What Do We Do About Breeder Complaints?

[Adina P]

As you know we only permit breeder recommendations in designated areas, however we have no rules or guidelines about complaints about breeders.  Now and then members post gripes and complaints about breeders they openly name.  This causes stress for the breeder who MAY be wrongly accused...but in either case it is not consistent with our policy on praising breeders.  I am not a fan of excessive moderation and I'd like our site rules to determine what is permitted not my personal judgement about what I think is fair/unfair.  Rule of Law not law of the ruler ... That's what I prefer.  So what do you think?  On the one hand it's good and useful to know if a breeder is not so reputable...on the other hand there are two sides to any story and who really wants to have to come and defend their program on a public forum where things could get ugly.  We are not a courtroom.

Share your thoughts on what a good policy on this is.  What is fair to both breeders and potential buyers?  I don't want to be the clearinghouse of complaints either.

Speak your minds please. 

[Lynne of Fountain Falls]

As a goldendoodle lover and a breeder: I really like HeatherA's suggestion of having a check list. I've done everything and continue doing everything I know to do to meet the highest expectations, and have continued to improve. So far, I've had no complaints that I know of. However it only takes one person, venting on a forum, to put a stain on your program that you have taken years to build. I think that the check list is a good way to name specific complaints. I also think one of the items should be, Have you discussed this with your breeder and given them a chance to rectify the problem. This web sight and others like it is the best tool I know to encourage and educate people on how important good breeding practices are.

[Nick Pietras]

I think that Doodlekisses should put a simple disclaimer to urge anyone interested in a doodle to find a breeder that is part of a breeder's association (Austrailian Labradoodle Associaton of America, Goldendoodle Association of America, etc.) As members, these breeders must adhere to certain practices, and if they do not, you can work with the Association to rectify the issue...instead of just writing a bad review somewhere. Sure, some people may read the review, but isn't it better to get the actual issue taken care, if it is serious enough (such as unhealthy puppies, not honoring health guarantee, etc.)? If someone is looking for a breeder, the best place to start is with one these associations and/or breeders who are part of these associations.

[Teri Fann, Goldens-n-Doodles]

As a breeder who works very hard to breed healthy and well-socialized puppies and to build and maintain good relationships with my doodle families, I think that it is very important to be able to recommend a breeder that you like, and to warn against a breeder who is not a good breeder. The unfortunate part is that it can only take one unhappy person to tarnish a good breeder's reputation and there can be a very good reason for the breeder's actions or inactions. Quite some time back, I saw some negative comments made against a breeder that elicited comments and apparently some judgments from other DK members. I knew the entire story and knew that what had been posted didn't accurately state all the facts. If anyone knew what the breeder had been through with the person, they would have understood completely, but the breeder remained silent. To be a recommended breeder on DK, a breeder must do certain things in his/her program, so there is kind of an "approval process". Short of something similar, it seems negative postings without some kind of oversight could be quite unfair and harmful to a breeder. Adina has stressed a desire to not have to "police" the site, so how to accomplish a fair way to post negative things about a breeder doesn't seem clear to me. So far, DK members have posted "contact me" messages to give referrals as well as negative comments, and perhaps this is the only fair way to continue to do so. I note that some have stated that if recommendations are allowed, then negative comments should be, too, But I would point out that a good reputation is built upon lots of good reviews, but could be hurt with just one bad one. I am all for getting rid of puppy mills and backyard breeders and bad breeders, but since a hard-earned reputation could be potentially sullied by one negative comment, it seems to me that the risk of being unfair may outweigh the desire to be imformative. Thanks for allowing comments. Teri

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

There are many good breeders that elect not to be members of a breeder's association for valid reasons. Some associations only exists so that a breeder can state they are members of an association and are not worth anything.

Please do not take this as a condemnation of all associations but as a warning that some are not what they appear to be.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

To those of you who are breeders, thank you for speaking out from the 'other side of the fence' It is very important that one person with a complaint not be allowed to ruin your hard earned reputation. As a teacher, I have students' parents who love me, are neutral, or think my teaching stinks. I would hate for one vocal negative person to have more influence than their complaint warranted. A checklist offering the range of 'service satisfaction' could be good because it would allow for glitches to be given their proper and minor place, yet at the same time, allow the viewer to see if a breeder had a pattern of unreliability. Perhaps rather than listing this in a complaint area, it could be in the Choosing Your Breeder section under Rate Your Breeder.