Hi All,
I need some advice on what to do.
I have been in contact with a dog breeder and paid a deposit for a particular dog. The breeder changed their mind and decided that they wanted to keep the dog. They offered us another dog and we accepted to take this dog.
We were due to pick up this dog this week and have spent a considerable amount of money getting ready for this dog.
The breeder has now changed their mind and refuses to sell us the dog.
What can/should we do?
Please help!
Sounds like the only dog here is the breeder.
Bikies
OP is a tyre kicker, and seller realised this early on and decided to renege the business arrangement, in an attempt to mitigate future issues with the OP should they have actually taken the dog.
How is this so? Sorry I am not understanding but what does being a tyre kicker (fussy if what the word tyre kicker means) leads to future issues with OP?
Fussy? Lmao.. are you serious.. How old are you? You must be either be really young to not know what a tyre-kicker is or just really special or both..
When you're paying a significant amount of money for a dog you have met and a few days later they say you can't have this dog anymore, have this other random one you haven't seen before, I think I can be pissed off in this situation.
They knew I spent a week getting ready for the dog buying all the dog stuff before they switched dogs on me and then said I could have no dog.
This isn't an acceptable way to treat another person and take the attitude oh well, your mistake for thinking a deposit means that we will actually reserve this dog for you.
My only concern is whether you will get your deposit. Any delay may open the possibility of insolvency.
get deposit back with any means necessary
Tough cookies as they say.
The breeder is within thier rights to change thier mind.
Just get your deposit back and look elsewhere.
Plenty of beautiful abandoned dogs in shelters looking for loving new owners.
What rights are those? What specific law exempts breeders from honouring contractual agreements?
Agreed.
It depends entirely on the language used on their website/contract. Breeder I dealt with had specific clauses for them to refuse to sell without entering into any discussion for any reason. We had no issues and when talking to the breeder they use it when they believe the puppy won't be cared for properly or it is a new owner that they don't believe understands the commitment.
That's not a law, that's an exit clause that has to be specifically added into the contract.
It is not a right (ie the default entitlement).
We had no issues and when talking to the breeder they use it when they believe the puppy won't be cared for properly or it is a new owner that they don't believe understands the commitment.
Or when they find a buyer willing to pay more, or they think the puppy will be worth more because it shows potential.
The breeders obviously makes it sound like their intention is beyond reproach but read some of the comments from breeders just below, the overwhelming reason is self interest to keep show quality animals.
@[Deactivated]: I am certain there are many dodgy breeders and we were even warned away from several that are basically dodgy puppy farms. The point was all the ones I have dealt with have exit clauses and hence they aren't breaching contract or not honouring it. I would not be surprised if this breeder also had such a clause, they are common.
@gromit: Fair enough. I personally wouldn't agree to a one sided contract. If breeder has an unconditional exit clause, buyer should have one too.
@[Deactivated]: when the demand outstrips the supply you often don't get much choice. We were actually not particularly happy about the clause as it was a 4 hour drive to get our dogs and the breeder was very clear to us that she reserved the right to refuse us. On the positive side though she also made it clear that if for some reason we did need to get rid of the pups that we should call her first and if possible she would help rehome them free of charge.
she reserved the right to refuse us.
The right to refusal is perfectly legitimate before a contract is drawn and a deposit taken. You were also free to reject the companion being offered.
Sales should not be finalized sight unseen. I don't expect nor would accept a deposit from a buyer when I sell my car simply because I may not want to sell to that specific person. The reason is irrelevant at this point because there isn't a legal obligation at any level.
Block-quote The right to refusal is perfectly legitimate before a contract is drawn and a deposit taken. You were also free to reject the companion being offered.
Deposit had already been well and truly paid many weeks before hand. (that clause was pointed out then that until she met us she reserved the right to refuse and refund the deposit.)
@gromit: Strange contract. It serves more as a deposit for booking a viewing time since at the appointed time, there is a chance the sale doesn't go through.
Having read through all comments above… I bred pedigree champion Birman cats for many years and I had on occasion cancelled a sale and refunded a deposit when something happened to lead me to believe that a prospective purchaser was going to be more trouble than they were worth. And yes, I would hold onto a cat for as long as it took to find the right owner rather than just sell to the next person who came along, because I (and all registered breeders that I know) cared about the kittens I bred, and where they ended up.
Okay, not a good feeling when the breeder wants to swap out an animal, and it was short notice, but it's also not unheard of. Did they tell you why they wanted to keep the original pup? Was it unwell? Was it turning out nicer than expected? You've not explained their reasons here. The aim of breeding is to improve the breed, so if a pup / kitten shows promise of being better than its parents you'd be nuts to pet it out. Ditto if the pup wasn't well - their reputation is worth more than your money so they would definitely want to hold onto the pup, even at the risk of needing to home it when it was somewhat older.
I'm wondering if the transaction was cancelled as a result of your conversation with the breeder when they advised you of the swap. What did you say and how did you say it? Because just asking for a discount is one thing (we learn very early on to say "no" graciously - the animal isn't intrinsically worth any less just because it isn't the one originally selected) but did your attitude ring any warning bells, making them think you would be difficult to deal with? Or was something said that made the breeder think your living situation wasn't quite ideal for a pup? I can only surmise, as we're only getting one side of the story here. I'd love to hear from the breeders' POV.
A few people have suggested you should post negative comments on social media. Knock yourself out. Seriously, breeders deal with this shit all the time and it's water off a duck's back. And their kennel club or breed club exists as a registering and showing organisation, and unless you can prove serious animal neglect they will not be interested in your complaints. And even if you CAN prove serious animal neglect you'll be referred to the RSPCA because the kennel club is not the police. Kinda like complaining to the Dept of Motor Transport that a car dealer sold the demo model you'd asked them to hold for you. Not fun but diddly squat you can do about it.
TL:DR - sorry you missed out on the pup but breeders have REASONS - they don't cancel sales for shits and giggles - and I would be very interested in hearing the breeder's side of this transaction.
They wanted the first pup for breeding. From my perspective if it's a week before the pick up date, shouldn't you haven't already established which one that is before you promise a dog to someone? That was their mistake not ours.
I was upset all day because I felt like I didn't have a choice but to accept a different puppy. I thought it was a bit risky because I hadn't met the pup and asked if they would consider a discount because this was very shot notice and we weren't getting the puppy we met.This happened less than a week before we were due to pick her up.
The next day they called and said they didn't want to sell to us. I asked for an explanation and they hung up on me.
I sent them a email seeing if the situation was salvageable. No response.
I'll be considering my options.
I think as others have said, if they were concerned that I couldn't have cared for the dog, they wouldn't have offered me the second one. Seems like a sick power trip to me.
The aim of breeding is to improve the breed, so if a pup / kitten shows promise of being better than its parents you'd be nuts to pet it out.
That's fair so don't take someone's money if you're uncertain. Buyers are not your insurance against animals that aren't breeding stock quality.
but did your attitude ring any warning bells…
If OPs attitude rang alarm bells, don't take the deposit. If deposit has been taken, report any potential animal abuse. Breeders don't get to decide what is "alarm bells" and breach contract.
even if you CAN prove serious animal neglect you'll be referred to the RSPCA because the kennel club is not the police.
Massive double standards here
Kinda like complaining to the Dept of Motor Transport that a car dealer sold the demo model you'd asked them to hold for you. Not fun but diddly squat you can do about it.
If a deposit has been paid, there's a lot that can be done about it.
If this is the all the regard breeders have for contract law, they're no better than pet farms. It's the same self interest motivated actions at the expense of others.
Thank you. This is so on point.
Sounds like you’re just looking for affirmation, not opinions.
Not so much self-interest, but the interests of the breed and the animals. And usually not at any expense of others - deposit was refunded I believe?
MOST registered breeders (say - 99.5%?) are ethical and truly care about their animals. Yes there are bad breeders who are no better than pet farms. Please do not make the mistake of thinking this tiny minority represents all breeders. They're the ones who end up on A Current Affair. They're also a tiny minority who seem to think that there is money to be made from breeding. I started counting the cost back in 1994, and quickly scared myself with how much my cats were costing. Never bothered again. A friend of mine was reported to Centrelink after she retired, as a disgruntled buyer "dobbed her in" for making money off the cats - once she presented a printout of her vet bills for the past few months the Centrelink lady just laughed and threw the complaint away. It's a hobby, done for the love of the animals first and foremost.
Yeah actually breeders DO get to decide what is "alarm bells". Case in point - discussion with a prospective buyer who told me how excited she was that the kitten would match her new couch. Wow, all of a sudden the kitten is an accessory rather than a lifetime commitment. I suddenly "remembered" that the entire litter had deposits on it…. this lady then bought a kitten from another breeder and twelve months later returned it, because it no longer suited her lifestyle (wonder if she'd changed her decor?). My instincts were right.
I could provide a legion of similar examples but I feel I would be wasting my typing fingers and you've already made your mind up.
No double standards. The Kennel club exists to register progeny so that all pedigrees can be traced and authenticated. They do not police breeding practices, although they usually have a code of ethics that members are expected to adhere to. The most they can do is cancel someone's membership if serious mistreatment of animals is proven. If you want something done about animal mistreatment you need to complain to RSPCA because the kennel club is basically toothless (see what I did there) in that regard.
If a deposit has been paid, the contract has still not been fulfilled. When was the contract signed? Was there an escape clause? For that matter, did the OP even sign the contract? I used to leave it until pickup of the kitten before getting a purchaser to sign. In this case - Offer and acceptance is there, but consideration…? that's the bit that's missing here, in formation of a contract, yes? No? Been a while since I did contract law. And lodging a claim in the small claims court, well the most they can do is insist on contract being fulfilled. So - if the breeder then states that the pup has died /been sold elsewhere and no longer to hand, what then? This is a genuine question btw because I'm not sure what recourse there would be, if it were no longer physically possible to complete the contract. Breeder certainly isn't responsible for the purchaser going on holidays and arranging a dog sitter so that won't be considered in the claim.
How can a deposit not be a consideration?
Consideration can be anything of value (such as an goods, money, services, or promises of any of these), which each party gives as a quid pro quo to support their side of the bargain.
Buyer paid deposit to show commitment to the contract, seller offered a promise to go through with it. Even though it's not signed, there is offer, consideration and acceptance and is an actual contract.
Not so much self-interest, but the interests of the breed and the animals. And usually not at any expense of others - deposit was refunded I believe?
what a benevolent way of wording what is essentially, treating customers as insurance policies. How about don't offer to sell those puppies/kittens unless they've been observed of their potential already, rather than promise someone on a sale then renege on it. It's just a lot more convenient for the seller to do things in this unfair way that benefits them most, not some lofty reasoning. They can have their piece of cake and eat it too
MOST registered breeders (say - 99.5%?) are ethical and truly care about their animals.
Unsubstantiated BS.
Case in point - discussion with a prospective buyer who told me how excited she was that the kitten would match her new couch.
I have said my dog makes a beautiful rug. I'm a monster! The same dog thats too old to jump into the bed so gets a carried and tucked into the foot of the bed.
twelve months later returned it, because it no longer suited her lifestyle (wonder if she'd changed her decor?). My instincts were right.
Well that settles that. Single case presented, single case confirmed. 99.5% of breeders must be ethical if we further extrapolate from this sample of one.
Any control studies like long term follow up on all the other animals? Off course not. I've had many animals (conincidentally, I have many rugs) from breeders and no one follows up life long.
If a deposit has been paid, the contract has still not been fulfilled. When was the contract signed? Was there an escape clause? For that matter, did the OP even sign the contract?
Your assumption is the contract is special in everyway that makes the breeder look examplary, not the default laws and behaviours. "Maybe OP is the one backing out because the clause calls for owners to also voluntarily castrate". You never know what's in the contract right?
I used to leave it until pickup of the kitten before getting a purchaser to sign.
That would be called a receipt and it doesn't need a signature from the buyer.
So - if the breeder then states that the pup has died /been sold elsewhere and no longer to hand, what then?
Well, you may have done "contract law" but obviously missed perjury law. A lie may not be provable but it is still a lie. If caught, it's time to call someone who actually studied law.
Breeder certainly isn't responsible for the purchaser going on holidays and arranging a dog sitter so that won't be considered in the claim.
I'm 99.5% certain this is a strawman. No one even insinuated that breeders where holiday kennels.
If a deposit has been paid, the contract has still not been fulfilled.
Yes, but the contract is still BINDING. It is in the process of being fulfilled.
When was the contract signed?
Contract doesn't need to be signed.
Was there an escape clause? For that matter, did the OP even sign the contract? I used to leave it until pickup of the kitten before getting a purchaser to sign.
Contract doesn't need to be signed.
In this case - Offer and acceptance is there, but consideration…? that's the bit that's missing here, in formation of a contract, yes? No? Been a while since I did contract law.
It shows.
Offer - I am selling this dog.
Acceptance - I accept to buy this dog.
Consideration - The amount the breeder was selling it for (not the payment of the amount).
Intention - A dog breeder (a business) selling a dog would be argued as intending to have legally binding contract as it's a business arrangement and not a family arrangement for example.
There is the contract.
The payment of the deposit is simply performing part of the contract. Signing a form is similar. The contract already exists - the rest are simply strengthening the posters claim.
Also a refund is not simply the deposit. If the breeder want's to breach the contract they need to take the other party back to the state they were before the contract was made. So an argument could be made that the purchasing of products (and possibly the flight) might need to be compensated too.
Moral of the story for who ever wants to deal with a breeder; do whatever they want, otherwise, they'll do whatever they want.
Spread the word.
I also feel compelled to say adopt, don't shop!
So we'll see you at the adoption shelter after you get your deposit back?
If they have they had the breed I wanted. Heart wants what the heart wants.
It more if people want to avoid dealing with breeders.
Yeah I understand. Nothing wrong with that.
I don't think we know what breed you are after but there's lots of online adoption options too where you can view profiles and photos etc. Pretty sure the RSPCA have this on their website. Go have a look and have a chat with the friendly staff there you never know what you'll find. A lot can also assist with interstate transport (if your breed is hard to find).
Petrescue is a really good one I've helped out in the past that have pets for adoption nationwide: https://www.petrescue.com.au/listings/search/dogs
For our other immediate interstate neighbours:
VIC: victoriadogrescue, saveadog
QLD: awlq
Many adoption centres also do fostering so you can see if your environment is right for the dog and if you'd be a good match too. Or if you're not familiar with the breed, gives you an idea into some general traits, though like humans doggos have their own personalities too.
Assuming you get your deposit back, going to court over this is most likely to just end up a waste of time and money.
As for compensation - regardless of yours or my opinion on whether or not you deserve it - I don't see it happening.
Still waiting for OP to announce its just a staffy and nothing special
When are you going to admit that it's a pug?
Anyway, a dog it just an excuse not to go on holidays. I walk my neighbours instead.
OMG has the OP answered the SIMPLE QUESTION as to was the deposit returned? I'm guessing YES as the question continues to be dodged. And I bet the reason of the cancellation was the OP sent the seller for million ridiculous text messages about the situation they knew it would be way too much trouble to deal with.
It hasn't been confirmed yet. I'm waiting to see if it has cleared.
No longer counting my chickens before they hatch as I thought having this puppy was a done deal
finally… can someone pin this? lol
I'm not sure how the breed of the dog is relevant in resolving my issue.
What's the harm in saying then? Unless it's a brachycephalic breed and you're expecting the negative response.
Hahaha no way it's a staffy. Too many of those at the adoption centres.
I'm guessing something more 'exotic' like a french bulldog if small.
Yeah frenchie or a pug was my thinking.
Frenchie, Samoyed or Corgi is my guess..
It this was a thread about a cat, we could all assume you were a reasonable and honest person.
Unfortunately people who buy dogs from breeders are usually evil, unless they are training a seeing eye dog.
I hope this clears it up for you
Why would you even buy from a breeder in the first place? Go to a shelter/pound or something. Breeders are terrible, and contribute to the overpopulation of dogs. You're better off saving a dog that would otherwise be murdered.
this argument is null and void when you want a specific dog.
A dog is also not just a dog. In the first weeks and then years of life, nurture plays a HUGE part in that dog's personality, character and future behaviour. There is no way in hell I want someone else's previously human-tortured and unpredictable animal. Been there done that, would never do it again.
I actually agree that rescues aren't appropriate for everyone and come with their own risks, and the situation may not end well with an inexperienced dog owner. That's an unpopular view but that is an unfortunate reality. Even if the dog wasn't tortured it likely won't have been socialized appropriately with humans and other animals.
But do you see how I managed to say that without referring to a tortured dog as a thing to discard without any thought for its life?
Your statement "There is no way in hell I want someone else's previously human-tortured and unpredictable animal" makes it very difficult for me to believe you care one bit about dogs. Not a good look for a breeder.
You need better comprehension skills. If you recall, I've already told you I'm not a breeder.
Some sensitive dogs have one time memories so something only has to happen to them once and it stays with them for life. The impact period is the first year of life. It generally can't be undone. When an inexperienced owner damages a dog like this, there's no going back. Sound dramatic? It's true. I have one of these dogs.
I think it's time you called it quits on the stalking.
You need better comprehension skills. If you recall, I've already told you I'm not a breeder.
You also said "I have dogs and some puppies that are currently 6 weeks old."
Explain.
And we have a whole other discussion going about why you wouldn't want any of your puppies to go to a first time owner.
You seem to think you can make the most inflammatory statements in the most vague manner and then blame others for not comprehending. I have no idea what your dog skills are like but I'm not loving your people skills.
And I don't appreciate being accused of "stalking" you. I haven't interacted with you outside of discussion on the parent topic and you happen to be saying some incredibly inflammatory things.
I've never seen the type of dog I want at a shelter. And I'm not buying someone's 2nd hand staffy
There can be a lot of reasons why a breeder refuses to sell a dog, as outlined by others in this thread.
I suspect the reason they’re refusing to sell you the ‘replacement’ dog is your attitude, specifically your request for a discount. When demand outweighs supply, the seller can afford to be picky about buyers, and may simply have found you as a customer more trouble than you’re worth.
Your expectations re compensation are entirely unrealistic. Assuming you’ve decided to get a dog regardless, and that you’re not going to change your mind because you couldn’t have this specific dog, the cost of preparing your home for a dog would have been incurred anyway.
The fact that you’re flying in a family member to dog-sit has nothing to do with it. This wasn’t something the breeder requested, suggested, or even endorsed. It’s a choice you made.
Get your refund and move on to the next breeder. Better yet, adopt a rescue.
Why not adopt and save instead?
Plenty of dogs in need.
Because often they require much more care and attention than a properly socialized dog and there is the real risk they won't work out due to hard to break bad habits, or even aggression due to poor early socialization.
I’m curious as to the breed of dog. OP states it’s irrelevant, but I would question that. If the breed is rare and there are very few available the breeder might be very selective in who the dog goes to. It’s not just about money, the breeder might be concerned that someone who is trying to get a reduced price on the puppy isn’t really that committed. If you have a rare breed then establishing that breed, vet bills, importing dogs is extremely expensive. Also as a breeder you would want the potential owner to be respectful of this and value the puppy accordingly. Trying to negotiate a discount just doesn’t signal that this person values the puppy and appreciates everything that has gone into breeding it. I would never sell my dogs no amount of money could replace them, they are family members not an item you own.
Requested discount was because they switched dogs on me a few days before pick up!!! They acknowledged they made a mistake. They wasted my time in meeting a puppy I couldn't have.
If I paid a little bit less for the dog, the money would be going towards the care of the dog…
If they had shown me the "correct" dog in the first place… none of this would have happened.
That's a dog move man! I feel ya pain.
I am sorry to hear that! I think the people who have gone through the process of getting a dog from a breeder (or in some cases from the pound) can understand how much time and planning it takes to bring a puppy into your home!
When we thought about getting a dog from the breeder, the process was long even before we got a confirmation that she would give us a puppy! We had to drive 6 hours to get him, but she let us see all the pups in the litter, even though she had already picked one for us based on the fact that we live in an apartment (she recommended getting the smallest one of the lot which was also the calmest one). But she was kind enough to let us decide which one we wanted to take home with us.
I think it is a bit unfair to you when you have taken the time to go and see all the pups, decide on one and then they switch it a week before! I understand your expectation for a discount (which may have put the breeder off) but if it were me, I would have taken the switched puppy if I was happy with him/her when I go pick the puppy!
On a side note, the breeder whom we got the dog from hadn't realized that all other breeders in NSW and VIC had put their prices up (she had an injury and had not been breeding for over a year and ours was the first litter she had) but she was kind enough to let us have the puppy at the agreed price than put it up to what others were charging.
I don't know what kind of a dog you're after, but if you want to welcome a switched on Cairn terrier into your family, I am more than happy to provide her details!
Some breeders make you jump through so many hoops to buy their dog for $1000's of dollars. Its such a joke. If they want top dollar and want to be picky then tell them to get stuffed.
It was all over the second you requested a discount. You should have agreed a time to come view/meet the second offered puppy and decided then how to move forward.
My next dog - although will be from Friends of the Hound. Love the greys!
What type of dog are were you getting?
Sounds like the breeder got a better offer for his stock and sold them to someone else.
Chase the deposit. Possible insolvency alert…
Where you carrying a recipe book at the time?
its a classic scam
anyone been to prison will know this scam, its the beginer level scam, they talk about this in prison and teach each other the ropes.
you dont even need any dogs to make money
call the buyers up in 1 or 2 days and tell them wow by the way, im playing tennis or coming by the suburb you live in, do you want to buy the dog? if so, pay me $500 in cash, so i will take down the ads and reserve the dog for ya
text back in 2 weeks, cancel deal, keep $500,
do this 50 times buy ur self a new car
move houses every 3 months, so in an event owner wrote down ur drivers licence at the time of giving you the deposit, and take you to vcat, if vcat gives court order to return the deposit, the buyer has no way to enforce the court order coz they cant find where you live
sit back and laugh enjoy being a level 1 scammer
i got scammed by a guy called jeremy n bannister, he pretended he had dobermans, i got a $1300 enforcement order that I cant serve him coz he moved
1.the only way to combat this scam is
never pay deposit
Wouldn't work for the sellers
~ Buyer waits till the last minute - "I don't want the dog" - hangs up.
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/407746#comment-6445951
OP viewed the pup so must be a level 2 scam.
I think you should name and shame them here.
Once I get a dog (if I ever do)… lets just say, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
I hope for your sake that the dog world isn't like the cat world where breeders talk to each other and an aborted sale would be all over the breed's email group / facebook by now. "Danger Will Robinson do not sell to this person" is usually how it goes, and it's only the breeder's side of it that will be heard. Best of luck, though, as you obviously have your heart set on your chosen breed. Maybe if you try a breeder interstate?
I hope that won't happen. But it probably will given how these people have already acted.
Hi all, deposit was paid today.
I called Consumer Affairs Victoria today (note the wait time was pretty long…) and they advised me of the steps to claim compensation.
I'll keep you guys posted on the outcome!
Cool, let us know the breed.
Are you serious? You got your deposit back, but now you are going to try to claim COMPENSATION? For what? An unused dog bed, and bag of food?
Yes - if you breach a contract you need to take the other party back to the position they were based on the breach.
If they made additional purchases, expenses based on the contract being fulfilled, then compensation absolutely comes in to it.
If you sell me a car expecting to pick it up on the weekend, and I purchase insurance for the car, buy new tyres specific for that model, a roof rack for that model and then you suddenly decide to refund me instead.
I'm left with the insurance payment and all this equipment I can't use.
What cost did she incur? from not getting the dog?
@blehgg: From the OP:
spent a considerable amount of money getting ready for this dog
we would be away for 4 days and we flew a trusted family member down to ensure that the dog would be cared for
@lysp: Another vague response to a specific question… Define: "considerable"?
"I drove to see the dog". This cost fuel????
I drove to the 75km to see a pram for my wife. (We also made a holiday out of it). My wife got there ~ asked for a discount and got shot down.
- Gumtree seller needs to compensate me....
RE: If you sell me a car expecting to pick it up on the weekend, and I purchase insurance for the car, buy new tyres specific for that model, a roof rack for that model and then you suddenly decide to refund me instead.
@lysp: That's specific ~ and a very loose "inference"
Its a dog… not a car ~ A gold dog bowl is gonna work for any dog… A dog house is gonna work for any dog…
If the OP put in as much specifics as you did ~ we wouldn't need to ask questions.
@blehgg: I'm not the OP so I don't know the specifics.
And like I said in a different reply "an argument could be made that the purchasing of products (and possibly the flight) might need to be compensated too".
Your initial post said it was basically ridiculous to claim compensation.
I'm saying that it should be considered and there's nothing wrong with that.
The breeder has two choices - risk paying compensation or follow through with the contract.
If contracts could be reversed with no consequence, there is literally no reason to have contracts all in society as a whole.
Sounds like a weird sequence of events, we went through a lot of due diligence over our breeders (they also did the same the other way around) - one thing that wasn't that uncommon was that the breeder would have final say of which pup in the litter you received (framed as pairing personality to the different owners), but ultimately so that they keep the best of the litter.
So curious to understand if that was also part of the contract for this purchase.
it wasn't. i saw a specific puppy. it was never conveyed to me that the puppy would change. It was my understanding that all puppies had been reserved and this was the only puppy remaining.
Annoying but I can top that. My experience was putting a deposit on a Golden and the entire litter died of Parvo. I didn't want to go anywhere near a Parvo infected premises when I'm about to buy another dog. I was very lucky that the breeder agreed to a bank deposit, so I got a refund on the money I had put down. We had visited the dog and my very young kids had played with the litter and picked their dog out. Weeks of waiting only to be told they'd all died. Then the stress of do we have to worry about Parvo contamination. In a way it was very fortunate that it was a few weeks before the intial visit and hte dogs dying. Else I don't think I'd have risked bringing a puppy home.
Got a Golden from another breeder in the end. But the breeder was interstate and we got very limited selection between 2 dogs over the phone.
What I really can't stand is the contracts breeders force you to sign that you won't breed or show a dog. A claim of ownership on the genes. Want a show dog? You better pay me triple buddy. Sure you care about the animal. Not a fan of breeder associations, dog shows or the whole self-regulation nonsense.
they tell you to go look at the dogs and the premises, but the issue with this is - strangers are the ones bringing Parvo to the pups. Parvo lives in the dirt and dirt lives in your shoes. I'm not saying you did, but you could have taken the Parvo there yourself. You will never know. This is why a lot of breeders won't have people near their puppies.
Think about that.
Anyone can bring the Parvo in, including the breeder. Unless you're suggesting the breeders lock themselves in their homes for years at a time and never have guests over, home school, and spray their supermarket deliveries (left at the front gate) with bleach before bringing them in. And the dogs are vulnerable for the first few months, well after they are sold. Puppy school is actually a risk.
Think about that (before you attempt to make someone feel guilty about the death of puppies).
"I had this horrible experience trying to buy a puppy and it died" "Well you probably killed it you monster! Because flawed logic!".
Wow Ozbargain is a horrible, horrible board!
I didn't say that. I said:
This is why a lot of breeders won't have people near their puppies.
@snook: "you could have taken the Parvo there yourself…Think about that."
And if I hadn't done a ton of research about Parvo when it happened I would feel like absolute dirt right about now.
"you could have taken the Parvo there yourself…Think about that."
I didn't say that either. Are you a political correspondent?
@snook: It's right above in black and white. Some more words in between don't mean person isn't going to feel like garbage about it. Take some damn responsibility for what you wrote and how you wrote it instead of deflecting with an insult.
"you could have taken the Parvo there yourself. You will never know. This is why a lot of breeders won't have people near their puppies.
Think about that."
@snook: Typical of the bullying that is permitted on Ozbargain.
I quoted you directly. That is exactly what you wrote, regardless of your intent. Now you're just down to denial and name calling.
@syousef: I think you are probably just taking it personally being the one in that situation. I didnt read it the way you are taking it
@danb: It was written and addressed to the person who was in that situation.
But of course it's my fault for "taking it personally" rather than an incredibly insensitive thing to say.
And not "sorry I didn't mean it that way, perhaps I should have worded it differently". No, instead the response is. "political correspondent! Derryn Hinch!"
Point out this crap on RUOK day and you get yourself blocked from commenting because actually pointing out the bullying would derail the pat-on-the-back fest.
This place is beyond help.
I bought a German shepherd from a breeder and she fell ill days later with Parvo. I notified the breeder and she had all the other dogs checked. I think she got infected when we stopped at a service station. It takes years to get rid of it from your yard. Thankfully our pup made a full recovery.
Yeah, it can happen from so much nothing i think it's hard to grasp. It's a pity Parvo had to show up. I'm so paranoid about it now, my own pups don't leave their yard until their last needle and i won't put them on the floor at the vet.
Bit off topic but what breed of dog Miso?
Update, I don't want to speak too soon but I sent a letter of demand yesterday and the breeders have agreed to follow through with the purchase.
I pick her up tomorrow. Thanks everyone for your help and support.
Please be careful if you deal with breeders.
Nice. Now that you have secured a dog, tell us the breed.
If she did, I have access to four different pure breeds and a combination of those for the cool kids.
They won breeder of the year and didn't even enter.