Interesting article

Don't know if I am the third but I found it a good article too. My only slight issue is that I actually think that quite often the dogs from a responsible breeder are not the most expensive. Yes there will be really cheap pups from some byb, but some of the large but equally dodgy kennels ask ridiculous prices for their pups from non health tested parents, particularly of course if both parents are of different breeds.:mad:
 
That's a good point, as mentioned on the GermanBischep thread :p those pups are being sold for more than what I bought my young dog for, and I bought him because of his pedigree/genetics/potential and the fact that I knew there were no dodgy dogs for hips or elbows in his lines, never mind the fact that he had the temperament to fit into our household as a pet/companion. He is also very fluffy and cute :p
 
MurphysMinder said:
Don't know if I am the third but I found it a good article too. My only slight issue is that I actually think that quite often the dogs from a responsible breeder are not the most expensive. Yes there will be really cheap pups from some byb, but some of the large but equally dodgy kennels ask ridiculous prices for their pups from non health tested parents, particularly of course if both parents are of different breeds.:mad:
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I tried to log on to Forbes to comment and it didn't seem to work. My point was going along those lines as I seem to recall, but it was also that a breeder I know maintained that if you couldn't afford the purchase you coudln't afford to keep it. But you're right, the purchase price of a well bred dog isn't always higher. But the writer's point is well made that the haste of buying a puppy unresearched is what costs the most.
 
Oh yeah I agree PnP, couldn't agree more that buying the cheapest often costs a lot more over the long term. The question is how do we get this fact over to all the people who support the dodgy breeders.:(
 
I saw this on another forum, used mainly by showing people.

There is an issue that applies with all livestock, that "cheap" animals frequently turn out to be the most expensive, when poor, indiscriminate breeding leads to health and behavioural etc. problems.

Dogs are the only animal I can think of though, where people are paying MORE to get a poorer quality animal. I can see (though deplore), how this happens when people get sucked into the whole designer mongrel thing, but WHY do people happily pay more for a poorly bred, unhealth tested, poorer example of a purebreed? Do buyers not realise that there are better quality, healthier pups out there, or are they wanting such instant gratification that they prefer an instant purchase online, rather than having to (shock horror) WAIT, for a better bred example?

It is like someone choosing a supermarket's value range, over their premium one, but paying the higher price, 'cos they can't be bothered to walk down an extra aisle!
 
It's an interesting point but one I must slightly dispute. There's no way I could have afforded a well bred Cocker puppy, but I keep my dog very well and can certainly afford him.
 
Inthemud said:
It is like someone choosing a supermarket's value range, over their premium one, but paying the higher price, 'cos they can't be bothered to walk down an extra aisle!
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That's an excellent analogy! But it just goes to show you how "anyone" can have a dog, and that those "anyones" are impulse buying and don't care the consequences. At least with horses, they tend to be expensive to keep and therefore sort of weeds out a good number of impulse buyers (but I'm sure we all know of impulse purchased horses, too -- but it's not as common as with dogs).
 
Spudlet said:
It's an interesting point but one I must slightly dispute. There's no way I could have afforded a well bred Cocker puppy, but I keep my dog very well and can certainly afford him.
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I know what you mean. I couldn't have ever have afford to buy my horse, til he was offered to me at £1 -- yet I keep him well.

But I think that those breeders who put their heart and soul in to raising their litters really go the extra mile to ensure that their pups are placed in to the best possible homes. Without references and knowing the buyers first hand, sometimes the only way to do that is to raise the prices so that just any ol tom/dick/harry doesn't think that they can buy them and that they are "disposable" cos they're cheap.

I bought my poodle when he was 10 months at a greatly reduced price (about half the price of what the littermates went for). He came to me on referral and the breeder brought him to me herself, inspected my premises, probably did her own inquiries about me. She kept him longer than the rest of her litter mates because he had a retained testicle and she had him neutered, and wanted to make sure he went to a "special" home. The breeder has kept in touch with every one of the pups over the past three years - some went to show homes and the rest to pet homes. Some are doing agility or heelwork to music. They were all bred thoughtfully and with all the health screens (I have paperwork documenting it all).

But I wasn't hugely keen on spending just shy of a grand to buy a poodle pup - instead I got one that was well socialised, neutered, vax'd, table trained (for grooming) and perfect in almost every way - but a fraction of the price. Doesn't mean that he's a lesser dog cos he was "cheap", just that I bought wisely.
 
I know what you are saying, but it's a blunt instrument at best. Any yuppy family could, say, buy a lab puppy, or a pointer or some other 'country' breed because they think it will compliment their big house and posh wellies, and some certainly do. See Fenton as a possible example of this!

That said if you are going to shell out for a puppy of course it is best to give your cash to a reputable breeder that does all the bells and whistles, that is indisputable.

However, I think that the reasoning of the article is a little flawed in that the lack of several hundred pounds to buy a dog does not necessarily mean that someone should rule out dog ownership. A rescue dog is considerably cheaper to acquire and this should be where people on a budget should look IMO. :)
 
PS, obviously I mean on a budget as to the initial purchase, they are just as expensive to run! :) Vets insurance has saved my bacon several times from Mr Accident-prone and his massive bills :D
 
Spudlet said:
However, I think that the reasoning of the article is a little flawed in that the lack of several hundred pounds to buy a dog does not necessarily mean that someone should rule out dog ownership. A rescue dog is considerably cheaper to acquire and this should be where people on a budget should look IMO. :)
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It is an option, sure - but in my case I would probably be rejected on the basis that I leave my dogs at home during the day except on the occasions that I bring them to work - which is only when they need groomed (their choice, not mine - if it were up to me they'd come with me every day - but my poodle resists daily car journeys...unless it's to the park or something! and even THEN he stresses a bit).
 
I think people also buy from byb because they couldnt stand the scutiny a responsible breeder would put them under, also a lot of people want a pup now and are not prepared to go on a waiting list.
 
Dobiegirl said:
I think people also buy from byb because they couldnt stand the scutiny a responsible breeder would put them under, also a lot of people want a pup now and are not prepared to go on a waiting list.
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This, people are soooo impatient it drives me wild :mad:
 
Today I had the sort of puppy buyer I hate most,they ask lots of questions...and then reveal my precious little border boy will "live out" in a rabbit hutch arrangement whilst they both work..oh! And can we talk about the price:mad:?...NO, if they haggle over a well bred and reared puppy then I do not want that sort of owner..let alone the bloomin outside accommadation bit.Grr.Waste of my time and their`s too.
 
EAST KENT said:
Today I had the sort of puppy buyer I hate most,they ask lots of questions...and then reveal my precious little border boy will "live out" in a rabbit hutch arrangement whilst they both work..oh! And can we talk about the price:mad:?...NO, if they haggle over a well bred and reared puppy then I do not want that sort of owner..let alone the bloomin outside accommadation bit.Grr.Waste of my time and their`s too.
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Don't you just love them. :rolleyes: I once had the opposite, I turned someone down when talking to them on the phone, they couldn't offer the right sort of home, so they then proceeded to say they would pay more than my asking price if I would let them have a pup. Errm, what part of no don't you understand!
 
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