legit breeder, puppy mill or scam?

[Leo]

hi all, 

Im new and naive to the puppy world and am in need of some advice. my wife recently researched puppies for our family, we have a few children who are getting older and are ready for the responsibility of having a pet. 

she also has allergies to pet dander and has been hesitant to adopt a dog. her research led her to the "doodle" family and she focused on a specific breeder who breeds exclusively american labadoodles. the website claims that the dogs are "purebred, multi generational Labradoodles that
have perfect, fleecy, HYPO-ALLERGENIC,NON-SHEDDING Coats, square lines and great   conformation!  Premium lineage, Premium breed!"

my wife called the number and spent an hour on the phone with the breeder. everything seemed great. The breeder even arraigned for us to visit someone local who had adopted a labradoodle from her three years ago. the owner had nothing but complementary things to say about the breeder, and my wife reacted well to the dog. The breeder was warm and friendly, she answered all our questions and was readily available by phone and email. my wife decided to go with this breeder and made two payments three weeks apart. 

since then she has been very difficult to get in touch with her. for the past two and a half weeks she hasn't answered the phone once and has only responded to a few emails when the tone has turned somewhat aggressive. every time we call the business phone number it rings twice and gets forwarded to a cell phone which says the voicemail is full. she did email that there was a death of a young child in the family and she has been extremely busy. she sent a picture of the puppy my wife had chosen and said there would be more pictures coming. that was a week and a half ago and we havent gotten another picture. the only contact we had since then was this past Friday when she tried calling and left a message that she tried to call but wouldn't be available for a few hours. I've tried to call and surprise surprise, it went to a full voicemail box. my wife has emailed her on friday and yesterday and hasent gotten a response. 

at this point im very concerned about the whole transaction. I am very untrusting and think that we are being scamed.  I also dont want to over react and panic about something which is taking the normal course. How much contact should i be having with the breeder before the dog is delivered?

the puppy is now 6 weeks old and the breeder says she doesnt release them before 10 weeks.

thanks for listening 

any advice would be greatly appreciated

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There is no mention of genetic health testing on the breeding dogs anywhere on the website. That is the most important thing when choosing a breeder. You must see proof of genetic testing on the parents. 

What to Look For in a Breeder

[Leo]

the website does say that they guarantee against genetic diseases for three years.  does that mean anything?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's reassuring, but you do still need proof of genetic testing on the parents. 

[Adina P]

A guarantee is just a 'warranty' -- it doesn't guarantee nothing will happen, only that they will recoup you in some way.  And it is important to decide if the manner of recouping would suit you if your beloved pup were ill or had hip dysplasia or whatever.

[Lynda Kamrath]

I would be real leary and want to see her facility before I got any more involved with a puppy.  What in the world is a holistic breeder?  Sounds fishy to me.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

If the guarantee isn't backed by testing and it means you having to get a "replacement dog" for any restitution, you are headed for heartbreak. I'd rather have a contract that spells out some financial responsibility should an unforeseen genetic illness require treatment, because you might need some help financially, but the last thing you will need is to even think about giving him back and getting a replacement. As if you possibly could. Good for you that you paid with a credit card.

[Leo]

thanks. im probably going to dispute the charges and start looking for another breeder. my kids will be so disappointed. they picked a name and have a picture of him on their ipods :(

[Star and Goldie]

The fact that there is no public display of genetic testing on their website is enough for me to dispute the credit charges and cut my ties with the breeder if it were me. I can get past a breeder with bad people skills but I can't get passed a breeder with bad breeding skills.

[Leo]

i have to make sure that i will win the dispute. as of right now i dont think i can lose. ive called the breeder over 30 times with no response. 

[Kyoko]

That does not sounds really good... :-( When we got Charlie, the breeder was great from the beginning to the end, even though I later was educated that truly great breeder does lot more health testing, etc... 

[Adrianne Matzkin]

You got great advice!! Most importantly, you ASKED! Kudos to you! I hope you and your family find the right dog, doodle or not, that best fits your family! 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It is really, really important that you and your wife read What To Look For In a A Breeder and use it as a guide; if any breeder you are considering cannot match up to these minimum guidelines, move on to someone who can. There are lots of wonderful labradoodle breeders out there, many of them in your part of the country. Take your time. This is a decision that is going to impact your life for the next 12-16 years. This is a living being who will be sharing your home with your children. Take your time. Learn as much as you can about dogs and puppies in general, and labradoodles in particular. Don't let your children's eagerness for a puppy push you into making a hasty decision. Depending on your children's ages, they may well be out of the house, away at school or even living on their own, and this dog will still be there with you. There really is no such thing as a "dog for the kids", the dog is going to be yours, and your wife's. A good reputable breeder usually has a waiting list, anyway, so you will have lots of time to do your research and make a good decision.