Paying a deposit on a dog I haven't seen?

[MrsTumbletap]

So there is a puppy on pets4homes that I have fallen in love with I have been searching for months and months for this type. She is 3 weeks old not ready until April, over half of the litter have deposites on them already.

The breeder looks great on the ad, really thorough description, lots of pictures seems to know her stuff.

Spoke on the phone yesterday again seems lovely, knows about the health testing has all been done, will keep in contact every week, owns mum and dad and has photos of them too. Invited to visit puppies at the end of March.

BUT deposit of £300 needed to secure the puppy before the visit.

What do I do? I don't know her, I haven't seen the puppy. But half of the litter already have deposits on them. I feel like I need this puppy and I'm convinced it will go.

What do I do???

How did all these people contact you typo? Guessing you put out an advertisement? Generally good breeders don’t need to advertise OP.

Absolutely not. I had abuse from a woman on there because i wouldn't put a deposit on because she wasn't doing viewings apparently i was the one in the wrong.

No point reporting the breeder Pets4homes aren't interested and don't follow the rules they advise you of. That woman also told me they'd be all gone before I'd got a chance to view apparently she'd taken deposits already with no concern of who was having the pups at all...not a sign of a good breeder at all. Steer we'll clear. She could see no wrong still baffles me now how she wasn't interested in pups welfare just money as soon as possible. Greedy backyard breeder.

Just to go against the grain here, we had to do this for our puppy and it worked out well.
I wouldn’t say it’s a complete no.

I thought it was a big red flag and we stalled for a while, But I did more research into it

The breeder had asked lots of questions, was very interested in us already.
I checked them out online and they clearly loved their dogs, they were also well known in the showing world.
So I spoke to the breed club and they knew them and said they were reputable, gave a good reference for them.

I spoke with the breeder again, got all the info I wanted.
And they said we could meet them and their other dogs, but not the puppies (not uncommon for people to not want to show you 1-3 week old puppies)

We did this and put a deposit down (having not seen the puppy)

We went back to pick the puppy, and then again to collect puppy.
They kept in touch through the whole process, and now puppy is older they still keep in touch, invite us to events, are interested in pups progress etc.
They do a lot of work for the breed and it’s clear from their interactions on social media and at events that their dogs are not puppy farmed/over bred / poorly bred etc

We had a lot of ‘green’ flags for that one red one, but just telling you our story as I think everyone sees this deposit as a flat no for that puppy.

It is a complete no. That comment there is a one off. You haven't seen the Mon and dad how do you know they are 'right in the head' sound temperament? how can you pick a puppy when you haven't seen his personality? How do you know that the breeder is the right one to breed your pup let alone if you're the right person for that puppy. Do not do it under any circumstance. Says a lot about the breeder when they accept money off you without even meeting you.

When we got our puppy last year I looked at the stud dogs advertised as they had all the details of the health checks on. I then contacted the owners of the stud dogs. Talking to them it was clear which were fussy about who used their dogs and got details of litters that way. Worked out well for us.

Good call, OP. I'd never buy a puppy without seeing the mother first and talking to the breeder. And no breeder I know would take a deposit without meeting the prospective buyer.

I'd never buy a Cav, but that's another issue - you've been given plenty of info about that upthread.

We show our dogs and have the occasional litter . I never take deposits and only decide if someone is suitable after they come to visit . Never buy a puppy from someone who doesn’t want to meet you first ... they are only interested in the money