Has anyone bought a puppy without seeing it in person?
 

Hi. I am considering buying a puppy from a breeder that lives in a different state. I was wondering if anyone else had done this and what your experience was like? How can I ensure the breeder is legitmate and safely exchange payment for the puppy?

I personally would never do this. First off you need to she the living conditions. How is the baby being rasied, is the mommy on premises, is it a puppy mill posing as a caring breeder?

Also looks alone dont tell you about how you will react to the puppy and how the puppy will react to you. The only way to fall in love is to have it lick you face :D .

Sometimes buying from a out of state breeder without meeting them have good experiences and some bad. If you contacted him or her and ask them a few questions to make sure your making the right desicion.

But then if you still not sure ask them if you can have a few phone numbers from their previous purchasers and ask them if their experience with the breeder was good or bad and if they recommended them.

But if you still haven't decided yet. I know a breeder where I live, which is in Jacksonville, Florida.

I bought Lily without having seen her personally first. She is a joy and I don't think I got burned too bad. :rolleyes:

I bought Jewels without seeing her My breeder is an hour and a half away from me. She just told me about the female she had and I sent in a deposit for her.

I sure wouldn't ...But...you can do your own checks - like the BBB ...look on the Suspension list in the Breeders section....Also....you could put a post HERE asking anyone if they personally KNOW this breeder or have dealt with them - but you sure are taking a chance.

I would never buy a puppy I couldn't see first....but on the good side - Some people have done this and not been scammed... so it all depends on this breeders Ethics.

Many people will dissuade you from buying a pup from an out-of-state breeder without first seeing the pup and its living conditions. They are right, it can be a risky proposition and you need to exercise great care and diligently research what you're doing. We bought our Sophie from an out-of-state online breeder (who shall remain nameless because we were mercilessly hammered about this on another yorkie chatroom and I don't want to subject myself to that kind of attack again). We were fortunate and had a good experience. We had several lengthy phone conversations with the breeder before making the purchase and also had several phone consultations post-purchase (we're first-time dog parents). Sophie is healthy, thriving, weighs 5.5 lbs, and just celebrated her 2nd birthday last week. She also comes with an AKC-champion pedigree (both sire and dam and grandparent). Given the risks that you might face with out-of-state breeders, it's far preferable to buy your pup via an in-person situation. Meet the breeder, visit the home, see the dam, siblings, living conditions, etc. If you live in a state where this is easier to do than it is in NYC, then by all means, go that route. Good luck, and I'm sure you'll find your own special little angel!

When I purchased Carter and Sebastian, I had not seen them except in photographs, however, I did meet the breeder at a halfway point and made the exchange in person without the exchange of a deposit beforehand. At the meeting place, I could have not accepted the pup but that didn't happen.

Carter was a dream . . . I loved him the moment I saw him . . . he was just shy of 6 months old so weight and coat type were evident.

With Sebastian, I trusted the same breeder and talked to her about what I was looking for in a yorkie for my oldest daughter. She sent me the pics of two males she had and I chose the one I liked the "type".

Cooper came from this very same breeder and he was given to me with the exchange of no money . . . he was a freebie.

For me, it worked out . . . . but it doesn't mean it will always work out.

I wouldn't do that. I would rather travel to see the puppy. I haven't purchased a puppy yet, but I traveled 7-8 hrs away to meet the breeder and her dogs (like 15 of them, parents, puppies etc) just to get to know them. Then that was the way to finalize decision about whom I want to buy a yorkie from. I also like the fact that this breeder doesn't ask for deposit so you can really see the pup and get to decide. I mean I am not suggesting to do how I do it but I would be scared to just mail order a dog.

I bought Chewy sight unseen and boy, did I get lucky! I would maybe do it again from my breeder but certainly not from anyone else. It's a really hard call to make because it could be a total dream or a total disaster.

I second V, you could post here asking about certain breeders. You would be surprised at how far reaching YT can be!

Same for me and I surely lucked out. Knowing better, I was browsing Yorkies on the Interent, we already had 3,,,I came across a breeder in Texas with a picture of a pup I just fell in love with. Didnt want to ship him alone so my Daughter bought his littermate. They arrived with no problem. :thumbup:

I bought Coco based on her pictures and speaking to the breeder. I never saw her in person because she was almost clear across the country. I researched the breeder, and asked to see pictures of her home, her dogs, ect. I feel that I am very intuitive about people and I got a great vibe from her. I even Prayed about it and felt I got the answer I needed. She flew 6.5 hours to me. I have a gorgeous, beautiful and most important healthy little girl that I wouldn't trade for any little puppy in the world. She's perfect in her demeanor, and disposition. She's just a doll. Very good experience.

You do not need to see the puppy in person. They will most likely all look the same depending on the size of their parents. If parents are small, the pup will have a certain look. If parents are larger (7lbs) you will see the difference.
Yorkies are crazy and fun, so if you see 10 of them, they will probably "perform" for you the same way.
Get one from a breeder on here, or someone who can direct you to one they got theirs from. I got mine shipped to Cayman and then I picked one from Miami. It was the same breeder and same-sized parents. They looked identical, the only difference was the lack of male "extension".
So, do not feel discouraged if you do not find one around. Have one shipped, but do ask for papers, guarantees, shots, pics of parents, its own pix (maybe throughout development), weight at different points and do not get one before they are 11-12 weeks.
Good luck.

I might buy from a breeder without seeing a pup in person only if I have known the breeder very well.

I bought my little guy without seeing him in person...only from pictures. I talked with the breeder constantly and we meet in my hometown (she was visiting her mother and they had lived there most of their lives and the breeder had even went to school with some of my relatives)....anyway, no money was exchanged until all of the paperwork was gone through and all was good to go. I couldn't have asked for a better experience, breeder or situation and definitely a better baby!!!! We have had no health problems (genetic) and we have the AKC papers with the parents and grandparents listed. Now, I might not to this again with another breeder, but probably would again with the one we used.

I bought Ruby without seeing her (i wouldn't recommend it) but I lucked out because Ruby is beautiful and she has the sweetest personality. The breeder sent pictures (that were actually Ruby) but you can't always trust a breeder sending you a pic over the interent and actually counting on it being the dog your getting.
The breeder lives 5 hours away from me and we ended up meeting half way when i brought Ruby home.

I have purchased all of my fur kids past and present from breeders w/ photos. I have had a 99% positive experience.

My belief is building a report w/ the breeder. My feelings is that you are not just adopting a Yorkie but the relationship w/ the fur babies breeder in hopes to last a lifetime.

Doing your homework is so very important.

No, I have not done this and would only do this if I built a relationship with a breeder and trusted them.

Life hasnt been the same...
 

I had put down my last poodle, four days, before I received Chelsea. A friend, had a friend that wanted to give her Yorkie up for adoption. She bought her for $600 from a local breeder, but quickly found out the breed wasnt for her, way too active. The friend told her, I had just put down my poodle and she wanted to know, if I would take Chelsea, sight unseen.

14 months later, life hasnt been the same....LOL!

Chelsea'sMOM :aimeeyork

I have heard good and bad things about this.
If you can't go check out the puppy, maybe someone can go for you.
I would do a breeder check, this way you know for sure you're
not dealing with a backyard breeder.
Good luck to you! :)

i bought BOBO and Harley with just a [picture and talking and talking to the breeeder would i do it again yes if i liked what i saw. they both came from same breeder in MO. and they are the sweetest babies i got.

i bought maisy from a breeder in Iowa and i live in Florida. It may seem crazy but we called the breeder and talked to her every night for about a week or two. we fell in love with the pictures of maisy & the breeder and her family were soooo nice. I didn't have any problems..maisy got shipped on the air conditioned part of South West..i think..maybe it was Northwest airlines and we picked her up and she sent nutrical and some food with her. We got some papers with her and the others came 2 days later in the mail! i didn't have any problems whatsoever and still keep in touch with the breeder & her family..we went them a christmas card and email her alot!

I went and looked at both of mine before i bought them... I don't think i could buy one without looking at it.

I have purchsed four yorkies in the last year. Three I got locally in Califonia but one I purchased from a breeder in Texas.

My Princess Chai was advertised on Puppyfind.com and her picture was sooooo cute...I couldn't resist...unfortunatley about 45 other people felt the same and I had to convince her breeder that my home was the best place for her. She turned me down at first because I had bigger dogs and children. I wrote her a novel via email about my lifestyle, the fact that all of my dogs are extremely well trained and that my youngest child was 13 at the time.

I spent a lot of time with the breeder on the phone and email and I spoke directly to her vet who raved about her. I could tell from the fact that she wouldn't let her go until she was 15 weeks and 2 lbs and had a heath certificate from the vet as well as how many instructions she gave that I could trust her.

I would suggest using a Puppy Escrow to avoid scams regarding money in long distance transactions if you are not sure.

I was looking at a puppy some time later from another breeder near Dallas and I asked a fellow YT member if she would go check her out for me but that never happened. That might be an option is to have someone from YT go see the conditions, parents, puppies etc and maybe even take video and pictures!!

Good luck!

Check them out
 

I think that if you ask a breeder for references from others who have bought from them and also check them out with their vet and even the BBB, you should be able to make a choice then on if you can or can not trust them. Ask tons of questions about their pups and the parents. Check on weights, over bite, under bite and so on. Make sure there is no history of Liver Shunt in their breeding program and you can not only ask the breeder but their vet also. Do allot of reasearch and then if you feel comfortable go for it. :D

Yes and no. I got my baby from out-of-state but the breeder and I met half way. She promised the puppy to me and posted it on her website that the puppy was sold to me (with my name listed) without having me put down a deposit. She said she would not sale her to me if she doesn't feel comfortable with me when we meet and I don't have to take her if I don't like her for any reason. That's why she wouldn't take a deposit. And from that I know she really care about her puppy (she and her hubby drove about 5 hours one way to meet with me). Thankfully they like me and I get to take my puppy home.

Would I have done it without seeing the puppy or more importantly where the puppies lived? Yes, I would if I know the breeder or if I feel that I can trust her. Since my breeder has retired, I maybe in your shoes next time. Thanksfully, I have found very good breeder here on YT and I think I would turn to them when the time comes.

Good luck with your puppy hunting and be careful out there. If something sounds too good to be true, run. There are too many scam out there these days.

I bought my Taylah from a breeder right here on YT. Without seeing her in person first.. the breeder was very thorough, and I knew she was the one and never wish I did it differently. :D

I bought both my girls sight unseen from a breeder out of state. Pups were only 1 day old when I sent a deposit. I DID have a nervous phase but everything turned out OK. I did do a big search about her and anything I could find about her, and found only good things so I felt pretty safe. My girls were not show pups but VERY well socialized and both sweet as pie with no health problems(knock on wood). The breeder NEVER tried to give me a hard sell and never promised anything but sweet girls and that is what i got!!!!! She also only charged me actual shipping which is a rarity nowadays!!!!!!

I got my Oliver from someone out of state and am sooooo happy. I don't think I could have picked a puppy with a better personality if i tried. That said... I don't think I would do it again unless it was through a referral from soneone I knew and trusted. I was a nervous wreck that everything would not work out ok, and that I would end up getting screwed :( I tried to do lots of research, but you never know... some people are great with smoke and mirrors!