I often hear breeders saying that dogs and puppies are not the stressful element of dog breeding, that in fact dealing with new owners is the hardest part!
I hear you… boy do I hear you! I know that you are busy! Raising a litter of puppies is HARD work and can be exhausting. Facing a mountain of emails, answering repetitive questions and a volley of requests for photos and videos on every channel, from Messenger to Whatsapp, email, text and phone call… it is completely and totally overwhelming!
Michael White the founder of Breedera and I chatted about this topic following his research into the area. Michael, through Breedera, supports the dog breeding community via an app, which is super easy to download and use, that provides a digital solution for record keeping and monitoring. He is the person to speak to about organisation and efficient processes that make our lives as breeders less stressful!
We agreed that open and transparent communication is vital in building trust and relationship between dog breeders and new puppy owners. With the industry often being accused of “back street” practises it should be a top priority for both sides that clarity and visibility are key, and that a good, easy flow of communication is maintained for the long term well being of the puppy. Ethical dog breeders want their owners to be able to contact them with the good, the bad and the ugly. There is likely to be all sort of reasons an owner may need support, with the breeder being top of the list of people to contact. If the owner does not feel that the breeder is approachable and available, this can lead to puppies not finding homes in the first place, or when sold, puppies being passed on to new homes with the breeder being left unaware of the situation.
Here are my seven steps for managing the communication, keeping it constant and informative, but at the same keeping it “doable” for you as breeders.
- Build an application form that answers all your questions. Not only does it show a high degree of care as a breeder, but you can also work out the type of home that suits your puppy best, all the answers for you, in one place.
- Move your owners to a single method of communication, whether that is email, WhatsApp, text, whatever method works for you. Find a method that it is easy to share information through, one that makes sending videos and images easy.
- Be prepared! Have information to hand, and ready in advance. New owners will want health information and litter details. I create a PDF for each litter with the information inside it. I save it on my phone and can send it at the click of a button!
- Set a level of expectation around weekly or twice weekly updates, that way you don’t have to send pictures and videos every day!
- In the weekly updates make sure the new owners are being told what you are doing with the puppies in terms of worming and flea treatments and feed regimes. Explain the socialisation you are doing. It highlights your skills as a breeder and educates them on the importance of correct puppy raising.
- Schedule viewings over a specific time frame, clear your diary, get your kids looked after, manage your other dogs and focus on your new owners. Give them time and be available to answer their questions. Send them away with homework! At this time, I enrol my owners onto my online puppy training program which hand holds them through all of the areas of new puppy ownership and what they will need to do in order to prepare for their new arrival. If you haven’t seen it and are interested, then there are breeder discounts and offers on the program which you can grab details of HERE. (insert https://pupstartsbreeders.com/the-puppy-pod/).
- Once the puppies have gone to their new homes I like to be the breeder that “checks in” to make sure my owners are managing, and the puppies are settling well. There will undoubtedly be questions and issues they are facing, be the support they need. In this scenario “no news” is NOT good news and can leave a puppy in a compromising situation.
By following these seven steps I manage my owner communication and relationships, in a full and detailed way, but also in a way that helps me to not feel the overwhelm that we commonly feel as breeders.
If you want to deep dive further into the processes I use, then HERE is a recording of the conversation between Michael and I. It is full of little tips and hints and details on the application form I use for new owners. Enjoy!
If you have enjoyed reading this blog and would like to reach out to myself or Michael about what is available to you as breeders, in terms of Ofqual regulated education and CPD courses, and digital support solutions for breeders then here are the links:
