Your plan sounds good but keep in mind that some people cannot climb stairs. I have had some elderly people come to my home that could hardly climb the 3 steps to come into my home (our home is an older home on blocks). There have been a few here that scared me to death that they would fall. Most of the time I just meet people at our antique shop, it is so much less stressful for my dogs at home and for me. I have never had any problems with my puppy buyers meeting me there, I actually think they feel more comfortable.

As for the questionnaire, many people just lie and tell you what they think you want to hear. I have caught many of them in lies after doing a lot of questioning. I have some get very rude and mad when I question them but that is their tough luck, if they don't like it they can go somewhere else.

I'm that way too. I'm extremely shy, and it's much easier for me to talk to someone online or on the phone several times before they come to my home to talk in person.

One thing I've found is that everyone seems to want to come and see the babies, even newly born, and I'm just not going to let that happen. I had someone last week that came to see Brooke's babies (she has a deposit on one), and she wanted to see Arianna, who was only a week old at the time. I had to tell her no, I'm just not going to bring a newborn down and expose them to god knows what. And I don't even let them touch the puppies anyways until after they've had AT LEAST one shot. I waited until Brooke's pups were 5/6 weeks old before I even brought them downstairs for anyone to see, and I had them in a basket on my hip and kept several feet away, just letting them look at the pups. I don't even think I'm going to do that anymore, just wait until they're 8 weeks old before anyone even SEES them, other than in pics.

I hadn't really thought about that. I suppose if there is someone who can't climb the stairs, I can bring them out front in an xpen or they can see them in the foyer (although it's not very large). I don't really have anywhere to meet people, maybe I should look into a place. This is all starting to make me much more wary, especially now that I'm going to be living several miles out in the middle of nowhere.

Unfortunately I do know people lie in the questionnaire, and I caught someone who had a deposit on one of Brooke's pups in a lie, so I gave her back her deposit and asked her to go somewhere else. I think she was going to try and breed the puppy in the future, and these are going to be 2/3 lb pups. I question people too, I have had several people mad already. I posted a thread about it awhile ago. I'm like you, I don't really care what people think...what are they going to do? Tell people that I ask too many questions? lol these are my dogs I have to protect, and I'll do it however I need to. The sad truth is though, you never really know what could happen to your pups. You do the BEST you can screening applicants and placing them in good homes, but you just NEVER know for sure. It's a horrible world we live in, and it's getting worse every single day...:(

Nicki, I agree with you. I won't show my puppies to anyone before they are 7 or 8 weeks old. I can send them plenty of pictures of the puppies and parents. I always tell everyone that all new born yorkies look the same.

Here's that thread I was talking about: http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/bre...idding-me.html

I agree with you all 100% !

What I hate is, if I decided to meet people outside my home.....then you are labeled as trying to hide something, when in fact you are protecting something!

I'm very private too. I let them see the mom and dad and the pups that are FOR SALE. They do not to see the ones that are not, nor do they need to see my other dogs.

I also send them pictures via email. I send ALOT :) because I know I'd like alot. That way they can still see the pup. But I don't let people come see them till after thier first shots as well.

I even make my step son wash his hands before touching them.

I remember reading that thread. I have had some people do the same thing to me. I have had them tell me if they are going to pay $1,000 for a dog then they should be able to do anything they want with it. It is so funny when people call and I ask if they are interesting in breeding and they say 'No', then I say good, because mine are sold with limited AKC registration, then they get off the phone really quick.

Mike's mom breeds Ragdolls (cats). I know that she brought the cats upstairs into her living room when she was showing them. I know her husband was there most of the time, but one time he wasn't and she begged us to come down and spend the night. Which we did. Her husband is actually finishing up their basement which is where her cattery is, so then she doesn't need to bring people through her house, just the basement.

Mike and I plan to breed the puppies when they are old enough. I've been thinking long and hard about how I want to show people the puppies. By the time we breed our two we will be in an apartment or a small house.

I've thought about doing that--setting a limit on the number of people who can come. Personally, I think the adult members of a house hold should make the decision. I don't have children and don't want other peoples' kids in my house. My house is set up for the comfort and safety of my dogs, nobody else.

No one except hubby and myself are allowed anywhere near my puppies until they have had that first shot. Hubby only goes in the room and sees them about one a week. of course, he does help whelp them.

new owner home inspection
 

i would love to inspect a new owners home and require certain things..
dream on:)
i guess that is asking too much.... start with a high asking price and deduct for assets like a fenced in yard, doggy door.. and find out what they know about cesar milans teachings... just a dream ..to find perfect forever families for my future :aimeeyork:animal36:animal-pa:)babies..

I totally agree with this statement!!!

A few years ago I had a phone call from some local people. My ans machine picked it up..I had three new born puppies and wasn't showing pups at that time. To top it off I had conjunctivitis (pink eye) in both eyes. One hour later their was this teenage boy standing on my front porch about to knock looking in, mini van full of the rest of the family sitting in the drive. It was a pretty day and I had the front door open so we could see out the glass screen door...my mistake that day... so I go to the door where my yorkies were all gathered barking at him and he said they just called and didn't get an answer so they looked up my number to find my address and decided to ride out. There I'm standing looking like someone has punched me in both eyes trying to get these people to understand I wasn't seeing anyone right then. I told him the puppies I had were too young to be shown and even if they weren't I only took appointments. I asked him to call me back in a few weeks and we could talk. Little smarty had the nerve to say sounds like somethings fishy here, do you want to sell a puppy or not? Everyone is sitting in the van with the windows down trying to hear what I was saying.
I won't repeat what I did say after his statement.
I also have a friend who had some puppies available. She allowed a family to come out and view them. She had another puppy in a playpen next to them that she made very clear was not available and not to be touched. A teenage kid took it upon himself to pick the puppy up anyway when the adults were not looking and he dropped it.
She didn't sell them any puppy. She has the same attitude as me..if I don't want to sell to someone, I won't.

Being a future Biewer breeder this topic concerns me too. I'm sure I will have the curiosity seekers who just want to see what they look like and those who will want to bring family and friends. I can't tolerate unruly children on a good day much less when there is a litter of small puppies involved! My husband is always home though so I do have that security...and we have a small home so I can keep an eye on things. I know the puppy application is a good thing and a home inspection is even better, or at least proof that they live there and drive by but what about letting them leave with a pup? I mean, do you let a good person leave with a pup on their first visit or do you have everyone take a first look, leave a deposit and come back after the application process? Biewers are very pricey but that doesn't insure a great home either...that's how I got my third girl. The lady who got her didn't take care of her ane wanted to bring her back so I stepped in and bought her before she put an ad in the paper and let her go to just anyone.

Wow! They just came to your house!! :eek: That's crazy, I would've never answered the door at all, even if they saw me lol. Nobody is coming to my house unless I invite them. I guess that's all the more reason not to put my actual address on anything. I use my cell phone as a contact, and it's not linked to my new address at all. I don't know...maybe they could find it through AKC? I would've been so upset.

And what happened to your friend...I would've smacked him. Was that somebody around here too? I can't believe he touched it when she clearly said NO. That's exactly why nobody is ever going into the room where I keep my dogs except me. I will bring the puppies out to see them that are available, and bring the parents up to see them. Other than that, absolutely not. If they have a problem with me not letting them see where the puppies are kept, I will walk downstairs with a digital camera and take pictures of the area so they can see...and walk back upstairs and show them. That's the best I can do.

i wouldnt let anyone come to my home just to look at a puppy... i would make a decision about them before they knew where i lived.. telephone interview and home inspection of them..i dont trust anyone..:aimeeyork