Breeder Beware-Red Flags - Page 8

I am interested in the opinions of those of you who breed and have sold to foreign countries.

I have someone who will wire me money for two pups, so I am not concerned about getting the money. They are willing to pay a fair price for the pups. The person is in Central America. Once I have the registration papers, he would fly here to pick up the pups. His English is not great, but so far, we have been able to understand each other. 

I have only a little background on the individual who wants to buy and he tells me he already has four dogs from showlines, but from what I can gather, I am not sure he has done much with the dogs he has. He says he wants to do Schutzhund with these working line pups, but I am not even sure how much opportunity for that there really is in his country. 

At the moment, the individual lives with parents but is about to have his own house. Of course, there is a lot more information I can and could gather from him, but before I waste a lot of time and the time of the potential purchaser, I am curious about how others feel about selling dogs to foreign countries.

I know one German breeder, for example, who has sold dogs to third world countries in Africa, such as Sierra Leone. I would never feel comfortable doing that, especially if I did not speak the language and could not follow up. Of course, I have bought dogs from Germany, but I speak very good German and have many friends there too.

I do not speak Spanish, nor do I have any contacts in the country in question. I don't think that even if the individuals told me everything I wanted to know that I would be able to verify one thing and I doubt I could ever get any followup. 

How do the rest of you feel about this kind of situation?

by hodie on 04 April 2009 - 20:04

hodie Posts: 2686 Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2003 01:48 am

Take a look at a current post. This particular individual has had multiple dogs and shown each time via posts on this forum that he has no clue what he is doing. Someone sold him the dogs however, over and over. Why? Because when it comes down to it, regardless of these wonderful clues about red flags that most of you are posting, there will ALWAYS be someone who will sell because it is not about the dog for far too many people. It is about the money. When someone has no idea about what they are talking about, especially as concerns temperament, working ability, health, development, and/or structure and yet gives the impression they do know, when they say they want to do "X" with a dog but have no idea what is involved in doing "X" these are perhaps the most serious of all warning flags and encompasses much that has been posted here already. I am sure there are a few here who have turned people away. But let us not forget that there are likely many who never have turned anyone away who has money in hand.

                                                            They are willing to pay a fair price for the pups.

I have only a little background on the individual who wants to buy and he tells me he already has four dogs from showlines, but from what I can gather, I am not sure he has done much with the dogs he has. He says he wants to do Schutzhund with these working line pups, but I am not even sure how much opportunity for that there really is in his country. 

hodie,
     It seems funny that question coming from you, it seems to be one of your own, red flags. How could you possibly know what is happening with your pups, after they are shipped across the world. Could you go get them back if they needed to be "Rescued?"

     AND: you are willing to sell them TWO working line pups, that quite possibly would be more than a novice could handle, on top of the 4 they already have. They could very easily end up the crated all day dogs, THAT NO ONE LIKES TO SEE

    Money in hand

 Your concerns are my concerns. Sometimes even I like to hear what someone else thinks, just as a checks and balance.

Some times I get the oddest calls for pups .Like today Some one just wanted to get a puppy for the kids for Easter ..Try  some place else ...CLICK I hung up on them ..