Price of sheepdogs

[Moobli]

I think it’s sheepdog trialling (as a hobby) becoming more popular the world over that’s driving up prices of sheepdogs. How can an employed shepherd or regular hill farmer pay more than a year’s wages for a dog. It will likely have a detrimental impact on the breed over time.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-wales-60352574

 

[AmyMay]

Hasn’t it always been the case that big prices are paid for exceptional dogs?

 

[maisie06]

Possibly it's like the gundog world? FTCH trialling dogs fetch alot of money but if you want a good solid working dog for the local shoot that doesn't have the style and panache of a trialling dog you don't pay anywhere near as much, litters from decent honest working bitches tend to sell word of mouth too so rarely get advertised.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I was lucky with my bitch. Her dam is a well bred ISDS but owned by a hobby smallholder so not trained although showing good instinct. They put her to a really good ISDS dog and my girl has inherited his ability in spades. Hade she gone to someone who put the time into training her properly I think she would have made a trials dog. As it is we work ok together and she suit me down to the ground. Not so good at agility though as she constantly looks at me and barks for instructions she can't hear!! I paid £375 for her 4 years ago, most expensive dog I have ever bought and only one with a pedigree.

 

[stangs]

Feel like a bit of a fool. I always assumed that farmers bought puppies, then trained them up to work sheep alongside a more experienced dog. Is buying already-trained dogs so common?

 

[Widgeon]

My in-laws paid £1K for a collie puppy a year or so ago from a local shepherd who'd advertised them in the village shop - farm bred, both working parents and mother is also a successful trials dog. I think most of the litter went to working homes to be trained up as stangs describes. I was under the impression that most of the really big-money dogs went abroad - Australia and the US.

 

[Moobli]

Feel like a bit of a fool. I always assumed that farmers bought puppies, then trained them up to work sheep alongside a more experienced dog. Is buying already-trained dogs so common?

Lots do but not all have the skill or time.

 

[Moobli]

Hasn’t it always been the case that big prices are paid for exceptional dogs?

There’s always been the occasional big price for a good dog.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

My FIL bought a dog from Wales, this was long before I met OH, and this dog was trained in Welsh. He was also used to fetching sheep off the mountain. He went off and rounded up all the neighbours sheep as well. I gather he was a bit of a character.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I saw on Countryfile that a shepherdess had sold a dog for a record breaking amount last year. A dog that can gather sheep in from the hills is worth its weight in gold, the guy who took the puppy from the Yorkshire farm programme sent it back and it was AMAZING!