Savdeeta the home of Shar-Pei,
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Advice for Buyers

As a breeder I have decades of experience dealing with people - of all kinds - who contact me regarding our puppies. I have also bought puppies over the years (decades) to join our family, so I have experience dealing with breeders too.

I hear so many people complaining about how breeders treat them, but if you went through what most breeders go through in dealing with people, you would 100% understand. I make every effort to be kind, considerate, courteous, informative, and above all patient with prospective buyers, and in most cases these people are a delight to deal with. Sometimes, however, they most definitely are not.

So I thought that, on behalf of all breeders out there, I would provide some information and guidance for anyone thinking of buying a puppy from anyone selling them.

GUIDANCE FOR PROSPECTIVE BUYERS

1. Firstly, you should be 100% ready to act BEFORE contacting a breeder. You should be 100% sure you want a puppy, and 100% sure what you want (at the very least which breed you want). You should also know how much you are willing to spend, and how much these puppies generally cost to buy.
2. If you have a partner, the decision to buy a puppy should be 100% mutual and already agreed BEFORE contacting a breeder. Also, if anything needs to be discussed with your partner as a result of speaking with the breeder, your partner should be next to you when you speak with the breeder. You should be able to make a decision to at least arrange a viewing during your first contact with the breeder. If you're not ready to do this, don't contact them until you are.
3. Research the breed comprehensively before contacting a breeder. Nothing puts off a breeder more than someone asking basic/stupid questions when there is so much information available and easily accessible on the Internet.
4. Don't ask for photos, videos, or anything that is already on the advertisement or web page. If you want to see the puppy more clearly, arrange for a viewing - you should want this anyway if you are serious about buying the puppy.
5. You should be 100% ready to buy (or put down a deposit on) the puppy at the point of enquiring. Breeders get so frustrated when someone contacts them about their puppies and then says "I need to think about it", or "I need to discuss this with my partner", or "I want to buy a puppy but I'm not ready right now because [insert lame reason here]".
6. If you are contacting more than one breeder/seller, keep an accurate record of what you discuss with each breeder. Appearing to not be sure which puppy you are asking about, or worse - referring to a puppy that isn't one they're selling, is extremely off-putting!
7. If you have arranged a call or visit with a breeder, but for some reason you are unable to make it/have changed your mind/have found a puppy from a different breeder, LET THEM KNOW!!! I shouldn't have to say this, but you'll be surprised how many people seem to think it's perfectly fine to leave breeders waiting, unable to do anything or go anywhere because they're waiting for you. It takes virtually no time or effort to send a text message.
8. Once you have found a puppy you really want, and assuming you've already had a viewing, don't waste any time in putting down a deposit! If you are really serious about buying a puppy, don't risk losing it! If YOU like it, chances are very high that someone else will like it too, and they won't waste any time in securing it. As far as breeders are concerned, no matter how serious someone seems, until a deposit has been paid, that puppy is still available.
9. Don't ask for a discount. For whatever reason, you have arrived at this puppy and you want to buy it. If it's more than you can afford, you shouldn't be looking at it anyway (other than out of curiosity). Choose a puppy that is within your budget. If you want a discount because there's something wrong with the puppy, choose a puppy with nothing wrong with it. If you think the puppy is overpriced, that's the seller's problem not yours. Either they will end up lowering the price, or finding someone who is happy to pay over the odds. If you are buying more than one puppy from a breeder, you could ask for a small discount, but really there's no advantage for a breeder to sell multiple puppies to one person, so don't be offended if they say no.
10. Don't ask the breeder if they can deliver the puppy, or "meet halfway". Unless there are exceptional circumstances why you are unable to travel to the breeder ("you're too far" or "I don't have a car" are not exceptional circumstances), it is very important that you see the puppy in person, where it was born and raised, and see at least the puppy's mother.
11. Lastly, if you have communicated with the breeder, talked with them on the phone, had an online or in-person viewing, be courteous enough to let them know if you decide their puppy is not for you, even with a simple text message. Don't just disappear never to be heard from again - that's just so rude! Breeders need to know what to tell anyone else enquiring about that puppy.

Any breeder worth their salt will care very much about their puppies and want to know that they will go to good, loving, safe, responsible homes. If you dither, procrastinate, flim-flam and generally don't give the impression of someone serious, don't expect to be taken seriously. Also bear in mind that there are a LOT of scammers out there posing as prospective buyers. Breeders need to be very vigilant and cautious, and look for any red flags. Speaking personally, the first inkling I get that someone isn't a serious buyer, I refuse to sell them a puppy.

I hope you find this guidance useful. Buying a puppy is a very serious thing, and selling a puppy is also.