Prices !!! - Page 7

It's simple...Supply & Demand...!

I am with Ruger1.  I mean look at fuel prices straight up supply and demand.  Although, when I am talking to people about the price of my puppies I ALWAYS ask them to google sch titled kkl 1 parented puppies in Texas first.  Then I explain what I go through day in and day out to have such beautiful, healthy, well rounded, titled, and health screened dogs.  They can buy if they are willing to pay my price or may choose to walk away.  I find that the people who visit and investigate will more than likely, not only, buy one of my puppies, but I also find that they take very good care of them as well. 

wlpool - exactly!


what's wrong with the concept of supply and demand?

 Agreed; it really isn't about money to people who know what they want. I have sold puppies to people who are FAR from wealthy- but they know what they want and are very particular. They are happy to pay my price, though it's not easy for them. Some have  planned a year or more in advance.

I don't think anybody is arguing the supply and demand concept. If nobody was willing to pay the prices than the prices would go down.

The OP never answered the question what he/she thinks  to be expensive and what breeds he/she is comparing the GSD to as being expensive.

As far as hobbies go; I don't think the majority of people who participate in Schutzhund, FR, SAR, and other dog venues are getting paid. So does that not just make it a hobby. That says nothing about the quality of dog that is expected.

It sounds like most buyers agree you can find the best of domestic bred dogs within $1000-$1500 price range.  anything more and I would just save up more for a green dog.

@jenni, what makes you believe money is less of a factor to your buyers/customers than it is to you. You can't afford to give your puppies away for free and your buyers make whatever sacrifices necessary.

i am far from rich. But I will say many people I've met at local schutzhund clubs seem to be on a higher tax bracket than a simple teachers's salary like myself.

 Who said it was "less of a factor" to buyers than it is to me? I don't understand what you're asking. 

"it really isn't about money to people who know what they want."

Even when you know what you want, money is still a factor. not the only nor the most important factor, but still a factor.

If I can get a dog that can fit my criteria for $1000 why would I go and pay $2000  for another dog that fits my criteria just the same.

i have more respect for breeders who keep some of the puppies from the litter and sale some dogs as green dogs than those who try to make a turn on their investments just off of puppies alone. 8-12 week old puppies are a gamble even from the best of breed stock. I would rather pay top dollar for a green dog than a $2000 pup anyday.

 You're obviously not understanding what I'm saying at all, James. That's not what I meant at all. 

When you are a fanatic, as I consider myself, you want what you want. Period. You will not settle for something inferior simply because it's a few hundred dollars less. Instead, you figure out a way to get what you want. Most of the really outrageously priced pups are not something a true fanatic would want anyway...they're typically more hype than quality, and being sold by ignorant people.

I planned and researched for 8 years before finding and being able to afford the female I wanted. I find many/most of the people who buy from me are like-minded. Some tell me they don't care how long it takes, they're willing to wait for the right pup. They are generally not shopping around trying to save a couple hundred bucks. To be totally honest, more often than not, they don't ask about money until well into the conversations about the dogs and their temperaments and what the breeding is expected to produce. My buyers are not novelty buyers looking for an expensive pet. They are serious enthusiasts and not wealthy. I have let almost 2/3 of them make payments. I can't afford to do that, really, but these pups can't exactly be sold to the highest bidder either, without potentially disastrous results. 

I will say that I disagree somewhat about pups being a total crapshoot. Yes, they are a big gamble in terms of health, but I don't see that many temperamental changes (barring poor handling results) after 12 weeks. A good judge should be able to get a pretty good handle on what that pup is/will become by that age or shortly thereafter. I will say that often you hear of pups not meeting expectations, but I place a lot of responsibility for this on breeders w/too many litters to spend adequate time w/each pup and observe them individually. I would pay more for a pup from a breeder whose evaluation I trusted than a big breeder w/no time regardless of bloodlines. 

we must not be understanding each other because i never said anything about settling.