Question for other breeders/buyers on deposits

[Tink]

Once I have a confirmed pregnancy, I generally accept 4 deposits for the upcoming litter. I get more when the litter is delivered and I know how many pups I actually have to offer. So the problem comes in when I've got the 4 first choice buyers lined up and waiting to choose their pups... and others wanting to put down a deposit but not knowing which pups will be available after the first 4 have chosen.

I know I can't be the only one dealing with this so am looking for a better way to handle it. I've been giving until the end of the 5th week for the reserved buyers to choose so it's a long 6 weeks for the others.

Any helpful ideas?

[rabidpecan]

I personally think that what you're doing now is just fine. I'm waiting on a puppy now, and I know that I have third choice out of her five females. I'm fully aware that it will be a while before I get to choose, but it doesn't bother me in the least. Besides, I figure that the older they get before I choose, the more informed my decision will be because their personalities and coat types will become more obvious every day.

The only time I can see your method being a problem is if there are mixed colors in the litter and someone way down the line wants a specific color. But if they're going to be picky then they're going to have to realize they may have to wait longer.
The way I see it........Even if you wait until the litter is born to take deposits, you're still going to have four people who contacted you before all the rest, and they're still going to have the first choices. It's just a fact of life..."First come, first serve".

[Kendra NVL]

we dont allow our customers to pick their puppy. I ask my customers to tell me about what they would like in their dog and what they wouldnt like in their dogs. I have been selecting puppies for my customer for years this way, I have never selected the wrong puppy for a family.

I know my puppies better than a one time visit from a customer~

Customers will sometimes tell me that they like this puppy over that puppy and I always take that into consideration.

[Lucee&Rusty]

We filled out an application when getting Lucee saying what colour, size, temperament etc we wanted.
The breeder picked our puppy for us. We never got to see our puppy before delivery due to being so far away.
The breeder knows her pups better than I would from a short visit.
Also on this application is a statement saying if you want a precise sex, colour & size eg; a miniature red fleece female you maybe waiting a lot longer than someone who is requesting a medium doodle and they don't care what the colour is.
There is an application fee when you submit the form (long before any puppy is born).
When a litter is born and the breeder thinks there is a suitable puppy in it for you, she contacts you.
The actual allocation of which puppy is yours is not done till the pups are 6wks old.
As a buyer I was very happy with this process.

Many, many years ago we picked out a border collie puppy from a litter.
We realized soon after bringing her home, that we had picked the alpha dog of the litter.
Tess was a beautiful dog and lived with us for nearly 16 yrs but looking back, having small children at the time, it would have been nice to have a more easy going dog.

[M&Tdoodles]

We get an email list of people very interrested in our pups months before they are born.

When they are born we send out a mass emailing of the news with photos.

People who have changed their minds or who have obtained another puppy elsewhere are given the chance to bow out at this time.

Once they are 4 weeks, the people on the list enter our home and choose a puppy.

Then the deposit is accepted. The pups are chosen first come first serve.

We never accept money beforehand, and all the deposits are refundable if anything should happen in their lives.

Well being of pups come first without any added pressures.

It may not be the best "BUSINESS' practice, but it has worked out beautifully for us so far.

[Tink]

Thanks all.
It's interesting how differently we each work things.
I've had quite a few people come to meet the parents prior to breeding, which they hadn't before. Some come to meet the dogs and then tell me they'll wait for a specific favorite dam to have a litter. (Ava is usually a BIG hit so far) lol Chip has yet to fail to win anyone over thank goodness. I think it's rather neat that they're making such an effort to choose the right pups.

Most often I really enjoy meeting everyone and introducing them to my dogs, and it's good for the dogs in that they've gotten used to a lot of different people visiting and checking them out. Hopefully this will help eliminate or at least lessen any anxiety they might have when we're handling their pups later on. They're all getting very sociable! Even Hickory is carefully approaching strangers now to get pet. I also like this because while they're checking out the dogs I get to check them out.

I guess part of my "thing" is that I would love to be able to say "yes" to every deserving person who comes and I simply can't. So telling them they have to wait and can't necessarily have the pup they want because several others get to choose first is hard for me. Of course the alternative would be not to allow deposits and not to let anyone choose until they're ready to leave, but I don't know that THAT is in the best interest of the pups. Certain buyers (such as those planning to train for therapy etc) I really don't want to put off as I love seeing my pups go to them.

So maybe there is no one perfect solution... but I love hearing how others operate.

[blueteal]

I know when I was choosing Denver I was 5th in line and
I had to send in my 3 or 4 top choices...........I really needed my breeders help with choosing Denver as he was my first Doodle and I did not have a clue...........In hindsight Denver was origianally our second choice but at the time I made my picks, he was not even in my top 3 so after all the choices were narrowed down(and my top 3 went to someone else) my breeder asked me what I thought Of Mr. Purple(Denver) and told me why she thought he was our puppy. Well the rest is history as he is the perfect dog for us.


Now I have just bought another puppy "Ryder" and I had first pick in this litter, I do know a lot more about Doodles now but I tell you it was the
hardest decision I have ever made as I was so torn between two dogs
So I think especially for people who are new to Doodles that the input of the breeders is priceless!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS
Once i told my breeder my choice , she told me I picked the perfect puppy for my family, what a wonderful thing she did by saying that
and of course she would have said that for any of those 3 puppies but
we had discussed temperments and testing and coats and everything before I made the choice so I just thought it was just the perfect answer.....(smile)

[Jac]

Well, because I put $500 down on my first puppy and then decided that I wanted a breeding dog (only to find out that an Aus. Multigen would be $18,000) and I decided to look elsewhere...I lost that deposit. So, colored by that experience, I don't require deposits on unborn or expected litters...too risky.
I only require a deposit to hold a particular puppy. Once someone selects a puppy I turn away other families, so I need a deposit to be sure that they are serious. This deposit is non-refundable, but can be placed on another puppy at a later date. (Still, I would consider a refund if the circumstances warrant it.)
I will admit that my policy is not great for business...but it is what I feel good about.
In selecting puppies, I ask for an application and I select 2 or 3 pups that may fit into the family dynamics and their wish list (I agree with Kendra that the breeder knows the puppies best.) Then, I let the family choose between the 3 puppies. If the family wants a different puppy, I will watch the puppy as he/she matures to see if it is a good fit, if not, I would not place the pup with them.
My goal is to make a lifetime home for the puppies and I am learning that if I am lax or too trusting of the buyers, my puppies may suffer later on (by being rehomed) and I don't want them to go through that.

[Tink]

Thanks Jac!
I point out the pups I feel best suit the family, then leave the final choice up to them. I agree that we know the pups best as far as temperament, personality and energy level, so should be guiding buyers in their choice.

[Doodlesville]

Actually ,Normally i prefer to have a wait list before i breed

and i dont allow visitors ,i have been with pups from the moment they are born so i do know them best
I know way to many breeders that have been devastated by allowing visitors then Loose dogs and puppies from diseases that were brought in

I dont feel like i am doing my dogs puppies or my buyers any good if i dont protect my pups in anyway i can

[Tink]

I too have a waiting list Nancy, at last count it was at 38 besides the 3 deposits I've accepted. Of course by the time I have that many pups many will have dropped out for one reason or another; but they're usually replaced quickly by others.

[Doodlesville]

Our list requires a commitment (deposit) for a pup

I was answering your initial question

[Tink]

Ahh ok thanks for the clarification Nancy.

My list is simply for those who choose to be notified when we have confirmation of a pregnancy or actual delivery.

[Maureen]

Originally Posted by Tink

Once I have a confirmed pregnancy, I generally accept 4 deposits for the upcoming litter. I get more when the litter is delivered and I know how many pups I actually have to offer. So the problem comes in when I've got the 4 first choice buyers lined up and waiting to choose their pups... and others wanting to put down a deposit but not knowing which pups will be available after the first 4 have chosen.

I know I can't be the only one dealing with this so am looking for a better way to handle it. I've been giving until the end of the 5th week for the reserved buyers to choose so it's a long 6 weeks for the others.

Any helpful ideas?

Hey, Tink, sounds like you have a good initial system, but I have one that is fine-tuned a bit farther. In your first 4 deposits, who picks first? The first depositor? If so, that is how you do the rest of your deposits. I wouldn't (if I were you) take further than that before birth, but based on the population of your litter, seems like you can go further than 4 deposits on a litter of 10, IF you have a mixture of boys and girls and the 4 want a mixture as well. Last time I only had 2 girls and an early depositor definitely wanted a girl, so when #5 was asking about depositing it did inhibit some from reserving a puppy for sure. The irony is that our second girl was sold after 8wks old! go figure!

At my house people choose their own puppies but we always discuss "alpha" and various personalities to be sure nobody is surprised or disappointed after they make their choice. There's a person for each puppy. But nobody chooses before 6 wks. So all depositors wait and the incentive to commit is in the order in which they choose. And the deposit is to hold a place in line, not commit to a certain puppy. And I think you will find that if you can deal with your own guilt in making someone wait, you will see that puppy families want that kind of preference themselves so they are willing to give that privilege to others as well.

Jac if I could encourage you to consider my system I would! It encourages people to commit sooner than 6wks old.


does this help?

[Tink]

Thanks Maureen!
That's exactly how I do it. Choice is given in the order of which the deposits are received. When taking the deposit, I stress that I will only take 4 prior to delivery, and if for any reason there's not a pup that they want, the deposit can be carried over to the next litter, where they will likely have first or second choice.

With the current litter, it's all people who want chocolate pups, and are planning to look more at personality and temperament than gender. One wants a more lab looking pup, another a fuller longer wavy coated one... so they'll likely be choosing very different ends of the spectrum. The other is focussed on a good type for therapy dog training so has specific ideas on that. Lucky for them, that person has reserved first choice.

I think you're right, and I need to just feel good about those who I'm able to help and not feel bad that I can't have all things to offer all people. Thanks for that reminder.