One last question about breeders

[Momily]

Assuming I don't get Lyle ().

So I've been emailing back and forth with the breeder with the Tri and the housebroken sable male (they're both confirmed housebroken), and my radar is up.

I can't put my finger on why. Well, I guess I can point to a couple of specific things that bother me, but they're not neccessarily things that should rule her out, more things that should cause me to ask more questions. But my gut feeling is just not to even ask. I think my biggest red flag is, if I'm not comfortable asking questions, then will I get any support from her if there are problems?

There's also this other breeder who I really liked, really liked out of all the breeders I've talked to I just got a fantastic vibe from her. She turned me down, told me her dog was too shy for me, but has been calling back with suggestions of breeders to try and answering my questions. I so wish she was planning a litter of puppies within the next 2 years, but she isn't. Anyway, she emailed me and told me that she'd reccommend a male for us, and that she thinks at 6 or 9 month old would do fine in our situation.

So, that narrows us down to 2 dogs -- the 6 month old bi-blue and the 9 month old bi-black. Both are male. I had said "no puppies" over and over, they're also much more expensive than the adult dogs. But they're the ones who everyone is telling me to look at, plus my own gut is agreeing. The funny thing is that one of them has the exact same issue as my biggest concrete problem with the Tri. The owner has suggested I meet the dog at an alternative location, not at their home. But for some reason when the Tri says -- why don't we meet at my work (dog groomer) it feels like "I don't want you to see my home/kennel", whereas when the other breeder said "I'll be in your area for my grandson's birthday, why don't I bring him for you to meet so you don't have to drive all the way out to my state to meet him?" It feels like "how considerate". I feel as though if I say "I'll take him contingent on picking him up at your home and getting a really good feeling", that she'll be fine with that.

So, I know you're all going to say -- go with your gut, find the breeder you like and then pick a dog from them. Don't even bother looking at the other two. Puppies are awesome.

I just want someone to tell me that yes, I should just go look at those 2 (and Lyle). If neither works out I should start again, rather than "settling".

Also, should I be looking at little puppies? If 6 months is OK, is 4 months? 9 weeks?

[angie7]

If I was close enough to drive to the home/kennel, that is where I would want to meet. It's always a good idea to see how/where the dogs are raised. Always go with your gut.

[mesa]

you already know what you want to do, I can see it in your post. You don't need a "reason" not to go with a breeder. If you don't like her, for whatever reason, (or no reason at all!) do NOT get a dog from her. Shop for a breeder like you'd shop for a husband, or, at least a very good friend. At the very least, that is what she should be to you, a good friend.

[mesa]

and as for the breeders wanting to meet you somewhere other than their home, I don't think I would be comfortable with that.

Honestly, I'd be more willing to wait 2 years for a dog from the breeder I really clicked with, as opposed to getting one right now from one that I'm kind of squirrelly about. But that's just me.

[mom0810]

Originally Posted by mesa

and as for the breeders wanting to meet you somewhere other than their home, I don't think I would be comfortable with that.

Honestly, I'd be more willing to wait 2 years for a dog from the breeder I really clicked with, as opposed to getting one right now from one that I'm kind of squirrelly about. But that's just me.

Yes, this. I always really WANT people to come to my home, to get a feel for me, for my dogs, for the way they live with people and each other. It's always a scary thing for breeders to want to meet you somewhere other than home. Makes you wonder if they are breeding TONS of puppies, or if the conditions there are not good. A breeder's home should look like any other really nice home. There shouldn't be a dog smell, and there shouldn't be evidence of dogs other than win pictures and trophies and lots and lots of dog art and stuff like that.

Also, as far as waiting, I have a waiting list a mile long and sometimes people do wait 2 years or more for the RIGHT dog. It is so well worth it, and that match just really clicks.

But it sounds like you are leaning toward the rescue dog at this point, anyway.

[Momily]

So, the other puppy who I am meeting outside his home -- is this alarming?

In that case I called and she said we're welcome to come (it's about a 5 hour drive) but that it happens that she's coming here this weekend. Did I want her to bring the puppy. I told her sure, but that if I decided I wanted him it would be contingent upon seeing him in his home when we picked him up in a couple of weeks, and feeling comfortable with the situation. She seemed fine with that.

If I can cut out 1 10 hour round trip, I'd be quite happy.

[greenmagick]

I would say there is nothing wrong with not seeing the home when its far away....for me the red flag is when they are in town or relatively close and dont invite you over. My aunt got a pom from a BYB and lived like 10 minutes from her. The "breeder" met her at a Hardee's to give her the pup and get the cash....no screening, nothing.

Even if these breeders are not BYB, they should be open to people seeing the way they interact with their dogs and how things are run

[Momily]

I should clarify that the breeder's home is an hour farther away than her work where she proposed meeting me. It's already a 5 hour drive each way, so this would turn a 10 hour trip into 12. Also her work is dog grooming, so it's not like I wouldn't get any sense of how she is with animals -- I assume that a clean well kept grooming salon would be something of an indication that she might have a similar set up at home?

I didn't want to badmouth the breeder, because my guess is she's fine -- I just want to KNOW she's fine.

[mesa]

Originally Posted by Momily

So, the other puppy who I am meeting outside his home -- is this alarming?

In that case I called and she said we're welcome to come (it's about a 5 hour drive) but that it happens that she's coming here this weekend. Did I want her to bring the puppy. I told her sure, but that if I decided I wanted him it would be contingent upon seeing him in his home when we picked him up in a couple of weeks, and feeling comfortable with the situation. She seemed fine with that.

If I can cut out 1 10 hour round trip, I'd be quite happy.

well, I'd be fine with a situation like that, especially since she's fine with you coming to her home when you pick up the pup.

[PlayaMama]

Originally Posted by Momily

I just want someone to tell me that yes, I should just go look at those 2 (and Lyle). If neither works out I should start again, rather than "settling".

Also, should I be looking at little puppies? If 6 months is OK, is 4 months? 9 weeks?

yes. go look at them. if neither is quite right and they aren't willing to hold lyle for you then keep looking.

i can actually see how those pups might be too young... 9 months is alot different than 2 years, i just wish the older dogs were fixed already, i think it makes a difference temperament wise. and after reading, it does seem like maybe the tri female should be considered. but i'm not sure about not wanting you to come to her house and if you aren't feeling comfy asking questions i think that's a HUGE no-no.

my mom does lots of rescue work and she is always available for questions, watching the dogs while the owners take vacations, taking them back if something happens, always available AND friendly. she sees dogs she rescues years and years ago because she's still in touch with their owners. it's really important to have a good vibe from the person you're getting a dog from.