Hi there,
I have been researching dog breeds for a while now, and have decided to bring a standard poodle puppy into my life!
I've read quite a bit about how to identify a reputable breeder and I feel confident about the types of questions that I would ask him / her. However, I've been getting a near-zero response rate. Is this typical? I've sent out probably 15+ inquiries over the last week, and I've only heard back from one breeder who rejected my application with no explanation. It's worth noting that I'm primarily filling out forms on the website and e-mailing - should I be calling instead? Texting? Even the AKC MA poodle club has not been responsive to me (I've e-mailed multiple members).
I'm also not clear if I should be limiting my search to my geographical area (I live in Massachusetts). There seem to be more / better breeders in the South and Midwest, but I'm concerned about the ethics and logistics of sending a tiny dog on a cross-country trip when it's so young. It seems like I ought to be able to find a breeder near me, but I can't seem to get any to engage with me. Has anyone had a puppy shipped to them?
Lastly, I have a question about colors - are apricot and brown standard poodles extremely rare? These are my preferred colors, but I don't seem to be able to identify many breeders that have them (especially around me in New England).
Ideally, I'd love to identify a breeder by word of mouth, but I can't seem to make a connection with one. Can anyone help me?
For reference, I would want to bring the dog home in Fall-2021. I have no idea what the lead time is on these things, which is why I'm starting early.
Thanks in advance!
I have been researching dog breeds for a while now, and have decided to bring a standard poodle puppy into my life!
I've read quite a bit about how to identify a reputable breeder and I feel confident about the types of questions that I would ask him / her. However, I've been getting a near-zero response rate. Is this typical? I've sent out probably 15+ inquiries over the last week, and I've only heard back from one breeder who rejected my application with no explanation. It's worth noting that I'm primarily filling out forms on the website and e-mailing - should I be calling instead? Texting? Even the AKC MA poodle club has not been responsive to me (I've e-mailed multiple members).
I'm also not clear if I should be limiting my search to my geographical area (I live in Massachusetts). There seem to be more / better breeders in the South and Midwest, but I'm concerned about the ethics and logistics of sending a tiny dog on a cross-country trip when it's so young. It seems like I ought to be able to find a breeder near me, but I can't seem to get any to engage with me. Has anyone had a puppy shipped to them?
Lastly, I have a question about colors - are apricot and brown standard poodles extremely rare? These are my preferred colors, but I don't seem to be able to identify many breeders that have them (especially around me in New England).
Ideally, I'd love to identify a breeder by word of mouth, but I can't seem to make a connection with one. Can anyone help me?
For reference, I would want to bring the dog home in Fall-2021. I have no idea what the lead time is on these things, which is why I'm starting early.
Thanks in advance!