How do breeders respond to this

[Cody]

Most breeders I know and respect don't sell "breed" quality dogs period.
They are looking primarily at pet homes.
That is unfortunate that you haven't heard back from anyone, there are a few good breeders around, have you narrowed it down to a "type" of CC you are looking for?
There are a few out there.

 

[bradycone]

Question: I don't own a mastiff yet, I've just been doing a lot of research. They've kind of become an obsession.

I see so much disdain on this site for back yard breeders. What is the difference between a back yard breeder and a reputable one? What are the qualifications I should look for in a reputable one?

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Question: I don't own a mastiff yet, I've just been doing a lot of research. They've kind of become an obsession.

I see so much disdain on this site for back yard breeders. What is the difference between a back yard breeder and a reputable one? What are the qualifications I should look for in a reputable one?

The disdain comes from a BYB"S lack of knowledge or best interest for the breed. Reputable breeders are supposed to be the opposite very knowledge with the philosophy to improve the breed. Now with that said, that doesn't mean that all BYB's are bad and reputable breeders are good. In general you should look for breeder has the breed's best interest. BYB, reputable, or hobby breeder. I don't believe in the "10 commandments" of a reputable breeder, personally. I also don't think that this list qualifies a good breeder.

Keep researching and asking questions. Find a breeder who you can trust.


Gunny I understand I too had the same experience. While it frustrated me to know end years back now I look at is as a good learning experience.

 

[butterflyridgemastiffs]

I prefer to place my puppies in pet homes. I do show my own dogs and am in the process of health testing all my dogs. I do have puppies available if you're interested in a mastiff puppy (EM). Please feel free to email me and we can get to know each other better. butterflyridgemastiffs@yahoo.com

Thanks,
Caley

 

[JacksTheDog]

I had run into the exact same problem when looking for Jacks some breeders would not take me seriously as i had never owned a mastiff before I contacted several talked to them over the phone etc... some would not tell me the price of the puppy's until I was ready to buy? I'm sorry but I'm in the military make a decent amount of money but am not wealthy I can support my two dogs vet bills feeding raw etc.. but when approaching s breeder they assumed that if i asked the price I could not afford to buy or look after the dog some told me that price should not matter? Anyway just my experience that for the betterment of the breed, breeders should not push people to resort to BYB's.

 

[rangermom]

Old thread, but yep. This was my problem too, (I actually just mentioned my experience in another thread).

I contacted the AKC and Mastiff club of America for ALL of their registered breeders. I contacted EVERY SINGLE ONE in the 4 states surrounding me. Out of 15 breeders, only 2 contacted me and neither of those responded back when I follwed up with a thank you and an inquiry about a pup purchase.

How am I supposed to get a pup from a 'reputable breeder' when I can't find one?

This is why time and again, I have walked into someone's backyard, thrown some money at them, and walked out with a pup. They are WAY easier to find.

For my new pup, I'm a step up from byb. I did have very good intentions, but it turned to be a fruitless search.

 

[alwcm4]

I have found picking up the phone and making a call (with pretty much anything) gets you way farther than an email. Alot of breeders are pretty old school and rarely check email, or it goes to spam, or they don't have any puppies currently so don't email back. All in all phone calls are generally the way to go in my experience. Try that and see where you get.

Also, limiting your geographic area is the quickest way to end up with a BYB dog. I know we can't all travel across the country, but if you really want a specific type and a nice dog shipping or transport is always an option. Breeders involved in showing know lots of people, and those people travel regularly. It's not as big of a deal as people think to have a puppy from 1/2 way across the country. Brinkley came from upstate NY and I'm in MO. Best decision I made in my life.

 

[LauraR]

Like someone had previously mentioned, if you are having a difficult time finding a reputable breeder, I would suggest looking in the shelters and rescue groups. You may initially feel that this is not what you want, maybe that you want a puppy to influence and bond with from the very beginning, but after looking around you just might change your mind. I am still pretty set on getting my future EM from a reputable breeder, however I do keep an eye on the rescue organizations because you never know. I may find a breeder that I'm head over heels in love with, but they might not have plans for a litter for another 1-2 years. I would not go out and go to a different breeder or byb just because I wanted a puppy right then and there. I would wait, however long it took, but I would be open to adopting/rescuing one during my wait. From what I've seen, most mastiffs here are very happy having a buddy that is their same size so it would be a win win.

 

[rangermom]

I have found picking up the phone and making a call (with pretty much anything) gets you way farther than an email. Alot of breeders are pretty old school and rarely check email, or it goes to spam, or they don't have any puppies currently so don't email back. All in all phone calls are generally the way to go in my experience. Try that and see where you get.

Also, limiting your geographic area is the quickest way to end up with a BYB dog. I know we can't all travel across the country, but if you really want a specific type and a nice dog shipping or transport is always an option. Breeders involved in showing know lots of people, and those people travel regularly. It's not as big of a deal as people think to have a puppy from 1/2 way across the country. Brinkley came from upstate NY and I'm in MO. Best decision I made in my life.

Most of the contact information listed only an e-mail address, so I was obviously limited by that.

I know that shipping is very common, but for me, I'm just not comfortable with it. I want to see the living conditions of the parents and the pup, and I want to meet the parents as well. I know this limited my range, but really, if you're considering 4 states.......that's a pretty big area!
I know that a reputable breeder won't sell their pup to just anyone, and likewise I'm not going to buy a pup sight unseen just because someone has been deemed 'reputable'. I know it's a very common practice, but it's not for me.

 

[mx5055]

Like someone had previously mentioned, if you are having a difficult time finding a reputable breeder, I would suggest looking in the shelters and rescue groups. You may initially feel that this is not what you want, maybe that you want a puppy to influence and bond with from the very beginning, but after looking around you just might change your mind. I am still pretty set on getting my future EM from a reputable breeder, however I do keep an eye on the rescue organizations because you never know. I may find a breeder that I'm head over heels in love with, but they might not have plans for a litter for another 1-2 years. I would not go out and go to a different breeder or byb just because I wanted a puppy right then and there. I would wait, however long it took, but I would be open to adopting/rescuing one during my wait. From what I've seen, most mastiffs here are very happy having a buddy that is their same size so it would be a win win.

There are also plenty of puppies to be found in rescues

 

[rangermom]

There are also plenty of puppies to be found in rescues

True, I have seen lots on petfinder. But even that isn't as easy as everyone makes it out to be. I tried adopting two different pups from a rescue.

The first pup, I absolutely fell in love with her. I was approved for an adorable mastiff/rottweiler mix. My vet even gave us glowing reviews. The rescue coordinator said she got so many responses that she narrowed it down to the top three (we were in the top three) but ultimately, the pup would go to a home with a fence; which our subdivision prohibits. :-( So we lost her. I specifically told her that with my 3 children and male rottweiler, I felt adamant about getting a female PUPPY. She told me I couldn't have a puppy because other homes were more appropriate due to their fencing, but "Hey, if you like rottweilers, this 2 year old male just showed up a couple of weeks ago. You could have him!" I ask for a female puppy and she offers me a 2 year old male with an unknown history when I have 3 small children. Even with my rott experience, this women is crazy!!

The second pup I tried to rescue, I was approved for her completely, but ended up declining. She came from a feral mother.........and well........that just sounded kind of shaky to me. I'm sure she will be a nice pet for someone, but not me.

 

[alwcm4]

I might have missed it, but what state do you live in?

 

[SavingGrace]

True, I have seen lots on petfinder. But even that isn't as easy as everyone makes it out to be. I tried adopting two different pups from a rescue.

The first pup, I absolutely fell in love with her. I was approved for an adorable mastiff/rottweiler mix. My vet even gave us glowing reviews. The rescue coordinator said she got so many responses that she narrowed it down to the top three (we were in the top three) but ultimately, the pup would go to a home with a fence; which our subdivision prohibits. :-( So we lost her. I specifically told her that with my 3 children and male rottweiler, I felt adamant about getting a female PUPPY. She told me I couldn't have a puppy because other homes were more appropriate due to their fencing, but "Hey, if you like rottweilers, this 2 year old male just showed up a couple of weeks ago. You could have him!" I ask for a female puppy and she offers me a 2 year old male with an unknown history when I have 3 small children. Even with my rott experience, this women is crazy!!

The second pup I tried to rescue, I was approved for her completely, but ended up declining. She came from a feral mother.........and well........that just sounded kind of shaky to me. I'm sure she will be a nice pet for someone, but not me.

I agree - when we lost our first Corso suddenly, I actually contacted the breeder that she came from, explained that we had just lost her after 6.5 years and wanted to reach out to them to see if we could get on a list, or inquire about upcoming litters. Maybe I caught them off guard, but I basically received a canned - we don't have any litters right now, can't help you. Which I found shocking because I didn't even get a chance to reiterate that we were willing to wait and get on a list, and really just wanted to open the communication lines. I was not their average caller, but received an average response which drove us elsewhere. I had emailed TONS of breeders in and outside our area and received 2 responses back - I also called a few.

I know in the future I'll have to go through locating a breeder again because we won't be returning to any of our previous - but have am suspect that it will be quite difficult to form a relationship with one. I waited 1 year for my Eurasier and was on a list. Another breeder in the country had a litter and I was referred to her list and lucked out with the only male pup. I flew to Boston and brought him home - so I'm willing to travel. The BYB's are motivated by money or are new at breeding so they respond. It's almost like you 'have to know the right people' to even talk to a reputable breeder and establish somewhat of a relationship. As a consumer, it really limits your options.

 

[Guardmoore]

hi, sorry to jump in here, I've a litter at the moment, and I've had a lot of emails from people wanting one, and TBH if they called I give them more preference to telling them if ones available. When people email me I will always go back with a tonne of questions and say call me. if they don't call then that gets marked on my waiting list and well they wont get a puppy. I'm all for emails and fb etc, spes when people are in different countries and speak different languages. its hard. I've imported a dog this way. BUT if your looking for a pet then call the breeders. Leave a message. if then they don't get back to you try someone else. I know shipping isn't too expensive, and you can move dogs around as checked baggage where you are, maybe try further afield. xx ps - if I have a show person that I like and a promising pup then they take preference over pet owners BUT having said that I only ever place 1 maybe two from a litter in a show home rest are loving pets as far as i'm concerned.

 

[Guardmoore]

pps - sorry about all one paragraph, enter wont work!!

 

[Romeo's Mom]

I totally sympathise with you! I don't know how many breeders I contacted from the CKC and MCC and got absolutly NOTHING back. I filled out puppy apps and emailed and even left phone messages for some but no replies EVER. It's like they think you're an ametuer or not good enough to have their dogs as "just a pet" - like it's a waste of their champion lines to sell to a family who're just gonna enjoy it themselves and not show it to the world. I feel lucky that just by accident I fell across a breeder that had 1 puppy left and was willing to sell to me. And you can bet I paid whatever she asked and got ALL the paperwork I could and am now so happy I have my little guy......but still, even this breeder calls to check on him as she seemed iffy to let him go. What is it about selling to "pet homes"??

 

[Kerryp]

Guardmoore, that is a very interesting perspective! We are currently searching for a puppy. I have been sending out emails versus calling operating on the assumption that they probably get quite a few inquiries daily and this way they can take their time getting back to me and they don't have to drop what they are doing to pick up a phone call. Hmm, I might have to start calling!

 

[Guardmoore]

Kerryp, defo call them, even if you leave a message, i always get back to people. sometimes the next day but i will always call. I think if you phone that shows your serious about owning one of my puppies and thats the first step to then potentially meeting us and then viewing the dogs. no phone call no viewing, thats my motto. You get such a feel for someone over the phone, their tone of voice, how they answer questions, over an email they have time to answer, and can reword things to how they think you want it to sound.
Best of luck finding a puppy xx