The importance of breeder/buyer communication?

[Gypsydals]

Communication from breeders is important. I know I still talk to Ivans breeder either through emails, phone calls or lately its been through facebook. She was there to answer any questions I had or have. Fact is I am planning on getting the next dalmatian from her as well. But it also goes both ways.

[Southpaw]

This is one thing that I liked about the BC breeder I had picked out. I totally flaked on her because I was nowhere near ready for a puppy like I foolishly thought I would be. I was included on all the litter updates but never responded to anything. Never sent a deposit in and kind of figured she wouldn't even remember that I existed. Then when the pups were 7 weeks old I got multiple phone calls from her (but at the time I didn't know it was her calling), and finally an email saying "hey, if you're still interested there is a puppy available that I think would be a good fit for what you're looking for."

I was really surprised she made the effort to get in touch with me. Thought it was pretty cool, too. Then I felt like a jerk for not letting her know right away that I wasn't ready.

But I could see how, if a breeder has lots of people that have confirmed their interest... that maybe they'd stop trying to communicate with those they haven't heard from.

I've never really been through the process start to finish though sooo yeah I don't know.

[Fran27]

If you ask me, it's one of the reasons a lot of people buy from BYBs. 7 years ago I contacted a couple reputable newfoundland breeders. One of them replied to me, telling me that they had no breeding planned for several years but to contact a couple others who had breeding planned sooner. I never heard back from either of the other breeders, even after I sent a couple emails. I was very disappointed to say the least and totally turned off from contacting breeders. And I was in no rush and willing to wait a year too... and contacted pretty much all the breeders on the East Coast.

[Barbara!]

I was irked mostly because the breeder told me NOT to put a down payment on the puppy yet, and that he would email me or call me when the puppies were born and let me know what they had. I never heard back from him. Even though I emailed and called... He ignored me. Just seems dishonorable, IMO.