Breeder issue!

[GSD84]

Well hubby and I were set on a pup from a specific breeder (in Ontario), so we visited this breeder and put a deposit down for a litter. Last week we get a call that this breeder went to see the female and realized she actually is not pregnant, but that our 200 dollar deposit can be placed on the other two litters she is expecting within the next month. We already were sent the contract for this litter we were supposed to get a pup from. This is all new to us. So we said ok to the next litter. After doing some research and talking to some very helpful ppl, we were told this new litter has an extremely bad temperment and we were advised to not buy from them. Hubby and I decided to start looking at different breeders and found one we really liked. Dogs were great and breeders very informative and you can tell they really care for their dogs! So we put a deposit with them. Our issue now is that the original breeder still has our 200 dollar deposit. I e-mailed her today and still no response. Is there anyway we can get our money back? Or are we just screwed. I'm really upset because I don't understand how you can promise ppl a specific litter, take their money and then call a week before and tell us that the dog is actually not pregnant afterall. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

[robinhuerta]

It is not uncommon for breeders to offer a "transfer of deposit" to another litter.
The fact that you "agreed" to the transfer....gives the breeder the option now to keep your deposit...IF you decide to change your mind.
Most breeders require "non-refundable" deposits on puppies/litters....you should check your contract.
My only suggestion is.....contact the breeder and speak directly to them...
JMO & Best wishes!

[scuba_bob]

Originally Posted by GSD84

Well hubby and I were set on a pup from a specific breeder (in Ontario), so we visited this breeder and put a deposit down for a litter. Last week we get a call that this breeder went to see the female and realized she actually is not pregnant, but that our 200 dollar deposit can be placed on the other two litters she is expecting within the next month. We already were sent the contract for this litter we were supposed to get a pup from. This is all new to us. So we said ok to the next litter. After doing some research and talking to some very helpful ppl, we were told this new litter has an extremely bad temperment and we were advised to not buy from them. Hubby and I decided to start looking at different breeders and found one we really liked. Dogs were great and breeders very informative and you can tell they really care for their dogs! So we put a deposit with them. Our issue now is that the original breeder still has our 200 dollar deposit. I e-mailed her today and still no response. Is there anyway we can get our money back? Or are we just screwed. I'm really upset because I don't understand how you can promise ppl a specific litter, take their money and then call a week before and tell us that the dog is actually not pregnant afterall. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

I had the same problem but I paid in full, $1500, breeder still has my money and doesn't return my e-mails or answer my phone calls... I have taken it to the better business bureau hoping to see my money again. I would highly recommend you report them to the better business bureau. Funny enough that breeder is also from Ontario but wasn't a gsd breeder she was a Doberman breeder.

[robinhuerta]

Scuba....sorry, I gotta ask...
The breeder made you "pre-pay" for a puppy?....and you never receievd the puppy??

[FG167]

I think that it's fairly common for puppy contracts to state that if a pup cannot be provided out of the litter the deposit was placed on, that the $$ be transferred to a different litter. Some breeders will refund you but they are not required to if you sign such a contract. Perhaps you could wait for the litter after the one with the temperament issues?

I went through a similar issue only with a positive result. My breeder (I had already paid in full for the puppy as well) had a pup ready for me and there were complications causing him to not be a good fit. He offered me a placement on any of the three litters he had coming up OR the option to get a full refund. I chose to wait (because I liked how he handled the situation) and could not be happier with the service, the contact and the fantastic pup I ended up with.

[carmspack]

I'm confused .
You visited a breeder . Something must have impressed you enough for you to leave a deposit .
What exactly did you see?

Who were these experts that said the other had "extremely bad temperament"?

Go back to the kennel and visit the dam , and sire if available, and satisfy your own judgement.

Pay particular attention to young stock -- animals related to the sire and dam.

Seems like the person has some breeding frequency , which means they ought to be able to provide you with contact information on previous puppy buyers from this "plan b" female .
Ask for their vet's phone number and ask his / her opinion.

Breeder number one did nothing untoward . Sometimes females go through false pregnancies , or resorb their pups . They took your deposit. They offered you one or two other options.

I don't know any of the "players" -- so am totally unbiased.

With breeder number two , were the pups on the ground ??

Carmen
Carmspack Working German Shepherd Dogs

[scuba_bob]

Originally Posted by robinhuerta

Scuba....sorry, I gotta ask...
The breeder made you "pre-pay" for a puppy?....and you never receievd the puppy??

No she wanted a $500 down for the pup but I paid in full. The back up litter that her and I talked about wasn't used and I didn't agree with the other 2 dogs and it then broke our agreement. I never got a puppy and am out $1500, this has gone on for a while now and I took it to the BBB last week.
Anyways, looks like I found a very nice german shepherd puppy now.

[robinhuerta]

Congrats on you finding a different breeder and puppy.....
I'm sorry to hear of the *other* experience.....I hope it gets rectified soon for you.

[GSD84]

Originally Posted by robinhuerta

It is not uncommon for breeders to offer a "transfer of deposit" to another litter.
The fact that you "agreed" to the transfer....gives the breeder the option now to keep your deposit...IF you decide to change your mind.
Most breeders require "non-refundable" deposits on puppies/litters....you should check your contract.
My only suggestion is.....contact the breeder and speak directly to them...
JMO & Best wishes!

May have to contact her directly. I wonder if the law applies here where I do not have to ipod my end of tge contract since she didnt uphold hers in regards to havinf tge pup.

[GSD84]

Originally Posted by carmspack

I'm confused .
You visited a breeder . Something must have impressed you enough for you to leave a deposit .
What exactly did you see?

Who were these experts that said the other had "extremely bad temperament"?

Go back to the kennel and visit the dam , and sire if available, and satisfy your own judgement.

Pay particular attention to young stock -- animals related to the sire and dam.

Seems like the person has some breeding frequency , which means they ought to be able to provide you with contact information on previous puppy buyers from this "plan b" female .
Ask for their vet's phone number and ask his / her opinion.

Breeder number one did nothing untoward . Sometimes females go through false pregnancies , or resorb their pups . They took your deposit. They offered you one or two other options.

I don't know any of the "players" -- so am totally unbiased.

With breeder number two , were the pups on the ground ??

Carmen
Carmspack Working German Shepherd Dogs

Let me first say this is all new to me so I have been researching before and after we went. She was very knowledge able but now that I think about it she did not show us the father and the mother was offsite. When we went she only had the litter that was just boehm and four week old pupS. I do not want to mention names but I was told by the different ppl within this last week to be careful with this breeder and that there are many hereditary health issues that have arisen with her pups. As for breeder number two we met all the dogs as well as the pregnant mom. Who was definately pregnsnt. And we also saw some previos pups that were older around 15 weeks and they seemed great. Once again now that I think of it through first breeder refused to take us in the back to see the rest of her dogs. Lastly this new breeder said within the last yr 7 ppl have walked away from that kennel, lost their deposit and bought from her. First breeder only had her dogs prelimmed for hips elbow where this new breeder has all the paperworl.