Deposit on puppy

[ziggiestardust]

We are hoping to get our first puppy and have connected with a Golden Retriever breeder through the fb groin Golden Retriever Puppies from Health Tested Parents.

The breeder seems lovely and it’s her first time too, but I just had a few questions regarding the deposit. The pups are due in December (ready to leave late Jan) and the breeder wants £300 to secure a place on the list, and £300 when we choose our puppy, and then the balance before collection. Is this normal? Lots of mixed advice online, deposits seem more commonplace lately especially with more popular breeds.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

We last bought a puppy a couple of years ago, and only paid the deposit when we'd seen the litter, chosen our puppy, and I'd gone home and checked the pedigree and the COI online. I wouldn't be comfortable paying even before I'd seen the litter.

But someone more up-to-date or more informed about classier litters than ours might be along soon...

[MitchellMummy]

It does seem unusual. I paid a deposit before I'd seen the puppy - but after she was born and there was one allocated to me. It is possible that the breeder may not have enough pups to satisfy the demand on the list. If all seems above board and you really want this puppy then I guess it's OK to go ahead, but if there are lots of breeders around in that breed with pups due then I'd think again. I guess people have had lots of time wasters, hence the requirement for this. Also what about the split of dogs/bitches? OK I guess if you're not set on one or the other? Have fun when pup arrives!

[AmIThough]

If they're planning a litter it's normal to ask for a deposit before the litter is even born.

I've seen this happen on a number of occasions.

[SunnyUpNorth]

We paid £300 the day ours was born and then balance on collection. But she said if when we viewed the puppies at around 5/6 weeks she would refund the deposit if we didn’t want any of them.

[TeacupRex]

Wow, £600 handed over before the puppy is even home.. I've seen deposits on reserving a puppy once it's been born, but not just for going onto a waiting list. Is it a non-refundable deposit? I'm just wondering what happens if there aren't enough puppies to go around for the people on the list, or if there aren't enough of a certain sex. Or if a reserved puppy dies (accidents, failing health etc)- would the breeder refund them or keep the money? You'd think they would have the decency to give back, but if it was a 'non-refundable' deposit, they may very well be on grounds to keep the money.

[AmIThough]

@TeacupRex a friend of mine did it and it was non-refundable.
Answers to your questions:
not enough puppies to go around for the people on the list they could wait for the next litter or get a 50% refund. These were dogs where the litter is generally small (2 or 3) so the breeder wouldn't take a deposit for more than the 3 pups
or if there aren't enough of a certain sex they could give a preferred sex to the breeder but if there wasn't enough of one sex the breeder would decide which pups personality best matched which family
Or if a reserved puppy dies same as the first point

I think it's a good way of being sure the family are committed to buying the pup in one sense, but a bit crap having to wait 2 years for a boy if you want a girl

[adaline]

We paid a non-refundable deposit to secure our puppy, and paid the balance on collection.

We knew the breeder before the litter was born but didn't pick our puppy until they were all 4 weeks of age. When we went to pick him, we paid £200, and then the £400 balance when we collected him 8 weeks later.

[BiteyShark]

I paid a non refundable £150 deposit to secure a puppy with the remainder on collection.

Whilst it makes perfect sense to me to take a deposit for a puppy that is born or expected (e.g. a scan showed a number of puppies) I wouldn't hand over any amount to simply get on a waiting list. This to me just doesn't sit right because you could be giving someone money for something that never happens.

[adaline]

I wouldn't hand over any amount to simply get on a waiting list. This to me just doesn't sit right because you could be giving someone money for something that never happens.

Exactly. What if the puppies are stillborn, or there aren't enough puppies to go around? I wouldn't put a deposit down for a litter that didn't exist it.

[yodl]

I´ve bought three puppies. All three breeders wanted a deposit after we chose a certain puppy (they all were around 4-5 weeks of age then) and then the rest was paid when we took our pup home at 8-9 weeks.
I knew all the breeders before the puppies were born, they all knew I wanted to buy a dog.
We were on waiting lists as well, but it was for free.

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

My breeder opened the waiting list once the puppies were a couple of weeks old. I know that sounds really late and it was a bit scary but it must work for her as she's been doing it for 20 odd years. She provisionally filled the spaces on the list then spoke to each potential owner to vet us. I paid £150 once I had met the puppy and the balance when I picked him up. He's snoring on the sofa next to me now. It was all a bit nerve wracking but I knew puppies that had come from her before and knew about the health checking and socialisation she did so I was prepared to wait as long as it took.

[happygardening]

We paid a small deposit once the breeder was happy that we were suitable owners and I was happy that I liked the dog. He was 4-5 weeks old we weren’t allowed to visit before then although I’d seen photos. The remainder was paid on collection at 8-9 weeks.

[happygardening]

Should add I knew the breeder was hoping for a litter and had had to fill in a very extensive questionnaire etc and that she would consider selling us a puppy. But no money was ever asked for. Our previous pedigree dogs have been purchased on a similar agreement except 1 wouldn’t except any deposit at any stage she thought it was bad luck you paid on collection.

[tabulahrasa]

But what if the mating doesn’t take and there’s never a litter?...

[EowynDernhelm]

Born December & rehomed late in January? They sound like they'd be awfully young to leave mum.

I have heard of breeders asking for money to be on a waiting list, but I've never paid to do that myself, nor would I. Seems like trouble waiting to happen. What if there aren't enough puppies for the waiting list? Or puppies are lost? Or never actually created? Or there isn't one you like?

[Namechangeforthiscancershit]

Sorry to sound so soppy but I did fall in love with the stupid farty thing when I met him. I was ready to (sadly6 walk away if I didn't feel any connection to any of the litter. I don't know how I'd feel if I had already paid a deposit.

Or maybe it's not possible NOT to fall in love with puppy eyes anyway.

[1ColdFish]

Really strange especially as its her first litter, but not unheard of to secure a place with a sought after breeder.

I have bought two dogs with deposits. A shar pei in which £250 non refundable was asked for on viewing and securing the actual pup then the rest on collection. And an American bulldog from a backyard breeder which was again the same but £70 non refundable deposit. I didn't get the puppy I originally reserved though but didnt want a fight over it.

[missbattenburg]

I had visited the litter and been given (and encouraged to take) ample time to go away and reflect on the visit to be sure I was happy to proceed before being asked for a £150 deposit.

The rest was payable upon collection and the whole lot was refundable if there was a health issue with the dog that was spotted at his first vet check.

I would not be comfortable putting money down with a breeder or litter I had not seen yet. I wonder if distance selling laws come into play in that circumstance?

[BiteyShark]

Thinking about this more clearly I am bored it's really cheeky to take money to simply go on a waiting list if there isn't a litter of puppies due.

I wonder how many hundreds they take and keep. At least if you put money down for a puppy due to be picked up in a few weeks and circumstances mean you don't get them then you should get your money back fairly quickly.

But to take money for a 'potential' litter sometime in the future reads like a money making scam to me and I would run a mile.

[Mamabear12]

I would say it depends on the breed and what you want. For the breed we got, 300-350 is standard to be on the waiting list. We wanted female; certain coat and colour and size. So no promises on how long it could take. But if it took too long money would be refunded. It took 6 months, then our perfect puppy arrived 😀 we went to visit the breeder and the puppies, meet the mom etc. Once 💯 happy, paid the rest of the amount and took her home. Over a year later couldn’t be happier with our dog. But I admit, it was a little nerve wracking to put a large amount of money down when I never met the breeder etc. But too far of a drive just to go for a meeting for a deposit. Instead we had a phone call and she was very knowledgeable and I trust my instinct. We were lucky, we hit the jack pot with this dog 😀 she is the best!

[Eleanorsummer]

I wouldn't pay a deposit just to secure a place on the list. Wait till you've viewed the puppies with mum

[Eleanorsummer]

Edit: if it is a refundable deposit in writing then I guess I'd be more open minded