I understand. As a buyer, I really understand. I did communicate with all interested parties in the beginning then I took my best candidates and sent a nice polite Sorry but the litter is fully reserved to the rest of them.
I do think it boils down to proving yourself to some breeders. I had to for an AST. Believe me, history of ownership,dogs,health,training methods and other things are all scrutinized by some breeders before they'll place a puppy.
Yes, and I was mostly looking for that with this breeder by sending out a simple "congrats, and I'm still interested over here" letter, but never received anything back after the first "the breeding took" (which it turns out later it didn't) message. As the buyer, I really would appreciate such a note, I'm sure there are those out there who may take such a message as "I wasn't important enough for this breeder, they blew me and my money off", but I honestly would have liked to have known why, most people I'm sure would understand.
And actually I do understand not encouraging people who give you a bad feeling. When I first grudgingly took Scout in I intended to train/socialize her up and place her. Well every single person who was interested was a woman with small children. I guess because Scout is pretty? Anyway I was like eh I'll give you a chance to prove yourself to me... Well not one interested person gave me the right answer on the one key question I asked them.
I asked what they would do if they came home and she had escaped and shredded various things around the house. It happens with this kind of dog, especially one like Scout that has some gereralized anxiety!
Every single one said they would at the very least yell at her. One said they would smack her around.
The astronomical damage that would do to a dog like Scout... Yeah the thought of someone doing that to her literally makes me sick to my stomach. Suffice to say talking to potential adopters was key in my decision to keep her forever.
So I understand not responding to every yahoo who wants a puppy, but some people honestly just want to make sure their breed choice is right for them and want to be actually involved and not just here have some cash.
I dunno, I'm crappy at politics and holy f'ing hell does the dog world have them.
Completely understand! I know of someone in rescue who use to (and more than likely still does) get those people who just answer an application with all the wrong questions! She shared several with me and others and, oh my :yikes:. But then again, that's what an application is for, you would think after doing this breeders application by phone though I would have gotten a yes or no then, not "I'll let you know when the breeding took, then instruct you how to send the deposit" then hear nothing but a few generic reply-alls (including the later one for male enhancement drugs, sorry but I just have to>:rofl1: at that one, but sadly it does prove that it wasn't that she lost my email, in which case she did have my phone number too).
Some people are just kind of flaky with communications. I am. If I set something aside to answer later, when I can give it proper time, then I'm very likely to forget to answer it. It's not intended as a blow off, and the way for people to deal with it is to nag me a little.
...yeah, that about explains how I go about online forums, sorry :doh:, but yes that totally describes me!
Breeder communication is of TOP 10 importance to me. Personally, with those kinds of communication issues for that long a period, I'd walk away.
Sh*t happens, breeders get busy, puppies are needy.. but I don't think it's ok to ignore a puppy buyer for THAT LONG. Don't want to sell them a puppy? Email them that the litter is full and take them off the update list so they can go elsewhere. Do want to? Then take the time to respond so they KNOW that.
I am all for general litter updates via email. Breeders are busy, I understand not updating each buyer individually.
BUT if I took the time to fill out your questionnaire (ESPECIALLY if the thing is like 10 pages long lol) or to write an email with a question on a litter I am waiting for... I expect a personal answer. Even if it takes you a bit, I think, as a puppy buyer (someone who has gone through the process and is waiting for a puppy).. I should be treated with some kind of courtesy.
more than the fact that I need to know the answers to these questions. I think it really foreshadows what this breeder is going to be like communicatively in the future..
AKA: If they don't respond to the email while you are still waiting for a puppy...what are the chances of them responding once the transaction is over and you have this puppy?
I like the open ended comfortable breeder communications. I don't need 10 minutes or less email replies, but I think being able to openly communicate and count on a breeder to be there for you is really important.
Wow, I LOVE this post! Where's the
"like" button :thumbup:?
This. I do it all the time.
However, in this case it looks like several attempts to contact the breeder were ignored. I'd take that as a sign of a breeder I wouldn't want to deal with and move on. If they can't give you the time of the day during this important time, how can you expect attention when something hereditary or problematic occurs?
Actually that is a really good point, and worth quoting again.
Yeah, I definitely don't mind breeders being cautious! I think that's a very good thing. It wasn't the form-letter reply that put me off (I was glad to see this person was careful in who they sold to), it was the lack of any further reply after I offered more information about myself and my home. But then again it is hard to get a sense of people via email. I tend to ramble...maybe I came off like a crazy person in my email and they just didn't want to sell me a dog. XD
I think this is why I was much happier with actually meeting breeders in person vs. contacting them via email. I had far more success getting good communication going with breeders when I started going to shows and talking to them there. I think that sends a message that a buyer is more serious, rather than someone just going "Omg I can has puppy?" over the internet. Plus they can probably get an easier feel for who you are in person...and vice-versa! I was able to see which breeders I "clicked" with better when meeting them at shows.
Obviously this is less viable if the breeders you're interested in are across the country...I was adamant about finding one within driving distance (2-3 hours max) because I was too nervous about having a puppy shipped anyway.
Yeah, I honestly would have preferred to deal with a breeder that I could have met prier at least once before committing to anything, but when dealing with a "rare breed" that is a little harder to do, and sadly the only breeder in my state had stopped breeding about 4 or so years before I was finally ready for a puppy, and end's was the next closest, Breeder A was a 2 days drive away and I was all ready for it.
I'm just at odds with what to do if we go for a breeder with this next Pem my mother's so adamant on getting, there are a LOT of breeders within driving distance, Jinjo's breeder is still breeding and is just the next town over, but I really want to make sure we go to the "right" breeder this time, not simply choose by convenience alone, and that might be a bigger challenge than I thought. It makes me think back to a few years ago when I finally decided to approach and talk with a breeder whose dogs I had been gushing over the past couple years ringside, wow, talk about cold and ....yeah. Needless to say, although I would adore getting one of her dogs more than anything, I'm not willing to deal with a breeder of that attitude towards "outsiders", yes my current Pem is a "neutered pet", I'm asking you questions in interest about maybe possibly "upgrading" and I'm heavily complimenting
your dogs in particular, you could at least try to look flattered
. To the contrary, she had a "friend" next to her helping with her dogs, and she was VERY nice and very interested in hearing about my guy and my future interest in another dog, but or coarse she wasn't a breeder/breeding (she was there for the agility) and wished me luck finding the "right" next dog. I don't know, she could have just been that way because she had just had all her dogs defeated in the ring that day, but then again I saw her the next year, and there she was standing alone with all her dogs cold to the world, who knows.