Doindogs Kennel - Westphal, Nova Scotia

Birkentree H.

He accepted a $500 deposit on a puppy on December 15 2020. This puppy was to be used for future breeding to start my registered dog kennel. Becoming a registered dog breeder is something I have been wanting to do for a long time, I am also a veterinarian for 22 years. I have dedicated my life to caring for animals . I have bred dogs before and I feel I would be able to become a reputable and responsible registered dog breeder.

I have researched and talk to other dog breeders in my area. Most breeders said no they would not give me breeding rights to their dogs, as this is their choice and they were honest by saying this up front. Don Bates was well aware of my intensions to acquire one of his puppies for future breeding. Don Bates took a $500 deposit and then changed his mind. He gave me a contract for a litter that he had no intensions of me having a puppy, he did not sign the contract. We talked on the phone December 15 2020, and he agreed he would give me breeding rights as long as I would have the hip certified by the PennHip method. This requirement in fact is the only requirement listed in his contract to acquire breeding rights. I agreed of course. He insisted I read all of his web site .

He expected me to call him often I guess to check in with him. I contacted him 6 weeks later on January 27 2021 to see if he had a puppy on the way for me. You can read his messages below. Don Bates stated that since I did not contact him for 6 weeks that I must have lost interest and he was going to refund my deposit. I was under the assumption that since I had given him $ 500 I was indeed still interested. We set up a phone call for Feb 2 2021 so that I could satisfy his requirement for me to call him.

It was during this call Don Bates told me that I should find another breeder as he thought I was not interested and he was reluctant to give me breeding rights as I would breed my dog to another local breeder for $10 . After this call, I did what he told me to do, find another breeder and I did. March 17 2021 I e mailed him and stated the following :
¨After our last chat and at your advice and reluctance to work with me I looked for another breeder that is excited and willing to work with me. I will not be acquiring one of your puppies after all. .
Thanks for the conversations and maybe we will meet up somewhere.
You can e transfer me back the $500 deposit to this same e mail please and thank you. Take care
Heather ¨

Don only replied Good Luck. I called Don Bates March 26 2021 and he told me he would not give me 5 cents and that I learned a cheap lesson. I am still wondering what this lesson is, not to trust people. He called me saucy and was very rude, very unprofessional . He told me that I thought I knew everything about breeding dogs because I am a Holstein breeder and veterinarian . It is the very opposite. I strive to do the best possible job at everything I do .

I feel Don Bates acted unprofessional in misleading me to think I could acquire one of his dogs for breeding, if he had any reluctance he should have said NO like the other breeders who did not want to do this. Instead he requested money and he trying to reverses it on to me stating it was me who changed my mind. Which is false
Heather Dickieson North Rustico PEI

Michael T.

Don is a great breeder! He is very committed to ensure all his pups are of good health and temperament. He is helpful with information on proper training and keeping the dog healthy and wants to be sure the pups are going to good homes. Certainly not just looking to make money or sell pups. It's a serious commitment and he will treat it as such when talking about giving you a pup!

Diane G.

Dogs might be OK, owner sure isn't. Don Bates had a superior and condescending attitude during conversation this morning. When asked if I would spay or neuter I responded yes- that was a no no- he immediately stated "I won't sell you a dog, even if you told me you wouldn't I wouldn't believe you". (Trust issues?) Then he asked if I had read an article that he had linked on his website, I honestly responded no. The article was anti-spay/neuter for labs due to an increase risk of health issues. Armed with this new knowledge I certainly would investigate further and very possibly reconsider my response.
Not at all open to giving me a few minutes to read the spay/neuter article and have a meaningful discussion on its contents, he went on to 'educate' me in various DNA tests for various health conditions labs are prone to. Bear in mind that he won't trust me to read the article and revise my opinion on spay/neuter for Labs but expects me to trust in the scans of health checks and certificates on his dog's profiles as being actual valid documents, not manufactured with Word and Photoshop. It is clear we are not compatible as a breeder and potential puppy buyer. During this conversation he hurtfully remarked that I was 'not a dog person', chided my speed in navigating his website, and shushed me when I tried to ask questions. Unpleasant person to deal with; hope his dogs have a better temperament.

Tara B.

We are waiting for our pup from Don, and I have to say, that we deeply admire and respect Don's process in vetting appropriate dog owners. Furthermore, while we had done our research - Don is, quite simply, a wealth of information and ready to answer any and all questions that you have. His commitment to the health of his dogs and their future offspring is incomparable.

Jeanie H.

Called to inquire about purchasing a dog from this breeder. After asking only one question: where my partner and I worked, this guy says we have no clue about dogs? He gathered that by simply knowing what we do for work? Not really sure about the thought process on that. Save your money and adopt a dog in need from the SPCA. Extremely unprofessional.

Scott C.

After having a 3 minute phone conversation with Don, I was left quite upset with how rudely Don spoke at me. He wanted to know what I did for work and once he relaized I worked Mon-Fri 9-5 he immediately said that wouldn't work for him... I told him that I had spoken to another breeder and even filled out a 4 page questionnaire for them and they felt comfortable adding me to their waitlist. He then told me I was going about this process all wrong and that I need to be the one sending out questionnaires, he then added "i've decided that under no circumstances would I even consider you for one of my dogs". I have never in my life been spoken to in such a disrespectful way as when speaking with Don.

Michele D.

Our dog, Angus was the most faithful, loyal fur baby we could have ever had. Don cares about his dogs and ensures that families are a good fit before he agrees to release one of his dogs to their care. I would highly recommend Doindogs Kennel!

Carolyn R.

Don Bates is not someone I would like to work with. He told me I was uneducated because I believe in spaying and neutering dogs. It became very clear very quickly that he is not someone I wish to do business with in any capacity. I am very disappointed in the interaction we had.