Any Breeders: Quick Question?

[PoodleMommy]

Okay this is a totally random question... but I have been curious for a long time. Most people say on this board that really great breeders have a waiting list before the puppies are born. How does this work... what if you have 5 people on the list and only 2 puppies or 5 people on the list and 7 puppies?

Haha I know it is a silly question but I just wondered.

Thanks.
Elissa

[bubbatd]

I did it first come , first served . Anyone left out went on to another litter .

[MaryAndDobes]

In many breeds, there is often a juggle once the puppies come because it's not going to be often that you happen to get the right amount of either sex and then colour preferences come into play.

I find that waiting lists are rather fluid, not set in stone. The key thing in my mind is getting the puppies into the best homes *for them* while also trying to meet the needs, preferences and desires of those waiting. You may have 5 homes waiting and five puppies arrive but the chances of having exactly what everyone needs and wants and what will fit into their situation exactly is pretty slim. So, juggling becomes necessary.

Some people will change their sex and colour preference if what they want isn't available. Some won't and will choose to go elsewhere or to wait.

[bubbatd]

Luckily with Goldens , I never had color problems . Many changed their minds as to the sex .

[malndobe]

I keep a list of people interested in a pup, either from a specific combination or just a pup from me. After I do a breeding, then I will take deposits for the litter, up to 6 total, 3M and 3F. And I continue to maintain a list of other interested people. Once the litter is born, I will accept deposits for all the pups based on gender.

This works for me because it allows me to change my mind at the last moment about a breeding, either change the sire, don't do it at all, etc. I could do that even if I had deposits on the breeding, but I'd rather not deal with sending them back. And on occasion I will push a breeding back another 6 months because the heat cycle coincided with a competition I wanted to go to, or the birth date of the litter conflicted with something else, etc. Same for only taking a limited number of deposits. This way I'm not having to deal with sending them back because I accepted 5 deposits for Males and only had 2. Sometimes it doesn't work out, but generally it does. Puppies are still placed based on the best home for them, and if I don't feel I have the right pup for someone then they get their deposit back, or can apply it for a future litter. But a deposit does mean if you are a working home, and I have a working pup, you will get the pup vs someone else who came along when the pups were 7 weeks old and wanted that same pup.