Hi Radya, I breed Berners and I would never consider loading up my van and taking a pile of puppies to a store carpark to sell. I start the interview process well before the puppies are born and even if at certain times of the year the phone enquiries slow down I do not panic and sell in haste. I make my buyers "work" for their puppies, if they do not show sustained interest or are unwilling to listen to my advice they don't get one. Any little doubt on my part and they don't get one. PPOs are talked to at length on the phone, invited to meet up with me at dog events and if I'm happy to do so they are invited to my home to meet my dogs and have a nice long chat one on one. I cannot do this if I were to operate out of a store carpark.
Dr Ian Dunbar advises breeders to show the adults en masse to potential puppy buyers, let them realise how much dog emerges from those cute fluffy puppies and then educate them about the journey between puppyhood and a well adjusted adult. He also states that when humans are looking at puppies they turn into blabbering fools incapable of absorbing your words of wisdom. It is this very concept that puppy stores rely on to make a quick sale, it's called marketing the product or getting the hook! The puppies at this store's carpark sale are the hook, then the owner is influenced into stepping into the store to buy all the necessary clothing and supplies to start their sporting interests. All this store is requiring from attending breeders is that the puppies are registerable and a seven day health guarantee is given. Proof of parents genetic testings, not all breeders do all the necessary tests and how many PPOs are aware of specific problems reletive to specific breeds to even ask. Instead of selling from the truck we move into an ex-pen, not a whole lot of difference just better presentation of the "goods". Welcome to Parvo land where puppies can test their undeveloped immune systems while humans wander from pen to pen to pet and hold the little treasures! No good breeder would take such young puppies to a multi-dog event. Rose T.
