How much is too much to pay for a dog?

This dog is extremely rare. Less than 100 pups produced a year in the US. I'd say a grand is a deal. Relatively common dogs like labs sell for as much. What are you going to hunt with him?
 
Something that you want to consider, is that you'll spend 2-3 times that in vet bills and food and maintenence a year.
 
AJ said:
Dennis,

$1,000 is not unreasonable for a championship line in many breeds. My wife and I breed champion Weimaraners (field trial and hunt test champs that are awesome hunting companions and superb family pets). Our pups regularly go for $1,000. Our last major breeding produced the #1 and #2 dogs in the Weim nationals last year... never been done before.

It all depends on what you want. The mutts are awesome family dogs... and usually lousy hunters. Sometimes you get what you pay for. But, no matter what you decided and how much/how little you end up spending, you'll get a friend that showers you with unconditional love... the hardest part will be living up to your dog's expectations. I always tell folks my goal is to become the man my dogs think I am... and I mean that. :D

Good luck in finding your newest family member and friend. You'll kniw it in your heart when you see it.

AJ
Click to expand...

My friend has a Weimaraner, they are beautiful looking dogs. he said they call them grey ghosts. They need a tremendous amount of exercise if I'm not mistaken. Even more than my boxer.
 
My australian shepherd MUST run hard for 2-3 hours a day or else he gets bored. A bored aussie is recipe for reorganization of your house, room by room, as they search for things to do. Luckily, I can put a log out in the yard and her will drag it in circles for a few hours exhausting himself. A girl I knew had two aussies and would take them on 15+ mile bike trips, and they wouldnt even sleep on the ride home. I guess thats what comes from breeding whose sole goal was to produce a dog that could work 14 hours a day with little breaks.....
 
I think paying for dogs is total BS.

My sister works at the local Humane Society and there are way too many good dogs that need a home there to go out and pay for one.

I will not support the racket of dog breeders just because. Dogs are dogs are dogs and the best ones are mixed breed muts anyway :)

Give a homeless dog a home.....don't go pay for one.
 
SAKguy said:
I think paying for dogs is total BS.

My sister works at the local Humane Society and there are way too many good dogs that need a home there to go out and pay for one.

I will not support the racket of dog breeders just because. Dogs are dogs are dogs and the best ones are mixed breed muts anyway :)

Give a homeless dog a home.....don't go pay for one.
Click to expand...


Depends entirely on what you are wanting to do. If you are a serious hunter or interested in field trials/hunt tests, or if you want to know what you're getting into with respect to temperment and genetic health issues, a responsible breeder is IMHO the only way to go. Yes, many shelter dogs/mutts are good companions, but most are poor in the field even with lots of training. We are not supporting the "racket" of breeders just because. Good breeders care more about improving the breed that they work with than they do about making money. Poor breeders and puppy mills should be shut down. Dogs are not dogs are not dogs. I visited about a dozen midwest Labrador breeders this summer searching for our dog, and it became very apparent that you do get what you pay for.
 
Eric1115 said:
Depends entirely on what you are wanting to do. If you are a serious hunter or interested in field trials/hunt tests, or if you want to know what you're getting into with respect to temperment and genetic health issues, a responsible breeder is IMHO the only way to go. Yes, many shelter dogs/mutts are good companions, but most are poor in the field even with lots of training. We are not supporting the "racket" of breeders just because. Good breeders care more about improving the breed that they work with than they do about making money. Poor breeders and puppy mills should be shut down. Dogs are not dogs are not dogs. I visited about a dozen midwest Labrador breeders this summer searching for our dog, and it became very apparent that you do get what you pay for.
Click to expand...

I guess you're right when it comes to a rescue dog or a hunting dog.

Good point :)
 
SAKguy said:
I guess you're right when it comes to a rescue dog or a hunting dog.

Good point :)
Click to expand...

Thanks.

You had a good point as well, that if you are only wanting a companion, that shelter dogs can be a good option. I guess my hackles went up a little at your breeder comments, as we talked with some awesome people who love dogs and devote their lives to bettering the breed. We also talked with one or two "breeders" who I think ought to be given hip displaysia with a baseball bat and then put down.

In my opinion, either spend the money and get a great dog from a great breeder, or adopt. The backyard breeders and newspaper ads are a waste of time (for the most part. There are some family breeders who produce great dogs, but not very many). For example, a $350 lab puppy from a newspaper ad is probably the combination of a couple of good dogs, who may or may not be representative of the genes they bring to the table. A $800 lab puppy from a good breeder is a dog whose family tree is known several generations back. His parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents probably have a few titles between them, have no history of hereditary problems, and depending on what you're looking for, will either run full tilt boogie all day long (field trials dog) or sit on the couch with you all week and go chase pheasants for you on weekends and be the best friend you ever had. A few hundred extra dollars is nothing when you think about it in terms of a companion for the next 10-15 years.

If anyone wants to host a couple of images, I'll show you the difference.
 
I don't think $1K is too much if that's the sort of dog you really want. We landed a Black Lab from Lab Rescue 3 years ago for "pizza money" and she's been great. I've seen other Labs from Lab Rescue that have been untrainable nightmares though, so you do take your chances when you go that route.

Razz
 
nenofury said:
This dog is extremely rare. Less than 100 pups produced a year in the US. I'd say a grand is a deal. Relatively common dogs like labs sell for as much. What are you going to hunt with him?
Click to expand...

You are right. They are incredibly hard to find.

As far as hunting, mostly grouse, quail, etc. They are supposed to hunt closer in than many other breeds.
 
My Mom and Dad paid 500.00$ for my first dog. It was with me for 16 years
my 2 dog I paid 20.00$ for and he is still with me today. with more energy
then me......(go with the 20.00 MUTT) they live longer,better health, and they
are always greatful..

Zoo
 
In my opinion, either spend the money and get a great dog from a great breeder, or adopt.
Click to expand...
I wholeheartedly agree with that statement. My own dog was originally located in the newspaper, and the breeders, parents, and dog are all great. However, there's certainly more than enough puppy-mills in the paper ads, too.... grrrrrrrrrrrrrr :thumbdn: :grumpy: When it comes to newspaper ads, take a good, hard look at the environment, the parents, and the breeders before committing. Trust your gut. And, don't be afraid to say, "No thanks".
 
Purchasing a dog from a reputable Breeder (hard to tell sometimes) and with a written lineage can be a good thing. However, Buying any animal gives you few real guarantees.

The purchase of a young Dog is just the start of a long road. Hunting or Trial dogs require Training (whether by you, a local person/school or sending the Dog off to school) and this will be a large investment, either your time if you have the expertise or monetarily if you allow someone else to train them. If you decide to Train them yourself, will other family Members be diligent in the training regimen? Alot of great dogs get spoiled by a Wife or children, the dog is allowed to do things with them that he/she is not allowed to do with the trainer. Hunting dogs are benefitted from Training devices (more investment), not necessary but helpful if you are not an experienced trainer.

All animals have personalities just like people. Parents, Birth order, treatment after birth.. all start molding an animal's personality before you purchase it. Just because their parents were great hunters does not guarantee that this little one will be. This puppy may be lovable and sweet, or he/she may be head strong.. this can make training more difficult.

Many Breeds have inherent genetics that may make them prone to certain health issues (Pugs are prone to Heart and Nasal conditions, larger breeds are all prone to H.D., Min Poodles are prone to skin and eye problems, etc)... a rarer breed will not have as much information available about these possible underlying conditions so this must also be taken into consideration.

As for price, there are many breeds that are "man made" that are higher in price due to the huge monetary investment through pregnancy, delivery and after care... ie. the English Bulldog... many are not able to breed without manual assistance (A.I.), they require more frequent Vet visits during pregnancy and most females require a C section (due to the large size of the puppie's head in relation to the smaller birth canal). However, in some cases simple supply and demand drive the price.

Have I paid that much for a Dog, Yes. However, he is a Trained Guard Dog and part of the fee was having him flown in from his home state. We own a large ranch and have no close neighbors so I feel this was a good investment to protect my stock and family. Would I pay that much for a Puppy, No.

Good luck in your decision.
 
Although I am a dog lover, I would never consider adopting a dog from a shelter. I do contribute about $100 a yr. to shelters, but that is it. I have owned Boxers for over 30 yrs. and I love the breed. I know all about them and what kind of personalities they have. I don't want any surprises as far as what kind of dog I will be getting from a shelter. I know what I want from a dog and and I am willing to pay whatever they cost.
 
Larry B. said:
Although I am a dog lover, I would never consider adopting a dog from a shelter. I do contribute about $100 a yr. to shelters, but that is it. I have owned Boxers for over 30 yrs. and I love the breed. I know all about them and what kind of personalities they have. I don't want any surprises as far as what kind of dog I will be getting from a shelter. I know what I want from a dog and and I am willing to pay whatever they cost.
Click to expand...


WWW.flbr.org
 
I know what your implying but you never know what kind of habits those dogs have. I always bought a puppy so I can adapt him or she to my ways.
 
Wish you lived closer. Someone dumped two beautiful puppies at the office yesterday. They're still there today. One is a female Australian Shepard and the other is a perfect male Chocolate Lab. Friendly, loving, the right age for training. And both appear to be purebreds. The boss has been feeding them and let them inside for the night. I know if he takes them to the pound they'll find homes. You could have one or both for free if you were passing through Colorado.

-Bob
 
Larry B. said:
Although I am a dog lover, I would never consider adopting a dog from a shelter.
Click to expand...


My wife and I have adopted two dogs from the local shelter. One is a formerly abused problem child, so to speak. We knew what we were getting when we took him, but just wanted to give him a second chance and just see what a good home and proper guidance can do to turn a dog around. The results are worth the effort, although he does test me at times.

Our other shelter dog is an Australian Shepherd we call Huey. He is an absolute gem and a joy to have around. Very well behaved and obedient, and he's like a big, loveable teddy bear all the time. His only fault is that he may be a bit too affectionate at times. But we love him for it.

We have four non shelter dogs, also. All great dogs and worth every penny we paid for them, but our "shelter boys" love us more. They know when they've been saved and quite honestly appreciate having a home. It's a good feeling. If you're careful you can find a wonderful dog at the shelter. You'll be cleaning up after someone elses carelessness but these dogs cannot help what has happened to them. Consider giving one a second chance.

To answer your question, though, $1000.00 is nothing to pay for really good breeding. A properly bred dog is the result of many generations of careful, selective breeding. There is a great deal of knowledge, time and effort that goes into producing a good dog. A grand is a steal for good blood.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top