About having puppy customers in your home---

[linda44]

Ive only had 3 litters, but I tried to find local owners, I tried to screen them best I could first, you know besides the gut feeling, where do they work etc. tried to gather as much info as possible. Always made sure hubby was there, and only once when they arrived I had a bad feeling at the door, told them I changed my mind, not for sale. But I too have no problem saying no Im not selling them if I didnt feel comfortable they were getting a good home. So far all but one puppy I have contact with all the new parents and get updates about puppies. I even got to babysit. I think if I ever breed in the future, I will also install cameras.

[magicgenie]

Occasionally someone has asked to see where my dogs live, which is actually various parts of my house---pregnant and nursing dams are in the bedrooms, weaned puppies in kitchen and foyer, most everyone else in basement. I hate taking people to the basement--I have a pretty house, but it's 120 years old and basement unfinished and ugly. It's the safest and most fun part of the house for my adult dogs because it's big and has direct access to back garden, and is easiest to keep clean, but it's an old, unattractive space. I should learn to say NO a little better. If someone can't tell by the entrance foyer that my dogs live well, it's probably useless to show them around.

[Sugar's Mom]

Originally Posted by magicgenie

Occasionally someone has asked to see where my dogs live, which is actually various parts of my house---pregnant and nursing dams are in the bedrooms, weaned puppies in kitchen and foyer, most everyone else in basement. I hate taking people to the basement--I have a pretty house, but it's 120 years old and basement unfinished and ugly. It's the safest and most fun part of the house for my adult dogs because it's big and has direct access to back garden, and is easiest to keep clean, but it's an old, unattractive space. I should learn to say NO a little better. If someone can't tell by the entrance foyer that my dogs live well, it's probably useless to show them around.

Well, my dogs are gated in my living room and gated away from the front door so their space is the first area people see when they come. They have no business touring my home. i do have my puppy x-pen in my bedroom but only bring out the puppy I am selling plus the mama who is in there with them. my other dogs are running around in the living room.

[scrapindee]

I do reference checking prior to anyone coming to my house. My husband is always home and has the rest of the dog family upstairs with him. Prospective buyers get to see Mom, the dad if he is here, and the puppy. Sometimes if I have an older sibling from the parents, I will let the buyers see the sib.

95% of the time, by the time I allow someone to come here, we have emailed and spoken on the phone for a period of time. Many of my buyers are repeaters or referrals from previous buyers which helps.

[ButterflyYorkie]

Originally Posted by EmrldShdwQueen

Wow! They just came to your house!! 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.

Yes Nicki it was someone local to us. It still upsets her to this day.

[loveyorks]

When my daughter bought her black lab, the breeder came to her house with 3 of the pups she had available (they were all 10 weeks old) and stayed for about an hour chatting and getting to know her hubby and her. She left with the 3 pups and asked her to call when she was ready. Then she went to the breeder to pick up the pup she had chosen, that's when she got to see the parents. At the time I thinking (like most people) that the breeder probably wanted to hide something, but after reading all the threads I now understand a lot better and bottom line I would do the exact same thing. Much safer this way, it allows you to size up the people that are interested, lets you see the living conditions of where the pup will be going. I never realized how hairy it could get.

[altigger74]

When my girls have their babies I have talked to my vet about meeting buyers at his office. He is going to come to my house to see how they are living and being treated so that he can vouch for me with buyers. There are too many babies being stolen from homes so I will be meeting prospective buyers at his office.