Question about selling pups
 

Do legitimate breeders use props to advertise their pups for sale? I'm talking about putting them in cups or little cribs or putting tiaras on them? Could these props be a clue that this person is a broker? Just wondering.

Just my opinion, but I think that putting them in cups is criminal and a sign that they are not breeding puppies to improve the breed. I think dressing them up is okay, provided that they're not showing any signs of discomfort. Personally, I'd rather see a picture of the puppy in his or her birthday suit (naked) so I can get a better idea of how they really look. Hopefully a good breeder will chime in.

I agree. I've also read of breeders doing lots of pictures of pups in necklaces and bows and someone saying the bought pup number 6 and then the breeder would have the same pictures up a year later. People are always complaining the pup they got, looks nothing like the one in the ad. A good breeder isn't a salesman, she doesn't breed that much that she has to entice people to buy her pups. In fact, the buyer is the one that has to prove to the breeder that she'll make a good pet owner. Whether it's a breeder or broker who does this, I would look elsewhere.

Hmmm...I just don't see a broker taking the time to bother with all that. It's not real easy to get a pup to pose the way I've seen some of them...and a broker is usually turning pups over on a quicker basis, so it would seem it would not be worth their time.

Some people just think it's cute, so they think someone else will think it's cute. Honestly, the only time I've "posed" a pup is when I'm keeping the pup, not selling it.

They often use the same pictures over and over, and brokers don't have to do much besides list the pup and have it delivered, for large sums of money. Anything to sell as many pups as possible. Brokers work with mulitiple breeders.

I dont think you should automatically write off a breeder that uses cutsie props in their pics to show case their little dogs....some people like decorating things up, embellishing the photos....I used to do that, putting my babies on Rose petals and nestled among roses....and my mentor refused to use the pics....she always says, "are you selling the puppy or selling flowers??...loose the props...people are not interested in coke cans, flowers, pearl necklaces and cutsie dresses....they are wanting to see the puppy....you dont want people to think you are 'hiding a deformity in their legs, hips or back under that dress.....I wont be using that", and she absolutely throws my pics out and will only use the ones she thinks "advertise what people are looking for, the puppy"......I did get her to agree to use my pups on a blanket that has my kennel name on it, to try to keep thieves from stealing my pics and using them to sell pups on Craigs list, or Ebay or where ever.....but she ends cropping the name off anyway, so I just gave up. Some people just like to do cutsie things in their pics and while everything my mentor told me COULD be true, dont hold it agains the breeder if she has a little bit of "Stella Dallas" in her personality, and she isnt fortunate enough to have MY mentor, keeping her on the rails!!!!!! Base the quality of the breeder on other really important attributes.

"Stella's Dallas". What a hoot. The only other person I ever heard who used that name was my mom who happened to be from near the Dallas area. Lololol
Thanks for the remberance.

I'd say NO! A good breeder, selling a quality dog, so shouldn't need to dress it up with all that junk.

Personally, I think it looks tacky, but that could be because there is a rediculous BYB near me that always advertises locally with those garish type of photos.

LOL, I only recommend breeders who had good mentors!

Your mentor is in my head!!! I definitely just want to see the puppy.

Before I bought my male, Fritz, I found a website called Familyyorkies.com in Marietta, Ga. I spoke to the breeder (or so I thought) several times and put a deposit down on the most precious baby boy. We discussed which puppy I wanted, exactly which picture I was talking about, of which there weren't that many. He assured me that my puppy was healthy and would be ready to go home with me in 2 weeks.
It was a VERY long 2 weeks and finally the day came. I felt like it was meant to be as they were located so close to my home. I went to pick him up and the guy at the house was showing a Maltese to another buyer. He brought out this monster puppy already about 3-4 lbs. my puppy was supposed to be about 2 lbs at the time. It was a completely different dog. I told him the dog he was handing me was not the dog we agreed on and not the one in the photo, which I happened to have as my screen saver on my phone. He said, "Yes it is they have the same markings."
Well I'm not stupid, I was definitely not up to speed on the greeder business and their underhanded ways, but I know one yorkie from another. I walked away without my puppy and went home VERY SAD. They still have the same picture on their website.

I think that while for me personally, unless I knew the breeder well, cutsey photos, with ribbons n bows, or teacups or some such thing, would immediately turn me off.

They could be a great breeder, but if that what is what hits my eyes front and center when I click onto a website; I would just pass.

If I don't see health concerns of Yorkies, a health guarantee, the registered names of their Championed dogs, then I pass.

But I am a tad old fashioned; and truly like to do business with the folks I know, or at the least a recommendation from a breeder I know and trust.

For me the relationships between me and my breeder is of great importance.

I expect them to be an expert in the breed; and one capable of supporting me and my pup over their lifetime.

When I was in my teens and I wanted to put a necklace and then earrings, a matching bracelet, my momma would always say, "JUDY ANN!!! You cant DO that!! You will be looking like Stella Dallas!!!" I heard that all my life....anytime I "over embellished" anything or liked anything that was "gaudy" or "cobbled up", momma always said "..just like Stella Dallas!" I got the movie just to see what in the world Stella Dallas loved to do....and she always "over did" make up and jewelry and hats with things hanging down....all flashy and glitzy and over done....! That was such a sad movie.....she just tried so hard to do right and fix stuff up just right, and it never worked out for her.....

This is where my Rory is from. I would never recommend this guy, and I fully admit to being uneducated and heartbroken (after losing my bullmastiff) when I got her. He is what I now realize is a broker and tells some song and dance about his brother/cousin/friend whatever who breeds the dogs up in Tennessee, and he sells them. That's code for a puppy mill obviously. I was so dumb, dumb, dumb! I love Rory with all my heart, but once I became educated I was horrified knowing what I had contributed to, and I still think of what her mother's life must have been like (one of the reasons I specifically sought out a puppy mill rescue (Lane) when we wanted another pup). :( Rory is a bigger yorkie, floppy ears, and has PLE/suspected lymphangiectasia. She's adorable in my eyes, but far from meeting the standard. She'll be 6 in August, and those stupid Sponge Bob pictures were on the website when I got her. And in case I didn't make it clear, I was so STUPID! Ugh, I get mad at myself every time I think about it.

I'm so glad you knew better and didn't give this guy any business.

My mentor is TOUGH!!!! But she KNOWS her stuff...she can prattle off pedigrees, dog by dog, for at least 18 generations...used to be able to go farther back than that, but she has forgotten all that since she never uses it anymore....I wish I could transplant her brain into my head, at least the part where all the Yorkie stuff is stored!! but, I will tell you this...she has no tolerance for people that "dont pay their dues" and expect to just step into breeding Yorkies without paying their dues, just like most dedicated, devout breeders that have been doing this for 35-40 years.... These people that come on here and then run away because they got their "feelings hurt" because someone may have been brutally honest with them....my mentor would throw them into a total psychological melt down! She is a wonderful, generous woman, but there is only one thing important to her....it is all about the dogs...she could care less about you and your "hurt feelings".....she has yelled and hollered and insulted me, and made me cry on more than one occasion.....but when she gets finished with you, by golly, you have learned from one of the best.....and then she comes softly and will praise you for something you did, that you probably would have never guess she had even noticed......