[ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: showgsd-l Digest V3 #1371
- From: Epeters93@xxxxxxx
- To: showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:24:49 EDT
_gsdpaz2@xxxxxxxx (mailto:gsdpaz2@xxxxxxx)
Regarding home inspections - which interestingly enough I also just had a
conversation about yesterday. I bought a GSD from Kelly Malone years ago
and she did a very tactful "home inspection" aka "interview". I found it to
be informative and my husband, myself and Kelly spent about an hour at the
kitchen table discussing dogs. She thanked us for our time and told us
when we could have our puppy. (We'd already met Kelly and the puppy at the
local kennel club the week before).
I have done a few home inspections and know I should probably do more.
Many of my puppy buyers drive for hours to get here - although they do know
that they may not be taking the puppy home "at that visit". So it's a
balancing act.
A good email communication is very helpful and the more dialog you can
have ahead of time for those that are coming as well as at least one good phone
call the better.
I told one couple last year I would not sell them a puppy and walked them
to their car - based on instinct - and when they asked why I told them I
did not feel they had a life style and the time to properly take care of puppy
as demanding as my puppies would be. Since they did not argue with me and
left quietly they must have on some level agreed with me. I told another
couple last weekend that came for a visit to see my dogs and possibly give
me a deposit that I would not sell them a puppy because not only was their
time limited based on their work schedule but the wife was afraid of my
dogs - including a 4 month old puppy - and they needed to rethink their
decision about buying a dog never the less a GSD.
When I have done home inspections - I tell them I'm going to be in the
area that day, evening, or what ever and would like an opportunity to see where
the puppy is going to live. Is that ok with them? I have intentionally
done several where I know they live inner city and my concern was the
"fenced in yard" I require and to make sure they were not going to tie the dog
up outside so it would be a "watch dog". And, I'm sorry if it offends
anyone that I think inner city residents are more likely do to that but I do.
I approach it much like Kelly approached the first visit with us - as a
visit where we discuss dogs in general and to make sure I can answer all their
puppy questions and give them any help and or advice they might want.
Interestingly enough the home inspections I've done have all turned out fine.
I was very comfortable with the sale of the puppy to those homes. I've
also sold a couple of puppies to people that live in apartments - both happen
to be downtown cities where they are older apartments but more importantly
the pet buyers had a life style that was very active. The first young man
was here 3 times - over a 2 hour drive to get here - to visit the puppies
- and convince me he was a good candidate for purchasing one of my dogs.
He has turned out to be a fabulous dog owner - he's had her almost 3 years
now. He told me after the first year that she was the best "chic magnet".
He said he's met really nice girls/women in the dog parks and going for
walks and jogging with her.
No matter what we do though we are never going to be right all the time.
I thought a family with several children in an affluent suburb 4 hours away
from here would be great for this little girl I sold earlier this year.
After several phone calls from them regarding her lack of energy and her
unwillingness to play and finally her weight being half of what it should
have been I drove there to "see" her. I put her in my van, told them I would
refund their purchase price and brought her home. I spent $245 on a vet
visit that night to find out there was nothing wrong with her. After one
week here she had gained 4 pounds and was a happy little puppy again. After
two weeks here she'd gained 10 pounds and was playing and romping around the
yard. A couple of weeks later I sold her to a very nice young couple that
sends me weekly emails about how great she is. I have no clue what the
suburban family did nor do I dwell on it. I am thankful they cared enough to
call me (I had called and emailed them a couple of times also) to let me
know she was not thriving.
We just do our best. You have to decide if it's a business decision for
money or if you really mean what you say when you call yourself a reputable
breeder. I'm blessed to have good mentors and great examples - so I think
I've learned from the best and I'm still learning every day.
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