Complaint Review: Ricochet Labradors - Internet

The report by DallasBrad popped up when I google searched Ricochet Labradors in order to get to their Facebook page for a litter news update.  I am not a Facebook member, so this is how I access Tamra's labrador page.  I am writing this with my five-month-old yellow lab asleep at my feet.  Beautiful, fun, smart, healthy, and engaging are adjectives that best describe our yellow male, who was a second pick from a Ricochet Labrador litter.  

Frankly, we are stunned by this Ripoff Report because the writer's experience doesn't seem to fit the definition or criteria of a ripoff.  He spent no money, rather his feelings were hurt.  So where's the ripoff?

Before making a deposit and going on Tamra's waiting list, I contacted a number of breeders.   All purebred lab pups run about $1200.  So her pricing is competitive.  Furthermore, you only need to look at her Facebook page to witness how satisfied her families are.  They post photos and comments going back several years. Like us, their experiences have all been positive.  

 I would love to learn the other side of the story.  According to what the author wrote, he called to try to set up a "first pick" of the litter.  Sorry, but Tamra treats all of her clients equally.  No one gets first pick of the litter by perhaps offering more money.  It's first-come, first-served; some clients are on waiting lists for as long as one year. 

We first met and visited with Ricochet Labradors last fall.  We wanted a male.  After putting down a $400 deposit and filling out some paper work, we were behind two other families who also wanted males.  My experience with Tamra is that she runs her operation very much by the book.  You have to follow protocol.  The next yellow litter that was born turned out to be all females.  There weren't enough males to go around in the next litter either.  Finally, in January, she had a litter of two females and four males....all beautiful, healthy, and playful.   The first visitation for families purchasing from a litter is at four weeks.  Tamra sprays everyone's shoes before entering the house so that no bacteria are tracked in.  The families return at six weeks to choose, then pick up their puppies between seven and eight weeks.  

Tamra provides the first round of immunizations, a microchip, a bag of food, and a folder full of helpful information. She even allows her clients to use her breeder discount to buy dog vitamins.  She provides a wealth of information and advice. I chose her as a breeder because we were able to visit her other litters, the parents, and even grandparent labs.  I do my research and am extremely picky.  Tamra may seem strict, but she is equally strict to all of her clients.  If her rules or guidelines offend, then perhaps you are better off with another breeder.  We visited her dogs/litters several times and were treated fairly throughout the entire process.  She is very caring and professional.

More importantly, she interviews families as much as we are interviewing her.  Not everyone qualifies, i.e., she would never send a puppy home with someone who's not home all day because that's not fair to a new puppy.  In some cases, Ricochet Labradors  go home with families in which one family member may have special needs.  These dogs have wonderful dispositions!

The writer's comment that Tamra's breeder friends aren't really her friends has no place in a Ripoff Report.  It's unprofessional and amounts to gossipy innuendo.  For the record, "slander" pertains to spoken words, while "libel" pertains to mainly written words.  If you are going to consult a lawyer, it might help to know the difference.  Actually, it seems to me that Tamra might have a libel case against you.  If she did indeed make comments about you, at least it was through private emails sent to her breeder/friends.  In contrast, you libeled her and her business very publicly all over the Internet (kudzu, yahoo, localtiger, and Ripoff Report). For your report to assert that the breeder is "beyond horrible" is hyperbole.  Based upon our experience and that of so many families, it's simply not true. 

Going back to why I was googling her Facebook site, we are so happy with our labrador that we're thinking of getting another one....from Ricochet Labradors.  We too are an educated and experienced dog-owning family, and our five-month old lab male is a treasure.

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