Right thing? I think so!

[jasmanea]

I had a "buyer" from one of my previous litters almost a year and a 1/2 ago calls me last night for a puppy.
I say "buyer" because she came and looked at my puppies and brought her two small children with her. She didn't get the chance to buy one from me. I don't discriminate, but let's just say I am not fond of tiny children around my tinies now because of this incident.
Background: Anyway I was going over the contract with her, since she had decided on a little girl and her daughter reaches over and picks up a baby ((not the one she wanted to purchase)) . She looked around 3 years old. Well before I could open my mouth she drops the baby. I say OMGosh and the lady seemed a little miffed. This is what she said "oh she didn't hurt "it", it's just a dog. It will be fine. " Ok well I looked at this lady and told her "you know I don't think this is going to be a good fit, and put my paperwork aside! She just stared at me, grabbed her daughters and left.
When she called, she stated that she was interested in purchasing a pup and hopefully we can forget about the incident. She said and I quote " I just had a rough day". Well I didn't want to lie since I do have babies that will be ready in December...so I said " I'm sorry I don't have any babies available-try the classifieds" She said thanks and hung up. I will have babies ready the end of the December, but I DO NOT want this lady to own one of them and WILL NOT give her one. I believe this is the right thing to do. Any comments on how I could tactfully fend her off if she sees my ad where I always advertise? I usually make friends with the people I meet so this is a bit new to me, but I also feel like a mom to my babies while I have them! I know she is always searching because she told me she hasn't seen an ad for me in "so long"

[tiggerr36792]

Be honest and tell her your not comfortable placing one of your babies in her home. It is your responsibility to protect the puppies and place them in a home you feel is best for them. I wouldn't feel comfortable if that happened in my home either, so I think your doing the right thing. Honesty is always the best way to go!

[Sugar's Mom]

i don't advocate lying either but you have to do what is right for your puppies and I would have done the same thing about not placing a puppy with her. I usually tell them outright why.. people that are looking to buy really get on my nerves sometimes. I had a lady call the other day aand I had talked with her before. She caught me at a bad time and I flat out told her not to call me anymore because i am not going to sell her one of mine.Then I had one listed for 600 and someone said it was "too pricey". Instead of telling her that mine usually sell for 1,500 with no problem, I just didn't say anything. But I thought it.

[jp4m2]

I understand why you did it, and I don't blame you. Those pups are your responsibility and too bad if someone gets miffed when told no...You did fine....This kind of thing will always happen when placing pups. Your going to have to hurt feelings, but too bad....If she calls again just repeat what you already told her...In your opinion this is not a good fit, and it's your opinion that counts.....Good luck.....


I just wondered, if this woman is determined to get a up from you she could always have a friend or relative pretend they wanted one and just give it to her....I hope this doesn't happen for that pups sake.....

[jasmanea]

Well I do like the comment about telling her I just don't feel comfortable. I don't have any puppies available right now.. This is true... they are simply still incubating LOL...

Oh for the 600$ price tag- too pricey??? you have got too be kidding. LOL .
You should have told her that she might be able to buy a yorkie mix for that.
$600.00 is a super price IMO
If I could have bought 4 of yours for what I paid for one of mine J/k I woudn't give my baby up for the world!

[jasmanea]

"I understand why you did it, and I don't blame you. Those pups are your responsibility and too bad if someone gets miffed when told no...You did fine....This kind of thing will always happen when placing pups. Your going to have to hurt feelings, but too bad....If she calls again just repeat what you already told her...In your opinion this is not a good fit, and it's your opinion that counts.....Good luck.....


I just wondered, if this woman is determined to get a up from you she could always have a friend or relative pretend they wanted one and just give it to her....I hope this doesn't happen for that pups sake....."

You know my husband brought that up as well last night and has me a bit worried. I think I will be extra careful in screening the individual. But how to you fend off that type of person? Maybe I will ask 101 questions!!

[bildio]

When someone calls with questions or to make an appointment to see the pups, ask if they have young children. If yes, tell them small size Yorkies are very fragile, and can be easily hurt, etc. If something happened to the pup it would be bad not only for the pup, but for the child. Tell them, therefore, you don't sell to families with small children.

This is basically what happend to me when I was first looking for a Yorkie, and I understood.

[Cocoabeaner]

Petfinder.com often has dogs with a note "children must me 12 or older" or something similar. You could do something like that.

Although I have a 7, 10, and 11 year old who are great with our Yorkie. I do have to continually educate the 7 year old on being calm and gentle with Cocoa. But if you advertise "12 and older" you could always make an exception for a family that you felt good about.

[jasmanea]

Those are some really good ideas! Thanks

[Yorkiedaze]

When I was on United Yorkie Rescue ( I was regional director) I would get the applications to screen. I did the background check and would get volunteers to do home checks. I would then go over everything before calling to tell them either they were accepted or not. I was very honest as to why they were not chosen. I think that's the best way to go.
You did the right thing in not selecting the family that is for sure, but just be honest if she calls back.

[C C Kent]

While there is no reason to go out of your way to offend this lady there is also no reason to apologize for your decision to not place your puppy in a home you are not comfortable with.

The problem is not that a home with children is a bad home, it's that a home with unsupervised children is a bad home.

[jasmanea]

wonderful point !!

[Darlin Beauxs]

I don't feel you lied at all--you don't have pups available RIGHT NOW.

The lady's statement that it is "Just a Dog" summed up her whole attitude. The puppy would have been poked, prodded, and dropped by her bratty kid.

My best friend's sister has kids like this. Her son got tired of playing nice with the "chuck it" with Cooper, so he started slinging it like a sword atr Cooper who was flinching and cowering to the ground. Great fun huh?

When I took it away he cried, and Mama pretty much ordered me to let him play with it to keep him quiet. i told her no because she wouldn't want to see how fast I could sling it on his little butt if he hit my dog!

[sullysmum]

I wouldnt give her one of my dogs either and im afraid i would have gone berserk when the kid dropped the puppy, shes lucky you were so nice!

[purpledaffodil]

I think it shows you are a good breeder if you are picky about who you sell too.

I help my mother sell her sometimes and meat potential people and she always tells me to be picky. We had one lady come and kept commenting on how she wanted a tiny tiny yorkie. She said she wished they would stay puppies and even asked if we had a scale to weight them. She kept getting miffed that they were biting her shoelaces and wouldn't even snuggle with them...just picked them up and looked at them and put them back down. When she mentioned breeding them I told her that they did not come with breeding rights and they would probably be too small and it wouldnt be healthy for them. She asked me how I would know if she breed them after she took it home and I couldnt tell her what to do with her dog. She said she'd call back, when she did I told her we didnt feel comfortable selling her a dog and she hung up on me.