Waiting list update

It’s such a tricky process.  Do I advertise that there is a litter due?  Do I tell everyone I know?  Or do I keep it a secret, in case they are all born dead?  Should I take everyone onto the waiting list and hope that some drop off or change their minds later?  Or should I limit the list to the number of pups I think may arrive?

From experience, it seems that no matter how long my list, I often have pups without homes a few weeks along.  Sometimes it takes six weeks to sort out the right homes.  People might seem really keen and then decide they don’t want what I have – even after they have been to have a cuddle!  Or they want a particular puppy and I feel obliged to offer them a different one, as that one is also chosen by someone who contacted me earlier.

I always try and work on a ‘first come first served’ basis, but equally, I want to try and match homes to puppies.  Sometimes a pup will seem more laid back, or more feisty and that will suit a particular type of home better, in my opinion.  Often people come along with an expectation of wanting one thing, but when I meet them I feel they would be far better suited to something else.  This is particularly the case over the sex of the dog.  Most people come along with an idea that they want a dog or a bitch.  Sometimes it doesn’t matter, if it is a single dog household and they are experienced dog owners.

When there are other dogs in the house, getting the dynamics right can be important, so the sex and nature of the puppy will matter.  Again, people have ideas that if they have a bitch they cannot get another one (not true), or they have three dogs so ‘fancy a change’.  Not sure that is such a great idea, but it depends on the level of experience of the owner.

If the home is a family with young children, I personally feel that a dog is more manageable than a bitch, but it does depend on the family.  I think boys are slightly more ‘even-tempered’ than girls and therefore a bit more tolerant of being pulled around.  I also believe that border collies bitches are much less sociable with other dogs, so when they are out and about a dog is easier to manage. This is helpful if you only have one dog, as you want one who is friendly, not snappy.

Of course I am sometimes persuaded to send a pup off to a home, despite my reservations.  I know that every responsible breeder out there will tell you that they have done this, only to have the dog sent back as unsuitable.  This happened to me for the first time last year.  That makes the homing process even more difficult – how much do I trust my own judgement?

I am hoping that now this website is rammed with content, people will be able to see what my dogs are like and my beliefs and values as a breeder; they will be able to ‘self-select’ whether they are a good home.  Maybe that will make the job easier!  Here’s hoping…

Finally, I will say that if you are a friend, who is wondering whether now is the right time to have (another) one of my pups, PLEASE get in touch to tell me that?  I would hate you to miss out because I have homes sorted the day they arrive, which is pretty likely this time 😉

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