So now I have 3 great leads on 3 different potential litters, and suddenly it occurs to me: I don't know the proper etiquette here.
Is it appropriate to apply for more than one litter, with more than one breeder? Sort of play the field?
Some of these litters I would love to have a pup from, but I may be late to the party, and have only a small chance of being selected. We've been waiting so long I'd like to increase my chances.
On the other hand I don't want to be ruled out as being less than "committed" by looking in more than one place.
When I purchased my last two dogs, it was that litter or nothing for me. But when I have a pregnant bitch, people are usually upfront that they are looking at other litters. Once the puppies are born, I expect a commitment.
Once the puppies are born, and it is known (barring any unforseen circumstances) there is a puppy for me from a litter, I'd be 100% committed.
I'm just scared that if we commit to one litter now, and there turns out not to be a pup for us, that we will miss out on the other litters also and end up adding another 6 months to our search.
Fill out applications from all breeders you are interested in.
Find out who approves you, and what date their litter is due, and where you stand on their list.
Let breeder of litters due later that you are on another breeder's litter list that is due earlier, and that if there ends up being a puppy for you, then you will be taking a puppy from breeder #1.
You may need to put deposits down on all litters, but maybe not. Some breeders don't take deposits until puppies are actually born. Just depends ~ so be prepared to possibly lose some deposit money.
I'm not a breeder though~ but I think this is how it would work.
Fill out applications from all breeders you are interested in.
Find out who approves you, and what date their litter is due, and where you stand on their list.
Let breeder of litters due later that you are on another breeder's litter list that is due earlier, and that if there ends up being a puppy for you, then you will be taking a puppy from breeder #1.
You may need to put deposits down on all litters, but maybe not. Some breeders don't take deposits until puppies are actually born. Just depends ~ so be prepared to possibly lose some deposit money.
I'm not a breeder though~ but I think this is how it would work.
It is fine to speak with/fill out applications for more than one breeder. However, remember that the breeder will also be interviewing other families as well, it works both ways.
Just make sure you are being upfront and honest. The dog show world is actually a very small community and more breeders know and speak to each other than you would think. If they(breeders) find out you are being anything less than up front, you will be removed from both lists, guaranteed-this is me speaking as a breeder.
Also, most breeders cannot tell you "where you are on the list" We keep small waiting lists of about 6 families per litter to try to maximize the chances of everyone on the list will get a puppy. If I have any indications that there will be a smaller litter than that, I let people know right away and can usually refer them to another breeder.
I think it is totally fine to inquire with all three breeders. You may be placed on the wait list for the litters until the pups are born, then if you are given the opportunity to commit to a puppy (and you do commit with a deposit) you would let the other breeders know you are taking a puppy from another litter.
If I were buying a dog, I would not put a deposit on a dog until the litter was born and I was committed. I now there are people who require a deposit on an unborn litter. I would not do that...
I'm with Kimberly on this one. Find out what the breeder's expectations/rules are for the deposit, let them know that you're considering other litters/puppies, and let the process unfold. Until there's a litter, it's pretty much out of everyone's control
I put a deposit down on a litter, and there were not enough puppies for everyone (no fault of the breeder, just a surprisingly small litter). I got my deposit back from a very apologetic woman, and I ended up getting a puppy from another great breeder's litter (same sire) .
I guarantee you here in TX, the breeders generally know one another, many are good friends, and they see one another frequently at shows. Some, if they can't help you, will refer you to someone else they can recommend.
So, heed Hvgoldens4 advice and just be upfront with what you're doing with the breeders of the 3 potential litters and you will come away with a very nice puppy for your family.
Of course I would never be anything but up front and honest. It's all I've wanted from a breeder as well, and as you can tell by my other thread I got taken for $500 because I assumed everyone would be.
I just wanted to make sure I wasn't committing a faux pax unknowingly.
So now I'm waiting (im)patiently for breeders to get back to me.
I cannot really speak to how all breeders do things. However, with my own litters and many breeders that I know, my commitement to the family begins when I put them on my waiting list. I don't make huge waiting lists that I know I will have no chance of filling. I just don't think that is fair to the family. I would much prefer to have more puppies than families and not vice versa. What I do not like to do is have to go back and tell a family that I will not have a puppy for them.
I try to keep male to female inquiries the same as well and typically take 3 of each for a waiting list. If for example, I have a litter of all female puppies(yes, it has happened!! lol) I will then go back and ask the family who wanted a little boy if they would like a little girl from the litter. If they do not, they can chose to go onto another waiting list for our next litter or I can usually refer them to someone who has or will be having a litter soon in our area.
Another issue that makes it tricky from the breeder's side is that it takes quite a while to determine which puppies, if any, will go to show or performance homes, or to the sire's breeder as a stud fee puppy. It is tricky too from the show puppy buyer side, as you will look like you are "tire kicking" litters if you sign up for a litter,but decide no you do not believe in the puppy offered. All of this ends up affecting pet puppy only buyers just bc it affects the number of available puppies.
I would rather put a Gunner/Lush puppy in a great pet home with a friend or client we know in person is one of the good ones in terms of dog owning, then take any kind of risk with a totally unknown show home. We have a few stellar forum members too interested, which is so reassuring. I would never want to put one with a complete stranger though- the world is too crazy out there. I can't make any official list until there are definitely puppies bc I feel like it might jinx it.
And often with a performance/versatility breeding, I will have people who are not gender specific in their choice. They want the pup that has the conformation, temperament, and aptitude to let them do the activities they want to do. So when I have those sorts of people on my list it gets hard to tell people who want a specific sex where they stand order wise as they could be 3rd for a boy, or 4th for a boy depending which pup matches up best for that working home.
Thanks Shelly, I have been wondering about this. I don't think I do care about boy or girl if I can get in on a breeding that I like and the breeder will pair me with the puppy who will go play in the field and dabble in other dog sports with me.
I wasn't sure if it was strange to not care boy or girl.
Just a follow-up here. We brought home a wonderful pup today, and I sent emails to all breeders I sent applications to letting them know we were no longer in the market.
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