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Original poster

Breeder turned us down

334 replies

Sellingseashells · 31/05/2025 08:08

Spoken to a breeder last night about pups due later this year. Was recommended by a friend.i though it was going well but breeder said no. Said he don’t sell to people with children. DC are 10 and 4. Dog savvy.

i know the breeder doesn’t have to sell to us, but I’m really upset. Is it worth trying again? What do I do?

OP posts:
TheSlantedOwl · 31/05/2025 08:09

How odd. What’s the breed?

Shesellsseashellsnotinmystreet · 31/05/2025 08:09

Seems a bit overkill... Her loss. I love seeing dc building that dpuppy/dc relationship...

crumpet · 31/05/2025 08:10

Why would you be upset? Presumably the breeder has enough interest that they can select according to their own preferences. Plenty of other breeders out there.

Multiplegums · 31/05/2025 08:11

This is a good breeder

Multiplegums · 31/05/2025 08:12

“It was going well”

how far had you even got with the process if you had not mentioned two young kids before?

PorgyandBess · 31/05/2025 08:13

That’s quite unusual, but very responsible. I’m sure there’s a good reason.

What breed of dog is it?

Ylvamoon · 31/05/2025 08:16

What breed?
Large and powerful or small and delicate? Either could be an issue with the 4yo.

AnotherName2025 · 31/05/2025 08:16

Would this be your first family dog?

I guess the 4 yo is still pretty young, so they're being very cautious, but this is a contributing factor for people buying from family breeders rather than experienced professionals.

MissMoneyFairy · 31/05/2025 08:20

Can you look at rescues instead, some will still specify no young children, what breed are you looking at.

Original poster
Sellingseashells · 31/05/2025 08:32

It was a cocker spaniel. First call to register our interest. Would be a first dog for our family.

He said cockers end up in rescues because of bites on children and he didn’t wanna risk his dogs. Not rude or aggressive.

Just upset as its hard to find a good breeder with health tests, not overbred. Is it unreasonable to ring again today and make our case?

OP posts:
Glitchymn1 · 31/05/2025 08:32

This is a good breeder. I was turned down to DD being under age 10 (breed was Labrador). My elderly lab passed away age 14, DD grew up with a lab (he was age 5 when we had DD). They can be incredibly bitey and can jump, bite and pounce as puppies. All puppies bite and they bite bloody hard, couple that with pouncing and you have to be ON IT all the time or have plenty of room to segregate areas where the child is happy to be on their own or there are two adults at home a lot. One to be with the dog and one to be with the child.

We settled on an SBT in the end (only breed kennel club state can go with children). She bites but she’s a hell of a lot smaller than a lab, she’s much calmer and needs less exercise as an adult. Plus I’m not sure I could’ve faced another lab.

I did look at some rescues, I do a lot of work with rescues but it can be difficult when you have children. I did find a suitable rescue but they asked me to take on two dogs the day before we were due to see the dog we had chosen which felt a lot to take on as it’s mostly just me (DH works away alot).

ClearHoldBuild · 31/05/2025 08:35

We were picked last time because we didn’t have young children and everyone else did. Some breeds can be full on as pups. The right dog will happen when it’s supposed to happen.

Multiplegums · 31/05/2025 08:36

Sellingseashells · 31/05/2025 08:32

It was a cocker spaniel. First call to register our interest. Would be a first dog for our family.

He said cockers end up in rescues because of bites on children and he didn’t wanna risk his dogs. Not rude or aggressive.

Just upset as its hard to find a good breeder with health tests, not overbred. Is it unreasonable to ring again today and make our case?

Good heavens op leave it

he has a very sensible policy

he’s a good breeder. He won’t be pushed in to changing his policy.

Multiplegums · 31/05/2025 08:37

you don’t have a “case”

Glitchymn1 · 31/05/2025 08:37

Friend has a cocker and he’s a biter. Full grown adult now, bites, resource guards, muzzle at the vet.

The bite doesn’t have to be that bad when it’s a child’s face.
Why do you want a cocker OP?

“Your Cocker Spaniel will need a minimum of an hour exercise every day. This should be spread across the day and have a few walks in with lots of opportunity to have a good sniff around. They'll also need off-lead exercise in a secure area so they can run off their excess energy.” Just the breed info- can you provide this?

Just edited to say, I wouldn’t plead a case as he will have a long list of potential homes without a young child. The right dog will come along. Have a good think about your lifestyle and what you can provide- maybe some posters could give suggestions. What is it about the cocker you love so much?

MoistVonL · 31/05/2025 08:38

Definitely don’t get back in touch. He has a policy for the benefit of his pups and he’s right to stick to it, even if it’s very disappointing for you.

AllAroundMyGarden · 31/05/2025 08:39

Lots of breeders don’t sell pups to families with kids under 10, 8, etc

TheyreLikeUsButRichAndThin · 31/05/2025 08:40

How can a 4 year old be dog savvy, particularly if this would be your first dog?

Gizlotsmum · 31/05/2025 08:42

As a breeder they can decide for whatever reason not to sell you one of their pups. If they are a good breeder you should respect their decision, not point trying to change their mind. I am sure there will be other breeders ( maybe not so good) who would sell you a puppy. It might just take a bit of looking.

RandomMess · 31/05/2025 08:45

4 is a young child! I don’t know anyone with a cocker or cocker cross that isn’t challenging. It’s far from a good breed for first time owners.

Megifer · 31/05/2025 08:47

A cocker spaniel would be at the bottom of my list for a first family dog and very small DC 😱

TicketyBoo11 · 31/05/2025 08:48

Find a breeder whose cockers are brought up with families. Are you after a show or a worker..? All my dogs (Cockers, Springers) come from working lines and were bred in a family setting with the children involved. The dogs are beautiful, well rounded gems. Specifically look for that in your adverts.

BunnyRuddington · 31/05/2025 08:55

I wouldn’t bother pleading your case either. You don’t really have one. A goid breeder will choose the best fit for their pups and he’s already found that families with young DC aren’t always a good fit.

We were turned down by a breed specific charity when our youngest was 4. They said come back when they are 7. I was amazed as 4 seemed really grown up compared to the toddler that they had recently been but it was the right rule looking back and I’d even say that not all homes with a 7 year old would be suitable.

We ended up adopting through a different charity later and they don’t let their DDogs go to families where a DC is under 10.

CharityShopMensGlasses · 31/05/2025 08:59

He's said no. It would be extremely unreasonable to contact him again

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 31/05/2025 09:09

It sounds like the breeder has probably had a bad experience before and has maybe had puppies returned by paranoid parents who don't realise that a puppy has teeth. But no, don't ask them again.