Advertising your first litter

[GranvilleGSD]

All good breeders with waiting lists were newbies at one time. Just wondering, where do you recommend advertising your litter? Is it really terrible to advertise puppies in the newspaper if you are screening your potential homes? Do you advertise on any specific websites?

[mkennels]

I used the newspaper as last resort, and I have gotten some really great homes from that, I did the screening, contracts and followups and even 4/5 years later I am still in contact with most of my first litter, I used hobbly.com and puppy find and http://www.qualitydogs.com/ I am still a newbie with only having 4 litters but everyone of the homes I have been very happy and pleased with and couldn't ask for better homes.

[selzer]

I have gotten good homes out of the newspaper. My vet has recommended me to several of the people that have my puppies. My sister continues to get her friends and work people to buy my pups. AKC listing has gotten me a couple of nibbles. Local GSD club has netted me nothing. My friend who is also breeding GSDs has sent a few people my way. Being out with my puppies/dogs and being at shows has netted me a home or two.

[DianaM]

Come on, Wildhaus, Zu Treuen Handen, Wolfstraum, Triton, Gabor and Sue Szilasi, and the others who I know I've missed, we'd love to know how you advertised your first litters.

[lhczth]

Word of mouth. I have never advertised a litter.

[Liesje]

I'm not a breeder but I FOUND my breeder through word-of-mouth. I was looking into getting a rescue GSD and someone in rescue told me about her. I've never seen her dogs advertised anywhere. Sometimes the planned breedings are on her site or a picture of both parents and then the number of pups with the birthdate but that's it. Even so, the demand always exceeds the supply.

[selzer]

I think with an excellent established breeder, who breeds now and then, the demand would exceed the supply. But first the first litter or two, the breeder is not established and a giant question mark to people in the right circles. I think this is what was actually asked about.

I am not so sure about websites as a good way to look for a breeder. Anyone could post photos that make their place look good even if it is a dive. People can also post other people's photos. I think you can start there, but you still have to check references and visit the breeder before deciding on a purchase.

[Liesje]

Originally Posted By: selzerI think with an excellent established breeder, who breeds now and then, the demand would exceed the supply. But first the first litter or two, the breeder is not established and a giant question mark to people in the right circles. I think this is what was actually asked about.

Fair enough, but if the dogs are being trained, shown, and worked, people at shows and the training clubs should know they exist and express interest.

Sure anyone can say what they want on a web site, I'm not sure how much good they really do anyway even when honest so I agree there. I got my dogs word-of-mouth and I think a good number of people find dogs/breeders using forums like this. Best to always meet the breeder, attend clubs and shows for good opinions. I personally would never consider buying a dog just based on the parents' pics on a web site unless I was already familiar with the dogs and the breeder.

If I was going to go into breeding, I'd probably attach myself to a well-established breeder first, like owning a stud or co-owning a bitch.

[GranvilleGSD]

Originally Posted By: selzerI think with an excellent established breeder, who breeds now and then, the demand would exceed the supply. But first the first litter or two, the breeder is not established and a giant question mark to people in the right circles. I think this is what was actually asked about.

Yes, this is what I was asking about. When a breeder is not yet established for their first litter or two, where do people choose to advertise.
As one of the previous posters had mentioned, they didn't get much response from advertising at a breed club. I think this would *generally* be true, as most people involved in training already have thier hands full with the dogs they have, or are breeders themselves. And as for being seen in shows and trials, I would think it would bea similar response as at a club-already have dogs or breeders, except for the small group of people who aren't competing and just there to watch.

[GranvilleGSD]

Liesje- Love that tug picture of Nikon by the way = ) That's how Berlin looks a lot of the time!