How many of you would pay for a pup sight unseen?

Question

For years I have seen, people preach that you should have homes lined up for your puppies before you breed, definitely before they are ready to go home. I'm curious as to how many people are actually willing to buy a pup that they haven't seen, or who's personality isn't really developed yet as they are still too small to really judge who they are going to be?

I know I wouldn't, but time and I again, I see people on here asking for advice, and countless peeps tell them, they should have already had homes lined up for them.

I think some of you missed the question. I didn't ask why or how breeders line up buyers. I asked how many of you would be willing to purchase a pup who either isn't born yet, or isn't old enough to have developed their personality.

There is a huge difference between 6 and 8 weeks, during which the pup's personality really emerges. The pup you picked at 6 wks, may very well have a totally different personality 2 wks later.

lol, no I'm not breeding. My little male is neutered, and my little girl is too tiny. I refuse to breed anything under 4 lbs. she means the world to me. Wouldn't be safe for her. Oh, and my husband's doxie is spayed as well. I used to breed, once upon a time, and it amazed me, how I'd have people lined up, and by the time the pups were old enough, they had found a pup they could take home instead of waiting. I eventually quit that nonsense, and waste of money advertising too early, and had no problems placing my pups by 12 weeks in homes that were a match for each individual puppy.

I was just wondering how many of you practiced what you preach, and bought your own little guy before he was born, or shortly there after and then waited to bring him home.

To "not a black St. Bernard". I'm sorry, but who are you to tell me which pup is going to have the perfect personality to fit in my home? Not everybody is interested in breeding or showing their dog. And after that, all you are left with is personality. I picked my own babies out personally, to be sure that I had the right match for my household. Not all pups have the same personality. I'd never buy a pup from you, or anyone else with a God complex.

Perhaps if you want a show dog, or a working dog, I can concede that makes sense. But to the average person wanting a companion, such as myself, that doesn't. I hadn't thought of it from the point of view of "bigger breeds" that might be too much to handle, but then those breeds aren't for me. I don't show, and I don't have breeds that were originally designed for anything other than companionship, as that's all I need my babies for. I picked them myself, and they do their job quite nicely. I didn't pick them solely on their looks, or their pedigrees, I picked mine by how they responsed to me, I'm sure that's a foreign concept to some. But I wanted total love, and adoration. My little male was the biggest flirt, his sister was cuter, but she didn't respond to me so much. I shutter to think if his breeder has pushed her at me. She wouldn't have suited. My little girl, was the prettiest baby there, but that isn't why I got her, oh how she demanded my attention! She claimed me that day.

Have you ever seen someone with their pet, and their pet looks less than thrilled with their owner? You just know, someone made a mistake, they weren't meant to be together. It saddens me, to think of those that ended up in the wrong homes, because no one payed attention to what they wanted. They were picked because they were the cutest, or had the most impressive lineage so their owner could brag, or because they were show-worthy, not because they wanted, needed to be with that person. And it shows. Had I done it your way, I doubt I'd have my Cindy, as how would you have known how desperately she could love me above all others? She refused to kiss my mother. She barely looked at my dad. She only had eyes for me. It was, and still is a great feeling. I don't think people give dogs enough credit for intelligence and emotion, they have both.

Answer 1

I would never buy a puppy or dog sight unseen. Lining up homes should be a conditional arrangement.

Answer 2

Actually, A lot of my puppy buyers see the puppy (in person) when picking it up. We have communicated through e-mail and phone calls and sent pictures, and most have been to visit the adults and my home before the breeding, but many have not seen the actual puppy.
In my breed, the puppies really all look alike. They are not allowed to pick thier own puppy anyway, and cannot visit until the puppies are 6 weeks either. That leaves little time for visitis...especially for people coming a great distance.
When you are seeking a pup from a good breeder, this is common. I have purchased puppies that way also.
We have people on a waiting list. Puppies are born. When the puppies are at the age where they can be identified as pet or show, we start calling people on the list to match the right puppy with the right person. They send the deposit, and wait. They CAN visit after 6 weeks, but many cannot. Since we have already screened each other, there are rarely any suprises. When time is right, they come and get the puppy!

To your ADDED point:

That is why the people do not pick the puppy! A good breeder can pick the right pup for a family better than the family can. Based on what they are looking for and what you have, you match up each one. Sometimes there isn't one that fits what they want. Last litter, I had someone that wanted a calm sweet girl. Well, I had a litter which had three girls all of which were HOOLIGANS!!! None of them would have matched what they wanted, so they did not get one. You are asking for trouble by placing a puppy that won't fit.
Usually, around 6-8 weeks decisions are being made about placement. Some traits may change, but most puppies have a personality the first two weeks and it seem to stay like that...at least in my opinion.
So people are not buying a puppy until it has been matched to them, then they may see it for the first time when they pick it up.


I would NEVER buy a puppy from a web-site that ships me the puppy so you really are buying it sight unseen!!!!!!

Don't think it is a GOD complex!! IT is matching the RIGHT puppy with the RIGHT person. Say someone comes and sees the really energitic male. He is big and wonderful, and playful. The people want HIM! I however, know he is DOMINANT!!! I know they are NOT the family for the dominant male in the litter. Why should I let him go because they wnat HIS personality? It would spell DISASTER! They pup would be a problem and probably be returned. I am the one with them 24/7, I am the one who knows the REAL personality of the pup....not someone who may come for a total of even 4 hours before taking it home!!!!!!! I am sure one of the reasons that I have never had a dog returned is that I take such time in picking the right pup for the right person. If they cannot handle that, they can go someplace else! So maybe you would not buy a pup from me, and maybe I would never sell you one!!!!

Answer 3

I am pretty sure that i would as long as i know the breed of the dog, size of the breed and i would be able to choose the sex ( because i already have 2 other dogs, male and female). I'm the type of person that will go for the dog or pup that seems to be in the shelter the longest or is less likeley to be bought or adopted. Everyone always wants a cute, healthy puppy- but what about all the other dogs that need homes? As far as buying from a breeder i would not do that but if you know what the parents looks like then i don't see why anyone wouldn't take a pup without seeing it. I mean you know the breed of the dog isn't going to change.

Answer 4

Anyone who wants to buy a puppy from a serious breeder with good bloodlines. Most have very long waiting list. With my last litter I had 26 people on my waiting list, there were only 6 puppies in the litter and I was keeping one. So once the pups were born it was a matter of deciding which pup best met which person on the waiting list needs. The only one I had absolutely promised a pup before it was born was a couple with a 12 yr old who had been waiting for months for a puppy. They were nervous that I wouldn't allow them to send a deposit before the litter was born but as I told them if there was anyway possible I would make sure they got a puppy but that I don't like promising things before the litter is born because sometimes things go wrong. Personally I don't let anyone in to see my pups until they have had their first set of shots because they could accidentally carry in germs that could kill the litter. However normally the folks on my waiting list have photos of the pups by the time they are 24 hrs old and get updates at least weekly there after.

As a breeder I've purchased pups from other countries without having any contact with the pup before it arrived. Heck I've got a reservation on a litter in Holland that won't be bred until 2009.

If the breeder knows their breed and their lines and you have clearly communicate to the breeder what you want then your best bet is to leave the choice of which pup you get to the breeder. After all they are the ones who have experience with the breed, the mother (maybe they have first hand knowledge of the sire maybe not) and they have lived with the litter and know each ones strengths and weaknesses. If you feel you can't trust the breeder to send you the right pup then you need to find another breeder. After all the breeder is or should be your first source for information if you have an issue or problem.

Answer 5

This is an interesting question. My initial response would be no. I would want to see the puppies, spend some time with them, see the parents, etc. But then I actually thought about it, and I'm not sure how much it matters. I've known my husky since the second he was born, but there was nothing about his behavior in the first week, or eighth week that would have told me how he would be now. In fact, he was a bratty little pup, picking on his litter-mates, but at a 1 1/2 he might be the calmest husky alive. On the other hand, my rescue was found on the street. The vet guessed he was 13 weeks. When I picked him up I didn't know his history, his health, his stock, nothing. And he has grown into an extremely happy and healthy 6 month old. So I guess ideally, I would like to see what I was getting, especially if I was paying big money; but when it comes down to it, so much of what a dog becomes depends on you and the time that they are with you.

Answer 6

It's a 2-way street. Any responsible breeder will have homes lined up. A responsible buyer will have interviewed the breeder and met the b*tch. They should have a pretty good idea of what to expect in the temperament and personality of the pup based on the mom and the living conditions the mom and pups will be kept in.

The buyer will then have the opportunity to meet the puppies after birth and decide which of the available pups they would like to have. It's not like they're going to say, "You have to take the third puppy born and there will be no negotiations."

If the buyer doesn't feel any of the pups are what they're looking for, then the breeder goes to the next person on their list and tells them that there is a puppy available if they want to come meet the litter.

So if a breeder is expecting 10 puppies, they'll probably have 12-15 potential buyers lined up.

Answer 7

I'm not a breeder, I do not purposely breed dogs and I prevent breeding with my dogs. However I have ended up with pregnant dogs and had to find homes for them. Lining up homes before they are born is mostly finding people who would be interested. When the puppies are born and able to wander and play I bring the prospects over one at a time and let them play with the pups. The last two litters I've had to place I didn't allow them to go to new homes until they were 15 wks. In that time there were plenty of puppy play dates, contract signing and home visits.

I do not buy my dogs so no I wouldn't pay sight unseen. If I were to buy a dog I would expect the breeder to be as picky as I am placing unwanted/abandoned litters.

Answer 8

The idea about lining homes up for dogs before they are born is that the parents of the puppies have both been sufficiently health checked, earned titles in conformation, and are proven to be ideal examples of the breed.

I would never buy a dog in the first place- I don't show dogs. But if I were showing, I would buy from someone who could prove to me all of these things had been done. Even if the puppies were not born yet.

I believe the idea is not that you pay before the pups are born, but rather that you let the breeder know you are interested in their dogs before the pups are born. The dogs aren't coming out of mom with collars addressed to the owners who are interested, but if your dog is an excellent example of the breed and you have gone through enough conformation to prove it, you should have a LONG waiting list of people who would be more than happy to take puppies from your dogs.

Answer 9

I would never expect one of my puppy buyers to commit to (or pay for) a puppy before it's born...however, that doesn't mean that I don't start taking applications and information prior to the litter's due date.

I think that's all we're talking about when we speak of "lining up homes"...of course things don't always work out with some people, but if I have 8 people screened, visited with, and on a waiting list, and I end up with 5 puppies to sell, chances are pretty good they will all get good homes.

This is really the correct way to do it, rather than waiting until they're born and scrambling for people with cash when it's time to "get rid of" them.

ADD: Answering from the other side of the coin.
I was on a waiting list for a male puppy from a breeder I knew for 6 months, but money never changed hands until I went to see the litter at 10 weeks. There was only 1 male, and I wasn't taking a puppy unless I took the male...and I wasn't taking the male unless I liked him. The breeder did not expect me to pay for the dog until he left the house with me.

This is pretty much the way it is with good breeders. We don't expect anyone to commit to or pay for a puppy until they've seen the litter, even if they got on our waiting list a year ago.

You see?

Answer 10

The few times in my life that I have bought puppies as I prefer adult dogs, I bought them before they were even born or shortly thereafter.. That is not the problem! The problem is KNOWING where these puppies are coming from. Knowing and trusting the breeder and be able to SEE the results of their previous breedings.
I was talking to a friend in Europe recently, his male was bred to a female and the puppies are expected around the holidays, but, they were sold months a go. The next breeding he does with his females is also all spoken for and the female has not even bred bred yet!!!
Why? Because of the quality of his dogs and the puppies they produce. I would buy a dog from someone like that with no problem!!

Answer 11

I would have to say that yes, I would pay for a pup sight unseen. Although only from a registered, responsible breeder. There is logic to this - I am planning on getting a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling retriever (Duck Toller), which is a fairly rare breed, and there just aren't enough breeders to wait until the litter is born before I pick a pup. So, I would pay a deposit to the breeder and hope that they can pick the right kind of puppy for me! I also agree that I would have to meet the puppy before bringing him/her home, and if they aren't right for us then I wouldn't bring him/her home.