ok here is my question for you. At what point and under what circumstances do you allow visits to your home to visit the dogs?

I am planning a litter this summer and I am starting to get the usual emails asking about the dogs and looking for information. I have historically had a very liberal visitation policy (not really policy but am taking vicodin and can't think of a better word right now). However, as time goes on I am getting a little more reticent about having people up to the house that I don't know and are basically strangers. I know I am being paranoid but having strangers parading through my house over the next few months is honestly stressing me out a bit. I guess I am not as trusting as I used to be.

How do you all handle this? I realize it is important for people to meet the dogs and I want them to be able to do that and I need to meet them and see them interact with the dogs... I am just looking for input as to how others handle this and see how others do this differently or if I just have to suck it up and do as I have always done.
thanks

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Shalva and the Milbrose Retrievers and Irish Wolfhound
Milbrose Retrievers and Irish Wolfhounds

Im not sure how breeders handle it, but i can tell you what we went through to see Bear.

We had to put in an adoption application, then we had a 90 minute home interview, then a home check, then we had to speak directly with the foster family to get the ok to visit the puppies. When we got there we had to sanitize our hands but we were allowed to play with the then 8 week old puppies.

My friend's mom is a retired breeder of labradors. Because we were close friends, i was always over anyways, but i believe she only allowed visitors after she developed a relationship with prospective puppy parents.


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Follow Bear on Facebook!! He's Growing Up, Bear!

Is your concern having people who are not well known to you in your home, or the risks to the puppies?

Once the puppies are born most of the people who come to visit are people who are getting puppies or personal friends.

It is during this screening process but that I am getting increasingly uncomfortable with folks who I don't know well coming to the house especially when most of them I only have contact with through email. I mean you hear horror stories about robberies or dogs being stolen and the economy is rough and I can't say I am not concerned about people who are not well known to me traipsing through my house... I mean this is a rural area and in this little teeny town next to ours they have had break ins...

call me paranoid but I am curious as to how others do this... do you just have folks come to the house.... do you meet folks at shows??? how best do you do this?? and perhaps it is what it is and I just have to continue as I am going and have folks up to the house all the time but I am just curious as to what other breeders do in the initial screening piece... once i have met them and they are getting a pup I have no issue with folks coming to the house ... its just that initial contact I am curious about. I have two families in the past week who want to come up and meet the dogs and that is what brings it up

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Shalva and the Milbrose Retrievers and Irish Wolfhound
Milbrose Retrievers and Irish Wolfhounds

Unfortunately, in today's society you are not being paranoid. I can't say i am a true breeder, as I simply foster the moms and their babies for the local service organization. Almost all of the puppies are earmarked as "future" service dogs, occassionally, a puppy will become available to the general public. I usually meet the prospective families at the nearby Starbucks, and we go over the required paperwork. If I feel comfortable I take them back to the house, if not, I tell them I will add them to the waiting list. I also have a stickers on the doors and windows that say "monitored" alarm system.

Honestly I never thought from the breeder's point of view and those are very important concerns.

I do wonder how hectic would it be to have visitation hours posted on certain days. That way you do not have just one cuckoo person coming in knowing that he will be alone there.

How about if you have them fax or email you a copy of the drivers license for everyone who will be attending. That way, you can check them out before hand.

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Grasslands Liberty Belle "Bella" CGC (5-7-2012)

Nairb - DL's can be easily forged especially thru faxes. My BIL had a family who came in to purchase stuff from him. While they were very nice he smelled something. Made copies of DL, took pics of vehicle tags etc. After they purchased with a Money order turned out everything was fake. It took two years for the police to find them across country.

I didn't say it was foolproof, but it's better than nothing.

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Grasslands Liberty Belle "Bella" CGC (5-7-2012)

Meeting my breeder for the first time, and this was after numerous emails, phone calls, we met her and the Dam while she was still pregnant. Her husband was there too. I was nervous myself hoping they would let me have one of her pups! We got to see the pups again at 6 weeks (she sent pics once sometimes twice weekly) and then for pick up day.

I would be worried too but if you have someone else there whenever someoe does come and meet them before the litter is on the ground that would be best. If I ever have a litter I think thats what I would try to do. But always remember to trust your gut, if something doesnt feel right.. Listen to it! I dont envy you for being in this situation. One part of breeding that does have me nervous!

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Alison and 2 Furry Kids and 2 non furry kids

Lilly- Golden DOB 1/28/11
AKC name: Goldridge Lights Action Lilly RN CCA
http://k9data.com/pedigree.asp?ID=433352
Sanford- JRT DOB-9/5/06

Bridge dogs
Toby-Boxer 10 yrs. old (rescue) 9/17/2002-11/1/12
Charlie- Boxer (1st "child" together)2/19/02-3/18/12
Julie- golden retriever ( my heart dog) 5/6/96-3/3/07
Ruby- terrier/chow mix (my 1st dog) 8/1/90-1/15/05
Rusty-shih tzu (million dollar dog) 2/5/99-1/20/04