Buying Puppy Advice

[DoggoMumma]

Hi,

Just wanted to get your thoughts and ask what you would do in this situation.

We agreed to buy a puppy via email with a breeder and put down the deposit.

The puppy’s are now almost 6 weeks and I’ve seen she added a advert online for them and she’s put the price down by £250 to what she said they were to me

That’s already a big difference and we could really do with the money. Because we said yes to the higher price does that mean I have no right to say anything? What would you do?

Thanks!

[TeacupRex]

Ouch. What breed is the puppy? While it's common for breeders to lower the price if they've had little interest once the puppy grows past 8 weeks, I would not be impressed to see a breeder doing this before then, especially when you can't even take the puppy home yet.

You could ask, but I doubt the breeder will be very receptive. She probably won't be happy about you catching her out. I think it's very underhanded to reduce the price of puppies that can't even leave their mothers yet.

[Booboostwo]

Sounds like a breeder with a litter on unwanted puppies on their hands which would ring alarm bells. As far as the price goes you can always renegotiate, since the breeder seems desperate I would imagine you'd probably get a discount, but are you sure this is the right breeder for you? While 250 is a lot of money, getting stuck with the wrong puppy for the next 15 years will cost you a lot more.

Have you ever visited this breeder? Seen the mother and their other dogs? The environment the puppies are being brought up in?

[pigsDOfly]

Have you ever visited this breeder? Seen the mother and their other dogs? The environment the puppies are being brought up in?

This is along the lines as I was going to ask.

If not, you need to find out more about the puppy you've spent money on.

I hope it isn't, but this sounds very iffy to me.

[DogInATent]

The first choice pups from a litter are a premium, because you get to choose the best of the litter. As the litter s sold the price may well drop.

Are you buying a puppy mail order sight unseen?

[DoggoMumma]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies! We went to visit and picked the puppy at 4 weeks. We saw the mum and she was the reason we wanted to go for this litter, breeder has a fairly good reputation it feels and it’s very obvious how much she loves her dogs/ is very involved in the dog show community. Puppies are being socialised well, regular photos with them out on the grass or sleeping on their backs in arms!

I know the puppies go down in price but it is frustrating to know if we waited just a couple weeks we could of saved £250.
I think I may ask to confirm price again as I’ve seen the advert

[Medievalist]

The first choice pups from a litter are a premium, because you get to choose the best of the litter.

What does that mean? How would you identify the best of a litter? How would you know?

it’s very obvious how much she loves her dogs/ is very involved in the dog show community.

[Medievalist]

Sorry - posted too soon.

it’s very obvious how much she loves her dogs/ is very involved in the dog show community.

Being involved in dog shows doesn't mean you have your dogs' best interests at heart sadly.