BPO Breeding Forum > Breeding Questions & Information

How much info is too much for a breeder to ask?

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shangrila:
Dan and I are starting to think about the possibility of getting a new puppy. I am leaning towards rescue, he wants a breeder that we research more fully. He wants one today, but I am not quite ready. So we have compromised that he can at least talk to breeders about puppies that are either just born or going to be born soon, so that it will be another two months until we actually get her.

We think we want our next puppy to be a different giant because I think it would be too painful for me to get another saint right now after loosing zoey. So we have been talking about it and we think we are going to get a newfie.
There's a newfie breeder that he has been talking to who just had puppies. He found her through the akc, so I know she is respected.

Anyways, he is talking to her and she is demanding a lot of stuff from us before she would be willing to sell us a dog. At first she was asking for stuff I was expecting to ask for - she wants to meet us, have us fill out an application including vet info, household members, etc, and she wants to see pictures of our backyard which she requires to be fenced. Now none of that bothers me because; in fact I was glad she was asking all that because I want to have a breeder that shows they care about their puppies enough to be careful about who they sell them to. However, now Dan tells me she is demanding three letters of recommendation; one from our vet, one from a family friend, and one from our employers. To me that sounds like too much to ask for. I mean seriously, a letter from my boss? Now, my boss would have no problem writing a letter for me, but that's an imposition I would have to put on her time that I just think it's ridiculous for a breeder to ask for.

The breeder keeps saying that she won't compromise on her requirnments, so if we have a problem with any of them, then basically 'have a nice day'. But at the same time when I asked for ofa certs she said she would show them to use when we met her but would not email us the info before hand (so we could search for them on the ofa website). It seems hypocritical that she isn't willing to meet my requirenment that only shows I am carefully screening a breeder, but she is asking for so much that I think she is overstepping bounds.

Am I wrong here? Or is it normal for breeders to ask for that much?

Nicole:
I don't really know how much is too much, but I just wanted to add this.

Just because you found the breeder through the akc does NOT make them respected or good. The AKC is just a registry. Nothing more. Why don't you ask HER for references? Tell her that you would like to speak with owners of her pups, you want phone numbers, etc. Don't ever feel like you are over stepping bounds by asking for the OFA certifications before you meet her.

If she isn't willing to give you what you want right up front, move on. There is absolutely NO reason for her to withold that information.

YOU are the customer. Its understandable for a breeder to want to know that their pups are going to good homes, but when they are not also ensuring YOU that you are getting a quality pup, then it is one-sided.

I'm getting bad vibes, but maybe that's just me. I'd keep looking if you have any red flags. YOu want your breeder to be someone that you feel comfortable with in the future, someone you can call and ask questions and where you feel as if nothing is a secret. If you are ALREADY having reservations, just think about what could happen when puppy is like, a year or two old.

FXgirl:
I totally agree.  And good luck on your search for a pup!!  SO exciting!

Guardian Angel's White lightning:
when i was taking jazmine (dane) from the shelter, they asked for 3 refernces, resume, and credit check too. 

GoldenPyrs:
I know that I've said this before, so forgive the repetition if you've read it already, but.....

Please, please call the Newfy Club rescue person in the breeder's area for a reference on this breeder before you continue.  I know that you said that you're interested in a rescue pup/dog also, so you could explore that at the same time if you like.  Rescue will know if this breeder is as reputable as they say.  

Halley's breeder is listed with the AKC & even today is in "good standing" with the Pyr Club & her dogs keep consistantly winning in the show ring.  Though how she can be in "good standing" is beyond me.  You won't hear anything bad about her or her dogs unless you talk to someone in the local rescue or other local breeders.  Now, I might have discounted this type of info in the past as "sour grapes" b/c her dogs win so frequently, but not now. It's a tough call, but you have to decide who to believe.

After losing Halley at 3 y/o to bone cancer we found out that her breeder has a lot of cancer in her bloodlines & as she is closely line breeding, it is a very sad situation for the dogs & those of us that love them.  This breeder is also known to be a nasty b----- and she won't pull her own dogs from rescue without a big fight.  I checked her AKC & GPCA standing before we bought Halley, but I wish to Heaven that I'd checked with rescue & the other local Pyr Club people ahead of time.  I'm afraid that this is more common than most of us know/knew.  If we can all stop buying pups from the breeders whose dogs win at the shows, but die young from genetic problems, maybe in time we'll slow down their breeding program.  If so, we'll be doing the puppies a huge service, as well as saving ourselves the heartache.

That all being said (and sorry it's long), I'm sure that you & Dan will find a wonderful puppy or dog that will make you both smile and fill your home with lots of happy dog sounds again.   :)  :-*

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