Breeders, what do you look for when placing a pup?

I really don't know what to say -- you'd be right at the top of my list.

If she really is looking for people who will be home all of the time with the dog, and prefers that to someone willing to do all of that one on one work with the dog, she's nuts.

You can "stay-at-home" with a dog all day and still not train it properly! Someone willing to spend that kind of quality time training and working with with their dog is infinitely more appealing to me than someone merely content to let the dog lay in the living room all day.

I'm not going to speculate any ulterior motives -- maybe you should simply ask her, as A_A suggests.

This is a BYB at the least and a puppy mill that is lying at the most. I don't mind a flashy website. Some good breeders have some very nice ones. But here are the reasons this is a BYB #1. No titles on any of the parents. #2. No Health testing, #3. They state they breed for health & temperament - they purposely leave out breeding to meet the standard. (what is the use of a purchasing a poodle if it doesn't look like a poodle. #4. No respectable breeder is going to dress up a puppy in baby clothes and pose it like a tiny baby. #5 They have teacups. this is a sure sign of a BYB or Puppymill. #6. They say they guarantee against hereditary issues, but, it you look at the contract, they only agree to refund purchase price if it has a life threathening hereditary disease. Most hereditary defects are non-lifethreateningg. #7. They do not Take back their puppies if something happens, they only "try to help find a new home" The reason I think they are really a puppymill that is lying, is that they have at least 2 litters at 6 weeks old, 1 litter @ 7 weeks old, & 1 litter at 8 weeks old. Yet, they only show 3 males & 2 females as parents. They don't list the names or pedigrees of these "Parents" Also, what are the odds of having that many litters at one time if you are a small breeder with only a few breeding dogs. Also in the photos the angles are very hard to see exactly how the dogs are built. Although one looks long in the back & short in the leg. Also, respectable breeders do not label their websites with cutesy names like "puppylove" They have respectable if sometimes odd names that they spend years building a reputation of champion, healthy dogs. You need to start over in your search. Contact the local toy poodle club in your area. One that is affiliated with the National poodle club.

Well as some one else stated it sounds like a "questionable" litter. She might feel that you have too many credentials and feel you may out her for not so great dogs. The parents may have CH titles but Bernese are still relatively sparse (compared to other more common breeds) in this country and not all the CH should be CH but AKC has a pretty limited pool to chose from in the shows. She could have had more requests than pups and decided she found some better homes. I think you SHOULD NOT be offended, I feel that she is doing her best in placing the dogs in the home. She might know that you have spayed females and possibly she wanted her males to go to a breeding family, OR she sees that you are a very busy person and feels you wouldnt give your dog the same amount of attention that she may feel they need. Your activity level is GREAT for a Bernese. What you do is wonderful. I think you just kinda cut your loses and try again. It might have been fate for you. The true Bernese is out there waiting for you yet.

I bred (retired) Cardigan Welsh Corgi's. While Pembroke Corgi's are not a rare breed, Cardigans are. I had only one male and one female breeding and had only 3 litters in there time. I had more requests for pups than I had pups. Most of the pups had 3 homes over before they were born, so I had to REALLY REALLY study each request. I had to find out who would be the BEST fit for each puppy. Most people requested females and the litters would have a lot of males. Some people wouldnt budge on color or sex and thats that for them. Those that didnt budge got booted, those that were willing to work with me and come to talk about things would get moved up. Those that wanted a Cardigan cause they thought they were cute and didnt really know the difference between Cardigans and Pems, well they were not even in the pile. I also wanted certian of the pups to go to certian homes. So when they reached there release dates I was able to match the dogs better. I did piss a few off doing this but I wanted my dogs to go to the best of homes. I think I did the right thing. I had only ONE of the pups ever to come back to me and that was a family crisis situation and was able to re-home that dog very fast.

ME as a breeder, would have jumped at the chance to home my dogs with you. IF you, couldnt CH my dog in the ring it sounds like my dog would have gotten an Obediance Title with you which in my book is just as good, if not better than a CH in show. I think it shows a dogs true ability sometimes and totally respect it. If anything you would have the dog as a therapy dog or just a well adjusted pet and thats just as well if I had some less than high quality pups to home. You would have been at the top of the pile during my studying of puppy requests. I would have to know more and visit your home before making a final, but you would have been one of the the canidates.

I am not a breeder, but may or may not become in the future.

If i were a breeder, here are the things I would be looking for in a new family:

*A family that will love the pup like a child

*A family that is responsible enough to take care of and raise the pup

*A family that can handle the pup even when fully grown

*A family that will take care of the pup properly

*A family with enough time to play with and train the puppy.

, Showing would not matter to me, as long as i know the pup is going to a good home, then im fine with it.

Maybe the breeder felt as though the families needed a puppy more than i person who works the dogs for titles (which must be a pretty cool thing to do by the way).

Maybe the breeder felt as though none of the pups in that litter had that special obediance trial quality. Whatever the reason, forget it and move on. You may actually be able to find a purebred dog with potential at a shelter.

Firstly, as a breeder, it sounds strange, to say the least. You tick all the boxes on our list. I have recently just told a very good friend of mine she cannot have a pup from our litter because it will be her first dog, our GSD are working line, very high drive, and she has no experience with any kind of dog, let alone one that requires an experienced hand. Having said that, you are experienced and would give credit to her kennel. Or so one would think.

A few years ago my partner and I purchased a pup that turned out to be, well, a little questionable. We had two vets ask us if he had been 'dropped on his head' and after finding a suitable new home for him (he wasn't what we wanted or needed, but a perfect pet for someone) we saw his littermate. Exactly the same. The owners of this dog had also had endless problems. When we questioned the breeding and upbringing of the pup, our names were dragged through the mud as 'not knowing anything and typical fools who ruin the dog and blame the breeder' despite this obviously not being the case.

Some one mentioned it above, and I agree, I think she knows that you are too well educated and experienced and perhaps this is not a litter she wants in the hands of someone with your knowledge because it is not up to scratch and she knows it. Unfortunately it happens, we've had it happen to us, the breeder just thought we wouldn't notice!!

I don't know what her deal is. I can't imagine a breeder choosing to sell a champion litter to "pet" people. That kind of defeats the purpose of the champions breeding.

I'd think there's something fishy, or maybe she has a problem with you for some reason (just a suggestion). That makes no sense to me. You've obviously proven yourself as a good responsible owner, even if you can't be around every minute. When I was around every minute, my dog got awful separation anxiety. A stay at home family would be ideal, but if you make the effort (which you obviously do), I don't see any LOGICAL reason why you would be turned down.

ADDITION: I wouldn't do anything to burn bridges, because, like you said, breeders do talk, and depending on what she says, whether true or not could hurt you and your reputation. I would see if there is some reason that she didn't choose you, but maybe word it like "Is there something that I can change? I would really like one of your dogs, if not now, in the future." That seems like a good way to go about it.

It is very odd though. My curiousity would be killing me, so I'd at least ask what you could do better.

Well, she has her reasons I guess but I wouldn't discount someone merely because they weren't 'stay at home' as long as they historically had provided for their pups' needs. Things sometimes happen for the better dear... just know that if you are as you say, that there is a good breeder out there that will place a pup with you. A good breeder wants their puppies to go into homes that will do various things with them. I would be happy as a lark to have one of my pups go to a performance home. I have had several top performance people awaiting my pups. There are never all show litters and even so, the most important thing to a good breeder is that the home be appropriate for the puppy. Keep looking for what you want and don't settle for less.

Count me as another one that would have placed you at the top of the list.

Not that I care so much about the titles, but I prefer homes that will be doing something with their dogs. I also prefer experienced homes.

OTOH, there are a number of experienced performance homes that I would NOT place my pups in, even though I know they could put lots of titles and high scores on my dog, because I don't like they way they treat their animals.

Perhaps she really does think that a stay-at-home owner is the most important thing. Or perhaps there is something about your preferred training method that she thinks would be unsuitable for her dogs. Or maybe she objects to training altogether. I know a couple of Basset breeders who think that obedience is "cruel".

Heck.. I'd have sold you a dog.... but I don't have any males. I'll keep turning down homes for this b*tch pup I have until I find someone who will appreciate her brain.

What I would wonder about was whether she has an issue selling you a dog at all.. or if the issue is that she doesn't want you to have an intact male since they can be bred without a co-owner's signature? Is it a money issue? Is it truly the fact that she doesn't want a pup left alone during the day?

Since you're apparently out of the running with her.. I would be blunt and ask her "Why?"

This does sound strange. I am not a breeder but the ones that I know want titles on their dogs.

If I were you, I would contact her and ask her point blank (be nice) if she plans on ever placing a dog with you. You would like to know because you are willing to wait for one, but if she does not plan on it, you will need to find another breeder before you waste even more time waiting. Don't be insulted or get your feeling hurt, Just go on from there and find another breeder.

ADD: If I WERE a breeder, I would put you first on the list

Mmmm. Im with Scoop on this one.

Would it be wrong of me to say I detect some jealousy or rivalry going on with her?

You can provide the pup with a good home AND working titles.

Just doesnt make sense.

Ive just recently pulled out of co-owning a show dog with her breeder because of all the antics, jealousy and b*tchin that goes along with him, Ive seen what goes on. Lol!

There could be a hidden agenda as to why you missed out.

Confront her.

Add; *sigh*; Im completely stumped then!