Breeder wants full payment 2 weeks before collection

[Onemoremakesthree]

As title really.... is this normal, my gut says no!

We paid £200 to be put on the waiting list before the pups were born, have since visited and chosen our puppy which were due to collect in 3 weeks.

Breeder sent an email last week about payment of outstanding balance "no less than two weeks before collection" and has just sent a text to remind me.
I didn't reply to the email at the time as I want really sure what to say but can't keep quiet on the matter any longer....

What do you all think, is this normal practice these days or should I stick with my gut and say we'll pay cash or bacs on collection?

It’s not normal to pay anything before you’ve met the breeders, the bitch and then going back for another visit to see the pups, let alone paying full balance!

I thought it was fairly normal , I paid £2000 for my dog just after lockdown travelling 600 miles both ways for him from Scotland to England I never met him in person till I collected and I paid the breeder in full about 3 weeks before I got him the lady FaceTimed me every few days since he was born to let me see him and I trusted her , I understood it more as some people then don’t bother to show up and breeder is left to rehome a dog or two or three which isn’t fair on them or the dogs, text her and say hi sorry I was hoping to pay cash on collection and see what she says

I understood it more as some people then don’t bother to show up and breeder is left to rehome a dog or two or three

Responsible breeders don't want their pups going to someone who's changed their mind but carries on because they've shelled out the money already.

I paid £3K for mine at the end of last year. He was expensive because I wanted certain health and genetic tests done. We paid the balance at least a week before collection. I didn't meet him till the day we collected him and the breeder sent videos and photos several times a day from when they were born. Painlesspup is everything I hoped for. But I had been on a waiting list for eight months and had had lots of conversations with the breeder.

I thought this was normal practice too. I paid a deposit for stretchpup when I went on the waiting list and 2 weeks before I picked him up, paid the remainder of the fee. I was on a waiting list for 18 months as I wanted a specific (mixed) breed with extensive health testing.

@jammiewhammie65

My parents bred their Weimaraner when I was a kid, the amount of time and money spent the whole thing, it definitely wasn't for money. They kept two of them as well. They were part of our family.

My Labrador came from a couple whose dog was on their second litter. Absolutely love my dog, have put a lot of work into her and making sure she is happy.

I get what you're saying, but I just don't think things are as black and white as that.

Never pay the full amount until you collect the pup. Make sure you see the health testing certificates of mum and dad prior to collecting if the dog is a pedigree. Any respectable breeder should be health testing before producing a litter. Get a receipt for any deposit and a receipt upon final payment. That's how professional breeders operate. Don't be duped by 'she's nice' - most people are nice when they want your money.