My experience with Joyeuses Gambades
I am posting this message both to see if anyone else has had a similar experience with this breeder and to let potential buyers know about the experience I personally went through.
On 9 July 2024, I went to the breeder to reserve a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy. On that occasion, I paid a deposit of around £1,250. The talk I was given was reassuring: the announced wait time seemed reasonable and they specifically mentioned a mating planned for September. Before signing the contract, I was also told that I was fifth on the waiting list. This information was given to me unprompted and helped convince me that the wait would not be excessive.
Months then passed without a puppy being allocated to me. Whenever I asked for news, the explanations mentioned failed matings, being pushed back to subsequent litters, or difficulties encountered with certain litters. I fully understand that a breeder is subject to the whims of nature and that no result can be guaranteed. However, after many months of waiting and several successive delays, it is only natural for a customer to start asking questions.
In December 2024, a litter of nine puppies was born. Despite this, no puppy was allocated to me. I was then told I would be on the next litter. Then on yet another one. The months continued to pass without any concrete solution being offered to me.
On 5 May 2025, after this string of delays and the lack of visibility regarding the outcome of my reservation, I asked to terminate the contract on the condition that the £1,250 deposit be refunded. This request was refused.
The breeder has written on Google that I supposedly just abandoned my project to buy a puppy elsewhere. If I did eventually turn to another breeder, it was precisely because, after many months of waiting, I no longer had any confidence that my initial reservation would ever be fulfilled. This choice was made after a long period of uncertainty, not the other way around.
The breeder also claims that several litters should have allowed the contractual deadlines to be met. Yet, in reality, not a single puppy was ever offered or allocated to me during this entire period. This is the reality of the situation I am reporting today.
I am posting this message both to see if anyone else has had a similar experience with this breeder and to let potential buyers know about the experience I personally went through.
On 9 July 2024, I went to the breeder to reserve a Bernese Mountain Dog puppy. On that occasion, I paid a deposit of around £1,250. The talk I was given was reassuring: the announced wait time seemed reasonable and they specifically mentioned a mating planned for September. Before signing the contract, I was also told that I was fifth on the waiting list. This information was given to me unprompted and helped convince me that the wait would not be excessive.
Months then passed without a puppy being allocated to me. Whenever I asked for news, the explanations mentioned failed matings, being pushed back to subsequent litters, or difficulties encountered with certain litters. I fully understand that a breeder is subject to the whims of nature and that no result can be guaranteed. However, after many months of waiting and several successive delays, it is only natural for a customer to start asking questions.
In December 2024, a litter of nine puppies was born. Despite this, no puppy was allocated to me. I was then told I would be on the next litter. Then on yet another one. The months continued to pass without any concrete solution being offered to me.
On 5 May 2025, after this string of delays and the lack of visibility regarding the outcome of my reservation, I asked to terminate the contract on the condition that the £1,250 deposit be refunded. This request was refused.
This is why I am surprised to read today that I supposedly just abandoned my project to buy a puppy elsewhere. If I did eventually turn to another breeder, it was precisely because, after many months of waiting, I no longer had any confidence that my initial reservation would ever be fulfilled. This choice was made after a long period of uncertainty, not the other way around.
The breeder also claims that several litters should have allowed the contractual deadlines to be met. Yet, in reality, not a single puppy was ever offered or allocated to me during this entire period. This is the reality of the situation I am reporting today.
Regarding my place on the waiting list, I maintain that this is indeed the information that was given to me during our appointment. I have no reason to invent this detail and I find it regrettable to be accused of lying when I am simply reporting what was told to me.
I also note that several posts in which I described my experience have been deleted. Everyone will make up their own mind, but I believe that future buyers should be able to see both positive and negative reviews in order to form a balanced opinion. When someone shares an experience that differs from the one promoted by the breeder, I feel it is important that this experience can also be heard.
So, after nearly 2 years of waiting, no puppy has been offered and no refund has been given either.
Thanks in advance to those who are willing to share their experience.
