This morning, one of our wonderful breeder clients messaged me with a very innocent, “On your next visit, can we talk about how to advertise the puppies with Puppy Patch?”
And then followed it up, deadpan, with:
“Honestly, I think we need some kind of offenders register… like a sex offenders list… but for people who shouldn't own puppies.”
Now, we laughed. Because let’s be honest, that’s dark humour at its finest.
But also? I got it. Deeply!
Because the reality is, when you’ve poured your heart, soul, and at least 170 loads of washing into a litter, when you’ve stayed up all night for that first latch, weaned them onto raw like a chef on a Michelin mission, wormed, clipped, socialised, and sung them lullabies in your dressing gown, that you’ll need to chuck after the litter leave because its crusty with puppy mousse and who knows what else… you don’t want to hand them over to just anyone with a handbag and a puppy voice!
Letting go is the hardest part of ethical breeding.
It’s not just a transaction. It’s a bloody trust fall, and the world doesn’t always have its arms out.
It’s not irrational to worry. Ethical breeders are cautious because they care! Not just about their breed, but about each individual pup. You’ve had them in your arms longer than most newborns stay in hospitals. So yes, it’s completely valid to panic a little (or a lot) about:
You can be warm, approachable, and still hold your standards sky high. Here’s how we help our clients make sure their puppies are going to safe, loving, permanent homes:
Create a questionnaire that covers:
We can happily help you throw something together and If someone thinks that's "too much paperwork," tell them: If you think this is a lot, wait ‘til you see the lifetime commitment.
A quick video call tells you everything. You see their setup, they see your litter. It builds trust both ways and weeds out the time-wasters and shady types who ghost when you ask to see their home.
Start it while they’re still with you. Add the new owners and post updates, feeding guides, videos of the pups throwing themselves into water bowls…
This keeps families excited and keeps your finger on the pulse after the pups leave. It becomes a community.
Whether it's toilet training advice, crate tips, or reminders that "no, your puppy isn't trying to destroy you, it just needs a nap," newsletters are a way to continue supporting your homes without messaging each person individually. I personally started a little newsletter for Pride of Bully families so I can make it bulldog breed specific and it went down a storm!
If it doesn’t feel right, trust your gut. We always say:
Better a pup stays a week longer with the breeder than spends a lifetime in the wrong home.
What no one tells you about breeding: it’s emotionally exhausting. Well, I say no on, I do try on your breeder mentor sessions and your puppy natal classes to stress … I'm only 21. It's breeding that makes me look 101! The build-up to puppies leaving is like sending your child to uni with no mobile phone and no way to know if they’re eating properly or if they’ve joined a weird cult (only in this case, the cult is "the raw-fed-only-no-walks-till-one crowd" or "dogs should sleep outside because they’re animals" brigade 😳).
That’s why we’re here. We don’t just worm and weigh. We sit on kitchen floors, listen to your worries, and help you feel like the best doggy mum (or dad) on the planet, because you are.
So yes, maybe one day we will invent a register for dodgy pet buyers.
Until then, we’ll keep helping you ask the right questions, trust your gut, and find the right homes for your precious pups.
Because you don’t just breed dogs, you raise futures.
And we’re with you every tail-wagging, tear-jerking, heart-filling step of the way 💪🐶
Want help creating an enquiry form, setting up a puppy group, or running a pre-handover Zoom call?
Book in a Breeder Mentoring Session today! I’ll bring the coffee :)
Jo & The Team at Northwest Breeding Services 🐾
Our desire is to work within a world
where our expertise makes a difference.
