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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Following on from another thread on here if you were to buy a puppy from a breeder would you be happy for a home check

25 replies

cedmonds · 31/10/2011 21:27

As i breeder i am trying to do the best by my dogs.We have been having a conversion on another thread about breeders. On there it has been said about home checking before a pup is sold.
If you were to buy a puppy and the breeder home checked would you be willing if not why.
I am asking this as i am thinking about doing this but would need the help of other breeders etc.

OP posts:

Maisiethemorningsidecat · 31/10/2011 21:35

Yes, I'd be happy. We haven't got a dog, but did go through a spell recently where we were thinking very seriously of getting one (I suspect the Cat household will welcome a dog at some stage in the future). As a first time dog owner, I'd be very anxious and would want to do the right thing - so a home visit to check that we had everything that the dog needed and to make sure that we were a suitable home would have been very welcome.

twinklespeciallyforlittlegirls · 31/10/2011 21:40

I'd expect one - I only know one breeder at the moment (family friend), their puppies mainly go to be working dogs but some go to pet homes and they homecheck everyone they don't already know. Also I have looked at websites for a breed I am interested in and the ones that look good all seem to homecheck too.

twinklespeciallyforlittlegirls · 31/10/2011 21:41

Sorry, what I should have said was that I wouldn't want to buy a puppy from a breeder who didn't know me and didn't want to homecheck. I'd worry what else they couldn't be arsed to do...

Labradorlover · 31/10/2011 21:53

Yes also very happy to be home checked.

First dog was from a friend/old boss. With the second, our house wasn't checked ( v rural area, they knew the house/location/my landlord ), but they asked around the village about me, gave us a grilling and wanted to meet our first dog. Mind you, I did exactly the same to them.
Now though having read here about all the dogs in rescue/pound/killed, I don't know if I could justify getting a pup from a breeder again.

DogsBeastFiend · 31/10/2011 22:03

You know what I;m going to say. :o

I'll tell you why rescue does it, and thus why it's essential IMHO

The obvious - to see signs of neglect of existing pets, squallor etc
To identify and correct potential problems before the dog comes home - ie to require a broken fence to be mended etc.
To meet all the family in their own environment, see how well behaved the DC are, whether mum allows them to pull the family cat around etc
To get an idea of whether the potential owners can afford a dog's upkeep, insurance etc
To establish a rapport with them, reassure them, answer questions and make them WANT to return a dog to us if it doesn't work out
To get an idea of the neighbourhood - so we won't rehome a young collie with boundless energy to a town environment where the non driving applicant has no access to an area where pooch can run, be trained and socialise safely. Nor will we rehome a racing Grey next door to the local cat fosterer!
To ensure there is a garden, the property is not a 3rd floor flat and so on
To identify what the owner allows with a pet. Some may not allow a dog upstairs - I do, mine sleep on my bed but it's okay if you don't allow that. It's NOT okay if you show me the 6 foot square utility room which is where pooch will be shut when you go out.
To meet other pets and assess whether, say, your cat is able to cope with the dog you want to adopt or whether the guinea pig on the garden would pose a problem.
To see if your circumstances and home are not suited to the young/boisterous/clingy/whatever dog you wanted to adopt and to be able to suggest instead an older dog, or a dog of a different breed or nature.
To see how fussy you are... we don't want you taking back to rescue a dog because you are pissed off with fur on your cream carpet! (Yes I HAVE had to find rescue for dogs in this situation). :(
Sometimes we will take our own dog with us, to see how you react to him. :)
To promise that even when the paperwork is signed and the donation cheque cashed, the dog will still have our support for life, as will you, and to show willing by making the effort to come and meet you in your home.

BeerTricksPotter · 31/10/2011 22:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WitchesBrewIsMyFriend · 31/10/2011 22:16

Absolutely expect it - and MY breeder does everything that DBF has suggested, for precisely ALL of those reasons.

Oh and she bloody well stalks you too - makes you become her friend and pops round to see the dog, who ADORES her and does everything he isnt allowed to do with her, because he CAN when she is here.

Actually, she didnt stalk me, but did call a couple of times and asked if it was ok if she popped round to see Loofa (when he was v ill) a brilliant friendship began and we have been great mates for a couple of years now.

But both my dogs know when she comes in and they do a fantastic chewbacca impression for her.

When we went to see the pups we asked lots and lots of questions and I had a good look at ALL the dogs and loved the fact that the massive kitchen was littered with huge dog beds for the comfort of the oldies.

Original poster

cedmonds · 31/10/2011 22:23

" When we went to see the pups we asked lots and lots of questions and I had a good look at ALL the dogs and loved the fact that the massive kitchen was littered with huge dog beds for the comfort of the oldies."
That sounds like ours apart from the front room and the kitchen oh and they have heated floor put in for them
The reasons above is why i will home check people we dont know but i have not been able to do the long distance. We will also grill people and they are welcome to see all the dogs but i will warn you you will come home covered in hair. We also keep in touch with the pups owners and most people come back.

OP posts:

WoodRose · 31/10/2011 23:37

We have had rescue dogs, pre-loved dogs and recently purchased a puppy from a breeder. I would be happy to be home-checked in any of the above circumstances.

Whilst we weren't home checked by our puppy's breeder, we were required to provide references from our vet, give details of local training classes and our existing exercise regime. We also had to give evidence that we had experience of the breed (border collie).

We were asked to visit the breeder at least twice to see our puppy and be interviewed. On both occasions we saw mum, grandad, and the puppies. Dad's owner, who lived in the neighbouring village, kindly brought him along to meet us. Our breeder normally has homes for her pups before they are born, but one of her prospective owners pulled out because she wanted a male puppy (already had 2 un-neutered males) and the litter was all female. Otherwise, we would have been interviewed and vetted BEFORE the puppies had been born.

Our breeder kept in regular contact via email and You Tube, uploading videos of all the puppies. Our puppy had all the tests recommended for her breed and we were kept informed of when they were taking place and the results. When we picked up our puppy, we were given a file containing her pedigree and test details as well as those of her parents; feeding and training advice and tips as well as grooming guidelines. Furthermore, our breeder is happy to be contacted for further advice and help. She provides back up for life and would take back our puppy at any stage of her life if we were unable to keep her for some reason.

Although our puppy was not cheap, I doubt her breeder made much, if any, money as her testing and monitoring was thorough. Our breeder shows her dogs and competes in agility and is seeking to improve the breed.

louby86 · 01/11/2011 04:33

I would expect it and wouldn't have a puppy from anyone who wasn't interested in what I was going to do with it/how I was going to raise it

FellatioNelson · 01/11/2011 05:15

Yes, I'd be very happy indeed. When I was choosing my puppy I ultimately chose the breeder who made me jump through the most hoops and pass her tests, as I thought it was a good sign that she cared so much about where her dogs went, and not just about the money. Though in our case a home visit was not possible as she was in Wales and I was in Essex! I did have to go down and meet her, and spent literally hours on the phone beofre she would commit to us though.

Elibean · 01/11/2011 08:28

Yes, I would be happy to be homechecked (only ever had 2 rescue pups) and well done you for asking the question!

effingwotnots · 01/11/2011 08:32

I would be happy.

I breed dogs though and almost every person who bought one from my last litter traveled several hours to get to me. I live in the North West and I had families from: Devon, Lands end, Blackpool, South Wales come. There is no way on this earth I could have visited all their homes.

Though most of the families had been waiting for a puppy for a long time and I had kind of built up a relationship with them over a period of time and I now consider them friends. I often get pictures of my pups back when they hit a new milestone.

ShoppingIsMyFriend · 01/11/2011 09:22

I think anyone who isnt happy has something to hide from a breeder/rescue organisation.

(Its me WitchesBrew with non halloween name)

DogsBeastFiend · 01/11/2011 09:57

Effingwotnots, there is NO excuse for a breeder not homechecking - and that includes distance. As I said on the OPs original thread on breeders, which she started last night, we manage it, on a far smaller budget, so why can't you? And if we can't, we don't allow the person to have a dog from us recommend instead that the potential adopter tries another rescue more local to their home area.

You might like to see that other thread for more discussion and solutions to your argument that you "can't" homecheck. In fact, you might like to take up my suggestion to the OP on there.

Elibean · 01/11/2011 10:06

How about if breeders built up a national network of homecheckers? You know, like a database of people - possibly volunteers, or people who would do it for expenses/small sum - who could reliably homecheck for them?

Thats what Many Tears does, and I'm sure some of the other rescues do it - it would be much more practical than one person (breeder) running around all over the country, and still effective? Our homecheck lady lived near us, as opposed to 3.5 hours away in Wales - and she had a checklist of questions to ask and check up on, as well as being a truly doggy person herself with lots of dog owning experience.

Just a thought, possibly not workable (no experience here!) but wanted to toss it in to the mix

Elibean · 01/11/2011 10:07

Of course, that would mean breeders (via the KC or something separate) subscribing to some sort of shared pool of homecheckers....but there could be breed specific homecheckers, maybe....oooh, I'm on a roll now

bumpybecky · 01/11/2011 10:13

I don't think I'd buy a puppy from a breeder in the first place, but if I were to consider it not only would I be happy to have a home check I'd think it a very positive thing about the breeder. If I were choosing between breeders, knowing that one homechecked would make me much more likely to use them. I think it's a really good idea :)

ElderberrySyrup · 01/11/2011 10:13

I haven't got a dog and have no intention of getting one, but if I was, then hell yes, I would be happy to be checked. Apart from anything else, having never had a dog, it would be quite welcome to have someone come round and tell me if my house was ok and what I could do to make it more dog-friendly.

gothicangel · 01/11/2011 10:18

wouldnt bother me, id welcome a home vist and home check, x

DogsBestFriend · 01/11/2011 10:27

Elibean, it's common practice for a rescue to call upon another rescue/another rescue's volunteers or upon their contacts within animal welfare and AR to carry out homechecks.

For example, my foster dog before my permanent long term boy was rescued by me personally and I did the rehoming. Having no transport I was unable to check the offer from a couple 2 counties away so I put out a call on one of the websites used by rescue and volunteers for this kind of purpose (as well as transport and securing rescue places for unwanted dogs). The owner of a rescue local to the couple contacted me and carried out the check in my place.

We also use AR-related Yahoo mailing lists and that good old fashioned thing, the phone, to make contact with rescue and volunteers. There is NO excuse for not doing a homecheck. NONE!

Goldenbrown1981 · 01/11/2011 10:29

I think it is a great idea for breeders to homecheck. not least because I have heard people who have gone to a breeder rather than rescue because they "did not want their privacy invaded", if breeders went to the same problem then it would be an even playing field if you know what I mean.

But then again I'm also of the opinion that people should need to pass some kind of test before they are allowed a dog

Original poster

cedmonds · 01/11/2011 11:51

Ok
I have been making some phone calls etc and i with one other breeder wil now bw homechecking all the pups unless they have had before or it is someone i know on the cirucit.
Another friend the other side uk is going to think about doing it as well.
So hopefully there will be enough people to home check.

OP posts:

Elibean · 01/11/2011 13:16

Good for you, Ed

And what a positive thread!

DogsBestFriend · 01/11/2011 16:11

Great stuff, well done you. :) It's not going to solve the problems but it's a start towards ensuring more responsible dog owning and therefore less dead dogs in pounds and that's got to be a good thing.

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