a good time to come and see her would be.... there is no answer again!

I have a loving home waiting for the breed I want, I have the money in my hand to pay and only one breeder has bothered to answer my email and then not bothering to tell me when I can visit to see the puppy he has on offer.

It would be so much easier to do an impulse buy from a pet shop and atleast be able to talk to the shop assistant! Grrrrrrrrr

** Disclaimer - I would NEVER NEVER NEVER support a pet shop by buying an animal from there, but right now I am teasy!

[FiveAus]

I had the same problem when I was considering a particular breed of dog....lots of emails, no replies. I did eventually get one reply and when I spoke to the breeder on the phone, I decided to get a different breed.New breed chosen, absolutely no problems getting responses.
But I found the best thing is to email breeders who are actually advertising pups for sale.

[Sassy Dingo]

Can I add a rescue vent too?

I wanted to get an older dog from a rescue organisation. Found a 2 year old mixed breed (mostly foxy) and emailed them.

They wouldn't let me have her as I have a full time job! The policy of this organisation was that dogs are only appropriate for households with someone home full time. If it was just the temperment of the dog I could understand - if the dog was particularly anxious or something and needed lots of attention, but to not let anyone adopt who had a full time job is a bit crazy.

[MakeLoveNotBacon]

They wouldn't let me have her as I have a full time job! The policy of this organisation was that dogs are only appropriate for households with someone home full time. If it was just the temperment of the dog I could understand - if the dog was particularly anxious or something and needed lots of attention, but to not let anyone adopt who had a full time job is a bit crazy.

I find that policy a weird one too. I've heard of it before but think it's crazy. Wouldn't the majority of pet owners work full time? I understand in an ideal world, someone would be home with animals but it's totally unrealistic. And does it take in to consideration you might have neighbours/family who would pop in to see/walk the dog? My sister has a neighbour or friend pop in to see her dog while she's at work. Or doggy daycare, dog walkers?

[FiveAus]

Yes I've come across that policy too, although thankfully it wasn't for my own dogs. Until recently, we both worked full time and our dogs got much more attention, exercise, training and company than a lot of dogs where the owner is home all day.

[Quack Quack]

Of course you can add your vent that sucks that they wouldn't let you rescue the foxy... thats like saying "No you can't have children if you work full time" I am sure you put alot of time and effort into managing a dog and it wasn't just a whim!

Half of the Breeders I have messaged did or do have pups available, 2 of them were ready to go now and still looking for homes. I guess I will do more chasing, I was spoilt when I emailed the breeder of my Ragdolls... she got back to me straight away and the whole process was easy and fun! That was the first time I had dealt with a proper purebred breeder and it was such a good experience, I thought everyone was like that.

[FiveAus]

My daughter has been trying to buy a pedigree Burmese kitten and she is having the same problems. I have given her contacts for breeders, and she can't get anyone to reply to her. The only breeder who has responded is the one I bought my Maine Coon from, and she said she'd love to sell her a kitten, but she doesn't want a MC.

[Apageintime]

I found when looking for breeders they were far moreresponsive to phone calls.

When my Grandma used to breed she thought it showedseriousness in your search that you were able to take 20mins out of your day tocall and talk to her so she could get a vibe from you.

So maybe try calling them instead of emailing?

This post has been edited by Apageintime: 01/02/2013, 09:24 AM

[MrsLexiK]

OP - have you tried to email a rescue group for the specific breed?

Can I add a rescue vent too?

I wanted to get an older dog from a rescue organisation. Found a 2 year old mixed breed (mostly foxy) and emailed them.

They wouldn't let me have her as I have a full time job! The policy of this organisation was that dogs are only appropriate for households with someone home full time. If it was just the temperment of the dog I could understand - if the dog was particularly anxious or something and needed lots of attention, but to not let anyone adopt who had a full time job is a bit crazy.

that is stupid to have a blanket policy. My mum would have missed out as well. Her dog "works" full time, goes from one desk to another keeping feet warm and making people smile, some years she is even in the Cup Sweep lol. I know my mum is not the only one that brings her dog to work.

[tenar]

When I got my dog (over 14 years ago) I got a list of breeders of the breed from the breed association, and I phoned them one by one until I found someone who

- had a litter expected

- met my expectations of a good breeder in terms of the health monitoring of her dogs and the socialisation of her puppies, was willing for me to come and visit any puppies before they were old enough to leave, etc

- quizzed me about how I was planning to care for my dog when I got her.

I talked to several breeders who had no litters planned at that time, or who had too long a waiting list. I talked to one who had dogs available but whose ideas about caring for them didn't meet up with my expectations (she wouldn't let dogs go to their new homes until they were 12 weeks old and had their vaccinations, which misses a key window for socialisation and didn't suit me)

Finally I found one who was expecting a litter, sounded good to me, and I must have sounded good to her, because she bumped me up her list to get first pick of that litter, even though she had other people waiting before me.

The moral is that firstly you can't expect breeders to have dogs available at any time. Depending on the breed, you may have to wait months (and, I gather, that for some breeds it's a wait of years!). And also that it's a good idea to talk to people on the phone or in person, as it will give you a better idea of whether their approaches to their dogs will suit you and your family, and it also allows you to let them know that you will care for their puppy well once they sell it to you.

Good luck!