Visiting puppy at breeder

[Scandicat]

If you paid a deposit for a puppy when the litter arrived, how often did you visit before you brought them home? We are waiting for a puppy and we have visited twice while in the area, once when I chose the puppy and paid the deposit and a second time with the DC, but that was really soon after the litter was born. We won't be able to get back now until we are due to take her home at 8+ weeks.

Will the breeder be worried about us not coming in the interim? I'm desperate to go but its a six hour round trip and with DH's work/DC activities that are planned, I can't see us being able to get there.

We went once before our puppy was even conceived to be 'vetted' by the breeder and put on her waiting list. Once the puppies were born we went to choose him at about 3 weeks, then visited at 5 and a half weeks and picked him up at 8 weeks. The breeder would have preferred us to go at least once a week but it was a 7 hour round trip and we just couldn't get there any more frequently. He settled in very quickly once we got him home

I only went once in between buying and pick up. If I had been closer I might have gone more frequently as there was an open invitation to visit when I wanted.

I think I'll speak to DH and see if we could go to see her once more. We've chosen her very early so although I couldn't have been happier with the breeder and her set up, I do feel like we should visit the puppy one more time with her litter mates if its at all feasible. I could go on my own with DC on a Saturday, but its a six hours on my own with two DC and Ddog1 is a lot of driving.

How old were the puppies when you chose one? Did the breeder have any input? Any decent breeder will hold of making any decisions about who gets which puppy until they know what their individual personalities are like so they can be matched up to the right homes.

The first bought pup we got we only visited once as the breeder had been let down very late by a potential new owner and he was about six or seven weeks old by then. The two who we were on the waiting list for since before they were born we went to see them three or four times and it wasn't until they were about five or six weeks that we (and the breeder) were fairly confident which one was going to be the right one for us.

You chose the actual puppy at the visit when pups were newborn? Not just a puppy from that litter? Not to worry you but I find that really concerning - which actual puppy shouldn't be decided on until at least 5-6weeks, when the breeder knows the personality of the puppy and can make sure its the right puppy for the family.

I would definitely be wanting to visit around 5.5 - 6weeks to make sure the puppy has the right temperament for your family and your dog.

I ended up meeting breeder day after my pup was born (wasn't to see pup just breeder). We agreed to a puppy from the litter and were asked whether we had a preference for male or female (I thinking probably male). He said he would pick which puppy at 5.5 - 6weeks, because of the importance of matching the right dog temperament to the right home.
We then visited when pups were just under 6weeks (breeder had decided which pup for which family) and showed us 'our puppy'. We couldn't get back down again until pick up.

I also find it concerning

With my pup we visited when they were 5 weeks. I wasn't allowed to choose until a week later. I was asked a million questions (rightly so), was asked about my Home, my job, my daily routine, previous experience with dogs and this breed, why I wanted one etc

Between 5 and 8 weeks I visited 4 times. First to check out the litter, second to choose which puppy I'd like and to have a proper meet with her which is where I was questioned etc, third visit was just another half hour with the puppy (they change very quickly!) and to make sure we were still suitable for her and the 4th was when we brought her home, although it was another chance to make sure the puppy was happy interacting with us

Every single visit both parents were there (both dogs lived there - accidental pregnancy!). But the owners were awesome. If I ever had puppies for sale (I wouldn't) I would do things the same way they did.

We visited breeder before conception. Then puppy twice before pick up. The second visit the pups slept through and the first visit we didn't know which we would be getting. She chose the puppy she thought would suit us best and so far so good!!

Just once.

I knew I wanted a girl and had my name down before the litter was even conceived. I went and actually stayed the night with the breeder as we live so far away. There were three girls to choose from and I knew straight away that it was between two of them (the third one just had the wrong personality for us). I chose our girl then didn't see them again till pick up but had lots of photos. I know that it wouldn't have made any difference which pup I chose as they were both perfect but I also know we got the best pup in the world! I didn't get the ninth degree but I did already know the breeder so I guess it wasn't necessary.

I also thought it was early to be deciding. But the puppies in the litter are very different in terms of coat colour and we were looking for a particular colour and gender, so there was only one puppy who met our requirements. I imagine the same is true with other people on the list.

Everything else was what I would have expected though, in terms of the questions the breeder asked of us, the set up, her knowledge of the breed etc. And my current DDog was the last of the litter so we had no choice on personality then either and he has been amazing.

That said, that's why I do feel like I should go back if at all possible.

Are you planning on showing seriously?

I can see sex being an important criteria when getting a puppy as it can impact upon integration with existing dogs but, to paraphrase from the horse world, a good dog is never a bad colour (except sometimes in the show ring ). I'd always recommend prioritising personality and temperament over colour and I don't know any decent breeders who would be happy with new owners picking their puppy based almost solely on colour shortly after birth.

May I suggest you give your puppy a name and ask the breeder to start using it? We bought a husky and I visited a few times (too gorgeous to keep away!!) When she came to us she knew her name and was so quick to learn basic training.

Cornflake, colour matters to me mainly because I want to avoid our second dog being the same or a similar colour as our first. But in the breed, people do wait to get specific colours, sometimes for a very long time if they want to find a specific colour from a breeder they are generally happy with.

Mrs, the breeder did suggest choosing a name that she would then use and we have done so.

But this thread is making me anxious about the early choice. I will definitely go back and see the puppy at least once more, twice if I can, and if I'm not happy with anything, I will pull out. I do hope I don't have to though, because everything else was spot on what we were looking for, particularly the environment the puppies are being raised in, which was really important to me, and the health checks.