Cost of pup, a secret?

[Goofy Newfy]

Would you even deal with a breeder who won't even disclose the price of her puppies unless I call her? We are looking into getting a Shiba Inu but not until May. I have done extensive research on the breed for weeks now and have no questions of one VERY reputable breeder........ other than the price for her puppies. She will not tell me until I call her.i don't want to look further into it until closer to the month we are making the purchase. She produces a limited amount of litters per year and may not even have a litter available then. It seems to me to be a waste of time, why the seceracy? From what I have heard, her pups are $1600.00, I would think she would want to weed out anyone wasting her time by being upfront on the price.
Is this normal of a breeder?

 

[new_2_newf]

Yes, I would. Although at some point you are going to have that conversation, I can understand the breeder wanting to have a little more than email contact with a person before going down that road. I wouldn't take it as a sign of deception. She may very well be attempting to weed out people that are just looking for a 'cheap' puppy or that are more focused on price than other things. I'm not saying you are that person in any way, just that if this breeder is producing the pedigree and health that you are looking for, pick up the phone and call her. Ask her why she chooses not to disclose that information and see how you feel about the answer.

 

[newfx's2]

We just added an Australian Shepherd to our family. When I first contacted the breeder, she wanted to talk to me over the phone rather than just read an application sent by email. I felt better knowing she cared where her pups were going and learning a little more about me. I didin't mind waiting to discuss prices over the phone. Maybe your breeder wants to see how serious you are about her pups. I also had to have a phone conversation w/ my newfie, Aurora's breeder to discuss everything, including price. Even if it's months away before you get your pup, you may want to get on the list of the litter due for 1st or 2nd pick before others do. If she's a reputable breeder w/ limited litters, her pups might be in high demand and go fast.

 

[Sun Valley]

I also will not discuss prices in an email, especially when I get an email asking "do you have any puppies and how much" and half the time people don't even sign their email, so I have no idea who I'm responding too.

When I do a get a good inquiry with info about the person and their back round via email I respond back with my phone number giving them a good time to reach me via the phone.

...I want to speak with prospective buyers and have them visit if possible so I can find out if a Newf is right for your family and how familiar you are with the breed.

Lou Ann

 

[Sound Bay Newfs]

I also will not discuss prices in an email, especially when I get an email asking "do you have any puppies and how much" and half the time people don't even sign their email, so I have no idea who I'm responding too.
Lou Ann

I agree. I always feel that they are just price shopping, figuring all pups are the same, so why pay more than they have to.

 

[charlieinnj]

I would think she would want to weed out anyone wasting her time by being upfront on the price.
Is this normal of a breeder?

If I were a breeder, yes....I would want to talk to/meet people, first......before discussing price. Simply being able to afford one of my pups wouldn't necessarily equate to being the right "home" for one of my pups.

 

[BLCOLE]

Okay, this brings up a very good question.

I'm profoundly DEAF; using the phone is pretty much impossible. I remember having to "talk" to the breeder before I rehomed my current Newf. Ended up having my mother make the phone call...

Any of you breeder folks have contingency plans for just such a scenerio? Dealing with an otherwise experienced Newf owner who is physically unable to use the phone?

btw, what ended up happening is a face to face visit with the breeder BEFORE I was allowed to have the dog...

 

[new_2_newf]

I would suspect that if a person were in that sort of situation and explained that they had difficulty on the phone, most normal people would be willing to make some other sort of arrangement that worked for everyone, be it someone 'translating' the call, a face to face visit, etc. If a breeder wasn't willing to make some sort of effort for me if I was deaf (example), then they probably are not the right breeder for me. I think most breeders are reasonable human beings and once they understand that there is a difficulty with their preferred method of communication, they'd be willing to find a compromise so you can both get what you need.

 

[Capri]

Even if it's months away before you get your pup, you may want to get on the list of the litter. If she's a reputable breeder w/ limited litters, her pups might be in high demand and go fast.

My thoughts exactly. I always cringe when I hear people say that they don't want to bother the breeder before They are ready to actually take a puppy. For some very highly reputable breeders the litters can be already spoken for months or even years in advance. For example we usually have at least two people on the waiting list that have waited for a puppy from us for more than a year, the others on the waiting list a bit less than that. The time before the litter is due is perfect for getting to know the breeder & the family, and establishing a strong relationship between the two. When the litter is born, it's only a matter of weeks that you've known each other, and it's usually very busy times for the breeder.

So, I would take the phone and call her!

(in case of a deaf person, other arrangements can be made, eg. Skype (with the option of writing), having a "translator" or of course meeting face-to-face )

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

I don't know anything about the pricing, but regarding your timing comment:

I think it was 7 months from the time I finished the interviewing/screening process with Mila's breeder before I even got my Mila. If Shiba Inus are bred by responsible breeders with the same kind of care, diligence and infrequency as responsible breeders of Newfs, homes for pups will most likely already be lined up prior to a litter's conception or, at the very least, birth. If you're looking to get a pup from a reputable breeder, you should pick up the phone now, because you're going to wait to get one, period. And if you contact them now, you may actually be able to get one around the time you want one