Marcy's Maltis


Pricing and Deposits



DESIGNER

Malshi or Maltapom --- $1,500.00

Non-Refundable Deposits are $300.00 down via PayPal or personal check (must be received and cleared by bank before pickup) (please see below for more information about deposits), balance of $1200.00 cash on pickup. Puppies are ready will be ready 6 to 8 weeks after birth. They are CKC Registered, will have 1st shots, dewormed, and come with written Health Guarantee.


PUREBRED

Maltese or ShihTzu --- Females $2,000.00

Maltese or ShihTzu --- Males $1,800.00

Non-Refundable Deposits are $300.00 down via PayPal or personal check (must be received and cleared by bank before pickup) (please see below for more information about deposits), balance is due in cash on pickup. Puppies are ready will be ready 6 to 8 weeks after birth. They are CKC Registered, will have 1st shots, dewormed, and come with written Health Guarantee.


ALL PUPPIES - DEPOSIT INFO

Deposits are required to hold puppies. This secures your puppy until it reaches 8 weeks old (they are usually ready between 6-8 weeks) If puppy is not picked up by 8 weeks, you forfeit your deposit and the puppy goes back up for sale. If you are purchasing a puppy that is already 8 weeks old, we will only hold until the weekend of agreement. This is a critical time in puppy development and it needs to be with its new family!


Please message us on Facebook, or text 318-737-8531 to check availability.


Located in Downsville, Louisiana. Looking for shipping options? Contact KC at Unified Logistics for a quote. 505-362-4017



Should I Pay a Deposit for a Puppy? Yes, Here's Why



Thanks to technology, a buyer is now able to locate and purchase the perfect puppy online, even if its halfway across the country. For a kennel like ours in Louisiana, this is a wonderful thing.


The other good news is that this enables more families to have access to a greater selection of puppies. However, thanks in part to COVID-19, more breeders have moved to exclusively selling online, which has in turn encouraged more scammers.


This has many people are wondering if they should even pay their puppy deposit.


As scammers have gotten savvier, buyers have gotten warier. We have seen many instances where buyers get cold feet and accuse a legitimate breeder of being a scammer because they do not understand the puppy-buying process. After all, buying a puppy is not something you do every day. It’s certainly not as easy as scanning a barcode at Walmart. So it may be helpful to understand what the typical puppy buying process is like so that you as the buyer can spot red flags and/or rest easy knowing your breeder is following a fairly standard procedure. Not all breeders operate the same way, and each will likely have a few finely tuned details to their own purchase process. Still, most breeders do follow a fairly similar process. Most reputable breeders have an application process to screen potential buyers in order to make sure their puppies are going to good, safe homes.



Why Breeders Ask for a Deposit on a Puppy



Following an accepted puppy application, we require a deposit to hold a puppy. This is a nonrefundable deposit. We accept final payment at the time of puppy pickup, cash only accepted for final payments.


Take a look at the breeder’s perspective to understand why this process is necessary. First of all, a breeder’s number one priority bar none is the wellbeing of their puppies. This is why they typically have a thorough application/screening process and contracts which ensure the health and safety of their pups in the future. Breeders typically have a lifelong policy with their puppies stating that they will be responsible for the rehoming of any of their previous puppies as needed at any point in that dog’s life. So as you can see, good breeders take the future wellbeing of their puppies very seriously.


When it comes to the buying process, it benefits the puppies to have homes who have planned ahead and are fully ready to take them at 6 - 8 weeks of age. (Puppies are usually ready around 6 weeks old, deposits hold the puppy up to 8 weeks old) A worst case scenario for a breeder is to have a buyer plan on taking a puppy, but back out at the last minute. The breeder will likely have had to turn down a number of other families who may have also been interested in a puppy, only to have the first family change their minds.



Paying a Puppy Deposit Ensures Breeders Aren’t Left with Unwanted Puppies



Suddenly, the breeder is left with an 8-week-old puppy whose littermates have all gone to their new homes. Developmentally, 8-10 weeks is the prime age for a puppy to begin serious training and assimilating into his new family. The breeder is now left trying to meet this puppy’s developmental and training needs which can be difficult considering most breeders have multiple dogs and/or litters at a time. A solo 8-week-old puppy often doesn’t fit easily into this environment. So not only is the breeder scrambling to find this puppy a good home, but they are also now a bit wary of potential puppy buyers. Getting a puppy is a major decision and one that typically involves careful planning and commitment from all family members. There are certainly great families searching for a puppy available now but as a general rule of thumb, breeders much prefer to work with a family who understands the process, is willing to wait for the right puppy, plan ahead, and have the time to read and do their research about puppyhood, the breed, etc. in advance.


So for a breeder, taking a deposit is really the only sensible way to approach the puppy buying process. Even with a strict nonrefundable deposit policy, breeders still face many buyers changing their mind at the last minute. Requiring paying a deposit does help to ensure most buyers are serious and ready to make the commitment.



Communication Before Sending Your Puppy Deposit is Key



Hopefully this explanation helps make the puppy-buying process make more sense from the breeder’s perspective.

Most honest breeders have a waitlist or at least an application process that involves multiple interactions back and forth. Scammers are typically trying to sell an available puppy now. They prey on buyers’ impulse and often avoid questions. They are typically not interested in getting to know their potential buyers. A legitimate breeder will be ready and willing to answer any questions you have.


Furthermore, a reputable breeder will be personable when it comes to discussions about their puppies. They will likely discuss their temperaments or the parent dogs’ temperaments in detail, whereas a scammer tends to use generic phrases such as “perfect pet” or “loving and cute.”


A scammer often uses generic pictures of puppies that are easily found online. Photos with a more personal touch (i.e. picture of where the pup is raised, with its mother/littermates, etc. are often a good sign). Make sure the pictures of a single puppy match—a sloppy scammer will use similar looking photos of different puppies. Do not be afraid to ask for more photos and to video chat if you are suspicious of a scam.


And of course, recommendations and references are also an important indicator of a good breeder versus a scammer. So be sure to do your research. If you as the buyer do your due diligence, scammers are generally pretty easy to spot.


In conclusion, you should be willing to pay a deposit for a puppy. The buying process can sometimes feel foreign to a new buyer, but if you’ve done you research, then paying for your puppy ahead of time is considered normal by most reputable breeders.





Marcy's Maltis



marcysmaltis@yahoo.com | Phone: 318.737.8531


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