'Where did you get them?'

[Sit Stay]

I'm totally guilty for asking that question - what I'm really getting at is "what breeder is he/she from?" but I don't want to just assume the dog is from a breeder, especially if the owner may be a RESCUE ONLY nutjob. Although sometimes I will ask "is he/she from a breeder?" if it's pretty clear the dog is purebred and quality (example, beautiful, correct Dobe puppy that came into work last month with a very good crop job).

When asked where I got Quinn, I say I got her from a breeder in town name. Most people are happy with that and the subject changes, but I will tell them her name if they seem genuinely interested in the breed. It's not uncommon for a real dog person to say "Oh, breeder's name right" when I mention Quinn's breed and/or what town she's from, as her breeders are pretty involved with the AAC, which is pretty cool, and I always confirm.

My next puppy may be coming from Oregon, so it will be interesting to see if I get any weird looks or responses lol. All of my dogs to date have been fairly local (same province)!

 

[JessLough]

It seems like everyone has a Border collie here, and a lab. It amazes me.

Everybody here has a Border Collie or a Border Collie mix. Everybody. Well, those who have a dog. Or if they don't have a BC/mix right now, they've had one fairly recently

 

[JessLough]

I'm totally guilty for asking that question - what I'm really getting at is "what breeder is he/she from?" but I don't want to just assume the dog is from a breeder, especially if the owner may be a RESCUE ONLY nutjob. Although sometimes I will ask "is he/she from a breeder?" if it's pretty clear the dog is purebred and quality (example, beautiful, correct Dobe puppy that came into work last month with a very good crop job).

When asked where I got Quinn, I say I got her from a breeder in town name. Most people are happy with that and the subject changes, but I will tell them her name if they seem genuinely interested in the breed. It's not uncommon for a real dog person to say "Oh, breeder's name right" when I mention Quinn's breed and/or what town she's from, as her breeders are pretty involved with the AAC, which is pretty cool, and I always confirm.

My next puppy may be coming from Oregon, so it will be interesting to see if I get any weird looks or responses lol. All of my dogs to date have been fairly local (same province)!

You know, for some reason, I thought Quinn was from Maine.

 

[Red.Apricot]

People are aghast at how much we paid for her - $275.

My best friend said to me, "Yeah, when I get a dog I don't want to spend that much on the purchase price. I mean, I know it was worth it to you, but I can't imagine spending as much as you spent on Elsie--I mean it must have been, what, two hundred dollars at least?"

:rofl1:

 

[monkeys23]

My best friend said to me, "Yeah, when I get a dog I don't want to spend that much on the purchase price. I mean, I know it was worth it to you, but I can't imagine spending as much as you spent on Elsie--I mean it must have been, what, two hundred dollars at least?"

:rofl1:

Oh wow, good thing she doesn't know Elsie's actual price! :rofl1:

 

[Michiyo-Fir]

It's a bit different here....every single person asks how much my dog costed. It's really awkward. I don't want to be like I don't want to say but when I do say, first I feel awkward and second the most common response is that's so expensive! Or you got ripped off! I think it's pretty stupid and I never really know what to say without being really awkward. I say I got her from a show breeder usually but then the next question is always how much was she....or do you want to breed her to my dog. People in my area are crazy lol.

I've literally been asked more than 40-50 times about the cost of Nia. I don't think it's appropriate really.

 

[Oko]

Since Wesley came from the state I live in, when asked I say 'from a breeder in X town'. I don't really want to give out her name because while she wasn't awful, she definitely saw it as a business and bred too much. She had accidental litters between her collie and poodle, Wesley's mother was wonderful in temperament but they kept his Dad on the porch because he was loopy, haha. None of their dogs were trained at all.

I know so much more now: Live and learn, as they say!

I just wouldn't recommend her to someone looking for a dog, but people we meet on the beach and out and about 'want a dog like Wesley'. However, he was probably the cheapest standard poodle ever, lol.

 

[Rach]

It's a bit different here....every single person asks how much my dog costed. It's really awkward. I don't want to be like I don't want to say but when I do say, first I feel awkward and second the most common response is that's so expensive! Or you got ripped off! I think it's pretty stupid and I never really know what to say without being really awkward. I say I got her from a show breeder usually but then the next question is always how much was she....or do you want to breed her to my dog. People in my area are crazy lol.

I've literally been asked more than 40-50 times about the cost of Nia. I don't think it's appropriate really.

Maybe you should just politely tell people that if they have to ask then they probably aren't ready for one, or any specific breed at that..... Most people can find out a good base range of a particular breed if they are that interested. Or just give them a variable answer from byb price (not recommended) on upwards to $$ from a reputable breeder.

 

[*blackrose]

I've asked that question to a few people. I was looking for a lab breeder whose type I liked, so if I saw a gorgeous Lab, I'd ask the owner where they got him from. Asking that question actually pointed me in the direction of my two top Lab breeder picks in my area. Also a chessie breeder.

 

[PWCorgi]

I will occasionally ask people where they got their dog, especially if it's a rarer breed, just because I'm always interested in what local breeders are around. I would never flat out ask what someone paid for a dog, that just seems...rude?

As for Frodo, nobody has ever just asked, if they ask it's after I tell them they can't pet him. And usually it's "awww, was he a rescue? " No, he's just nuts!

For Siri, if I get asked I will probably just say she's from a breeder in Canada.

 

[Fran101]

I don't like people asking how much my shoes are and certainly don't like them asking how much my dogs are.. it's such a personal question!

I usually just say I can't remember or "enough."

 

[Red.Apricot]

Oh wow, good thing she doesn't know Elsie's actual price! :rofl1:

I know! I told him, "Er, well, she cost a bit more than that... but the shelter near us always has really sweet dogs, and their fee is $65. It even includes the speutering."

Then I got to explain 'speuter' and we were off on a tangent about word-mash-ups.

 

[OwnedByBCs]

I get that a lot. I've bred some of my dogs (Riot, Sadie and Pirate) so I answer "I bred them" and people are either fine with it or they're crazy judgmental. With Fiona and Wesley, "I got them from a breeder in California". Oddly, no one ever asks me about Gyp and Faith... but they're from breeders (although I wouldn't ever recommend Gyp's breeder).

There is very little that makes me as uncomfortable when talking about dogs- but one thing that does is price. When people ask me in person how much my puppies cost I get super uncomfortable. I haven't been asked how much my dogs cost, but honestly most people think dogs cost $400. Mine cost slightly more than twice that. Its a weird thing to discuss...

 

[monkeys23]

I know! I told him, "Er, well, she cost a bit more than that... but the shelter near us always has really sweet dogs, and their fee is $65. It even includes the speutering."

Then I got to explain 'speuter' and we were off on a tangent about word-mash-ups.

That is too funny!

 

[Laurelin]

Mia was way more than 2 x $400 by a lot. I don't think I've ever told anyone in RL how much she was. They'd think I'm nuts. As it is, I've told summer's price ($500) but I feel lke it's a false advertisement since I got her on a discount. Her breeder never sells dogs for that little unless you're a friend. But even telling people $500 seems to blow their minds.

 

[Shai]

I guess I lied earlier...various members of my family have asked how much Mira was. I just deflect or tell them that FCRs are usually $1000-1500. Mira's a co-own but honestly I don't want to tell them how I paid regardless and I definitely don't want to get into what my co-ownership contract entails.

 

[DobeLove]

Usually when I get the "Where are they from question" I just say a breeder in Oregon or from a friend. We met a lady when we went to a park once who asked that. She had a pretty Doberman so we told her Foxfire. Turns out hers was from Foxfire as well and now we are good friends!

I HATE the "are they expensive?" question. We haven't paid anything for a dog in the past 6 or 7 years, but if anyone else tried to buy one they would have been. But I guess it depends on what expensive is to them. I just say yes and if they ask how much I tell them. Then the conversation ends and they walk away.

 

[Southpaw]

I don't think anyone has asked how much Juno was. That seems like a crazy question to ask a stranger. I guess I'd just give the honest answer because it doesn't really bug me to share.... just seems like a weird thing to pry about.

But yeah. I am pretty positive I can recall exactly in what situations I have asked a person where there dog came from. One was an awesomesauce border collie at the dog park that was like, exactly what I would want in a BC (and sadly the breeder the dog came from doesn't breed anymore!); one was a pretty rottweiler with a natural tail; and the other was a super gorgeous doberman with an awesome personality. The BC was the only one where I did some prying to figure out WHAT breeder, the other two I just asked out of curiosity because they were cool dogs and I wanted to know if they just stumbled upon them or what.

One thing I have noticed is that many people with rescue dogs seem to just offer that information without being asked. Like, whenever I meet a dog for the first time and am saying hi and petting it and whatnot, the owner will just go "yeah, she's from a rescue." Which is fine I guess but I don't introduce my dog as being from a breeder. Or today I took Juno to Petco and a woman in the parking lot wanted to say hi... so she starts off with "I have a boxer too! She was rescued." Just kinda funny.

 

[Lyzelle]

When I ask people about their dogs, I don't usually ask where they came from. The Rhodie I met back in August was the only dog I've asked about who belonged to a complete stranger. And I was so excited at actually SEEING one I didn't really think when I just blurted out, "Do they usually get that big?" But the owners were nice enough to tell me more about her and other Rhodies they knew, and at least didn't seem too put off by my childish excitement. Lol.

I've definitely never asked about prices. Seems a little odd.

 

[JacksonsMom]

One thing I have noticed is that many people with rescue dogs seem to just offer that information without being asked. Like, whenever I meet a dog for the first time and am saying hi and petting it and whatnot, the owner will just go "yeah, she's from a rescue." Which is fine I guess but I don't introduce my dog as being from a breeder. Or today I took Juno to Petco and a woman in the parking lot wanted to say hi... so she starts off with "I have a boxer too! She was rescued." Just kinda funny.

I get that kind of thing a lot at the dog park. People like to blurt it out. Or use it as an 'excuse'. The other day, a dog was shy and didn't want to say hi to me - I could care less - my own dog is shy. The owner was like "She's a rescue. She's shy." Ummm, okay. Mine's not a rescue and he's shy. Or if they are acting badly "oh he's a rescue". lol. I just don't get it.