A Day in the life of purchasing a new puppy...

[TrinaJ]

I just thought i'd let you all know about what happened to me when i tried to purchase a new puppy after Shadow (my 4th Rotty passed away).

First I wanted to make sure that I was going to get a reputable breeder so i logged onto my Rotty Club and looked under 'puppies for sale'. Found a few and checked out their websites....wow, what wonderful websites, beautiful pictures and a plethera of information about purchasing a Rotty.

Made contact with breeder via email (there was no phone number) asking if they had any puppies available. Breeder came back with a tonn of questions (which i was glad about because i thought to myself, 'hey this person wants to make sure this pup is going to a good home'') I answered all the questions and was told that i'd make a great home for one of the puppies, could i come out over the weekend. I was so excited, I really missed Shadow and needed another dog around me (I have had dogs all my life never in my life and was never without one).

So we arrive at her place, she has several dogs around her house, all fenced off although she lets them out when we arrive (with my 3 year old VERY EXCITED son). That's fine, I guess she knows her dogs are okay with kids, although i keep my son beside me at all times around these dogs, i dont know them and neither does my son. Eventually i get to see the puppies which are housed in a barn (with a still, yup an alcohol still, the smell is quite strong).

We go inside, me, my husband, my son, the breeder, her son (also 3) and 5 of her friends! I am thinking to myself, hang on a second, i am here to see these puppies why are they all being held by her friends, when do i get to see them? I start asking her questions as she's preparing to feed them. I ask about the Dam and Sire (both of which are not there - she doesn't own them, other people do, she's just breeding them). Automatically i start to worry, i want to see parents. Therefore I cant tell the temperement of these animals she's breeding, nor can i tell what the puppies 'may' look like when they are older. I hang around for a little while longer, hoping to be able to interact with the puppies but to no avail. With my son running around (very excited because he's never seen so many dogs before in one place), her friends monopolising the puppies and her chatting away to my hubby about their Still there is no time for me. So I tell her I will be in touch, she says she wants to see my house (which is understandable), I give her my contact number and leave.

Hubby and I decide that this is not the breeder for us and we will continue our search.

Later that afternoon i make an appointment to meet with another breeder. We arrive at her house, which is totally unkempt and overgrown with weeds (not a very good first impression to me as I take pride in my home as it reflects on me and my values). There are 2 puppies left, both are bitches - 14 weeks old. I play and interact with them, both are cute, one is very weary, the other is bouncing all over the place. The bitch was on the smallish side, the sire was not present (he belongs to someone else). We talk about the puppies, how they are going while i'm playing with them. They are great around my son (no longer excited and acting quite normal now *grins*). Then she comes out with this. I am not sure which one i am going to part with yet. I have to get advice on which one to keep. I am thinking to myself at 14 weeks you should have made up your mind by now. But that's okay, i understand, its probably hard to part with them. She then tells me that they the registration is limited. I cannot breed with them and cant show them. Alarm bells start ticking over in my head and i begin to think BYB. I ask why, she says she was planning on breeding with the puppy she kept so I cant breed with the other one!!! This makes no sense to me whatsoever. This puppy is 14 weeks old and she's already planning on breeding it. I ask how old the bitch is and she tells me she's just 2 :( . I mention that i will want to show my dog and that i will need full registration papers. I am really starting to feel uneasy about this and tell the woman that its getting late and i need to get my son home to bed. I give her my number and tell her when she makes up her mind give me a call and we'll discuss things further. I get into the car with hubby and we both look at each other and say NO WAY.

So my day ends very disappointed. I continue my search on the net for reputable breeders and come up with one that's some 3 hours from my house. I call up and make an appointment the next morning. We can come up today, she has a litter of 4 week old pups and a couple of 14 week old pups.

We arrive to a place that is immaculate. There are a plethera of dogs, each in its own individual CLEAN run. Plenty of room and lots of wagging tails. Already i am feeling confident. The woman greets us at the door and she's, we meet the puppies, the bitches (Sire lives in another state but is one of hers, he's a handsome boy). Between the 3 of us, we decide that a 14 week old pup would be best and also a bitch (because of our son). She says they are very sound in temprement (this is proven by just meeting all of her other dogs and the bitch). So she picks out the 2 bitches of the litter and takes us off to an enclosed yard where we can sit and chat and play with the puppies. She brings out a questionnaire for me to complete and just talks with us as we play with the puppies. She mentions that after meeting with us she'd recommend the one with the blue collar. Not 5 minutes later, this little miss is sitting beneath my chair, poking her head up for a scratch. What a cutie. After spending over and hour and a half with her and the puppies we are told that we can have the pup but there are a few conditions. First off, if we eventually plan on breeding with her she'd like to have a say in who we breed with as there are a few unethical breeders who want to get their hands on her lines. I agree, I would appreciate her advice on this. So we hand over the money, complete the paperwork, she gives me the suggested menu for the puppy and i tell her of my previous days 'puppy quest'. She asked me about the first breeder, who it was. I told her the name and she smiled. She then proceeded to tell me that's one of the breeders she will not allow to have associated with her dogs. We leave her place and make our way home. Jett (that's our pups name) vomits 3 times on the way home, she's not used to car travel.

We arrive home and i send an email to the other 2 breeders, thanking them for their time and advising them that i have decided to go with another breeder (i didn't want them thinking i was taking one of their dogs and then having someone else miss out). BIG MISTAKE! The first breeder writes back to me and i am shocked and disgusted with the comments she makes. She attacks my husband and my son. (I am okay though, although i only want a 'garden orniment' and am very materialistic!). Stupidly i write back advising her I was just being polite and that there was no need for her to get so nasty and personal. Once again she attacked my son (he's 3 and toilet training and had an accident in my car). She said he did that out of retaliation to getting in trouble (for not listening to me) and that if he'd urinate in a car out of revenge (we are talking of a 3 year old here) that he would hurrt a puppy to get back at me!! OMG this woman is crazy, a 3 year old who is toilet training cannot does not 'do revenge'. He's a sweet little boy. At this stage i am shaking with anger, i turn off my pc and think to myself, i am glad i trusted my instincts. I dont think she liked being rejected.

The BYB (well i think she's a BYB) was fine, never got a reply back. I think i scared her off with me desire to show and have full registration.

So, to cut a long story short, when buying a puppy, trust your instincts. The breeder with the best website, all the information etc may NOT be the best breeder. Make sure you view the parents and make sure your breeder is well known (in a good way). Investigate, do all your homework and dont just go buy the first dog you see. Make sure you get a dog that will do this breed proud, get one that comes from a line of proven good temprements and obedience.

Thanks for listening to my little rant, i really needed to get that off my chest.

Trina

[targonrotts]

i am glad it all worked out in the end and proves again, patience and looking around will help you get your right pup.

[alice's mommy]

Wow.....what a crazy time! Good for you for holding out for the right puppy!
BTW, I am shaking with rage at what that woman said about your son!!!! I don't understand how anyone can attack a CHILD!?! Sick!

[Valentine]

So i'm just curious.....What are the OFFA # for the sire and dam of your new puppy? Any working titles?....just curious thats all.

Great Story BTW.

[Mini Me]

What a crazy experience. I remember shopping for horses and having similar experiences.

I'm glad you shared your story, hopefully other 'puppy shoppers' will read it, and learn from it.

Congratulations, and keep us posted on your new girl!

[fluffy's mom]

Hi Trina
I wished I would have done more homework on purchasing a puppy before I got mine. My breaders home was unkept which turned me off, but still how much effect does a dirty home have on a puppy, at least thats what I thougt. I viewed both the parents and seemed healty unenough. Although I don't agree with keeping dogs outside on chains all year round. The breader didn't ask me any questions at all, it was just a money transaction, that should have been my red flag right there(to live and learn) I've had my puppy for almost 5 months now and she's had some huge issues. Were faced with years of problems with her I'm sure. super smart but very aggressive, my trainer has been a god sent to me I couldnt have handled fluffy without her. Now of course she's like one of my kids and I love her to death I'm still not certain what fluffy's future holds for her?? Luckly enough I work out of a home office so I have the time to spend with her. I sure wished I would have found this site prior to purchasing her. She just got spayed this week I'm hoping that takes the wind out of her sails a bit.. I can only blame myself for not being educated on purchasing a puppy, I've had dogs all my life (only mutts) I had no idea these adorable little rotties had such attitudes.

[brunie's mom]

Originally Posted by Valentine

So i'm just curious.....What are the OFFA # for the sire and dam of your new puppy? Any working titles?....just curious thats all.

Great Story BTW.

The OP is from Australia. Not sure what they use for hip scores? and if they do CERF and heart certs. there?

Gina

[Valentine]

Originally Posted by brunie's mom

The OP is from Australia. Not sure what they use for hip scores? and if they do CERF and heart certs. there?

Gina

Perhaps PENN Hip then....bah...but still even 1 working title would be nice to know....

[cerulean]

Since we will be finally bringing home our new pup next week, I can relate to your stories.

FIRST LESSON: it is very easy to be fooled by the BYB's who are experienced salesmen !!!

Ultimately, the best thing we have done is the home visits, and last week we visited our breeder while the pups were 6 weeks old... an excellent way to see how they were developing. Every dog in her place (one litter, a couple yearlings, maybe 8 adults including seniors and a rescue) was a TOTAL love. Friendly, affectionate and completely obediant to the breeder. So, we felt confident about the temperaments, she let us spend time with all of her dogs.

[TrinaJ]

Originally Posted by brunie's mom

The OP is from Australia. Not sure what they use for hip scores? and if they do CERF and heart certs. there?

Gina

Hi Gina, yes i'm for Australia and have no idea what Valentine was talking abuot with OFFA #, But i do know the hip and elbow scores.

Sire V1 & Multi V rated, Hips 4.1 Elbows 2.1,
Dam Hips:2.2.Elbows 1.0

Sire is one V away from being a National Champion. He has been V1 rated in Junior classes. Also Grand Sire is NRCA & Aust Grand Ch

Parents comply with National Rottweiler Council and State Rottweiler club's requirements (Vic)

This breeder has the First and only Rottweiler to become Dual Working Champion.
Qualify for Top Obedience Dog of the Year.

Consecutive Winner of Tarquinian Apache Award
(Highest Achieving Rottweiler of the Year)

Highest Scoring Dog in Trial
Highest Scoring Rottweiler Member
Highest Scoring Keilor Member

Multiple Winner of rings in Novice,Open & Utility
Multi grades of Excellent in both Tracking & Obedience

She has a lot to do with tracking and obedience and I will be getting a lot of input from her. Luckily for me the Dog Obedience Club is only 2 minutes walk from my house. I am very interested in tracking and utlity and will be working extremely hard with her on this. I will show her (our first show is at the end of this month), but the main thing I want to do is get working titles. Its something i am really looking forward to doing. Unfortunately I have to wait 3 more weeks before I can take her (final vacc and then the 10 day incubation period), but after that....its all fun and games and a lot of hard work.

I have gone back through pawvilliage and investigated as far as i can go back (1908 on the Sire's side), very similar on the Dam's side.

[Valentine]

OFFA= Orthopedic Foundation For Animals does hip scores, elbows etc...Well thats mighty fine that you got yourself a good breeder.

congrats

[TrinaJ]

Originally Posted by Valentine

OFFA= Orthopedic Foundation For Animals does hip scores, elbows etc...Well thats mighty fine that you got yourself a good breeder.

congrats

Thanks Valentine ~*smiles*~ Hopefully we will both do well in obedience, tracking and shows.

[TrinaJ]

Originally Posted by alice's mommy

Wow.....what a crazy time! Good for you for holding out for the right puppy!
BTW, I am shaking with rage at what that woman said about your son!!!! I don't understand how anyone can attack a CHILD!?! Sick!

I too was shaking with rage. I was stunned, how a 'mother' could say that about another child just to get at the parent is disgraceful. She has a son of similar age to mine, I feel for that poor child when he starts his toilet training, children are a LOT harder to toilet train than dogs. I will admit that my son was being very disobedient that day (i put it down to the excitement of all the dogs etc), he's normally a very well behaved little boy but the things she said were just horrid.

[TrinaJ]

Originally Posted by cerulean

Since we will be finally bringing home our new pup next week, I can relate to your stories.

FIRST LESSON: it is very easy to be fooled by the BYB's who are experienced salesmen !!!

Ultimately, the best thing we have done is the home visits, and last week we visited our breeder while the pups were 6 weeks old... an excellent way to see how they were developing. Every dog in her place (one litter, a couple yearlings, maybe 8 adults including seniors and a rescue) was a TOTAL love. Friendly, affectionate and completely obediant to the breeder. So, we felt confident about the temperaments, she let us spend time with all of her dogs.

How excited you must be. All the very best when your new baby arrives next week!!!!