My experience with asking people to place a deposit for their puppy typically goes one of three directions:

First, “Great! Would you like that by check or Venmo?”

Second, “I’ve given a deposit before and been scammed. Prove to me that you are not fake.”

And lastly, “Actually, I just have a few dozen questions before we get to that step…”

And you might think that we as breeders only want the first response, but that’s not the case! Every one of these responses reflects a level of assurance that we want to give to our customers. While the first kind of customer might have the most confidence in us, we feel it’s important to explain why we ask for a deposit, why it is transferable yet non-refundable, what it ensures, and more.

Let’s break it down.

Why do we ask for a deposit?

The answer to this question mainly has to do with our reservation process.

The deposit operates as a ticket in line on our Master Reservation list. Once you are dedicated to a specific litter list, the date and time you placed your deposit determines the order in which you pick your puppy on Choose Your Puppy Day (typically the Saturday after the pups turn 8 weeks old).

This also means that when you place your deposit, you have reserved a spot in line to choose your puppy, not reserved a specific one. We encourage clients to place a deposit as soon as they are sure of the quality of our program, so that they place higher on the list and have a better chance of getting the specific puppy they would like.

If there is a situation where you aren’t quite sure of your available options, we have also ensured that the deposit is transferable between litter lists up to one year to accommodate for any special needs or preferences.

While it makes sense that customers would want to see the puppy before they buy and ensure the correct fit before making any kind of a commitment, on our end, we are coordinating the placement and happiness of living creatures, and for their sake, we need the process to be orderly and systematic.

In most cases, even if you do not place very high on your litter list of choice, there will typically be 2-3 puppies to choose from — we highly recommend narrowing down your options beforehand to avoid puppy overwhelm, which is a very real thing!

Why is the deposit non-refundable?

This is to ensure that the client knows the responsibility of placing the deposit and is committed. There are living, breathing animals who are significantly impacted when a commitment is not honored. Not to mention the time and effort taken by the Golden Cavaliers’ staff to answer any questions that future Golden Cavalier families might have. We must honor the responsibility, time, and knowledge of our breeders and staff who work so hard to ensure all of our families leave satisfied and with the best puppy for them. And we must make sure that our pups have committed families waiting for them.

To ensure that there is a level of accommodation, the deposit is transferable between litter lists, meaning that you can switch to a different group of puppies within one year of the date you placed your deposit.

And at the end of the day, it ensures that we are working with committed families who realize the responsibility of bringing a puppy into their home. As much as you are vetting us to ensure that we are legitimate, we are doing the same for the well-being and happiness of our dogs.

How do I know that I am not being scammed?

There’s been many an occasion that I have emailed with someone who was incredibly skeptical of our program and I would then come to find that they had an experience in common: They were on a third-party dog-selling website, saw a beautiful puppy that they had to place a deposit for before coordinating a call with the breeder, only for the dog and the website page to disappear as soon as they sent the money. It’s frustrating, cruel, and it happens all the time.

It’s important to be able to identify red flags before making any kind of move to send money to strangers online and we completely get that.Here’s how you can tell the difference:
A real breeder will get on the phone with you before you ever send a dime. If someone is pushing you to pay first and “then we’ll talk,” that’s the red flag, not the deposit itself.

You should be able to ask about the parents, see them, ask about health testing, and get real answers, not stock photos or vague reassurance. If the puppy’s history feels foggy, that’s worth pausing on.

A legitimate program has a track record. Look for reviews, past litters, an actual history online, not just one perfect listing that appeared last week.

And the biggest one: a real breeder wants to know about you too. If nobody’s asking questions about your home, your experience, or your plans for the puppy, they’re not vetting you, they’re just processing a payment.

The deposit itself isn’t the scam. It’s standard practice for any legitimate program. What matters is what happens around it: do you get a real conversation, real answers, and a real relationship before that deposit goes anywhere?

What does this mean for the puppy?

We’ve talked a lot about what a deposit does for you and for us, but it does something for the puppy too, and it might be the most important part.

Puppies go home around 8 weeks old, right in the middle of what’s called the imprint period. It’s a short window where they’re wired to bond fast, take to training quickly, and learn their name almost immediately. A puppy who goes home to a family that’s already been preparing for them, who already has a name picked out and a routine ready, has a real head start compared to a puppy without a place to land. (See the end of this article for links to previous posts about timing, training, and boarding programs we offer)

When you place a deposit, you’re not just holding your spot. You’re telling us, and telling that puppy’s future, that there’s a family already waiting. That matters more than almost anything else in this process.

What if I still have questions?

Ask them. Genuinely. If you’re the kind of person who wants to understand the process before you commit to it, that’s exactly the kind of family we want raising one of our puppies.

Here’s the honest part, though: our reservation list moves in real time. While you’re taking the time you need to feel confident, other families are placing deposits and moving up the list. That’s not us rushing you, and it’s not a sales tactic, it’s just what happens with any first-come system. The family who deposits on day one will pick before the family who’s still deciding on day ten, regardless of how wonderful both families are.

So ask everything you need to ask. Just know that the list doesn’t pause while you do, and if you’re already leaning toward “yes,” there’s no real downside to securing your spot while you finish asking.

So, where does that leave you?

Maybe you’re ready to go, check or Venmo, let’s get you on the list. Maybe you’ve been burned before and needed to hear how we’re different before trusting us with anything. Or maybe you’re still working through your questions, and that’s more than okay.

Wherever you’re starting from, the deposit means the same thing: a spot held for your family, and a puppy who knows one is waiting for them too. All three of you are welcome here, we just wanted you to understand exactly what you’re a part of.

Ready to reserve your spot, or have a question we didn’t cover? Reach out, we’re happy to talk it through.

 

Resources:

Need training? We offer an Intensive 4-Week Training Program

Ask us about our Day-to-Day Doggy Boarding for your puppy!