Richard McHardy sues John Buckley Miesterhunde Rottweilers for ‘useless’ rottweiler puppy

A feud erupted between a rottie breeder and an irate customer over a “useless” dog. So what happened to the valuable pedigree pup?

An angry customer has sued a respected Victorian rottweiler breeder after claiming he was sold a male puppy who could not be used for breeding.

Kyabram breeder Richard McHardy sued Miesterhunde Rottweilers owner John Buckley for $5000 after a rottweiler puppy deal went sour.

Mr McHardy claimed Mr Buckley sold him an eight-week-old male rottweiler puppy for $3000 in August 2018.

Mr McHardy told VCAT on Thursday the puppy was useless because it wasn’t bred under the Dogs Victoria “umbrella”.

The disgruntled customer claimed he couldn’t use the dog to breed because he was not permitted to register any puppies with Dogs Victoria.

Mr McHardy also claimed Mr Buckley failed to send pedigree papers and ceased communication,

Mr McHardy, who sued for the cost of the puppy plus an extra $2000 for “all the mucking around”, told the tribunal he put the rottweiler up for adoption in 2018.

“I put it up for adoption, it was pretty much useless,” Mr McHardy said.

The dog was later rehomed, the tribunal was told.

Senior member Stella Moraitis pressed Mr McHardy on why he didn't return the dog to Miesterhunde Rottweilers and get his money back in 2018.

“He (Mr Buckley) wouldn’t talk to me,” Mr McHardy responded.

In response, Mr Buckley, who claimed he received “rude and abusive” communication from Mr McHardy, said the Dogs Victoria story was “false”.

Mr McHardy said it was agreed the puppy was under the Master Dog Breeders Association umbrella and could be used for breeding.

“He came to me when he was in trouble, no one wanted to deal with him, I allowed him to use my stud dog (in 2017), which he never paid me for me …,” Mr Buckley said.

“All this business about Dogs Victoria is false … he told me he was going to join them (MDBA).

“(The puppy was a) perfectly good dog ma'am … 100 per cent (he could have been bred under the MDBA umbrella).”

Senior member Moraitis lashed Mr McHardy for not providing any evidence which proved what he did with the puppy.

“Pedigree dogs are worth thousands now …,” Ms Moratis said.

“For all I know you could have sold the dog for a pretty penny and made a profit.”

Ms Moratis dismissed Mr McHardy’s claim in its entirety.

“I preferred Mr Buckley’s evidence …,” she said.

“He was a very good witness, he was quite clear … I am not satisfied that you have proven your case …”

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