Breeder switching dogs/collar colour

[Inastatus]

We are getting a puppy soon and have visited the breeder a couple of times to interact with the puppies and decide which one would suit us. We agonised over our decision but then felt we particularly bonded with one puppy and it was agreed that he would be ours. He has a green collar on. We are due to pick him up next week and the breeder has set up a group chat for everyone getting a pup. Tonight people started posting about which pups they are getting and someone else has posted a photo of them holding the green collared pup and telling everyone what they’ve called him. I saw the post briefly before the breeder deleted the post!
I’ve tried to message her but she’s not responded so far. I’m feeling a bit mugged off atm. Obviously need to hear what she has to say but I’m not sure what explanation she can come up with that will reassure me. I’m not sure what to do.

If you aren’t sure don’t take the puppy!

I'd post on the group chat that you are excited and looking forward to getingt the green collared puppy, see what the other buyer says!

Yes, I had already said on the chat that we have got green collar pup then the other person posted a photo of them with green collar pup!

Would you recognise the puppy without the collar? Hopefully the breeder will reply soon, but as PP said, don’t take a puppy you are not sure of.

Having said that, we chose a kitten because of certain characteristics, and I’ve often said I wish we’d chosen his brother because of his subsequent temperament!

@CousinBob - it’s between him and his litter mate who looks identical but has a different personality.
Breeder has replied admitting switching collars because she has decided which pup suits which family, but also maintains that the puppy we bonded with is the one we will get… v confusing. All the pups are gorgeous so we will love whichever one we have but I dislike her deceit and the fact that we have travelled a 2 hour round journey twice to pick and bond with a certain pup only for her to switch collars!

Yes, I see where you are coming from.

So the other family will be getting a different pup to the one they expect. One of you has been wronged, however you look at it. Appalling behaviour.
She’ll give the pup to the person who shouts loudest and makes the biggest fuss. Make sure that’s you.

Based on your update that would be it for me.
However lovely you think the puppy is, and how suited to your family, I’d pull out of the whole thing.

The breeder has been caught out , and it’s probably something they do all the time. Very deceitful.
There could even be multiple litters of pups.
Can I ask whether you viewed the pups and saw both the mum and dad at the breeders? Was it in a breeders / home setting? Only asking because my boss was really taken in by a so called breeder and found out the week before she was due to pick up puppy that it was a puppy farm, breeder brought in pups from abroad and sold them on as bred on the premises by their one dog ( when in fact there were multiple dogs both at their premises and abroad).

I am so sorry for you though it’s really rubbish this has happened.

Did she switch collars from one pup to another or is she lying to you and you're actually getting a different puppy? The latter is likely. Having said that, we chose our puppy by colour and never knew his temperament until he came home to us and he is absolutely perfect 😍 (now 4 years old and snoring on the sofa next to me). I don't think you can really tell a puppy's personality when they're that young.

Ah the wonderful dog breeders strike again- wouldn’t give them a penny!

What type of dog is it, out of interest?

Is it a poodle cross is what you actually mean 🙄🤣

I very much doubt there's any point in saying this OP, as I've no doubt you'll pick up a puppy regardless next week, but I'd pull out. What else has this breeder lied about? Have you seen all necessary documents for her bitch and the sire? Even if you have, can you now be sure they're genuine, seeing as she's proven herself not to be?

@CellophaneFlower actually no!

This is a really common tactic employed by the pastoral group when owners try to pick a dog that is ill-suited to their experience. It’s a terrible thing to do - but some breeders are a bit pathetic (IMO) and once someone has said they want a particular puppy, instead of telling them no or they’re not suitable, they simply switch it out for a more docile puppy in the litter. Edit: also to add that the reason some people do this is because prospective buyers can get incredibly aggressive and nasty if they don’t get the puppies they want (it’s partly why I take the measures I do before I even let someone know when I’ll have my next litter!!)

Either way, I think you’re right and OP will press ahead. Which is a shame, as I imagine (as you rightly point out) there’s a distinct lack of paperwork.

walk away now - breeder is pulling the wool over your eyes

We picked a 'chill' puppy. He was anything but 😂 he definitely wasn't swapped either. I don't see how you can judge temperament at 8 weeks.

I had the opposite experience! I picked a puppy as she was the only bitch left (tbf, I would have chosen her anyway!). I then got sent countless videos of her bouncing off the walls whilst all the other pups were snoozing and the breeder told me she was the instigator in all the play 🙈 I was slightly concerned what I'd let myself in for, but after a few months of terrorising my youngest child, she really calmed down and is now the most chilled dog.

Not the point of the thread and I don’t want to spam it… but If you’re the breeder it’s incredibly easy. I spend well over 20hours a day with my litters when I have one. I sleep on a mattress next to the whelping pen. I know them inside/out before I give them to their families. I also match them - for that exact reason.

People very often fail to realise the dog that displays certain behaviour in front of them for their 3x60 minute visits is nothing like that the rest of the time.

When we got our dog we were told we would not be choosing which puppy we got, the breeder would choose which dog was best suited. And she got it exactly right.

That said, I’d be very concerned about her seeming a bit dishonest about it all. Why would she switch collars?

Breeder has replied admitting switching collars because she has decided which pup suits which family, but also maintains that the puppy we bonded with is the one we will get… v confusing.

What you've said doesn't make sense. Which one is it?

I would now be questioning this breeders integrity. As someone else has also said, are these puppies from the parents you've seen? Is there another litter? How legit is this breeder? Because they don't sound honest, so I'd be wondering if these puppies have really been vet checked, vaccinated, properly assessed etc

Theyve shown you they're dishonest and a walking red flag, I wouldn't proceed.

I agree, if she’s saying she switched collars because she decided which dog was best for which family then surely you can’t be getting the same dog? Because otherwise why would she be making any decisions or switching collars. I suspect you’re getting a different dog. It may have been done for a genuine reason but is still shitty behaviour or maybe family 2 just insisted on green collar dog. 🤷‍♀️

Doesn’t it just mean that they’re getting the puppy they want, it’s just not got a green collar on any more?

I mean, obviously that could all be bollocks but it does make sense to me…

Well it sort of makes sense until you think why would the breeder just swap different coloured collars onto the dogs? That would make no sense that I can think of. Plus the breeder has said something about deciding which puppy would be best for which family? It’s confusing but suspicious

For this to be true though, the other family must have also wanted the green collar dog, so she's switched collars. Either way, whether it be OP or the other person, somebody isn't getting the pup they thought they were... and that's a massive red flag to me.

Maybe I'm just mental...but when I chose our springer spaniel from a litter of 8, I picked the one with the best recall 👀😂 And it did turn out extremely well.

I sat on the floor and played with them then waited until they'd started wandering off and high-pitched called 'puuppppiessss' 😂

I must have done it ten times and there were a couple that never came. Some not every time. Ddog was the only pup that bounded to me straight away, every single time over 3 visits.

Since we've had her she's genuinely had the best recall of any dog I've ever known. Now aged 3 and she's absolutely bombproof - she'll turn on a pin mid-meal, mid squirrel-chase, mid-play and come back instantly.

Like I said, maybe I'm mental but I do think she displayed a natural tendency at 6-8 weeks old that many of her siblings didn't.

It all sounds very suspicious and I think I would walk away. (Difficult I know once you have had puppy cuddles and probably paid a deposit.)
Experienced breeders do advise prospective owners which puppy would best suit them. (I enquired about a liver boy, but got a black bitch.) But this would be in discussion with the owners, not by shadily swapping collar colours behind their backs.