Price of dogs

Interesting thread and, as before, lots of different viewpoints. A few thoughts of my own...

1.) Selecting the 'right' home is more than just finding a 'good' home - and that alone can be hard enough. Finding the right home can come down to individuals in a litter and not just your breed type. Many breeds featured on this forum are high energy or high prey drive or both, that requires more than just a 'good' home regardless of the price tag.

2.) The old notion of 'gifting' pups might work in some circles but for me, once bitten twice shy. I know many others who have had the rough end of this deal.

3.) The price that a seller places on a litter should be based on what they believe they are worth based on rearing, quality of parents, quality of ancestry. Homework/research is vital.

4.) The price that a buyer is prepared to pay should be based on what they believe they are worth based on rearing, quality of parents, quality of ancestry.Homework/research is vital.

5.) A high price does not weed out poor owners. If you earn £250k a year spending £3k on a pup is not such a big deal.

6.) If dog owners only bred for their own use or to continue a bloodline for themselves, there quite simply would not be enough pups to go round. Simple maths. Most of us on here would be on 5-10 year waiting lists at best.

7.) I do find it odd when people are happy to pay £400 for a hunting jacket and £250 on hunting boots but think that £1000 for a puppy is too much.

Not everyone can afford £400 for a jacket. I rely on working dogs day in day out. And there is no way that I could afford £2000 a pup.
 
Not everyone can afford £400 for a jacket. I rely on working dogs day in day out. And there is no way that I could afford £2000 a pup.

I appreciate that, my example was a £1000 pup. We all know plenty of people with thousands of pounds worth of kit, probably 10's of thousands, yet these same people bemoan paying £1000 for a quality pup. That, for me, is one huge alarm bell on how they value 'stuff'. Short shrift from me I am afraid.
 
I appreciate that, my example was a £1000 pup. We all know plenty of people with thousands of pounds worth of kit, probably 10's of thousands, yet these same people bemoan paying £1000 for a quality pup. That, for me, is one huge alarm bell on how they value 'stuff'. Short shrift from me I am afraid.
Unfortunately I can’t find a decent springer pup for anywhere near £1000 at the moment. The normal price seems to be near twice that!
 
Unfortunately I can’t find a decent springer pup for anywhere near £1000 at the moment. The normal price seems to be near twice that!

I think this is the problem with threads like this. The majority will decry 'CRAZY' prices yet one man feels £1100 is 'CRAZY' where the next man is referring to £2000 or £3000. Therefore we can't accurately comment on high/crazy prices unless we each know what sum the other is referring to.

Personally £800 - £1500 feels about the right price. What do others think????
 
Unfortunately I can’t find a decent springer pup for anywhere near £1000 at the moment. The normal price seems to be near twice that!
Me too, but I am prepared to play the waiting game I know I am realistically looking at next year but could be longer for the right dog, kennels built, all set. But I won't be paying silly money, just doesn't sit well with me.
 
Interesting thread and, as before, lots of different viewpoints. A few thoughts of my own...

1.) Selecting the 'right' home is more than just finding a 'good' home - and that alone can be hard enough. Finding the right home can come down to individuals in a litter and not just your breed type. Many breeds featured on this forum are high energy or high prey drive or both, that requires more than just a 'good' home regardless of the price tag.

2.) The old notion of 'gifting' pups might work in some circles but for me, once bitten twice shy. I know many others who have had the rough end of this deal.

3.) The price that a seller places on a litter should be based on what they believe they are worth based on rearing, quality of parents, quality of ancestry. Homework/research is vital.

4.) The price that a buyer is prepared to pay should be based on what they believe they are worth based on rearing, quality of parents, quality of ancestry.Homework/research is vital.

5.) A high price does not weed out poor owners. If you earn £250k a year spending £3k on a pup is not such a big deal.

6.) If dog owners only bred for their own use or to continue a bloodline for themselves, there quite simply would not be enough pups to go round. Simple maths. Most of us on here would be on 5-10 year waiting lists at best.

7.) I do find it odd when people are happy to pay £400 for a hunting jacket and £250 on hunting boots but think that £1000 for a puppy is too much.
Thing is with a jacket or a pair of boots if they don't perform you can take it back, when it comes to working dogs from a working/monetary value point they can vary from worthless to priceless, I have a mate who was offered £10k for a working terrier, he turned it down because no amount of money could buy a dog that good, I've had 4 pups out of it from different litters all free of charge and all showing equal promise to the sire
 
I'm sure it was. However, it does actually get right to the root of the problem: are dogs just another asset to be traded, or do they hold some kind of special status?

And, if so, what about a sheep? Or, in my context, a lion? Or a pet snake...? Or, or or...?

For me, dogs are different. They are an animal...but with an asterisk next to their name. A bit special.

For others, they are a commodity to be traded: just like venison.

Most of us will seek to deal with those people who share our answer to the above question.

That "asterix" is explained very well in The Genius of Dogs by Brian Hare. Dogs have evolved to live with and understand humans in a way no other animal has ever and should be treated and realised as such.
 
The cocker I have at the moment is 5 his father is a FTC his mother is a very good working bitch, the guy i bought him from wanted a pup out of his best bitch, he sorted out the one well 2 to keep and he sold the rest for £350 so the local beating lads could afford them.
A great man in my opinion.
They all went to working homes, if the rest are as hot as mine they will be amazing.
 
Give it six months and the market will correct itself. Every Tom Dick and Harry are breeding pups at the moment. Soon everyone who was desperate for a pup will have bought one. There will then be a glut of puppies and the price will crash. Simple economics of commodities. I realise that they should not be thought of as thus but they are.
 
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