Price for purebred dogs--what's a realistic range?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH has had his eye on a particular dog breed for a few years. It's a breed that's not very common in the US.

Is $2500 within the range of normal for a purebred puppy from a very reputable breeder?

$2500 seems high to me unless it's one of those c section type breeds which might even be more expensive. I've seen great Lab breeders at about 1800. Type's of breeders who show all the way up to Westminster, do obedience and field trials plus bring pups and dogs into their homes.

Found doodles at 2900. Yikes. A 2800 doodle breeder wrote on their website

"As a small, home based breeder, we are unable to take visitors in our home. We do not have a kennel facility for visiting. Our dogs reside in our home with our family... we are unfortunately unable to handle the interruptions to our home life and the care of our dogs and puppies..."

I've gotten some dogs from breeders and all had visitation. At 6 weeks one normally meets the litter and sees potential pups. 8 weeks is selection time. One breeder was a small home breeder and had the whelping box in her DR and when older the pups climbed in and out. Another used a 2 sides windows home office [maybe 15x15] as a puppy room - had her desk in there plus converted laundry to grooming room etc. Another had a custom built gorgeous facility and also brought them into the gorgeous antique laden home. Yes the puppies lounge inside and play while people watch tv/eat/etc.

that raises MAJOR red flags about this "breeder" actually being a puppy mill

And PP doesn't understand apostrophes/ end quotes, so she probably doesn't understand puppy mills either.

I wrote the post abut doodles for 2900 and no site visit. I understand puppy mills and wrote quickly. What's your problem? I would not buy a dog from a breeder who did nt allow site visits. What are they hiding?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is shameful. You want a status symbol pet when there are MILLIONS being put to death because they are well, alive and unwanted.

Go save a life. Take your kids, show them how to have compassion.

My bad. You all kill babies in the womb. You won't give a damn about some unwanted mutt.

We have had 5 throw away pets. I am better than you because of that.

It is funny how desperate you are to feel better.

I bought a pure bread dog. This is the only pet I ever had. It took me a long time to understand what type of dog will be the best for our family, and then to find out that the cost for that bread is out of my price range ($4-8K, some color sold at $25K). I ended up buying from a reputable breader overseas and flew with him over Atlantic, which costs me cheaper even though I flew in the business class. I don't see what compassion has to do with taking the bread that you don't like and probably wont care about. And obviously there is no relation between the choice of the dog's breed and human abortion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We paid $5k.

Overpaid.

But damn, she is beautiful, and sweet. Holy cow, everyone says most beautiful dog they've ever seen.

We feel the same way about our gorgeous rescue dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DH has had his eye on a particular dog breed for a few years. It's a breed that's not very common in the US.

Is $2500 within the range of normal for a purebred puppy from a very reputable breeder?

$2500 seems high to me unless it's one of those c section type breeds which might even be more expensive. I've seen great Lab breeders at about 1800. Type's of breeders who show all the way up to Westminster, do obedience and field trials plus bring pups and dogs into their homes.

Found doodles at 2900. Yikes. A 2800 doodle breeder wrote on their website

"As a small, home based breeder, we are unable to take visitors in our home. We do not have a kennel facility for visiting. Our dogs reside in our home with our family... we are unfortunately unable to handle the interruptions to our home life and the care of our dogs and puppies..."

I've gotten some dogs from breeders and all had visitation. At 6 weeks one normally meets the litter and sees potential pups. 8 weeks is selection time. One breeder was a small home breeder and had the whelping box in her DR and when older the pups climbed in and out. Another used a 2 sides windows home office [maybe 15x15] as a puppy room - had her desk in there plus converted laundry to grooming room etc. Another had a custom built gorgeous facility and also brought them into the gorgeous antique laden home. Yes the puppies lounge inside and play while people watch tv/eat/etc.

that raises MAJOR red flags about this "breeder" actually being a puppy mill

And PP doesn't understand apostrophes/ end quotes, so she probably doesn't understand puppy mills either.

I wrote the post abut doodles for 2900 and no site visit. I understand puppy mills and wrote quickly. What's your problem? I would not buy a dog from a breeder who did nt allow site visits. What are they hiding?

Not to burst your bubble but a lot of times the site you visit isn't really where the dog comes from. Sadly, one of my family members works as a the face of a breeding operation and the lengths they go to to lie to you is crazy. They will transport a single cleaned-up for the occasion mom and litter (although they pick the most healthy and attractive ones so it's not always the right mom with the right babies) into their house that's set up to look like a clean, home-based breeding operation. It is, to some extent, but it's very tough to make money that way so there's a really sad, dirty warehouse where most of the dogs live the rest of the time. They blatantly lie about being raised in a home environment where they are well socialized. This breeder actually has a decent reputation and the customers seem happy, so I guess it's up for debate how much it really matters, but I am troubled by the lies because I don't like being duped, whatever you think of the ethics of it.

[Anonymous]

What breeds do you guys have?

[Anonymous]

I've had 2 dogs in my life that were the perfect dogs. One was a pit bull (York bloodline) bought from Ginny York in Amherst VA for $900 (York Kennels). This dog was he most awesome dog I've ever owned.

The second dog was bought from a website on Ohio for like $300 and is a shihtzu. I was reluctant because of the small dog issues but this dog is awesome!!! Calm chill and lazy.

I have always wanted an English Bulldog and have been watching a breeder for almost 7 years now and I'm going there for my next dog! (Cashs Bull Babies from Kentucky)

[Anonymous]

I found my english shepherd in the woods and he was the best dog ever! You need to get the shelter and rescue to match you with your choices of a new dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want a pure bred dog of a certain breed, you will not find it in a shelter. There are many beagles and Shepard crosses (wonder why?) But if you want a bulldog, certain kinds of terrier, purebred hound, greyhound, Italian greyhound, purebred Corgi, whippet, King Charles spaniel ect ect, you wont find that at a shelter near DC.

Why are there so many German shepherd and beagle mixes?

[Anonymous]

The reason there are so many beagles in shelters is because hunters use them, and once they get old and don't hunt anymore, they dump them. Or, because beagles are ruled by their noses, they may run off and get lost hunting, and then picked up on the side of the road and sent to the shelter. Our rescued beagle had been picked up and given to a Virginia shelter. I'm pretty sure he used to hunt because when we first got him he would "point" at rabbits when we took him on walks.
Beagles aren't for everyone, but our rescued beagle was a delightful and loving addition to our family for 13 years. Price? $135 rescue fee. Value? Priceless.

[Anonymous]

West German show line German Shepherd - black and mahogany.

[Anonymous]

If someone does not buy the purebred they may end up in a shelter anyway, so I say buy what you want and don't comment on the choices. I think the prices on the thread are very realistic.

[Anonymous]

Current dog is a Labrador Retriever-English type. Breeder lives within a few hours. Shows at high level plus does field trials. Has a few litters per year [ie 1-3 max].

Wait lists and screening. People looking for shelter/rescue dog have commented that they can' find a dog like ours. This dog is large-we are not going to have any big powerful dog without knowing it's history.

Fairfax County Animal Shelter is not somewhere to adopt. We checked there and other places hoping to find a dog before this one but were quite suspicious. Now those fears have been justified. You just don't know when their save rates are more important than safety:
http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/fairfax/multiple-dog-attacks-inside-animal-shelter/293740749

[Anonymous]

NP here--just want to say that today we are meeting an Australian Shepherd--she is a retired showdog that has not medaled and the owner spayed her and wants to find a good home for her.

So just throwing that out there, OP, that you can get a fabulous, already trained dog that is of a higher standard than "pet quality" if you contact people who show dogs.

[Anonymous]

I bought mine from south america. He was the most beautiful dog anyone had ever seen 12 years ago. I bought him at a street fair for $30. Oddly he was purebred and had the markings but his presence was more majestic. He was bigger, fluffier, and more expensive looking than the same dog breed in the US that went for $2000 or more. I had people off the street ask me to buy him or if I was selling his puppies. People would stop cars and ask to pet him all the time. Not only was he gorgeous but he was also very intelligent. How many dogs do you know that look both ways before crossing a street?