Deposits:

This is the number one thing people start asking when I say litters are on the way.  I’m not like the average breeder.  I do not take deposits before any pup is born.  I am at a point in my program where many puppies end up going to repeat buyers.  Because I cannot offer a discount for loyalty, I instead offer those people priority on deposit placement.  Once I start taking deposits the puppy selection order will look something like this:

1. Breeder / Co-owners
2. Show puppies on co-ownerships
3. Service Dogs (litter dependent, extremely limited)
4. Previous pet owners in the order they expressed interest in a puppy
5. New pet buyers in the order they expressed interest in a puppy.

If I have 4 previous owners jump on the litter, then even if a new buyer has been waiting for a year or two, they now are number 5+ on the list if I don’t have any show pup homes, service dog homes, or plan to keep a puppy myself.   This is why I say over and over, please consider other breeders.

How much are the deposits?

My deposits are half the purchase price, yet fully refundable.  I take deposits in order to know who is serious.  If something happens and you are not able to take a puppy or found a better match somewhere else, I will absolutely refund the deposit amount.  The only time I ever retain any money back for advertising and care is if the person fails to pick up their puppy by 10 weeks.  I had this happen.  A man paid for his puppy in full, then stopped all contact.  He did not answer his phone or emails.  It was very strange, and I was worried something had happened to this gentleman.  He had come and visited my home at one point, met the dogs.  I sold his puppy to another home when the baby was 12 weeks old and refunded all but the cost of care and vet expenses for that second round of vaccinations, around $200.00.  He sent me an email when he received the money back thanking me.  He had fallen into a deep depression and stepped back from the world.  His depression was so serious, he did not expect me to return any of his money for the puppy.  How could I keep his money when he wasn’t getting a puppy?

Sending deposits in a timely manner.

On the flip side, when I ask for a deposit from a home, I expect them to act in a timely manner.  I had another person string me along for weeks with Jazz’s first litter.  He kept saying the check was in the mail.  I told him in an email if he did not send it, I would need to give his place in line to another home.  After zero contact or response to my weekly puppy updates, a small deposit arrived when the pups were 6 weeks old.  I had to contact him to explain I had already taken another deposit for his selection spot and no pups were available.  He was livid and called me unprofessional, but I copied all the previous emails and told him I had explained clearly, in writing, what was required.  My rules apply to everyone, even someone who has purchased 3 of my dogs in the past or spoken to me via emails for several years.

Be your own advocate.

In short, once the litter is born and I have an idea of sex and color, I will attempt to dig back through all my emails and applications to see who is still interested.  I try to keep my inbox organized, but sometimes I do drop the ball, especially when I am dealing with 3 years’ worth of possible homes.  I heavily suggest you contact me the day a litter is born, reminding me of your interest.   It will take me a few days to work out who all wants in on a litter, as well as what requirements would need to be met for each home (some want specific sex or color).  I will make a list and then move down asking for deposits.

PURCHASE PRICE will be $2200.00

DEPOSIT PRICE: $1100.00

Deposit is fully refundable.  This is to hold your place in the selection process.  This amount helps people take the process seriously.  I will turn people away once deposits are taken.

Playing Fair

Please do not attempt to game the system by offering to pay more to move up the selection process.  I cannot be bought out.  If I could, I would charge the prices other breeders are charging these days.  Also, A show puppy NEEDS to go to a show home due to level of drive and/or exceptional genetics and structure.  Without these dogs the Standard Poodle gene pool will become so inbred, there will be no hope for healthy Poodles in a few generations.  The same holds true for the guardian program.  Please do not attempt to take my best pups, the future of the breed, with no intentions of allowing those dogs to be bred.  Where would you get your next pet if we do not keep some of the genes moving foward?

I do not take more money for show prospects.  All are placed on co-ownerships with a mentor-ship to ensure the dogs are not bred without attaining titles, health testing, and bred to quality AKC registered, titled, POODLES only.  If you want a pet, wait for the right one to come along.  I’m not going to suggest a puppy that I think is unsuitable to any home.

I hope this clears up a few things about how I do deposits.  Now we wait for Mabel to have those babies!