Why wuold a breeder require the puppy back for a warranty?

[Lauri & The Gang]

I've read many stories here about people only being offered a refund if they send the original puppy back.

Why would a breeder require that? What are they going to do with that puppy?

The cynical side of me says they do this because they know most people get attached and won't WANT to return their puppy in order to get a refund (or new puppy).

[Emoore]

Originally Posted by Lauri & The Gang

The cynical side of me says they do this because they know most people get attached and won't WANT to return their puppy in order to get a refund (or new puppy).

I think that's part of it. I think another part of it is that there are a lot of scammers in the world who will do anything to get money, including getting their buddy who's a vet to forge documents.

My breeder does not require the puppy back, but she also only guarantees hips/elbows and testicles, not everything under the sun like a lot of people seem to want. (Since I bought Kopper as a pet and stated that I plan to neuter him, his testicle guarantee only covered the difference in cost between a regular neuter and a crytorchid neuter.)

What do breeders do with returned puppies? Hopefully they don't get vary many. I've seen some that spay/neuter the animal and place it in a pet home.

[lhczth]

Because of what Emoore said. I think a lot of breeders have that in their contracts, but under the right circumstances will allow the owner to keep the puppy. I have known, though, of people that tried to scam the breeder. Then there are the breeders that know darn well a buyer would never return the dog.

[selzer]

I know a man that wears his new shoes until they are worn out, and then takes them back to the store and gets them to give him a new pair. And they do. He does this with shoes. He does it with other things too. I bet a dollar to a donut he would do this with a dog.

My warranty requires the pup's hips or elbows be evaluated by the OFA, and if they want to keep the pup, they will have to provide proof that it has been altered. And then I will replace the puppy. No cash, beyond two weeks, sorry.

Chances are they want this dog as a companion and the dog will make an awesome companion, even if it has a problem. But when they are ready for another puppy, I will go ahead and replace that pup. If they want to return a puppy, I will take them back at any time.

[Danielle609]

As a kid (probably 7th grade or so) we got a female German shepherd. Around 1 year old we found out that she had severe HD. In order to get a new puppy from the guarantee we had to have her put to sleep and show documentation of it. That was one of the hardest things for me as a child. We had to "kill" a family member to get a new one. I understand her quality of life may not have been great, I don't really quite remember how bad she truly was. But either way it was tough. She had an amazing temperament. The puppy we got as her replacement had to be put to sleep by the age of 1. He bit 2 kids, and after completely attacking one (never got teeth on her thank God since we were right there when he opened the gate) we decided he was too dangerous. It was just sad we killed a beautiful, nice girl for this beast! In the end we lost anyways.

The moral of my story is now that I am looking for a breeder/first puppy as an adult on my own I realize the importance of reputable breeding, but I also want a breeder who wont make me euthanize or return my family member to get a new one if for some reason there is a guaranteed defect. (I also understand that by going with a reputable breeder I am also lowering, not diminishing, the chances of needing a replacement) With that being said I am planning on meeting with a breeder this weekend for the first time (if the temps don't go to high...keep your fingers crossed for me! ) I am so very excited!!

[onyx'girl]

I do not believe in a guarantee for health(or temperament, which to me is more important!)....for the reason Danielle posted.
If I don't trust the chosen breeder after RESEARCHING the pups that have been produced at maturity and seeing the sire's progeny, then shame on me....I deserve to live with a dog with problems. I would never return or put down a dog after owning it for two years unless the management was so detrimental to my daily life that I couldn't handle it, and at that point I don't think returning a dog for another from the same breeder would be something I'd do, unless I really, really had good faith that the return was a fluke. I'd put the dog down in the comfort of my own hands vs a strangers after return.
Danielle, I wish you the best in your search! It is rewarding when you find the right breeder/match for your next companion
It boils down to researching the lines you are supporting and trusting the breeder as well.

[Danielle609]

Thanks Jane! It should be fun :-) I just feel that after I have a breeder picked out it will be terrible "suspense" waiting until I feel it is the right time to bring in a new family member, or waiting for the perfect match...oh well, all worth it right?! :-)

[Chris Wild]

I'm sure there are plenty of breeders who do use it as a means to make sure no one ever cashes in on the warranty. That seems to be what everyone always assumes the reason for return clauses is, and no doubt in some cases that's the case. But certainly that isn't the only reason.

There are plenty of people out there who will scam breeders. I clearly remember many years ago, a woman visiting my SchH club and proudly proclaiming how she'd done just that. She had a hip x-ray film from a dysplastic dog, and when it came time to x-ray her dog from a breeder, she'd take that old dysplastic one to the hospital where she worked, get a copy made with a new ID plate showing the breeder's dog's information and send it to the breeder as proof that her dog from them was dysplastic. And then get a replacement pup a few months later. She did this not once, but twice, with 2 different breeders. Never saw her again after that one visit and am quite sure after listening to her talk for a while the people running the club at that time told her she wasn't welcome to come back. Quite sure she'd have never pulled that stunt with any breeder with a return clause.

I also know a breeder who was contacted by the buyer for a replacement pup *after* they'd had their first pup put down. They euthanized it before contacting the breeder and then just sent the breeder x-rays showing that the dog was dysplastic and a letter describing how much discomfort the dog had been in and how they'd done the right thing by euthanizing it. Problem is either these people were shady or their vet incompetent because the x-rays showed perfect joints. There was no dysplasia. What there was, clearly visible on the x-ray, was pano. They'd killed their dog, less than a year old, for pano. Had the breeder had a return clause chances are that pup would have stayed alive long enough for this to be uncovered.

The other reason is for the breeder to have some control over the dog's fate. There are plenty of people out there who would not want to keep and care for a dog with health problems. Especially amongst serious show, sport, and working people, and those who breed themselves. Certainly many of those would take the time and put in the effort to place such a dog in a good home. But a lot wouldn't. They'd euthanize it, or dump it in a shelter, or give it away to anyone willing to take it, or sell it without disclosing the issue, and who knows where that dog would end up. The breeder having a return clause can prevent that from happening.

Breeders can always go above and beyond what their contract stipulates and not require a return. Most will if the dog is in a good home and the people are willing to keep it and there's no reason to expect anything dishonest or weird going on. But breeders can't do less than what they agree to in writing or they are likely to end up in court so with nothing in the contract to provide the breeder with some leverage their hands may be tied in situations where things are suspicious. They can always do more for the good owners, and still have a means to protect themselves from scammers and help protect the dogs from what might happen if the people decide they don't want to keep the dog after all.

[Stosh]

Our breeder's contract gives a 24 mo hip guarantee and will give a refund or replacement if the dog gets less than a 'fair' hip rating. But they certainly do no want or expect the dog to be returned to them- they simply want to provide to the best of their ability a healthy dog.

[robinhuerta]

We are breeders AND pet owners.....I could never understand the "clause" that the puppy or dog be returned for a replacement warranty.
I understand about the scams and many dishonest people....but it's still not something we would do....
For the 1 or 2 possible schemers...it's just not worth causing the loving families the heartache.
JMO