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Re: Deposit question

The difference with your litter and your communications with your families is that the white hairs are visible in all pictures. The OP has indicated that they were not. And a quarter size spot, to me, would seem larger than just a few hairs.

I don't care either way, I'm just trying to point out that just because someone was looking for a particular look, doesn't make them unqualified to have a puppy.

Perhaps he lives in an area, as I do, where it's hard to find a decent Lab and he was afraid people would question whether this was a purebred. We get that a lot and it's getting old!!!

Re: Deposit question

Some people want a specific color or sex and I have no issue with that. But, when someone starts telling me they only want a specific shade of yellow I tell them to look elsewhere. Yellow is yellow regardless if it's a nice medium yellow or a pale light yellow. In my lines the yellows tend to be 2 or 3 shades darker in adult coat than they were in puppy coat. In this instance I believe the same mentality would apply. A black puppy is a black puppy regardless if it has a quarter size white spot on it's chest. It's not a mismarked puppy. Many times as the puppy grows the spot becomes completely unnoticeable. At the end of the day it's all just hair!

At this moment I have a litter of blacks and a couple have some white on them (thin line on the chest ranging from 2 inches to half an inch). Honestly never even considered mentioning it to pet buyers. They are quality black puppies, end of subject. If a potential pet owner is so picky over a few hairs than no I don't want them with one of my puppies. Puppies that are from health tested parents, raised in the home and well socialized should be the focus. I'd worry what would be wrong with the puppy next if a few white hairs is unacceptable.

Would I refund the deposit. Yes, when I sold the puppy to a qualified buyer. But, I don't take kindly to insults and bullying and if you act like a jerk about this than I'd likely just keep it.

Re: Deposit question

If you bring something up, in the spirit of full disclosure, there are individuals who will take this as something being wrong with the puppy. I've had puppies with white on their chests and it almost completely disappears once they are adults. A few years ago there was a female with a white spot who won winners bitch at the national specialty.

I encourage my families to make visits to see the puppies once the pups are 4 weeks old. This is a great time for them to ask questions and you to cover things. The OP said when they first contacted the breeder, the pups were 2 weeks old and couldn't have visits. Why didn't they go later when the pups were older? I sell to local families and when they aren't interested in at least one visit, it sends up a big red flag for me. JMHO

Re: Deposit question

Wow. There's probably a family out there who would pick that puppy just because of the white spot. Some pet owners think it's cute, and there's certainly nothing wrong with the white spot. I wouldn't want anyone taking my pup who didn't adore it, so I would hold the deposit until I sold it to another buyer, and then refund the deposit to the original person.

Re: Deposit question

I had this happen last year. there was one pup in the litter with a quarter size white circle. All families were notified pictures sent showing it. We also had discussions how this has nothing to do with temperament and is even in the show ring. When it came time for me to pick each puppy for the appropriate family, the people who I chose this puppy for declined. I was shocked. 8 weeks of discussing this and not one word from them. I refunded their deposit, would not hesitate on that. Turns out a former puppy family of mine wanted a 2nd and grabbed the opportunity to have this puppy. I don't think this puppy owner is a "monster" I think that's terrible and harsh but I also dont understand why a white spot is a big deal if the puppy offered the family everything else. If the breeder is reading this, please just refund the deposit. Is it really worth all this?

Re: Deposit question

Bdr
Wow. There's probably a family out there who would pick that puppy just because of the white spot. Some pet owners think it's cute, and there's certainly nothing wrong with the white spot. I wouldn't want anyone taking my pup who didn't adore it, so I would hold the deposit until I sold it to another buyer, and then refund the deposit to the original person.
I had a family request if possible a chocolate with a fairly good sized white line down the chest. Xmas photos at a year, he was decked out in Santa clothes and the white was the same. They came back to me 2 years later for a pup out of the same bitch's last litter. They were nice, normal puppy buyers that still send me photos yearly.

I wouldn't give the deposit back immediately unless they insist on the pup immediately. Otherwise, I would wait until I had a good home for the pup at the same price they were paying. If it were less, I would deduct it off their deposit.