Price of dogs

[Henroy]

I'm sure everyone has seen the current increase in the price of dogs.

I am interested to see what people think about this.

I find it difficult to understand how non KC registered, mongrels and puppy farmed animals are now selling for as much as (or more in some instances) those which are above board.

Furthermore it is the perfect opertunity for people to breed for the wrong reasons (£££).

The issue that I have, is that with a litter of my own due, I am seeing people come under fire for the price of their puppies.

In my opinion, if someone is breeding for the right reasons and has a good litter of puppies to offer, then the price should reflect this. Therefore in my mind it makes sense to price registered, pedigree pups from working homes at the higher end of the new prices for dogs.

Dogs are currently worth more than they used to be. It is up to the person purchasing the pup to find and decide on the right dog for them. This being said, they should have to pay more for a better product.

I rate my bitch very highly, therefore would find it insulting to ask for less for her pups than a random Mongrel which has never been worked and has been bread strictly for profit.

What are peoples thoughts?

 

[landkeeper]

whats the right reason to breed a litter of pups ?
if its to continue a line of breeding and keep a pup or two for yourself, then if you cover your costs and end up with your own choice from the litter then what more do you want ?
not everyone wants a kc registered pup some just want a rolly polly bundle of fun pup to intergrate with their family

 

[Overlay]

Being a dyed in the wool optimist and looking on the bright side - let’s hope the Inflated price tag Will get people thinking before they Actually get a dog and also look after them and be a long term family addition, it will be terrible if loads end up in battersea dogs home

 

[TomT3]

Somebody i know is selling fox red lab pups for 3k! Mother is meant of be of a good working background but still!

I think you should sell them for a price that you see fair. I’d be more concerned they were going to decent homes rather than getting top dollar. Are you breeding for a couple For your self or for profit?

 

[Henroy]

Being a dyed in the wool optimist and looking on the bright side - let’s hope the Inflated price tag Will get people thinking before they Actually get a dog and also look after them and be a long term family addition, it will be terrible if loads end up in battersea dogs home

This is my thoughts, the vetting procedure at my end will be the same as it was before prices rose. I want them going to the right places.

 

[woody]

This is my thoughts, the vetting procedure at my end will be the same as it was before prices rose. I want them going to the right places.

How do you check that, just interested?

 

[Henroy]

Somebody i know is selling fox red lab pups for 3k! Mother is meant of be of a good working background but still!

I think you should sell them for a price that you see fair. I’d be more concerned they were going to decent homes rather than getting top dollar. Are you breeding for a couple For your self or for profit?

If that's what they think they are worth and it gets them to the right homes then I guess its for enough. Although it is a lot of money.

My plan is to advertise them for what they are worth at the time, based on the price of litters of the same breed.

We are breeeing because we got lucky with our bitch, she works full time and does it perfectly in my eyes. She also lives in the house and we couldn't ask for a better pet. I want another dog to work and we also want her to have some company. I cant imagine having another pup thats not from her.

 

[terrier1]

I have only bred pups when I have wanted a pup for myself and most of the other pups go to shooting friends so normally only have a few to sell. I can go back 41 years with this line.

 

[Henroy]

How do you check that, just interested?

Please could you elaborate, check what exactly?

 

[woody]

Please could you elaborate, check what exactly?

How do you vet they are going to a good homes, basing this on questions or gut instinct?

 

[75]

This is my thoughts, the vetting procedure at my end will be the same as it was before prices rose. I want them going to the right places.

In which case, you should ask the same price as you would have done before lockdown. All the honest breeders I know are charging the same as they were pre-Covid. And all the honest buyers who want a working dog for the right reasons (not just because we’re working from home and kids want a toy) are either paying the same as a year ago or waiting for things to go back to normal. I don’t know anyone who seriously works a dog who’d pay £3k for a lab so if you go down that route then you’ll attract the wrong buyers.

we got a springer a month ago - 2 litters we were interested in, both well bred, working lines, KC registered and plenty of FTCh in the pedigree. One was £750 a pup and the other £850.

 

[Henroy]

Both.

The ideal scenario being that they all go to working homes, the breed are very active and will work whether the owner wants them to or not.

We have certain requirements that we want people to meet. If people don't meet them, the pups will not go to them. Equally if people do meet them, yet we don't we don't feel that they are being honest/will look after our pups, we will not sell to them either.

My misses is at the helm with this, I am a little bit worried that it might be easier to buy a child from us than a pup in all honesty.

 

[CarlW]

In which case, you should ask the same price as you would have done before lockdown. All the honest breeders I know are charging the same as they were pre-Covid. And all the honest buyers who want a working dog for the right reasons (not just because we’re working from home and kids want a toy) are either paying the same as a year ago or waiting for things to go back to normal. I don’t know anyone who seriously works a dog who’d pay £3k for a lab so if you go down that route then you’ll attract the wrong buyers.

we got a springer a month ago - 2 litters we were interested in, both well bred, working lines, KC registered and plenty of FTCh in the pedigree. One was £750 a pup and the other £850.

Excellent post. 100% agree.

In my opinion, anyone carpet-bagging on this virus is behaving poorly. Proper dog people will charge the same prices as last year, rather than attempt to cash-in.

 

[Henroy]

In which case, you should ask the same price as you would have done before lockdown. All the honest breeders I know are charging the same as they were pre-Covid. And all the honest buyers who want a working dog for the right reasons (not just because we’re working from home and kids want a toy) are either paying the same as a year ago or waiting for things to go back to normal. I don’t know anyone who seriously works a dog who’d pay £3k for a lab so if you go down that route then you’ll attract the wrong buyers.

we got a springer a month ago - 2 litters we were interested in, both well bred, working lines, KC registered and plenty of FTCh in the pedigree. One was £750 a pup and the other £850.

Fair point, this is what I'm trying to hash out.

I agree that 3k seems very steep for any dog, this may well put it out of most people's reach.

With regards to selling at pre corona prices, I'm not sure this is the way to go either. From the research I've done, if we advertised at that price, the pups would be an outlier and priced considerably cheaper than any other litter I can find.

I see this attracting people who just want a cheap dog. If someone is willing to pay more for something (to an extent), I believe that they are more likely to be buying for genuine reasons. It's almost like part of the vetting procedure itself.

For this reason I believe the right thing to do is sell for the price that they are going for at the time, but not to stretch this so high to earn a huge profit.

 

[75]

With regards to selling at pre corona prices, I'm not sure this is the way to go either. From the research I've done, if we advertised at that price, the pups would be an outlier and priced considerably cheaper than any other litter I can find.

All the genuine stuff is going word of mouth not through adverts on the internet so you'll not find them unless you ask around.

 

[deerstalker.308]

I know from experience selling pups isn’t about solely money but it cannot be denied it becomes a major factor.
I wonder how many of these pups advertised at 2-3k are actually realising these figures. I know of several litters round me which were selling them for a lot less but that this was basically a screening process to try and reduce volume of enquiries. Sad really as I’m sure there are many a good home which would have just said “that’s too much” and walked away. But, when you’re in the position of selling pups, the last thing you want to encourage is people who view them as a cheap commodity which can be got rid of when they can’t be bothered, or worse still be bought for less genuine reasons by certain walks of society.... I always say to people when they buy a dog if they can’t afford the price of the pup, whatever it may be, they probably can’t afford to have one in their world, the cost of fees, vaccinations, insurance or should then not have insurance, unexpected vet bills etc, over the life of a dog, the initial outlay is minimal.

 

[splash]

I know from experience selling pups isn’t about solely money but it cannot be denied it becomes a major factor.
I wonder how many of these pups advertised at 2-3k are actually realising these figures. I know of several litters round me which were selling them for a lot less but that this was basically a screening process to try and reduce volume of enquiries. Sad really as I’m sure there are many a good home which would have just said “that’s too much” and walked away. But, when you’re in the position of selling pups, the last thing you want to encourage is people who view them as a cheap commodity which can be got rid of when they can’t be bothered, or worse still be bought for less genuine reasons by certain walks of society.... I always say to people when they buy a dog if they can’t afford the price of the pup, whatever it may be, they probably can’t afford to have one in their world, the cost of fees, vaccinations, insurance or should then not have insurance, unexpected vet bills etc, over the life of a dog, the initial outlay is minimal.

Good post !

 

[User00025]

Forgive me for jumping in but I find all these prices ridiculous. I have sold fully trained dogs not that long ago for less than some of these prices, why so high?
A keeper friend with well bred Labs and cockers had a litter of each last year as he wanted a pup for himself off each bitch.
He charged £500 for dogs and £550 for bitches from his cocker and £800 for either off his Lab.
Sensible prices and he met people away from his house to assess them before showing them pups, no likey no Getty. It's a crazy world at present

 

[Henroy]

I know from experience selling pups isn’t about solely money but it cannot be denied it becomes a major factor.
I wonder how many of these pups advertised at 2-3k are actually realising these figures. I know of several litters round me which were selling them for a lot less but that this was basically a screening process to try and reduce volume of enquiries. Sad really as I’m sure there are many a good home which would have just said “that’s too much” and walked away. But, when you’re in the position of selling pups, the last thing you want to encourage is people who view them as a cheap commodity which can be got rid of when they can’t be bothered, or worse still be bought for less genuine reasons by certain walks of society.... I always say to people when they buy a dog if they can’t afford the price of the pup, whatever it may be, they probably can’t afford to have one in their world, the cost of fees, vaccinations, insurance or should then not have insurance, unexpected vet bills etc, over the life of a dog, the initial outlay is minimal.

My thoughrs exactly, well put.

 

[Henroy]

The fourth horseman, I agree, hence starting this thread. Seems to be a minefield at the moment.

The issue I have is that regardless as to why, the prices have gone up since then. So I'm just trying to suss out how to price my dogs and attract the right sort of people.

Unfortunately, price is a major factor, whether is should be or not. Certain folk will take one glance at a high price and never look again, while others will choose the highest price, without actually looking at what they are buying, just because they think they are getting the best pup.

I think its the responsibility of the breeder to keep it fair.