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RE: The Value of a Puppy

Collie/GSD/Sheltie/Corgi/Russell_luvr — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:38:16 GMT

[quote]Ingot (7/6/2008)

I've been reading our local classifieds- the pet section whichI always scan for no good reason. It always makes me crazy.

When I purchased my last 3 Alaskan Malamutes, I recieved AKC papers, microchip, OFA and CERF copies on the parents ,(even grandparents on one); a five generation pedigree full of Conformation Champions and various obedience, agility, weightpull and sledding titles;a health guarantee/ contractand the knowledge that my dog was produced withforethought by a breeder that likely did not make a profit. (#1 was purchased in 1996 for $400, #2 was purchased in 2004 for $800, #3 was purchased in 2007 for $1000). I'm not buying a puppy, I am reimbursing a breeder for their investment into this litter and their planning for the next.

My local paper today:

Goldendoodle- $1600

AKC "Giant" Alaskan Malamutes- $900

Purebred, unregistered Labrador- $400

AKC Cocker Spaniel- $300

Border Collie/ Heeler mix puppies- free

Any dog or puppy (designer dog, mixed breed, purebred etc)from our local shelter- $50

The average adoption fee from breed rescue $250

I KNOW breed rescues see no profit- they invest so much more into saving the unwanted, medical expenses and all. Our local shelter spends more than that just on housing, let alone altering, vaccinations or medical expenses and they charge even less.

If there was no money to be made, fewer people would breed indiscriminately...

What do you think drives the pricing?What do people really think they're paying for?What IS the value of a puppy?

Ideas to change that?[/quote]

I look at the classified ads often. I'm often sorry that I do. So many BYBs and all, it depresses me...

Anyway, the price is affected by how common/rare the breed is, what it cost to feed the dogs and puppies, how much it cost to do the proper testing, etc. A friend of mine who is a breeder says that she has already put around $2000 into her champion female and she hasn't bred a litter yet.
The Goldendoodles sound way overpriced. Especially since they are a mixed breed. I have nothing against mixed breeds because I love all dogs, but geesh some of those designer breeds are way overpriced.
The breed rescue makes sure that the dog is healthy before being adopted (at least a good one does...the one that my uncle adopted from was horrible) and there are the normal expenses and the health expenses. Generally, rescues cost less than breeders because they don't have to do health testing.

What do people really think they're paying for?
They generally think they're paying for a high quality dog, I think. Or "just a dog".
What IS the value of a puppy?
I'm not sure how to answer this. It depends on the dogs I suppose.
I would say priceless myself, but I'm not sure...

How to make BYBs stop? I wish that I knew of a sure-fire way to do it...but, the best way that I know of is education. As a friend of mine always says, education is key.

RE: The Value of a Puppy

SchnauzerFan — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:07:26 GMT

All my life we have adopted dogs from shelters, with only two exceptions. I have always felt that the dogs in shelters need and deserve a home more than puppies sitting in a breeder's home. I think prices are too high, especially for 'designer dogs' which I really think are only 'designer' in the fact that the breeder decided which two breeds of dogs to mix. And while I realize that mixing breeds is what led to having so many different breeds today, I do feel as though they try to take advantage of people and charge more by calling them 'designer' - and they are not mixing breeds for any clear purpose other than being able to put that label on them.

I sometimes wonder what is an acceptable price for a purebred puppy. I personally think that over $800 is getting too high, never mind seeing ones for $1,000 and more. I realize they are asking for reimbursement for the cost of their breeding stock, care, etc - but they risk limiting the number of people who can afford their puppies . . . . . and those people either end up going to pet stores and buying a puppy mill dog because the prices are lower or go to a byb for the same reason. I will say that I do understand charging a premium price for a puppy that is going to be raised for breeding - but for a family pet? But I also agree with one of the other comments that if the price is too low, families could bring one home without really being serious about the commitment needed.

Bottom line, I think anytime someone can adopt from a shelter, everyone benefits.

RE: The Value of a Puppy

pitbullpridekennels.com — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:27:48 GMT

Puppies are Priceless

RE: The Value of a Puppy

dogsRme — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:46:08 GMT

Those prices are high. It seems like with the price of 'gas' everything has gone up in price. Including dog accessories, they have to get to the store either by plane or truck.

I was looking in our ads today and they were giving away purebred "American Eskimo's" and I thought that was silly when you can sell them for maybe 20 dollars. I think when you are giving it away for free then people get the dog and give it a try. Then as soon as it pees on the carpet they don't want to take the time to house train it. Oh it was free let’s just throw it out on the side of the road. Then the puppy is in the pound. Its more likely when a dog is for sale with a reasonable price, the people who buy it are more likely to keep it then for those that are free. The one thing that I do notice with the dogs in the AD's are that they are more likely to be from BYB.

The value of a puppy is priceless. The joy and love it can bring, you can't just put a value on it.

RE: The Value of a Puppy

dobermom — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 20:58:30 GMT

hmm...the pricing of these so -called Designer Dogs are extremely outrages and they are taking people for a ride, because the dog is not a * designer dog*its a mix breed, or more comon name * Mutt*.
Anybody paying that moneyis stupid.
plane and simple.

I do agree with the prices of shelters.
A lot of them are a none-profit Org. and the money they spend, for food , meds and other necessary things you already mentioned is well spend.

When we adopted our cat from the shelter, we spend 190$ , that incl. a 50 % refundable neuter fee.
We have already spend more then that in med. expenses.

RE: The Value of a Puppy

outcast13 — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:19:30 GMT

Ingot (7/6/2008)

I've been reading our local classifieds- the pet section which I always scan for no good reason. It always makes me crazy.

When I purchased my last 3 Alaskan Malamutes, I recieved AKC papers, microchip, OFA and CERF copies on the parents ,(even grandparents on one); a five generation pedigree full of Conformation Champions and various obedience, agility, weightpull and sledding titles; a health guarantee/ contract and the knowledge that my dog was produced with forethought by a breeder that likely did not make a profit. (#1 was purchased in 1996 for $400, #2 was purchased in 2004 for $800, #3 was purchased in 2007 for $1000). I'm not buying a puppy, I am reimbursing a breeder for their investment into this litter and their planning for the next.

My local paper today:

Goldendoodle- $1600

AKC "Giant" Alaskan Malamutes- $900

Purebred, unregistered Labrador- $400

AKC Cocker Spaniel- $300

Border Collie/ Heeler mix puppies- free

Any dog or puppy (designer dog, mixed breed, purebred etc) from our local shelter- $50

The average adoption fee from breed rescue $250

I KNOW breed rescues see no profit- they invest so much more into saving the unwanted, medical expenses and all. Our local shelter spends more than that just on housing, let alone altering, vaccinations or medical expenses and they charge even less.

If there was no money to be made, fewer people would breed indiscriminately...

What do you think drives the pricing? What do people really think they're paying for? What IS the value of a puppy?

Ideas to change that?

Well I think the price for the Goldendoodle and Unregistered Lab Is rather high. But People can purchase a dog for and price they want I suppose. What I find really wild is these "tiny toy" yorkie puppies that will sell for $3000+ !!!!!

RE: The Value of a Puppy

rainsmom — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 06:42:45 GMT

I also scan our local pet ads for no reason

anyways... it always amazes me on the price some people will pay for byb dogs. I think that there will always be a problem with people breeding for money only. even if they get only $50.00 thats still probably more than they have invested in their dog. I also can not stand when I read rare color and giant ads!!!

The Value of a Puppy

Ingot — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:27:59 GMT

I've been reading our local classifieds- the pet section which I always scan for no good reason. It always makes me crazy.

My local paper today:

Goldendoodle- $1600

AKC "Giant" Alaskan Malamutes- $900

Purebred, unregistered Labrador- $400

AKC Cocker Spaniel- $300

Border Collie/ Heeler mix puppies- free

Any dog or puppy (designer dog, mixed breed, purebred etc) from our local shelter- $50

The average adoption fee from breed rescue $250

If there was no money to be made, fewer people would breed indiscriminately...

What do you think drives the pricing? What do people really think they're paying for? What IS the value of a puppy?

Ideas to change that?