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Buying a puppy. Breeder applying pressure for payment.

582 replies

fandangored · 13/02/2025 01:42

Breeder applying pressure for payment and asking for transfer or cash payment BEFORE viewing day with puppy at 4 weeks..?

Already paid a £200 pre reserve fee!!!

Should I continue or red flag and run?!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
LandSharksAnonymous · 13/02/2025 16:49

Getting a dog isn’t something you should move fast on.

A dog is a living, breathing, being and deserves more than being bought because you’re ‘providing’ something for your child.

Honestly, I think going to regret this - not the least because a cavapoo is not going to give you what you want (a calm, hypoallergenic dog).

Soontobe60 · 13/02/2025 16:52

letthemeatcakes · 13/02/2025 07:42

Take the cash with you as agreed. It sounds like they've had trouble with time wasters.

No, it sounds like they’re trying to avoid declaring their income!!

CellophaneFlower · 13/02/2025 16:54

fandangored · 13/02/2025 16:39

The breeder reply:

I tried to call you a little while ago to have a chat, all the parents health certificates will be ready for viewing day I’m not going to keep sending you details as there needs to be a level of trust here. Also I am travelling to Guildford on the 23rd for my annual heart testing with the BVA for all of my girls.

Petplan do not offer 4 weeks free insurance anymore they stopped this back in October last year.

Everything is as promised in my initial email to you before you paid your pre reserve fee.

(I do get the feeling she has been messed around hence tone)

Some breeders don't like to send copies of health tests as they can be passed on and used fraudulently.

My insurance from the breeder was with petplan, so she may well be right there if they used to offer if free and now they've stopped.

Her tone does sound a bit off at times but I do sometimes find breeders have a certain air about them, 'I've been doing this for years and know everything, do not dare question my ways" kind of thing 🙄😂

Personally I'd be inclined to visit seeing as you've already paid 200 but take the 500 in cash. If you get bad vibes/sometjing seems off you can just walk away and you're no worse off.

fandangored · 13/02/2025 17:01

@CellophaneFlower thank you - I will visit and take cash just in case we proceed but I'll be looking out for red flags there too when I visit

OP posts:
Wolfiefan · 13/02/2025 17:12

There are so many red flags. Found online. Health testing for “all of her girls” just how many breeding bitches does this person have. The mix alone makes me think puppy farmer. You need to take a moment and think about this. 2500 for a cross breed???

LlamaDharma · 13/02/2025 17:12

£2500?? Seriously? You’re being done over. Please don’t create a market for people like this. These so called designer breeds are just a cross breed. I’ve had pedigrees for years. You can buy a large breed pedigree with all its papers for less than half of that. There are other breeds good with children without lining the pockets of people like this.

LolaJ87 · 13/02/2025 17:20

fandangored · 13/02/2025 17:01

@CellophaneFlower thank you - I will visit and take cash just in case we proceed but I'll be looking out for red flags there too when I visit

You're insane if you still go after pages and pages of valuable advice on this thread. You're making a mistake. Have you ever had a dog before?

fandangored · 13/02/2025 17:21

All Cavapoo are this price!!

What breed better small good with kids??

Poodle?

Can't have a big dog!

I wonder why she doesn't mention the boy puppies having a BVA check up...?!

OP posts:
LolaJ87 · 13/02/2025 17:29

Cavapoo aren't a breed, they are a crossbreed which makes them inconsistent. You could contact the Doodle Trust or Doodle Rescue if you have your heart set on a poodle cross. Or you could look into getting a properly bred mini poodle if you are 100% committed to buying a puppy.

I have a staffie, she's brilliant with children, but they are needy too.

2andadog · 13/02/2025 17:32

fandangored · 13/02/2025 17:21

All Cavapoo are this price!!

What breed better small good with kids??

Poodle?

Can't have a big dog!

I wonder why she doesn't mention the boy puppies having a BVA check up...?!

She’s not talking about the girl puppies, she’s talking about the bitches she breeds from. Multiple ones.

Cherrysoup · 13/02/2025 17:38

We paid on the day of collection by bank transfer. I haven’t had experience of licensed breeders. Having already paid a deposit, I’d be a little surprised to be asked to pay more on viewing day. Dunno, is this ‘normal’ practise when you’ve already shown good faith by paying a deposit.

Nessastats · 13/02/2025 17:58

£2500 for a crossbreed?

Excuse me while i faint.

Marinel · 13/02/2025 18:02

I have had experience of breeders of pedigree cats rather than dogs, but the procedure is very similar. Over the years it has always been the same - deposit given on first viewing day, then final payment on collection day. Payment was by cheque, I've never been asked for cash, although my last kitten was 6 years ago so I suspect some may ask for bank transfer now. They have always supplied pedigree papers, 4 weeks free insurance, toys, food etc. If a breeder wanted £500 in cash I would back away from that.

I am amazed at the price of £2500 for a cross breed. Years ago I bought a cross breed kitten and the price was £80, similar to the price of a rescue cat at the time. The breeder recognise that the kitten was effectively a mongrel (although she was the most beautiful cat I ever had).

The Petplan website says they do still provide 4 weeks free breeder insurance

https://www.petplan.co.uk/about-petplan/breeders/

As do another insurance company, Agria.

bumble2012 · 13/02/2025 18:11

fandangored · 13/02/2025 17:21

All Cavapoo are this price!!

What breed better small good with kids??

Poodle?

Can't have a big dog!

I wonder why she doesn't mention the boy puppies having a BVA check up...?!

The heart testing is for the cavalier side which is where the problems can occur, which is why she will be testing the mums. I assume the dad is a poodle so doesn't need the heart test.

And our breeder also wouldn't send the health certificates of the parents because there is a scam where people take copies of them and then use them to pretend they have health tested dogs to breed from.

Wolfiefan · 13/02/2025 18:15

Poodles need different health tests.

Itsfiiiine · 13/02/2025 18:15

Pet plan absolutely do 4 weeks free insurance. All vets offer this. If you insist on getting this pup you need the highest level of insurance given it has cavalier in it. They are walking vets bill, mixing them with another breed doesn't negate their health issues . Biggest red flag for me is saying you shouldn't go straight to a vet, you definitely should so they can check for heart murmurs, abnormal dentition etc . If any are found I would recommend returning immediately, a good breeder is always happy to take a pup back and it should be in your contract of sale.

fandangored · 13/02/2025 18:35

@Itsfiiiine if pet plan do insure for the first 4 weeks - why on earth would she not want that for us??

OP posts:
OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 13/02/2025 18:39

because she doesn't provide it ?!!! or can't be bothered paying for it for ALL the puppies she breeds every year

or

because her puppies won't get insurance because they are not 100% healthy...

Wolfiefan · 13/02/2025 18:41

Because she just wants your money.

Pipsquiggle · 13/02/2025 18:58

@fandangored We have an Australian labradoodle - she's a joy and everything you are looking for. They were bred to be therapy dogs. Let me know if you want my breeder's details. I will PM you

LlamaDharma · 13/02/2025 19:04

fandangored · 13/02/2025 17:21

All Cavapoo are this price!!

What breed better small good with kids??

Poodle?

Can't have a big dog!

I wonder why she doesn't mention the boy puppies having a BVA check up...?!

Then don’t buy a cavapoo. It’s a ridiculous amount to pay for a mongrel anyway. What health testing has she had done on the parents? Cavaliers need testing for congenital heart and brain conditions before breeding from them. They can also have eye problems. Truthfully no breed is better with kids just because it has a made up name. You’ll be spending the first 18 months training anything you get anyway. It isn’t the breed that makes it good with kids, it’s the time you invest in training it which if you have small kids is going to be limited. You get out of a dog what you put into it. Any breeder that will only accept cash is not one I would be buying a dog from myself. Personally I’d stop any further conversation with her and just go to a kennel club accredited breeder. We can’t hope to rid the dog word of unscrupulous breeders like this all the time people keep throwing money at them, and that has to start with the customers. Please don’t buy a puppy from this woman. You are going to regret it. A decent breeder will have a waiting list. They won’t put any pressure on you for money up front and they will be happy to tell you exactly what health screening both parents have had before viewing. I think you are going to regret this.

oakleaffy · 13/02/2025 19:07

fandangored · 13/02/2025 16:45

YES I am clueless here :/ I totally admit I have a lot going on in my personal life and I feel I am moving fast to provide dog for my son... I've been looking for months since last year - she seemed good in terms of what she says/offers/health history etc.,

If you have never had a dog before, most definitely think very long and very hard.
They are very very different to cats, and extremely dependent on their people.

It really isn't fair to leave a dog for more than 4 hours, and that is impossible with a puppy.

There are far too many dogs who lead miserable lives crated while the owner works, and the dog gets taken out for a short walk with a walker who spends much of ''your'' hour picking up and dropping off dogs..
Dogs left to mournfully howl all day long in a crate- that is no fun for anyone.

Training also starts from Day One.
No to biting human skin, and yes to biting their toys and chews-
I made a ''dig pit'' in a corner of my garden with ''clean'' compost as mine loved to dig so much as a young puppy.{Pic}..but of course she thought any soft soil was then ok to dig in and my carefully planted snowdrops were uprooted!

Dogs need a lot of research to make sure you are getting the ''right'' dog.
Crufts ''discover dogs'' might well be a very good idea.

If you have a lot going on, definitely don't get a dog until things get less fraught.
A calm dog usually has a good routine, plenty of exercise when old enough , mental stimulation, and feels ''safe''.

My son had his ''own'' dog at age 11 and son came on all the walks after school and in the hols - plus he picked up poo {supervised} as it was ''his'' dog.

It did work out very well. Dog saw him into his early Twenties..like a ''Brother''

Buying a puppy. Breeder applying pressure for payment.
LlamaDharma · 13/02/2025 19:10

Being clueless and having a lot going on in your life is the exact reason you shouldn’t be getting a puppy at this moment because you’re going to have a hell of a lot more going on in your life. With every post I’m thinking more and more you really need to put this idea to one side for now. A puppy sounds like the last thing you need right now.

CellophaneFlower · 13/02/2025 19:11

@fandangored I just checked and petplan definitely are still offering the 4 weeks free insurance to breeders to pass on. It's free for breeders too so it's very odd why she'd lie about this.

CellophaneFlower · 13/02/2025 19:20

Nessastats · 13/02/2025 17:58

£2500 for a crossbreed?

Excuse me while i faint.

You might actually die when I tell you poodle crosses went for 3-4k during lockdown then 🙈

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