Songbird is a reputable breeder.

 

Lack of reply could be from high Covid demand.

 

I’m sorry you’re having trouble getting a callback. Have you tried calling the Poodle Club of America breeder referral?

PCA National Breeder Referral - The Poodle Club of America

We send you only to breeders who breed American Kennel Club-registered toys, miniatures, and standards. Additional breeder names are available through the PCA breeder referral contacts. Breeder Referral Contacts Breeder referral West of the Mississippi: Mary OlundPhone: (415) 457-4648Send email...

poodleclubofamerica.org

 

Hi! Yes, I contacted breeders in close proximity to NY from the breeder referral. I also stopped a few people on a street who had healthy looking and well behaved minipoos to asked about their breeders. This is how Nancy's name came up. I did an enormous amount of research and still keep harassing poodle owners when I see a poodle I like
I must say, there is such a difference in poodle appearance that came from pet shops or internet sites and reputable breeders. This is why I am still trying.

 

As a puppy buyer, it’s definitely hard to stand out from the crowd right now. I sympathize. It’s especially hard when you’re reaching out to toy poodle breeders, whose dogs produce very small litters.

You might want to consider the content of your queries. Are they short and to the point? Do you explain why specifically you’re interested in their puppies? And how you’d provide one of their puppies with a fabulous home?

I know it probably feels like you’re screaming into the void right now, but I believe your patience will pay off.

 

As a puppy buyer, it’s definitely hard to stand out from the crowd right now. I sympathize. It’s especially hard when you’re reaching out to toy poodle breeders, whose dogs produce very small litters.

You might want to consider the content of your queries. Are they short and to the point? Do you explain why specifically you’re interested in their puppies? And how you’d provide one of their puppies with a fabulous home?

I know it probably feels like you’re screaming into the void right now, but I believe your patience will pay off.

Hi PeggyTheParti,
My first intro e-mail to breeders is concise since I know from my work that people in general do not read long e-mails. Although it is concise, I lays out all important points. As a start. A few breeders replied asking for details and I did. Songbird came from a recommendation, but the radio silence for 1.5 is surprising. I though if a breeder doesn't respect people, but loves dogs, still, how can a breeder give their dogs to people then? I will try another month but will move on August and do what I have to do.
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts with me!

 

I contacted Nancy twice in my search for two quality bred poodles. She is a legit breeder.

The first time was several years ago and even back then I had a hard time finding a minipoo. I believe I had sent her both an email and a voicemail. I had no response for several months. A week after I brought Babykins home I got a call from Nancy saying she had puppies and was I interested. Obviously I had my poodle so I didn’t need a puppy from her.

More recently I email her when I was looking for a puppy….. again after I had gotten Theo I received an email from her.

I did recommend her to someone in my area who got a lovely male minipoo from her and they love him so much they went back to her for a second.

From my limited experience it seems she contacts people when she thinks she has puppies and when they contact her.

 

Thank you Skylar! So Nancy is a good breeder but not a good communicator. I will try contacting her for another month and modify my messages to her and all other breeders I am constantly bugging with my calls and e-mail. But I have a feeling I will end up buying my poodle puppy from horrible Lancaster Puppies or a pet shop. August will be 6 months of my search. I understand that breeders are busy and have tons of messages, but instead of having people hanging up in the air, it doesn't take a lot of time to post on FB or on their websites that there are no available puppies at the moment or no upcoming litters planned. Simple and respectful.

 

I have a friend with a lovely Songbird (oversize) mini. They do rally and obedience. Our member twyla has a Rodell oversize toy.

 

Hi Lily, do you know if your friend went through month of silence from Nancy's side before she got a puppy from her? I just think it is not respectful to other people to ignore them for months. Just a simple line, a short answer will suffice, "no puppies available and wait list is full". Something like that.

 

It took me a couple weeks to get ahold of my breeder, and then she was not the best communicator, but I didn’t doubt I would end up with a puppy. (My husband did.) He left a couple messages over a week or so and tried to contact her via her website. Then I used the contact form on the website and said very succinctly ‘I am very interested in your dogs. Do you have any planned breedings this year? My husband has left several messages. Please let me know.’ I don’t know if it was just the timing of it or what, but she called that evening. Our communications were almost always at 7:30 am or 7:30 pm, so maybe try varying the time of day you’re calling, if you haven’t done that already.

 

Starla, thank you so much! So, I am not the only experiencing this. Your message is uplifting. Normally, I do not to call after 9pm or too early in the morning, all my calls are around noon and around 5pm. I will switch to 7:30s

 

I understand wanting a puppy or dog desperately.

If I knew the risks,
have dedicated poodle health savings of several thousand dollars or pet insurance,
knew that basically that the breeder and I would part ways as soon as the pup was in my hands because the Lancaster style (from questionable sources and breeders), pet store (from questionable sources and breeders), puppyspot, etc (from questionable sources and breeders) are unlikely to do health or temperament testing, likely to treat their dogs as livestock sold for profit, and are very unlikely to stand behind their pup and new family thru the pups life,
I might proceed.
But
I also wouldn't pay quality breeder prices, and above, unless I'm getting all the quality breeder perks.

 

Breeders are absolutely swamped right now. My only suggestion is to try and find lesser known breeders - a good way to do so is to look at the breeders who are more active on Facebook and who they are commenting on. I found my girl who was from a new breeder's first litter by seeing something shared about her by her mentor, a more well-known breeder.

My dog's breeder (spoo) is on her third litter. She doesn't believe in waitlists but for this last litter she has had These puppies are all sold on all of her a
facebook posts about them.

I wonder if asking any breeders you hear back from (if you even get a nope, none anytime soon message) if they have any breeders they recommend might have pups?

Morally I couldn't buy a puppy mill pup. Even BYBs, basically 'i had two cute dogs and bred them', though far from my favourite, are a better bet than a mill pup. Remember that a lot of a dog's characteristics and early imprinting come from the mother. You want a happy, healthy, confident mother in a home environment to teach puppies to be happy, like people, and be confident in a home environment, not a stressed, fearful mother.

 

Very well said For Want of Poodle, Skylar and Rose n Poos.

 

Skylar has done a great job explaining common experiences with finding a purebred dog. It requires patience and commitment to get through it. I’m in a period where I am not looking for a dog but keeping stumbling upon opportunities to get one. These windows of opportunity often appear to be very short, within hours the puppy has a home. I hope the stars align the next time I’m puppy shopping, but I plan for a 6 month to 2 year wait. Violet was >6 months from pitching the idea to my husband and coming home with a puppy. With the impact of Covid I would expect a longer search/wait.

 

if you're in ny have you tried light 'n lively on staten island? black and white minis is what i understand they breed.

 

As indicated, Songbird is legit, and well respected. My Gracie has several Songbird dogs in her pedigree (attached). Gracie, age 2 1/2, is from Light n Lively in Staten Island, and I can’t say enough about how wonderful she is. Shaping up to be a good agility dog, competing in Excellent in AKC and Level 5 in CPE. Not bad for starting in the midst of a pandemic! She has a wonderful temperamen, is fearless, and so loveable. A consummate lapdog. She’s energetic for sure, but I wanted and expected that. Also very healthy, no issues so far, not a fussy eater, she is everything I wanTed and more.

The pandemic has affected everyone and breeders are swamped with requests, while trying to still title dogs with all the COVID restrictions. Don‘t settle….it is worth the wait for a well-bred poodle.

Pics of my Gracie, she has a mismark and can’t compete in conformation but I wanted her for agility, and of course a pet. She didn’t disappoint!

 

Hello Songbird Poodles here. Imagine my surprise when I happen to google my kennel name and find an inquiry asking if I was legit? I’d say yes
You need to understand that in June 2021 (mid Covid pandemic) reputable breeders getting 15-20+ inquiries per DAY! Many of us don’t have that many pups available in a year. I understand someone really wanting a dog but if I responded to all those inquiries I’d have no time for my actual job or family. So please don’t make assumptions. I wish you the best and hope you and yours are well.

 

Hi and Welcome to PF!

We are always happy when a breeder joins to speak for themselves. As you go on thru the thread, you'll see that your reputation as a quality, legit breeder is upheld .

We get a lot of folks joining who are only just learning about how to research breeders, so this opening query isn't uncommon. We do our best to help these members with their specific questions and what to look for - and avoid - in breeders.

A big misconception for folks new to all this is understanding that breeding, at its best, is not a business, not a livelihood, not a retail set up. Poodles are not a commodity, they're a calling.

It's people passionate about poodles and some lucky few of us get to share in their hard work.

Hope you drop by occasionally. We really like getting to know the breeders.

 

Welcome, @Songbird Miniatures! The original poster has not been back since starting this thread, but I do hope they log back in at some point and see your reply.

Regardless, it’s a good reminder for all potential poodle owners. Thanks for popping in and sharing your perspective.