Best way to advertise Puppies

How long have you known about the pregnancy, and how old are the puppies?  I'm wondering if this was a planned litter, because this seems like you're caught off guard and didn't expect the pups or prepare homes for them before the breeding took place.  I'm concerned why there is a one-week deadline??

print flyers and see if you can hang them in your local vets offices and petstores. That's all I can really think of if you don't want to spend money on news ads. Are the pups vetted? That is going to be a very important question. You can see if a local rescue group will allow you to post on their petfinder accounts. Some do, some don't - you have to ask.

They will be 6 weeks in 1 week and are already eating softened Puppy food.  I'm sure that they will all be placed, but they are awesome AKC registered labs, I had to quit my job due to some health reasons and just don't have much money for ads. ( didnt want to go into it all) As soon as one of them is sold I can use the money to place a good ad.  Just wondering if anyone knows of any web sites that are reasonable. I know that there is some good sites just need some more info.  Thanks.

5 weeks is too young for them to be away from their mother, and their littermates.  I don't live in the US, but I believe that in most states it is illegal for a puppy to be sold before it is 8 weeks.  If you must get rid of them within a week, please give them to a shelter where they can get specialised veterinary care until they are old enough to be adopted out to loving homes.   

Hi Pixie, I won't scold although it is hard not too. So bear with many of us who have trouble understanding.  The poster before me asked many important questions.   I would guess you are not asking money for the pups right??  How old are they? while I object to pet stores selling pups before I would "gift" the local shelter with them I would talk to one.

Flyers are great, every gas station, shopping center and pet supply place is a good place to put on up. If you can take at least one good photo and put it in your flyer. Talk to the local vets. They are pretty cool about helping out when there is an emergency and you are not able to handle all of it yourself. Call Pet Smart and ask them about any possible groups that showcase rescue pups with them. Again You can't get paid for them , but rationally if you think about it the puppy is rarely the expensive or mineymaking part of dogs anyway, it's the supplies etc.

Bonita of Bwana

Does the owner of the sire have any contacts of potential puppy owners for you?  Since they're AKC pups, it sounds like this was a planned breeding, and that Lab sire would have an interest in where the pups go.  If not, the rescue is probably your better bet, then, if you don't have money for their care.  They need shots (usually starting at 6 weeks) which will certainly cost more than the advertisements to sell them.  Is that why you have the deadline?  Because you cannot afford the shots?

Let's see if Gina/rwbeagles has some ideas for you - she is a well-respected breeder of Beagles, and a moderator on this forum.  (I've sent her a PM asking if she can assist on this thread.)

Benedict

5 weeks is too young for them to be away from their mother, and their littermates.  I don't live in the US, but I believe that in most states it is illegal for a puppy to be sold before it is 8 weeks.  If you must get rid of them within a week, please give them to a shelter where they can get specialised veterinary care until they are old enough to be adopted out to loving homes.   

Whoa I had not realized you were planing on selling them.   I can not agree with Benedict enough.  The pups will have soo many issues  because you are seperating them way too soon that you would not want to own one yourself . Socialization is HUGE at this point, they must know what they can do, who they can do it with and what the consequenses will be if lines are crossed.  Mom teaches much of it but the siblings kick in about now in a major way.  A puppy seperated this early will have problems, either being a bully or having such seperation anxiety they will never clean up well. They are far more likely to snap at children when seperated too young. They are far more likely not to handle housebreaking or simple corrections.  Health wise their immune system is still setting up. They can't even have shots. I understand you are out of work but come one, ask a vet to work with you on this , allowing you to postdate a check or something to make sure they have been wormed, vaccinated and checked for heart murmurs etc. I understand microchipping may be out of reach but if you are planning on selling them see if you can work the cost of it into the price of the pup. Then chip it prior to the puppy leaving your home. If things are really des[erate could you ask your vet to board the pups until the puppies sell allowing you to control their world a bit longer??

Couldn't you post flyers saying Puppies available SOON, now taking deposits and put snaps of pups, and parents in the ad. See if you can not get a few deposits to help you keep them longer.

I will not place a puppy before it is 10 weeks old and thoes are the ones flying in cabin, I prefer to keep them until 12 weeks when they have established their personalities, and have grown enough they will go into a new home successfully. Make peopel understand you need them to answer questions about themselves. Do they have fenced yards ? Will puppy be a house dog? Who will train it ??

I will quit now because if I don't I fear I won't help but indeed begin to scold.  I know folks don't mean to do things like this and if they learn form it then it's not a horrible thing. As a very responsible and ethical breeder I cringe when I hear about litters like this.

Bonita of Bwana

Hi Bonita,

Wow, first experience on this forum.  Everyone is getting the wrong idea.  I have had dogs for 25 years and had several litters.  Worked in a vet clinic for 5 years under 5 veterinarians.  Since it seems you know about dogs you know as well as I that 6 weeks is old enough if the pups are healthy and are doing well on their own.  Mom can and will ween, especially the larger breeds, if she can when they are ready.  Thank you for your feed back, the flyers and other info is a great idea.  It's funny, people jump to conclusions very easily, I guess I learned my first lesson--(Write as much as you can the first time around.)  These pups are being taken care of and treated great.  I would never take any puppies to a shelter or pound.  Only asked for advertising ideas.  Thats all---Thanks again.

Im sorry, but if you have been raising dogs for 25 years, first you should know how to advertise and sell. 2nd, you should know that it is NOT healthier, certainly not for their MENTAL well being, for them to go to homes at 6 weeks. Recent findings have found how IMPORTANT it is for their overall socialization to be kept WITH the dam and littermates until AT LEAST 10 weeks. I understand your need to place them due to money, but think about these puppies that YOU have brought into the world and their well being first. I am surprised, based off your obvious dog experience, that you did not have a waiting list set up before you bred the dog. Hopefully you will chalk this up a learning experience and spay your bitch. Working for a vet, I am sure you know that it is healthier for her to be spayed.
Since you worked for a vet, why not start there?

Thanks for the advice.  Everyone has their opinion and everyone is very entitled.  Since I worked for 5 veterinarians, I have learned a lot from them and many many breeders.  Breeders vary on what they think, their experience, and what they are used to.  I appreciate what everyone has said and I will take it to heart and to mind.  I will also keep in mind that many many litters have gone to homes at 6 weeks of age.  Many vets give shots at 6 weeks and say that this is fine.  Some feel this is too early, especially if they are still nursing and getting immunity from their mothers. Some dont, and say they dont really know. We all do what we feel is best, with the knowledge and experience that we each have.  Thank you for your help and once again all I asked for was some advertising ideas. This is just a Forum, a place to discuss, give ideas, information and opinions, and maybe learn something beneficial. ( Dont need to be scolded or put down.) Just wanted and asked for advertising ideas. 

Yes, many puppies have left their litter at an early age, but not from good breeders who care about the life long well being of their puppies. I do not know what state you are in, but it is illegal in my state to sell them prior to 8 weeks old because studies have found it is better for the puppies. You can not expect the general population to know or understand how to make up for the lack of puppy to puppy socialization that they are missing out on. I agree that everyone has different views and opinions, but when there have been studies researching and backing up these claims, you can not deny that it is better for them to stay in the current environment with their littermates and dam, who teach them bite inhibition, manners, proper play behavior, and other vital aspects that are carried on into the life they have with their new owners. By placing them too early, you risk them missing out on important learned behaviors that may be essential in their new homes.

 I just wanted to reiterate the point that it is illegal to sell a puppy (or kitten) before 8 weeks of age. Most, if not all of the states in America have this law I believe. Maybe one of the more experienced breeders or rescuers can chime in on this. You can take deposits, but selling them and sending them to new homes before 8 weeks is against the law.

If I were in your situation, I would make flyers. 

When the puppies are sold, use the proceeds to pay for your female's spay.  I will assume that you do, in fact, know what a spay is, being that you've worked at vet clinics before...

 In most states it is against the law to sell pups before 6 weeks of age.  I got my lab pup at 10 weeks from his breeder and would not want to get a pup much younger than 9 weeks...