New dog incoming. Seller wants me sign contract.

New dog incoming. Seller wants me sign contract.

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TypeR

Original Poster:

1,144 posts

245 months

Monday 25th January 2021
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Our last three dogs came from the rescue centre, and we didn't have problems with any of them, but due to their age when we got them they didn't live terribly long.
We're about to buy our first puppy. It's a pedigree breed and rather more expensive than our old rescue doggies!
The breeder wants us to sign a contract. I'll post it below.
Is this a normal thing with pedigree dogs?
Endorsement A looks a bit bizarre, but this is my first foray into this so I'm just curious.

sex: Date of Birth
Mc number:
The breeders warrant the title to the animal, but no other warranty as soundness or otherwise is given, except as required by law. The breeder have endeavoured by breeding practise to minimise the risk of genetic defects in the animal and all risks in this respect must be borne by the purchaser with the following exception.
If the puppy is certified by a veterinarian within 14 days of purchase to be suffering from an inherited or other serious health problem, proved to be present at the time of purchase, the breeder shall take back the animal and refund the purchase price to the purchaser.
If the puppy is returned for any reason within 14 days of purchase the deposit of £200 will not be refunded. If the puppy is returned after 14 days there will be no refund of the purchase price.
The puppy is sold as a pet, there is no guarantee whether the puppy will turn out to be show quality,
The purchaser agrees to inform the breeder of any changes to contact information and agrees to contact the breeder if in need of any advice at any time throughout the animals life.
The puppy will be Kennel Club registered.
The purchaser agrees not to breed from the animal and further more accepts the following endorsements which have been placed on the registration of the animal.
ENDORSEMENT A – PROGENY NOT TO BE REGISTERED I the breeder may, in the future decide to lift this endorsement purely at my discretion. Appropriate health tests must be carried out resulting in below average scores and clear eyes. The animal must be of sound temperament and subsequent quality that the breeders decides can be bred from. The purchaser must attend 8 Championship dogs shows over a 2 years period.
ENDORSEMENT B – NOT ELIGIBLE FOR EXPORT This endorsement may be lifted if the purchases can provide proof of moving abroad with the animal.
If for any unforeseen circumstances the purchaser has to re-home the animal, the purchaser must contact the breeder in the first instance so that the breeder can assess the animal and potential new homes if necessary we may take the animal back until a suitable home can be found but no refund of the purchase price will be given.
The purchaser understands that if the animal in my opinion is neglected, maltreated or does not receive adequate medical care, the purchaser must surrender the animal to the breeder unconditionally and without financial reinstatement or compensation

I/We acknowledge and fully understand all endorsement and conditions above
Signed Breeder Date

Signed purchaser Date
Address


email

Roboticarm

1,482 posts

67 months

Monday 25th January 2021
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Element B seems pretty standard to me, signed something similar for my first dog.
They also wanted to be 2nd contact on the microchip and have 1st refusal in the event we decided we couldn't keep the dog for whatever reason.

Not sure what element B is saying tbh

Scolmore

2,757 posts

198 months

Monday 25th January 2021
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No idea if this is normal but sounds like you are buying a licence to look after a dog!

TypeR

Original Poster:

1,144 posts

245 months

Monday 25th January 2021
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The part about having to attend dog shows seems a PITA too!

stuartmmcfc

8,688 posts

198 months

Monday 25th January 2021
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TypeR said:
The part about having to attend dog shows seems a PITA too!
That was the bit that stood out to me as a bit odd for a “pet”.?

Catz

4,812 posts

217 months

Monday 25th January 2021
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We had to sign something similar when we got our last dog, a Flatcoat Retriever. It’s mainly to do with breeding and with all the puppy farms on the go it’s probably a good thing. Also if the breeder “shows” their dogs it’s possibly to reduce competition.
Endorsement A is to do with any puppies from the dog you’re buying. It doesn’t mean you need to attend dog shows with your family pet. smile
If you’re not planning breeding from the dog and it’s just a family pet I’d not worry about signing the contract.

We got our next Flatcoat from the same breeder and she never bothered with a contract second time round.

riosyd

612 posts

207 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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TypeR said:
The part about having to attend dog shows seems a PITA too!
I think that’s only if the dog is to be bred from.

Fastchas

2,688 posts

127 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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The contract specifically prohibits the animal being bred from?
Who owns the animal and any offspring then?

The Mad Monk

10,594 posts

123 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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Of course you could always refuse to sign the contract?

Parsnip

3,132 posts

194 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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Fastchas said:
The contract specifically prohibits the animal being bred from?
Who owns the animal and any offspring then?
I may be wrong, but my read of it is that it is to do with registering the offspring as pedigree? Essentially stopping you setting yourself up as a pedigree breeder using one of their dogs?

I.e. You can do whatever you like with your dog - breed with a pedigree stud or a mutt from the park if you want, but without the breeder of your dog agreeing to waive the clause (and I guess you going to the dog shows), the litter will be classed as Heinz 57 and not pedigree.

z4RRSchris

11,467 posts

185 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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good luck enforcing that. what are the damages

Challo

10,685 posts

161 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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I dont see much wrong with the contract, but the having to visit shows is a PITA. Why do they request this?

Our friends bought a Labradoodle from a breeder, and they had a clause in the contract that until she was neutered she wouldn't sign over the microchip to them. Strange, but the breeder was funny about the offspring and wanted to control what puppies are produced. Our friends didnt want to breed from her anyway, but it would have hacked me off.

In the era of puppy farms and people breeding dogs to make a few quid, having a contract is not a bad thing.

Muzzer79

10,824 posts

193 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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Is the breeder local?

I get the part about returning the puppy to them if you don't want it. However, at the end of the day, if you sign it and take the dog, how are they going to know what you've done with the dog in 6 months/1 year/1 year+?

Parsnip

3,132 posts

194 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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Muzzer79 said:
Is the breeder local?

I get the part about returning the puppy to them if you don't want it. However, at the end of the day, if you sign it and take the dog, how are they going to know what you've done with the dog in 6 months/1 year/1 year+?
Well, if you breed from your dog and register the litter, it be visible on the KC website?

Rushjob

1,948 posts

264 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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OK, firstly I'm working on the assumption that what was posted is the entirety of the contract....

I would tell the seller where to shove that....

It seems to me that the breeder cares little for the puppy and is solely bothered about the value of their "line"

If they were primarily interested in the welfare of the pup, they would be asking you to sign as an example - this from the Kennel Club which I would be only too happy to sign on purchase.

Everything you need to know about your new pup along with the responsibility of the breeder and the purchaser from purchase onwards.

We are currently looking for a new pup, if I visited someone trying to impose the posted contract on me I'd be walking.

All IMHO of course.

TypeR

Original Poster:

1,144 posts

245 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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We're speaking to the beeder tonight, they're quite some distance away in South Wales. Looking at their website, they have bred many Championship winning dogs.
I'm beginning to feel that this is the canine version of buying a Ferrari and only driving it to Aldi. All we want is a happy family dog to keep our other dog company and to go on long pub walks.
I'll see what's what after I've spoken to the breeder.

rcg733

28 posts

112 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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It all looks pretty 'normal' to me.

The endorsements prevent (A) you registering any puppies as KC pedigree dogs, and (B)registering with a foreign kennel club.

Everything else in the contract is pretty much unenforceable. It is good that the breeder will offer to look after the dog should you decide that you cannot keep it, nobody wants to think of puppies they have bred been carted off to a dogs home.

Don't worry about not wanting to show the dog - the breeder will be keeping the pick of the litter, and will be happiest for the dog to go to a family home where it will be spoilt / taken to the pub etc.

Parsnip

3,132 posts

194 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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TypeR said:
We're speaking to the beeder tonight, they're quite some distance away in South Wales. Looking at their website, they have bred many Championship winning dogs.
I'm beginning to feel that this is the canine version of buying a Ferrari and only driving it to Aldi. All we want is a happy family dog to keep our other dog company and to go on long pub walks.
I'll see what's what after I've spoken to the breeder.
I'd liken it more to buying a Ferrari and them making you sign a clause saying you will not resell it on the grey market, they will give you a very limited warranty and they will take it back if you change your mind within a limited window. The post telling the breeder to stick it is a bit over excited - the breeder is just trying to protect themselves and the puppy (and yes, their breeding line) - not selling it on to be bred from seems pretty responsible to me, as does offering to take the dog back and to cover any genetic defects.

If it bothers you, can I ask why? What specific bits do you see as a problem for what you have planned for your dog?

I wouldn't get too hung up on the pedigree/show aspect of things - think of it as buying a car with full documentation and FSH from a main dealer - you know you are getting a dog with good genes and (in theory) a much lower chance of health problems - if you do your homework on the mum and dad. The only bit of our dog being Pedigree that really matters to us is that she should (by no means is it guaranteed, but better parents should = better pups) have decent hips, elbows and eyesight.

If you are happy with the dog, the price and the breeder, who cares if you aren't going to enter it into Crufts? To use your Ferrari to Aldi example - if I had a prancing horse sat on the drive, I would use it daily. Both of the parents of our lab are working gundogs. I live in a city and the closest thing I have to a gun is for putting silicone sealant on the bath.



Lotobear

6,990 posts

134 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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That's not a purchase contract it's a lease on a dog

RichTT

3,146 posts

177 months

Tuesday 26th January 2021
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It might seem over the top but show breeders / showers are an odd lot.

Whilst it looks like a lot of legalese its mostly standard stuff for pedigree dogs. When we bought our Border Collie we had to sign off on not breeding it etc etc. The other bits just look like the breeder looking after what they've spent a long time establishing as a business and also as a breeder that cares about the animals that they sell onwards.