Was This A 'time Waster'?

[Denise]

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Have one pup left to sell and took a call from a couple, two hours drive from us, asking if they could come and see him. I asked them loads of questions and they asked me quite a few too. I decided they sounded very nice and emailed them piccies of the pup and details of his pedigree - although they only wanted him for a pet.

They turned up on time - husband was very nice, but wife seemed quite surly and made me feel that uncomfortable. I introduced them to mum whippie, and the hubby loved her - wife ignored her. :angry: Then I brought pup in and popped him on lady's lap. She almost threw him on floor and fled from my lounge in tears, with hubby following. Eventually they came back in and hubby explained that they had recently lost their last whippet and his wife was finding it hard to cope.

After almost two hours with us they left. I asked them if they were interested - as they hadnt given a clue as to whether they were or not up till then and the wife answered "you must understand that this is the first puppy we have looked at" - and they left.

I emailed them this morning and asked if they were interested, expressed my sympathy over the loss of their whippet and apologised if they had been upset by my putting the pup in her lap.

Their reply was that it was much too early to make a decision.

The pup is therefore back for sale - unless my husband manages to persuage me to keep him (w00t)

 

[urchin]

I'm not sure what this couple's agenda was, no one will be naturally.

However, it may well be that they were coming to test out how they (particularly the wife it seems) feel about getting a new dog.

A friend of mine who has lost both of her dogs in quick succession, did something kinda similar ie she went to a rescue centre for a look round and asked for a cuddle of one boy who was closest to 'her kind' of dog. What she wanted to know was 'was she ready yet'

But, this was a rescue centre - geared up for people to come and look round to have a think

if this is what the couple were planning to do, i personally think it's quite rude to present themselves as being interested in getting a pup from you - it would have been far more honest to ring up and say ' we'd really like to come and test this out, is this something you've got time for?'

 

[»Tina«]

doesn't sound like a time waster to me, just sounds like she's had her heart broken and her hubby thought getting a new pup straight away would make her better,

but as we all know it's not that simple when you've loved a dog for so long, bet her hubby's feeling pretty guilt about rushing her too soon now,

good luck in finding a new home for your pup though :thumbsup:

 

[~elizabeth~]

I don't like the term "timewaster". I booked a puppy last year and then decided we could not go through with having her, as our circumstances changed in the intervening time, so I guess I wasted someones time too (although the breeder kept the deposit as compensation). Also when I got my current cat, I saw about 6 litters of kittens before I found one I was completely happy with. We did tell the people we visited our decision though, which was only fair.

Getting a new pet is emotionally quite a complex thing. If they have lost a dog, they may be looking for an exact replacement and thus eternally disappointed when they don't find one. Very often, one partner may want a puppy desperately, the other one may not be so keen; sometimes people desperately want a cat or dog even though they know at heart their circumstances may not really be suitable, and only realise the folly of this at the last minute. Of course they should sort all these issues out in private BEFORE they visit a litter, but in reality people don't always behave as sensibly as they should.

I also breed poultry and NEVER advertise now as I always get REAL timewasters: people ringing up blind drunk, asking daft questions just for a laugh; ringing in the middle of the night; asking you to send birds unseen via couriers; once someone even threatening to 'take' the animals because 'I know where you live' etc. :sweating: :angry: Some of the people I thought were nice have turned out to be not as responsible as I thought either; when they come back year after year for more, because the previous ones you sold them have been killed or died prematurely, only then do you realise they probably haven't been looked after very well

Although I'd love to breed a litter of puppies from my own whippets at some stage, my experiences would make me very nervous about dealing with people and finding the right homes for them.

:luck: :luck: :luck:

 

[Nicola]

Poor you...that must have been disconcerting for you. I hope they don't read K9...could be a bit embarrasing for them (w00t) :b

When prospective owners go to have a look at a pup there's no obligation on them...and to be honest they may not have made up their mind until they have got there and tested their reactions to the pup (as others have said already).

Bit of an unusual reaction though, :wacko: but it's a plausible explanation (just).

I guess it's one of the joys of breeding and selling pups. I personally don't like the word 'time waster' though........it's such an emotional rollercoaster making a commitment to get a pup and integrating it into your family for the next 10-15 years (it's a long time!), that things can go wrong at the early stages. People should think carefully about it and be allowed doubts and insecurities when going through the selection process :b

Good luck with finding a home for the last one :luck:

Edited to say that I hadn't read Elizabeth's response before I posted mine....I'm not parroting what you say...honest!

 

[dessie]

I tend to agree with Moriarte, I don't think of people as 'time wasters' if they have come to see my puppies and then it is perfectly clear they are not what they are looking for. I need to be 100% sure and the prospective purchaser also so I would not have pursued the couple in question because I would not want them having one of my pups if not all the family are up for it.

Unless people are absolutely sure they want one of MY puppies I also tend to encourage them (especially first time owners) to go and look at other litters if they can. If you lose a sale, so what, if they did not prefer mine then it was meant to be.

However, if people like what they see and firmly book one, I will ask for a 10% deposit, which is not refundable, before or after the puppy leaves me.

 

[wild whippies]

I agree with Tina, it appears that maybe hubby thought the time was right but things are a little too raw at the moment. I had a couple buy a puppy off me who had lost their elderly whippet 12 months previous. They had spent a long time looking for another and when they visited she too promptly broke down in tears.

12 months is probably a reasonable amount of time to pass but obviously the memories even then came flooding back to her. They did choose a pup, she's spolit rotten and I'm sure there's a lot of joy shared between them all so hopefully when the times right for that couple, they too will give another dog a loving home.

 

[Denise]

I am not keen on the term 'time-waster' either, but felt that it might apply here as I really felt that her reaction was such that she had no intention of having a pup off me - but to drive so far and spend a couple of hours at my house asking numerous questions, was odd.

I asked her hubby if they specifically wanted a pup that looked like the dog they had lost - no. If they wanted a specific line of breeding - no.

She said that they had considered having a rescue greyhound, but that she had fallen out with the rescue centre as they had asked her too many questions - and has suggested she buy a book on greyhounds to learn a bit about them before they would consider her having one.

Perhaps there was something they particularly didnt like about my pup - but they had seen pics of him, and they werent going to show him - and she didnt want to hold him so she couldnt tell if they 'bonded'. Bless the little pup, he fell asleep on her hubby's lap and was totally oblivious to the fuss around him.

All the other pups have gone off to wonderful new homes and we had fun meeting the people and getting to know all the new families - and have made some very good friends along the way. Definitely an experience we have all enjoyed as a family - wonderful fun. )

 

[~elizabeth~]

Ultimately some people just don't know what they want, usually because they have a serious problem with decision-making processes (the "I don't know what I want until I see it" bridade :wacko: ). It's probably absolutely nothing to do with you, your puppy, his breeding or appearance (which MUST be lovely, remembering your pics of all of them :wub: ) It sounds like the greyhound rescue people might have picked up on this too. :- "

Goodluck with finding your little one a really lovely home :luck:

 

[Denise]

Ultimately some people just don't know what they want, usually because they have a serious problem with decision-making processes (the "I don't know what I want until I see it" bridade  :wacko: ). It's probably absolutely nothing to do with you, your puppy, his breeding or appearance (which MUST be lovely, remembering your pics of all of them  :wub: ) It sounds like the greyhound rescue people might have picked up on this too. :- "
Goodluck with finding your little one a really lovely home  :luck:

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Thanks, yes I know what you mean. I suppose I was spoilt by all the other charming people that came to view the pups. This couple were definitely odd.

I would like to say, though, that I didnt "pursue" them after they left. But they left having not indicated whether they were interested or not and the last thing I wanted to do was to sell the pup on to somebody else only to find that they were really interested after all and wanted to talk further. I felt I should email them to clarify things - and to apologise if I had upset his wife by popping the puppy on her lap.

 

[OEH]

It's probably absolutely nothing to do with you, your puppy, his breeding or appearance (which MUST be lovely, remembering your pics of all of them  :wub: ) It sounds like the greyhound rescue people might have picked up on this too. :- "

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Just what I was thinking :thumbsup:

Hope the little one finds a lovely home :luck:

 

[~elizabeth~]

I would like to say, though, that I didnt "pursue" them after they left.  But they left having not indicated whether they were interested or not and the last thing I wanted to do was to sell the pup on to somebody else only to find that they were really interested after all

I'm sure you didn't, absolutely fair enough to want to know if they were genuinely still interested or not :thumbsup: ; they should have informed you of their decision in case someone else was interested.

 

[dessie]

I would like to say, though, that I didnt "pursue" them after they left.  But they left having not indicated whether they were interested or not and the last thing I wanted to do was to sell the pup on to somebody else only to find that they were really interested after all

I'm sure you didn't, absolutely fair enough to want to know if they were genuinely still interested or not :thumbsup: ; they should have informed you of their decision in case someone else was interested.

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Sorry, wrong choice of words, what I mean is that I will not contact people to see what decision they have made, it is down to them to contact me and, from past experience if they are interested, they will very quickly get in touch. But I think from the strange reaction I would not have wanted to sell them a puppy anyway!!!

 

[Denise]

I would like to say, though, that I didnt "pursue" them after they left.  But they left having not indicated whether they were interested or not and the last thing I wanted to do was to sell the pup on to somebody else only to find that they were really interested after all

I'm sure you didn't, absolutely fair enough to want to know if they were genuinely still interested or not :thumbsup: ; they should have informed you of their decision in case someone else was interested.

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Sorry, wrong choice of words, what I mean is that I will not contact people to see what decision they have made, it is down to them to contact me and, from past experience if they are interested, they will very quickly get in touch. But I think from the strange reaction I would not have wanted to sell them a puppy anyway!!!

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My husband would agree with you. He walked in from work half way through it all and was confronted by a strange woman crying in his kitchen

He whispered to me whilst I was making them tea that he didnt want them to have this pup. Mind you, he does have another motive as he wants to keep this particular pup - additional to the other one we still have :blink: :blink:

I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. For example the lady let us down over the only bitch pup - only for a most wonderful family to come and buy her - a family that we are going to keep in touch with and who are going to let their pup come back to us when they go on holiday - which we cannot wait for )

The whole experience has been a huge learning curve for us - but most certainly worth every moment and penny. I agree with all of you who say there is not much money to be made (if any) in breeding a litter - but there is a huge amount of joy and fun to be had. I have bred horses in the past, but that does not compare to having a box full of puppies in your home to love and care for, bred from our wonderful pet :wub:

 

[Janimal]

Hope you find the right home for your puppy, I am very sure you will.

I agree that things happen for a reason, this couple probably just were not right for your puppy at this particular time, she was probably still greaving for the lost one.

Good Luck :luck:

 

[JAX]

When I had India and Harvee s litter a couple came to see the litter at about 5 weeks and the lady ( Penny) promptly burst into tears (w00t) , It took her back to when her last old dog ( who since died ) was a pup

They are a super couple and had 2 in the end , I get emails most weeks and get to see them on a regualr basis ,as we all now go horse Racing togetther :huggles: :cheers:

As you said , everything happens for a reason :huggles:

 

[Seraphina]

I do not consider my time wasted if people come and do not end up taking a puppy. To start with; people cannot be sure that Whippet (or Great Dane) is what they really want until they meet few. I think it is our responsibility as breeders to promote our breed and introduce people to them. I like people to come and play with my pups, that is very good socializing experience for them.

Even if people know that Whippet is the breed for them, they need to find the "right" puppy for them.

I actually worry when somebody looks at the pups and says I do not care which one I take. And I certainly would not let anybody to take a pup if they are not sure. In my last litter I had one clown face boy left, lady came to see him and I could just feel he was not what she wanted. So I sent her to a friend who had also a litter. Couple of days later family with 10 years old boy called and thought the puppy was just perfect.

 

[Seraphina]

Actually, it works both ways; when i allow people to come to see my pups I do not guarantee I will let them have one. So I guess they could also call me a "time waster".

 

[dessie]

I do not consider my time wasted if people come and do not end up taking a puppy.  To start with; people cannot be sure that Whippet (or Great Dane) is what they really want until they meet few.  I think it is our responsibility as breeders to promote our breed and introduce people to them.  I like people to come and play with my pups, that is very good socializing experience for them.  Even if people know that Whippet is the breed for them, they need to find the "right" puppy for them.

I actually worry when somebody looks at the pups and says I do not care which one I take.  And I certainly would not let anybody to take a pup if they are not sure.  In my last litter I had one clown face boy left, lady came to see him and I could just feel he was not what she wanted.  So I sent her to a friend who had also a litter.  Couple of days later family with 10 years old boy called and thought the puppy was just perfect.

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Actually, it works both ways; when i allow people to come to see my pups I do not guarantee I will let them have one.  So I guess they could also call me a "time waster".

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Exactly the way I see things!!!