Puppy Contracts with Breeders

[kelsyg]

Thanks Sam I am, I am going to do what the breeder asks. I think if we do neuter (yes he's a Male!) it will be at the suggested time of the breeder. Also food will be followed.

A responsible breeder goes through a lot to get his/her line to where it is. Why mess it up? He's/She's protecting what he/she has worked so hard for.

You think this is tough, with all these contracts? You should enter the bunny world. This is a piece of cake compared to the bunny world.

Thanks again, Sam I am.

KAZ

I have followed our breeders recommendations/contract because I know how much work and dedication has gone into her knowledge of Labs. The experience and knowledge is really what you are paying for when you select a breeder. We even had "issues" with our Vet, initially, because I declined/refused some common innoculations and early spay. The Vet even put in the notes to the insurance company that "owner was under the control of breeder" LOL!
But, I have two beautiful, healthy girls.
The material I received at pick up has been invaluble. How much to feed, how much weight the pup should gain per week, flea control, training, toys, bathing, etc.

[Tanya]

Definitely a smart suggestion. Thanks so much. Already requested the breeder's protocol on visits, and can see the pup at 5 weeks. At that time, we will talk about contracts and get copies. I have a pick up date of July 26/27. Also will be asking advise on where to go regarding education of the pup.

KAZ

Do both parents have all their clearances? hips, elbows, eyes, heart, eic and cmn - and have you confirmed by seeing copies or looking in the OFA database (for hips/eblwos)? Do both parents compete in some venue (conformation or hunt, since Field lines are probably not what you are looking for)?

How very lucky of you to find a breeder with a litter on the ground and available puppies within a week. How many litters does the breeder have? Are both parents on site?

ETA: you really shoudl have the discussion about contracts and clearances and all that BEFORE seeing hte puppies. Becuase once you see and meet the puppies the average person sorta looses their brain and it's harder to walk away. YOu aboslutely need to do the due diligence on all fronts BEFORE meeting the puppies.

[Shelley]

Hi Tanya,
for what it is worth, I PM'd the op and told him about this litter. They had a huge litter and a couple of puppies were not spoken for, they we're just whelped a day ago. I will let the breeder screen the op, and I told her that when I said I was sending someone to her. Trust me the breeder is very reputable, and does all of the clearances I do, has several champions, show and does obedience etc... Trust me my friend won't sell someone a puppy unless it is the right home for her puppy.

[Tanya]

Hi Tanya,
for what it is worth, I PM'd the op and told him about this litter. They had a huge litter and a couple of puppies were not spoken for, they we're just whelped a day ago. I will let the breeder screen the op, and I told her that when I said I was sending someone to her. Trust me the breeder is very reputable, and does all of the clearances I do, has several champions, show and does obedience etc... Trust me my friend won't sell someone a puppy unless it is the right home for her puppy.

thats wonderful! the board can be very helpful with leads .

[PATEX]

Do both parents have all their clearances? hips, elbows, eyes, heart, eic and cmn - and have you confirmed by seeing copies or looking in the OFA database (for hips/eblwos)? Do both parents compete in some venue (conformation or hunt, since Field lines are probably not what you are looking for)?

How very lucky of you to find a breeder with a litter on the ground and available puppies within a week. How many litters does the breeder have? Are both parents on site?

ETA: you really shoudl have the discussion about contracts and clearances and all that BEFORE seeing hte puppies. Becuase once you see and meet the puppies the average person sorta looses their brain and it's harder to walk away. YOu aboslutely need to do the due diligence on all fronts BEFORE meeting the puppies.

Ditto on what Tanya said/asked, and spay/neuter is an appropriate thing to have in the contract. While I think it is fine for the breeder to suggest a food or stipulate that a healthful food should be fed (and even to ask what you plan to feed), I don't think it is okay for the breeder to insist on any food OR supplement, especially if the breeder sells said supplement. There have been instances of that I have seen, and no health guarantees should be tied to buying a regular supplement from the breeder.

It's such a shame that the old board was lost. There was such great info on puppy buying there, as well as so many other things!

[3ChocMom]

A spay/neuter clause is very common. If you don't abide by it, usually the consequences are that whatever health guarantee the breeder provides will be null and void. My contract for Lily stated that all female puppies must be allowed to go through one heat cycle before spaying. It had an age for males, but I can't remember what it was.

Lily's breeder also had clauses around things like the dog must never be left on a chain outside, she must be an indoor dog, not free to roam outside, she must come back to the breeder if I ever can't keep her for any reason. All completely reasonable IMO and not unlike the contracts my rescue uses. I had no problem with any of it.

[doubledip1]

Luna has a limited registration. If we ever had to give her up for any reason, we need to give her back to the breeder. We are not allowed to give her to a friend or family member unless the friend/family member meets with our breeder and breeder approves them as a home. We have a spay/neuter contract, and our breeder will replace her with the following stipulations:
We will replace any puppy sold by us which is certified by the OFA to have lifestyle altering Hip Dysplasia (moderate or severe with DJD) stemming from genetic not environmental cause, up to 25 months of age. This guarantee is valid providing your dog has not been altered (spayed or neutered) prior to reaching 12 months of age and your vet can provide proof of good care throughout the time you have had your dog.

[Snowshoe]

Our 1993 and 2007 pups are from the same breeder. No neuter/spay contract but it is a non-breeding contract. I think this is more common in Canada where we don't have limited registration like the U.S.

Our breeder endorses her own preferred food and would like a discussion if the new owner wants to change it. But it's not part of her contract.

What is part of her contract, and it will void the health guarantee if an owner does not follow through, is a requirement to submit 4, 6, and 12 month reports. These require a weight at two week intervals, what the pup is eating, how much it is eating and how often. A feeding guide tells the owner how to use weight increase to judge when to increase amount fed. Guides are also given on when to go from three meals a day and when to expect a growth plateau and a subsequent decrease in amount fed. A photo, side view standing, is to accompany each report. I think I sent in about 10 photos each time.

I really like this reporting. I've noticed how many times new puppy owners come on this board with questions on how much to feed and seemingly have received no instruction from their breeder. Or they are double checking. I really like that a formal report is requested, says to me this breeder puts more than lip service to claiming an interest in how her pups develop.

Something else I like, four year health guarantee and five on eyes.

I think a requirement to give a puppy up and take a new one in the event of a health issue invoking the health guarantee is old hat and I would not buy from such a breeder. We have a choice, monetary compensation for the health costs incurred (to a limit) and of course those must be qualified by a professional in the field of hips, eyes, behavioural or whatever it is. But a choice of a new pup or reimbursement of purchase price as well. Who's going to replace their puppy they are in love with no matter how sick it is?

There's more, I'm not going to write the whole puppy package up here, these are just highlights that I think many do not do.

[ZRabbits]

Our 1993 and 2007 pups are from the same breeder. No neuter/spay contract but it is a non-breeding contract. I think this is more common in Canada where we don't have limited registration like the U.S.

Our breeder endorses her own preferred food and would like a discussion if the new owner wants to change it. But it's not part of her contract.

What is part of her contract, and it will void the health guarantee if an owner does not follow through, is a requirement to submit 4, 6, and 12 month reports. These require a weight at two week intervals, what the pup is eating, how much it is eating and how often. A feeding guide tells the owner how to use weight increase to judge when to increase amount fed. Guides are also given on when to go from three meals a day and when to expect a growth plateau and a subsequent decrease in amount fed. A photo, side view standing, is to accompany each report. I think I sent in about 10 photos each time.

I really like this reporting. I've noticed how many times new puppy owners come on this board with questions on how much to feed and seemingly have received no instruction from their breeder. Or they are double checking. I really like that a formal report is requested, says to me this breeder puts more than lip service to claiming an interest in how her pups develop.

Something else I like, four year health guarantee and five on eyes.

I think a requirement to give a puppy up and take a new one in the event of a health issue invoking the health guarantee is old hat and I would not buy from such a breeder. We have a choice, monetary compensation for the health costs incurred (to a limit) and of course those must be qualified by a professional in the field of hips, eyes, behavioural or whatever it is. But a choice of a new pup or reimbursement of purchase price as well. Who's going to replace their puppy they are in love with no matter how sick it is?

There's more, I'm not going to write the whole puppy package up here, these are just highlights that I think many do not do.

Thanks Snowshoe, for showing what your Canada breeder in their contract. I like the reporting too, and that's basically what Christina needs to know to keep the warranty up. I haven't read a contract since we got Ice. That's going back 25 years. There was a warranty on hip dysplasia which was for 5 years. But when Ice came down with liver cancer at 7, my husband did call the breeder just to let her know. Found out there were a few coming up with liver cancer in their line.

When I saw Christina's contract, there is no swapping of one sick pup for a healthy pup. Compensation IF there should be so. I see this part as someone that will be there if my pup has problems. As Christina states in her contract, once that pups yours, he's yours. She will be there for you to help guide or give suggestions. And DON"T get caught breeding to Silvers or Poodles, because that pup will be yanked from you so fast, it will make your head spin. Not because she doesn't like these dogs, BUT she doesn't like these dogs IN her line. She worked hard to get her lines to where she has them. She's going to dang well protect them, which I have the utmost respect for any breeder who does this.

Regarding reporting, Christina definitely wants to hear everything. She still feels connected to her pups even though they leave. I told her don't worry, sharing is my specialty. Plus feedback on different decisions. Does recommend her food until 6 months and than if you decide to change, she would like to hear and maybe guide. When you plan to neuter/spay, she recommends waiting until the dog is fully mature plus she wants to hear from you and maybe guide. Some people my think this is intrusive, someone in your business of your pup. If you feel that way, don't buy. I look at this relationship with the breeder as being truly valuable, not to just me, but mostly my pup.

KAZ

[bett]

a word to the wise-while you are not specifically mentioning your "breeder" other than by her first name, woody likes to keep specific breeders names off the board, only done thru pm's. if i am speaking out of turn, i apologize in advance , but that has always been the policy of the board.
certainly, thru a pm you can "speak" with others who know your breeder or have breeder info for you.