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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Breeder has not giving us her address to view puppy

240 replies

Safarigiraffe · 29/04/2023 16:10

Hi we were looking for a spaniel breeder and found one not too far from us, price agreed with deposit agreed, breeder had chat on phone with us to find out about us & all was good. Arranged with breeder to visit puppy tomorrow at her house by phone however she said to us she would give us her address but up to now she hasn’t. So AIBU to think that she isn’t going to give us the chance to view the puppy considering we have deposit to pay her? Or are we missing something here that maybe she’s just been busy?

OP posts:
Forforforfawn · 29/04/2023 17:20

You must have an opportunity to see the puppies and parent/s in the home.
I have 3 friends who have bred puppies within the last year (different parts of country) and all offered owners multiple opportunities to view the puppies and were cautious of anyone who could not make the commitment of even a single visit.
Also heard stories from friends who were caught out by dodgy breeders handing over dogs at street corners or service stations- always taken from Mum too early and always full of parasites and latent behaviour issues.
If in doubt, find a more reputable breeder.

etsiketsi · 29/04/2023 17:20

Hi. We have an ESS. It’s quite common in our county for a breeder not to give details until shortly before a viewing - particularly if it’s a working ESS strain.

They’re highly desirable for dog thefts and also have the additional threat of issue from people against game shooting. In addition breeders are often in isolated locations.

Do you homework at and after the visit. A good ESS breeder will be happy to show you around and offer references etc

Equimum · 29/04/2023 17:21

Definite red flag. We were invited to our breeders home several times before our pup was ready to leave and got to spend time with mum and the litter. Still in contact two years on.

Ducatifan · 29/04/2023 17:22

No responsible breeder will advertise puppies on any website at all, ever. It’s via word of mouth or the kennel club and there are usually waiting lists.

Do not go down this route. I bet you’ll get a call to say something is wrong at the house but they can meet you in a car park somewhere. You won’t see the parents or the other puppies.

Also, reputable breeders are more than likely to do a visit of your home.

PlanningTowns · 29/04/2023 17:23

When we got our pup we found a breeder through word of mouth. We thought this was a good idea. Weren’t bothered about kc registration or anything.

we contacted them and were told they had just had 3 litters (red flag should have flow). It was when covid restrictions were still in place. We got sent pics of the pups but strongly steered towards one which was a ‘rare’ colour…. We had asked for f/t video chats to see the pups but they were not forthcoming. We didn’t pay a penny deposit and had a date arranged for collection but no pup picked (we didn’t mind sex or colour just wanted good temperament). Date came closer and close and 10 days before for a call that they were moving a long way away and we would need to meet at a service station half way to pick up pup and pay. We ran… fast. We spoke to our friend who recommended them and they had a very different experience, but in hearing how they picked it was rushed and they met breeder once (their pup has various medical issues now). The breeder never questioned us on why we pulled out, but I found a pic of that pup on a dubious fb site not long after - and just that one rare colour not the other 9 pups they apparently had. The fb post was under another name which apparently was know about by admin…. The colour wasn’t rare and very common in that breed.

we then went via the kennel club and found a reputable small breeder, met them, met pups and mum of pups, saw full family history, and have a very lovely family member as a result.

you haven’t yet met the pups and your gut is telling you something is wrong. Trust your gut.

however if you have left so many messages and not allowed the breeder to get back to you in a timely manner (like tomorrow morning) then you look a bit unreasonable and the breeder may decide they don’t want to deal with you.

KittyAlfred · 29/04/2023 17:24

Safarigiraffe · 29/04/2023 17:02

Well we have researched more about the breed online & know about this breed

Show quote history

Do you know the difference between breed and breeder?
Have you researched the breedER?

KittyAlfred · 29/04/2023 17:25

KittyAlfred · 29/04/2023 17:24

Do you know the difference between breed and breeder?
Have you researched the breedER?

Show quote history

Sorry I see you’ve corrected this, ignore me

hooveringknob · 29/04/2023 17:26

When I got my current cat, the breeder asked for photos of the other cats (now sadly deceased) "going about their day to day activities"! She basically wanted to get a picture of what kind of life they had with me.
She also asked me lots of questions about how I care for my cats, who their vet is, if they had any health conditions, what sort of toys they have!

Jellybebe · 29/04/2023 17:26

"I apologise I misunderstood what you meant
haven’t researched breeder"*
*
Oh dear OP. You really need to do your research. There is plenty of guidance available on the web for questions to ask breeders, the checks you can do, warning signs etc.

I have springer spaniels and I absolutely love the breed however they are mental! I would therefore be concerned if any breeder did not ask enough questions about me and my knowledge of the breed before allowing me to have a puppy.

You need to do your research on the breeder:

  • google image search the photos- have they been used before?
  • Check the breeders name - is she known in the springer spaniel world? Does her name pop up at springer spaniel field trial results for example? If so, she is more likely to be legit.
  • Does she have a fb page and is there anything you can glean from it?
  • does she just breed spaniels or does she breed a whole variety of breeds?

Springers are my life and it breaks my heart to think of a puppy coming from a puppy farm.

AngryBirdsNoMore · 29/04/2023 17:30

Try posting in The Doghouse forum, OP. You’ve had some helpful answers here but you’ll get less aggressive responses there.

Original poster
Safarigiraffe · 29/04/2023 17:31

PlanningTowns · 29/04/2023 17:23

When we got our pup we found a breeder through word of mouth. We thought this was a good idea. Weren’t bothered about kc registration or anything.

we contacted them and were told they had just had 3 litters (red flag should have flow). It was when covid restrictions were still in place. We got sent pics of the pups but strongly steered towards one which was a ‘rare’ colour…. We had asked for f/t video chats to see the pups but they were not forthcoming. We didn’t pay a penny deposit and had a date arranged for collection but no pup picked (we didn’t mind sex or colour just wanted good temperament). Date came closer and close and 10 days before for a call that they were moving a long way away and we would need to meet at a service station half way to pick up pup and pay. We ran… fast. We spoke to our friend who recommended them and they had a very different experience, but in hearing how they picked it was rushed and they met breeder once (their pup has various medical issues now). The breeder never questioned us on why we pulled out, but I found a pic of that pup on a dubious fb site not long after - and just that one rare colour not the other 9 pups they apparently had. The fb post was under another name which apparently was know about by admin…. The colour wasn’t rare and very common in that breed.

we then went via the kennel club and found a reputable small breeder, met them, met pups and mum of pups, saw full family history, and have a very lovely family member as a result.

you haven’t yet met the pups and your gut is telling you something is wrong. Trust your gut.

however if you have left so many messages and not allowed the breeder to get back to you in a timely manner (like tomorrow morning) then you look a bit unreasonable and the breeder may decide they don’t want to deal with you.

As I said the breeder was very reluctant on the phone to give us her address and said she would message it to us that day (yesterday) however she didn’t and it’s only been today we tried to get in contact with her for the address

OP posts:
Cornchip · 29/04/2023 17:32

It honestly sounds like this is a recipe for disaster.

”Having dogs growing up” does not count as research towards getting a dog.
You haven’t researched the breeder at all.
You haven’t researched the breed.

Springers aren’t the easiest breed to have. Are you sure the breed even fits in with your lifestyle? Are you being honest about what time you have to spend on a dog?

You don’t sound in any way ready for a dog, to be honest. I’d give this one a miss and revisit getting a dog in a year’s time after you’ve actually spent time researching.

Putyourdamnshoeson · 29/04/2023 17:33

To balance this, we did get our dog, as a pup, from Pets 4 Homes. Reputable breeder, was expecting 4/5 in the litter, ended up with 9. They were all reserved, we were turned away, she contacted us 10 days later, as she had looked into one of the prospective owners and he lied about where he lived, he said he had a garden and he didn't, so she decided she didn't trust him. Another family gave her a bad vibe when they showed up to collect their dog, so she kept it, she was already keeping 1, so she has mum plus 2.
We are all still in contact on a WhatsApp group.

All paperwork on both parents was available, hip scoring, all that, mum seen, dad seen via WhatsApp as he lives 100 plus miles away. It isn't always dodgy.

Op I think she has had second thoughts

Oldbalance · 29/04/2023 17:35

I don’t see the issue to be honest, you haven’t paid anything yet. If she gets back to you, go if you want, and use the advice on this thread to work out if she is a decent breeder. If she doesn’t then you’ve probably dodged a bullet.

oakleaffy · 29/04/2023 17:36

Jellybebe · 29/04/2023 17:26

"I apologise I misunderstood what you meant
haven’t researched breeder"*
*
Oh dear OP. You really need to do your research. There is plenty of guidance available on the web for questions to ask breeders, the checks you can do, warning signs etc.

I have springer spaniels and I absolutely love the breed however they are mental! I would therefore be concerned if any breeder did not ask enough questions about me and my knowledge of the breed before allowing me to have a puppy.

You need to do your research on the breeder:

  • google image search the photos- have they been used before?
  • Check the breeders name - is she known in the springer spaniel world? Does her name pop up at springer spaniel field trial results for example? If so, she is more likely to be legit.
  • Does she have a fb page and is there anything you can glean from it?
  • does she just breed spaniels or does she breed a whole variety of breeds?

Springers are my life and it breaks my heart to think of a puppy coming from a puppy farm.

Agree...I googled the name of the person I got my Puppy from, and she has mentions within the breed online going back years, and all positive.

I'm certain she googled my name, too!

The first thing our vet said on checking pup over was ''I can tell she hasn't come from a puppy farm...I like her'' {Confident, calm, no parasites as was routinely wormed with dates given as a youngster}

SmallFerret · 29/04/2023 17:36

Cancel it OP.

I wouldn't buy from any breeder who wasn't going all-out to interview me in person & check that I was knowledgeable & worthy of one of her pups.

The breeder should be making you jump through hoops. Listen to all the PP crying "puppy farm". They're probably right, but even if they're not - this woman is too lax with who she lets her pups go to to be trusted.

Oops just read that back - you know the last it isn't aimed at YOU, right? 😀

SmallFerret · 29/04/2023 17:38

Safarigiraffe · 29/04/2023 16:14

We got breeder from a website called pets for homes

Unwise.

Search for breeders on official breed society websites.

WhiteFire · 29/04/2023 17:40

Cornchip · 29/04/2023 17:32

It honestly sounds like this is a recipe for disaster.

”Having dogs growing up” does not count as research towards getting a dog.
You haven’t researched the breeder at all.
You haven’t researched the breed.

Springers aren’t the easiest breed to have. Are you sure the breed even fits in with your lifestyle? Are you being honest about what time you have to spend on a dog?

You don’t sound in any way ready for a dog, to be honest. I’d give this one a miss and revisit getting a dog in a year’s time after you’ve actually spent time researching.

How on earth have you come to this conclusion?

hooveringknob · 29/04/2023 17:40

I'm certain she googled my name, too!

My breeder did too. She told me she googles everyone.
She mentioned a newspaper article she'd found about me and found it interesting as I had a couple of things in common with her late husband.
She said she hoped I didn't think it was stalkerish but it's important to her that her cats go to good homes.

Hoppinggreen · 29/04/2023 17:41

Puppy farmers use fake homes for people to view the pups.
If this is the case here they may be arranging for the pups to go to one of these and they aren’t sure which yet.
We think that’s what happened when we enquired about a puppy via pets4homes

oakleaffy · 29/04/2023 17:41

SmallFerret · 29/04/2023 17:36

Cancel it OP.

I wouldn't buy from any breeder who wasn't going all-out to interview me in person & check that I was knowledgeable & worthy of one of her pups.

The breeder should be making you jump through hoops. Listen to all the PP crying "puppy farm". They're probably right, but even if they're not - this woman is too lax with who she lets her pups go to to be trusted.

Oops just read that back - you know the last it isn't aimed at YOU, right? 😀

Agree 100%.

No way would I be buying any puppy without being thoroughly vetted myself!

The breeder {Before my pup was even conceived} asked a ton of questions, and we spoke on the phone and via email for months before the pups were actually ''Landed'' on the Vetbed.
Even then it wasn't a given I'd get one, until she had chosen the one she wanted.

I wanted a boy, but a girl was the only one available... She has been here almost two years and is perfect. {She has been spayed...No way do I want the worry for finding good homes for any pups.}

PlanningTowns · 29/04/2023 17:44

Safarigiraffe · 29/04/2023 17:31

As I said the breeder was very reluctant on the phone to give us her address and said she would message it to us that day (yesterday) however she didn’t and it’s only been today we tried to get in contact with her for the address

Show quote history

I guess the question is what does it matter as long as you get the address in good time to get you to the agreed appointment?

ok I get she said she would send yesterday, but she may have been up to her eyes with the pups.

I assume you know roughly where she is based? And she knows where you are?

if you get the address and want to go tomorrow - great, but be clear to yourselves that you will walk away if it doesn’t feel right. If you don’t get the address then that’s decision made for you.

I would suggest cooling off the messages and make contact tomorrow lunchtime.

Ilovetea42 · 29/04/2023 17:44

Hi op we have a springer and I put a lot of research into the breeder, there are so many unethical ones out there. Without seeing the pup, parents and the location they've been raised in I wouldn't be parting with any money. You should also check lineage and confirm that there have been no health concerns, epilepsy, springer rage or other common issues in the lineage. I went with kc registered for this reason. Other things to note is the age of the mother and number of litters she's had. If anything feels remotely off then continue shopping around.

oakleaffy · 29/04/2023 17:44

hooveringknob · 29/04/2023 17:40

I'm certain she googled my name, too!

My breeder did too. She told me she googles everyone.
She mentioned a newspaper article she'd found about me and found it interesting as I had a couple of things in common with her late husband.
She said she hoped I didn't think it was stalkerish but it's important to her that her cats go to good homes.

Haha! Completely agree .
It's not stalker~ish, it helps assure one that the breeder and potential owner have nothing to hide.

ANiceBigCupOfTea · 29/04/2023 17:47

Either she is a dodgy breeder, or she is a responsible breeder and she feels a red flag from you.
Have you had any conversations? How did they go?