Replacement Puppy

[Midhad]

I had purchased a breeding quality puppy couple years ago. I was interested in a certain mating at the time and had booked a POL male pup. When the due date passed and I have not heard back from the breeder I contacted him asking about the litter? I was told all the puppies had died. I was very sad and disappointed since the breeder had not informed me about it until I asked. He told me not to worry since another couple just had a litter. It is not advertised on his website, but the puppies look real good. He sent me a photo of the litter and they did look very good. I asked if the POL from this litter is available and was told that the POL is taken, but I will get the 2nd choice. I accepted and trusted the breeder. I have not heard back from the breeder for over the month so I emailed him again asking for some updates and photos of the pup I will be getting. I was told that the pup is at the "friendly farm" and he is not able to take any photos.

So the time has come to go to the airport and pick up this mysterious pup that I have not even seen a photo of. I was excited and thought maybe it is better this way since this is going to be a surprise. When I picked up a wooden crate at the airport and opened it there was this tiny rail thin pup with a huge lump on his shoulder inside the box. He looked like he came out of a puppy mill. I cannot explain how disappointed I was at the moment, but I felt bad for the pup and loved it instantly. When I contacted the breeder I was told that the pup is little thin because they did not give him enough food at the "friendly farm" and the lump on his shoulder is from a shot and it will go away. 

To make the long story short I raised the pup with lots of love and the best care he could get. Took him for regular vet checkups, fed him the best food, trained him with the best trainers. He bounced back very well and was starting too look good and I had high hopes for him.

When he was about 17 months old it was time to get his hips and elbows evaluated. I chose the pennhip method. Where I live the cost of x-rays and the evaluation is about $600 (5000 Rand). Results came back with the red note stating that the dog has confirmed DJD and should not be used in breeding. When I emailed the breeder with the results I was told that he is fine and I should use him because he was in the 60% joint laxity range for boerboels. I tried explaining DJD to the breeder but had no success so I decided to wait until I save more money and redo the x-rays and send them over to South Africa for the evaluation to avoid any confusion with the method used. 

Next year I paid over $600 (5000 Rand) again and did the xrays again with the instructions from South Africa and sent them for evaluation. Results came back with the severe HD and severe ED. 

I emailed the breeder again and this time since there was no way out he said he will replace the pup. He said he didn't have any litters at the moment, but to remind him when he does have one. 

Soon I saw a litter advertised on his website and I contacted him. He told me that this litter is heavily booked and her tummy is not that big. No puppy for me and I have to wait until he has one for me.

After what I have gone through I feel at least this breeder could have done is let me pick the replacement pup. I feel that I should be first on any list. 

He reminded me that his guaranty states that the pup will be replaced only with the same quality pup. I do not want the same quality pup. I cannot afford to raise another sick dog.

Am I expecting too much from the breeder?

[Johann Kruger]

This is just bad.....please put the breeder plus the correspondence with the breeder on the web...then all can judge with the information from both sides.!

[Julie Stårvik]

I get big warning signs flashing everywhere just reading that he didn't even tell you the first litter had "died" (or whatever happend to them, if that's even true).

I would not even try to get a replacement puppy from this person, I would stay as far away as possible and basically learn from this sad experience :( . Never buy a puppy unseen and don't trust people who are not even interested in keeping their buyers informed about what's going on.