She couldn't even honestly answer why my pup wasn't a show prospect, because his tail got docked (which I didn't know, she didn't tell me in advance). I wanted to be assured he wasn't bred just to sell for money, which unfortunately it seems he was.
I don't have personal experience with Ms Talley. However, I do have experience negotiating the purchase of puppies with undocked tails, and I feel you are presenting misinformation here. A puppy must get its tail docked no later than 5 days after birth if you are going to do it at all. Waiting later is unethical; it causes the puppy more pain and puts the puppy at risk of phantom limb syndrome.
Ms Talley is a show breeder with multiple champions to her credit. Serious show breeders treat each puppy as though it has the potential to go into the ring. However, it is not always obvious within 5 days as to which puppies in a litter are the show prospects. Sometimes an obvious color fault or deformity is visible at birth. If not, then a breeder may need wait several weeks before it becomes apparent which puppies are the best show candidates. That means show breeders tend to dock all tails, without exceptions, because any of the puppies could end up a show prospect.
As I said, I have no personal experience with her. However, I do think it is unfair to criticize a breeder for what is a normal practice.
Others we are considering are Tawnya Bobst from Tantalite Toy Poodles and Carolyn Holmes from Carmine Toy Poodles. Thank you!
