Multiple breeders lists

[willw]

Hello! First time post here. I have been reading on this great forum for a while now and I have a question. My wife and I are thinking of getting a German Shephers puppy this coming Spring or Summer time frame and was wondering if its cool to contact multiple breeders and get on their contact lists if they except us as a puppy customer? We are on two contact lists now and I was thinking that we should get on a couple more to have a better chance to obtain a puppy next year. Two af the breeders are closely associated here in Ohio and I just want to make sure we don't upset a breeder cause we are on more that one contact list. Thanks, Will

[bocron]

Usually being in contact with multiple breeders is fine. If you put deposits down on a prospective litter, just remember most deposits are non-refundable if you decide to go with a different breeder due to timing or distance. Also, if you do place deposits with breeders, make sure the deposit has a time limit on your behalf, ie, you get the deposit back if breeder hasn't produced a puppy within your parameters within 1 year (or whatever time the breeder is comfortable with).
If you are so inclined, you could post with a bit about you and your wife and what your aspirations for your new pup are (family pet, agility, schutzhund, whatever). There are many folks on this forum that can help steer you in a productive direction.

Annette

[selzer]

If you have contracted to purchase a puppy, that is given them your word or a deposit that you will buy a puppy from them, then you should honor that if they have a litter. This is why many of us do not wait for deposits to breed, we do not take deposits until puppies are on the ground. That way we know we can deliver and can be justifiably annoyed if a customer tells us they already got a puppy elsewhere when ours are between six and eight weeks old.

However, contacting many breeders and getting an understanding about them and their breeding policies and being on their contact list is fine in my opinion. Then when each of these breeders contacts you, you can go and look at the litter, or decide whether you want to put down a deposit to hold a puppy.

[BR870]

We were on the list for two breeders (Grand Canyon and Sequoyah). I made it clear to Sequoyah when we contacted them that Grand Canyon had been contacted first and that we would be going with GC if there were enough puppies. They understood and were cool with that...

Just be upfront and let the breeders know that you are on more than one list. Most will understand that being on a list is no guarantee (especially if you are not in the first two or three on the list), and will understand your reason for being on more than one...

However, once you put a deposit down you've made a binding arrangement...

[wolfstraum]

When you contact a breeder, there is more to buying a pup than getting your name on a "list" IMO....I want to develop a relationship with potential buyer and make sure they will be successful in their goals for a pup - no matter if it is a companion pup or a competition pup....playing off several breeders by being on a waiting list is a bit deceptive - asking to be on a waiting list is a commitment and the breeders can end up losing other homes because they are assuming you want a pup if you ask to be 'on the waiting list'....People have been known to put deposits down on several litters....I refuse to take deposits - if I don't have pups, that way I am not holding someone's money ransom until I do! IF I did have a deposit, and someone backed out when the pup was a few weeks old and got a pup elsewhere I would probably not think too kindly about them because at that point, I would have invested a lot of time and energy and consideration of their goals and the litter....

Lee

[carmspack]

the name on the list of multiple breeders sort of reminded me of some reality game show, the Bachelor or what ever else they have in the type.

[BlackGSD]

I agree with Lee.

If it were me, and I knew that the person was on more than one " list", personally I would pretty much forget about them. I want customers that want to buy from ME, not that just want to maybe buy from me, IF it is convenient and they don't find something better, cheaper ect.... When you say you are on their "contact list" what EXACTLY do you mean? That you want to be contacted when a breeding happens, when there are puppies on the ground, or what?

[selzer]

If someone loses their house because you did not buy a puppy from them, then they probably shouldn't be breeding dogs. So much can happen between now, and when my litter is due to be ready to go home in both my life and prospective puppy buyer's lives, not to mention that just because the bitch was bred does not mean that there will be puppies. I really do not count on the sale until the money is in the bank.

But if people are making breeding decisions on how many people they have waiting for their puppies and then people back out, the puppies can take longer to sell, and it an overall pain in the butt. People shouldn't ought to do that. So, on both sides, I am interested, let me know when you have a litter -- should not mean I am going to buy one of them for sure. And, I am looking at three different litters at this point, I am very interested in yours for this reason, should not be a total turn off either.

[BlackGSD]

Originally Posted by selzer

If someone loses their house because you did not buy a puppy from them, then they probably shouldn't be breeding dogs.

Where did that come from?

[willw]

I just wanted to say thanks for all your input and I have my answer to my question. We have not put a deposit down on a puppy yet with either breeder. I will contact breeder number 2 and explain that we are already on another breeders contact list and see what she says. It was good to hear the opinions from some of the breeders here on this forum. Thanks much. Will