question - Page 3

Laura: " I wonder if "guarantees" and contracts set up false expectations. "

Something to really think about. The more the breeder "guarantees" the higher the "expectations" of the buyer, and suddenly there are "faults" in a normal dog...
A dog is no car, it´s a living creature, but a lot of puppy contracts read like car sales contracts.
And the more guarantees, the higher the puppy price ( because of replacements ).

In my honest opinion a breeder is responsible for the selection of the parents ( character, temperament, health, conformation ) - everything else is up to nature.

Susie, as usual, excellent post. I will say my contract is minimal compared to most, my prices straight across the board and on the low end.

BTW, a month ago, I searched for ear braces, sixteen dollars and sent the owner a link, since he didn't come here when we set up a date. I asked yesterday on the phone if he bought them to use...answered, NO! I'm not spending money on that....
So last night I ordered them and will try to get him to come here or will mail them to him.

Also, no matter how much you refund, he will still be angry watching her ears flop. Money doesn't fix it. Show him how to tape them, maybe. But I'd like to bet they firm up with maturity.

Melissa

Melba, there is no fix, I tried to get him to let a friend who has experience taping ears for a showdog breeder tape them. He came one time, took them down in less than a week, ears up, so didn't follow directions to get them put up again, instead of taking them down too soon. Asked how money would keep the anger out, said he thought about it, and said he at least wouldn't feel like he'd been screwed. I asked how he'd deal with it if the pup was going after his kid, or if she was crippled...his answer was how would I like it if he posts her picture of her ears flopping. Told him to go ahead if it'd make him not be angry with his pup. I know in my heart, because I know these dogs, that she feels his anger at her and she has no clue why he is mad at her...nothing she can do will fix it either, so the ears reflect her sadness. I think that these dogs are too good in their souls for most people...I can't imagine what happens to puppies that are produced en masse when selection of owners is indiscriminate. I think this guy has convinced me I cherish my puppies too much to risk going through this heartache and trusting people with my puppies anymore.

Nothing you do is going to make this guy happy. If he is truly angry because of the ears, then money will not fix it. You're right, she feels it and will always feel it. That's not fair to the dog AT ALL.

So, you give him a 50% refund... what happens when the ears firm up? Stand correctly? He should give you that money back. 8 months is too young to expect perfect ears. They're still puppy ears, just past the teething stage! If he is unhappy with her, then he would have no problem selling her back to you. I believe, and this may be jmo, that if it weren't her ears, it would be something else, because he doesn't want to have paid that much for a dog. This guy pisses me off. I should just shut up and stop responding.

 

Melissa

This reminds me of why I stopped breeding dogs. 

Zero. For something like this, they'd get zero dollars back from me. Unless they returned the dog to me, at which time I would give them a full refund and never, ever sell them another living creatures ever again, and I'd make sure no one I know sells them a living creature, either.

How can you even know the dog's ear cartilage wasn't broken by someone in the family handling the ears too roughly? I had that happen to my Hexe, when she was about 10 months old and her ears had been standing for 7 months---took her in to my office one day so some of my co-workers could meet her. and one well-intentioned but clueless co-worker came up to her, took his hands and started to "scruff up" her head & ears like he was messing up the hair on his little boy's head, scrunching up her ears as if they were paper being crumpled. Broke the cartilage in one ear before I could rescue her from him, and it took several months' of moleskin supports to get it to heal correctly so the ear stood strong again.

Anyone who 'gets angry' when they look at their dog simply because they don't like the way her ears are set is an ass. I really pity this poor pup, having to live with someone like this.

I'm with you , hexe, but the breeder is always the villain and has no recourse to get a pup out of a situation like this. He bitches about the money he paid for her six months ago, but won't let me buy her back because his wife and daughter would be heartbroken. I told him I'll give him a refund, and I did tell him maybe he needed to do some soul searching as to why he is so superficial and unaccepting about the pups looks.. In one breath he's angry at herjust looking at her, in the next he's telling how she's the smartest dog he ever saw and how great she is with his three yr old kid.

He is just an ignorant puke pet owner;  lots of them out there.  Things like this is what me change my contract with NO GUARANTEES except temperament.  Can't control their environment, can't control their diets once they leave you and CANNOT CONTROL OR RETRAIN STUPIDITY.  IT IS A TYPICAL PET OWNER...