Pet Peeve - Phone Inquiries

[gemy]

My pet peeve are folks who call and leave a message on my answering machine that goes somewhat like this:


" Hi this is Mary Smith Phone ............. Looking for a puppy - Do you have any?


While I credit brevity, it makes me feel you are looking for a Car - any make model or color will do.


By this message you tell me - you can't be bothered to let me know what breed you are looking for, how you received my name, what research or where in blazes you got my name from.


You let me know that you have not taken the time to research either the breed or the breeder. You let me know that you are lazy, and quite likely to be an irresponsible or at the minimum a barely competent owner.


Here is an example of a better message - still brief and succinct - and tells a bit about you and why you want a Yorkie.


Hello Ms.....


My name is Mary Smith. While researching the breed, I noted that you were a member of the CYTA, and have been active in the show world for a number of years.
I dearly wish to purchase a healthy puppy in the near future, and would love to talk with you about this.
You can reach me at (insert phone#) or email me at
xxxx/.xxxx


Longer? Yes but this tells me that a) she is researching the breed - good in my opinion), she likely found me on the Associations website - which means she knows something about show breeders - that health is important to her - and wants to learn/talk more about me/the breed etc.
She gives me contact options which is good for me to have.


As a note I have had 4 phone calls over the past 5 days that went like the first example.


And BTW I do not breed Yorkies although I am a member of the CYTA....

[KazzyK810]

I would likely leave the first voice message not the second for a few reasons;

The first gets my number out right away & the reason for the call. The second it too long. By the time you get through stating the reason for your call and get to leaving your contact details in the second example, the message would likely cut off. Many don't record that long. The second is more what I'd email, but not what I would text. Again, as when texting to a different carrier, many dont take that many symbols.

Secondly, at work, I type out voicemails left. Oh my gosh..what a pain!!! Googlevoice records longgggggg messages and people go on and on. I have to play it back 10+ times to get it typed out correctly. What a pain!!! All I want to know is "this is NAME, my NUMBER is xxxx, calling regarding xxxx". Then you discuss the details when you actually have a human on the other line.

[kreuer]

Honestly if I was to leave a message for a breeder it would sound something like this.... Hi, my name is Kendal and I am interested in getting more information about you and your puppies. My phone number is _______. Thank you.


Short and sweet. I don't think that makes someone a bad owner. I would rather give into more detail when actually talking to someone. Just my opinion!

[Yorkiemom1]

.

Most of my contacts are polite, excited about getting a puppy, and have researched me and my website before they even call.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by kreuer

Honestly if I was to leave a message for a breeder it would sound something like this.... Hi, my name is Kendal and I am interested in getting more information about you and your puppies. My phone number is _______. Thank you.


Short and sweet. I don't think that makes someone a bad owner. I would rather give into more detail when actually talking to someone. Just my opinion!

And that is not bad. At least you indicated that your were interested in more information about both myself as a breeder and any *puppies* I might have.


But still for my business *which is not breeding YOrkies* when I call someone back I give my email addy contact as well.

[gemy]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

.

Most of my contacts are polite, excited about getting a puppy, and have researched me and my website before they even call.

I earlier got a message saying you had said :Here is the message that has just been posted: ***************
That is what I call "Step 1 of the Exemption Process".......


And I so agree. Although I am not sure how the quote above is no longer on this thread

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by gemy

And that is not bad. At least you indicated that your were interested in more information about both myself as a breeder and any *puppies* I might have.


But still for my business *which is not breeding YOrkies* when I call someone back I give my email addy contact as well.

I have to do and actually prefer, to do, all contact with people interested in a puppy, by email.....my memory has gotten sooooo bad and I am blessed to get a lot of inquiries, I need the emails to keep everything straight....who I told what, when I told them, what their response was....otherwise I just get all lost and confused about who has been sent appplications, who has been approved, who has been sent a puppy pak, etc....
Also, if there is ever any question about something said in a conversation, it is all in print and easy to pull up for recall!

[gemy]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

I would likely leave the first voice message not the second for a few reasons;

The first gets my number out right away & the reason for the call. The second it too long. By the time you get through stating the reason for your call and get to leaving your contact details in the second example, the message would likely cut off. Many don't record that long. The second is more what I'd email, but not what I would text. Again, as when texting to a different carrier, many dont take that many symbols.

Secondly, at work, I type out voicemails left. Oh my gosh..what a pain!!! Googlevoice records longgggggg messages and people go on and on. I have to play it back 10+ times to get it typed out correctly. What a pain!!! All I want to know is "this is NAME, my NUMBER is xxxx, calling regarding xxxx". Then you discuss the details when you actually have a human on the other line.

First of all the longer message is 30 seconds recording time at a moderate pace of voice. Most recording machines have 30 seconds of recording time.
So that doesn't seem too long to me.


Isn't the thrust of the message if you are looking for a puppy to engender a call back from the breeder?

[Yorkiemom1]

Gail, Once, when I was interviewing a person that was wanting one of my babies, he struck me as being rather detached, aloof, really just interested in getting a "dog for my kid"....so I was just trying to see if my gut reaction to this man was accurate, just chatting, talking pleasentries, etc.....we are going over the application since he had "never heard of anyone wanting "a family history" in order to get a dog", and he finally says,"Look.....I am not trying to purchase your first born, I am just trying to buy a DOG from you!! Once I pay you what you have that dog priced at, and leave, that dog is my property and NOT your concern!!!" Well, that was the end of the interview for me.....and him actually!

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by gemy

Isn't the thrust of the message if you are looking for a puppy to engender a call back from the breeder?

I assume any professional will return a phone call as a matter of courtesy, and I shouldn't have to word my message to entice a response.

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

Gail, Once, when I was interviewing a person that was wanting one of my babies, he struck me as being rather detached, aloof, really just interested in getting a "dog for my kid"....so I was just trying to see if my gut reaction to this man was accurate, just chatting, talking pleasentries, etc.....we are going over the application since he had "never heard of anyone wanting "a family history" in order to get a dog", and he finally says,"Look.....I am not trying to purchase your first born, I am just trying to buy a DOG from you!! Once I pay you what you have that dog priced at, and leave, that dog is my property and NOT your concern!!!" Well, that was the end of the interview for me.....and him actually!

I sheepily admit this kinda attitude would have been my response in the past.

I kind of viewed it like child adoption. I want a closed adoption not an open one. I know me and know that in order to make a lifetime commitment, I need to feel like this pup is MINE, not like I'm raising someone else's pup.

But there was ZoE's breeder calling me to make sure she got to my home safely from across the otherside of the state. Calling to make sure her check up went well. Checking in again around six months old. Then again at a year old to find out how her yearly checkup went and to make sure Zo hadn't developed any problems. I would have been like bloody hell!..is this woman ever gonna leave me alone?? But thanks to YT i better understand why breeders follow up on the health of the dogs their lines produce.

[SirTeddykins]

This post is so funny because I am always amazed at the differences in personality and preferences!!!!


I researched my breeder for over a year before I was ready to commit and I called her as the President of the YT Club of England just to make enquiries as to who she would recommend as a breeder. I had no idea that she actually had a litter.


She didn't want my life story but did wonder how I knew about her since I wasn't calling her for her litter which was advertised via the Kennel Club. I told her I'd found her details on the website as someone who ran the club and could offer advice. I never once left long messages and she was happy about that because she had 2 litters at once, the first time in her 30 year career, and she was so stressed about it...haha.


The point is, it was only when she finally met me in person that she wanted to know extra info. She wanted all of our phone conversations to be very brisk simply because she was very busy!


It's just so funny how we make assumptions and project expectations on others who aren't even aware!!! I had assumed she'd want my social security number, address, pics of my backyard etc... She really just wanted to know if I had experience with small dogs since Teddy was going to be her smallest.


Weird and fascinating!

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

I assume any professional will return a phone call as a matter of courtesy, and I shouldn't have to word my message to entice a response.



I sheepily admit this kinda attitude would have been my response in the past.

I kind of viewed it like child adoption. I want a closed adoption not an open one. I know me and know that in order to make a lifetime commitment, I need to feel like this pup is MINE, not like I'm raising someone else's pup.

But there was ZoE's breeder calling me to make sure she got to my home safely from across the otherside of the state. Calling to make sure her check up went well. Checking in again around six months old. Then again at a year old to find out how her yearly checkup went and to make sure Zo hadn't developed any problems. I would have been like bloody hell!..is this woman ever gonna leave me alone?? But thanks to YT i better understand why breeders follow up on the health of the dogs their lines produce.

Just one little question for you and others that may feel this way (You have since been "educated" and know better!)....
When you purchase a puppy from a reputable breeder, you will get a health guarantee with your new puppy. If something goes wrong with that puppy, that is covered under that health guarantee, I am absolutely positive your "attitude" of "this is MINE and no longer YOUR responsibility", will change instantaneously!!!... you will contact that breeder to stand behind that contract.....it DOES suddenly become HER responsibility! So if you expect a breeder to be concerned enough about what she produces and sells, that she is considered reputable, honest, ethical, and can be reached at any time about any issue with that puppy for the LIFETIME of that puppy, dont you think it only follows that she is SINCERELY concerned enough to check up on her baby? She is tracking her breedings. If you do not want to communicate with your breeder, and just pay for your puppy and then ride off into the sunset, reconsider where you look for your pup....news paper ads, flea markets, garage sales, outside of shopping malls....this is the kind of puppy you will do best with, because as soon as your money has ended up in the pocket of the vendor, you will never hear from them again.....and dont expect your vendor to care what happens to you or your puppy as soon as you drive off!

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1

Just one little question for you and others that may feel this way (You have since been "educated" and know better!)....
When you purchase a puppy from a reputable breeder, you will get a health guarantee with your new puppy. If something goes wrong with that puppy, that is covered under that health guarantee, I am absolutely positive your "attitude" of "this is MINE and no longer YOUR responsibility", will change instantaneously!!!... you will contact that breeder to stand behind that contract.....it DOES suddenly become HER responsibility! So if you expect a breeder to be concerned enough about what she produces and sells, that she is considered reputable, honest, ethical, and can be reached at any time about any issue with that puppy for the LIFETIME of that puppy, dont you think it only follows that she is SINCERELY concerned enough to check up on her baby? She is tracking her breedings. If you do not want to communicate with your breeder, and just pay for your puppy and then ride off into the sunset, reconsider where you look for your pup....news paper ads, flea markets, garage sales, outside of shopping malls....this is the kind of puppy you will do best with, because as soon as your money has ended up in the pocket of the vendor, you will never hear from them again.....and dont expect your vendor to care what happens to you or your puppy as soon as you drive off!

Ha! Yes, it was basically a very selfish attitude. I want you there only when I need you, and don't want you bothering me at any other time.

As I said, thanks to YT, I now get where the breeder is coming from. ZoE came with a 5 year health guarantee, and she 's 4 years old now, so over the past four years I've grown accustomed to her breeder checking in with us from time to time. And ZoE has been healthy the whole time I've had her, other than a week bout with colitis, that wasn't breeder related at all, so I have a great appreciation for her breeder making sure she has breeding healthy stock.

As to riding into the sunset after a cash transaction and no further involvement...it's a catch 22...to get that, you shop at the places you mentioned, shops, flea markets, newspapers, etc. But who that loves the breed wants to support those types of breeders???

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

Ha! Yes, it was basically a very selfish attitude. I want you there only when I need you, and don't want you bothering me at any other time.

As I said, thanks to YT, I now get where the breeder is coming from. ZoE came with a 5 year health guarantee, and she 's 4 years old now, so over the past four years I've grown accustomed to her breeder checking in with us from time to time. And ZoE has been healthy the whole time I've had her, other than a week bout with colitis, that wasn't breeder related at all, so I have a great appreciation for her breeder making sure she has breeding healthy stock.

As to riding into the sunset after a cash transaction and no further involvement...it's a catch 22...to get that, you shop at the places you mentioned, shops, flea markets, newspapers, etc. But who that loves the breed wants to support those types of breeders???

I would be willing to bet you will hear from your breeder even after her health guarantee expires....maybe not as much, but I bet you can rest assured she is "lurking around" in the background, ever concerned about her baby, not because of any fear of health issues, but simply because she sincerely CARES and loves her precious little joy.

I would just like to say to anyone out there that is FORTUNATE enough to get a breeder that actually cares about her puppies and stays in contact with you, checking and just letting you know she actually DOES care and is not just badgering you until the ink is dry on the check......be patient and supportive of your breeder....you have fallen into a gold mine and may not even realize it! Even after the health guarantee, even after the pup is 6, 8, 10, 12 years old, she still cares about that baby as well as YOU....and she will be there for you and that puppy, regardless......that breeding is etched in her heart and she loves all it produced.

[gemy]

Magic will be 9yrs old in March. Every birthday we get a Happy Birthday card from his breeder.

She will contact me about once per year usually on his birthday to see how he is doing. Of course she too has been contacted by me about his various diagnoses over the years.

Razzman is 6yrs old, as his breeder is my trainer, I am in constant contact with her.

My puppy Dara, my breeder in Russia contacts often times Ilona, as they can talk in Russian about how Dara is doing. But she also contacts me about every 6mths especially if I am late with pictures or vids of Dara.