Prices- Show vs. Work - Page 1

can someone please enlighten me as to why the price of show dogs is so much more than working dogs?  the thread about top show dogs selling for over 100,000 got me to wondering about this.

whats the most expensive working dog you have ever seen sold or bought.

john

The price is so high because  people will pay it.

For adults or puppies????  Showline puppies in the US = $1000-8000 I've seen and inquired about...OUCH    I'd say a majority are around 2500-3500.     I'Workinglines I've come across are considerably cheaper.    Now in Germany the cost of a top showline pup is between 1000-1500 USD plus the outrageous shipping of course and once again seems the workingline are about the same or a little cheaper.    I know this because I have been looking =)

Although US breeders use the Health Guarantee/Warranty to make up for the higher price. 

"can someone please enlighten me as to why the price of show dogs is so much more than working dogs?"

Because it's about fashion. High fashion always commands higher prices.

Gucci dogs, they are.

I'll take my Tonka dogs though anyday.

the most exspensive one I have heard about  ( don't know if it is true ) was Jello von der Wienerau    he was sold to this country for $125.000 . Jello produced  some of the top rated dogs in the US including and not limited to VA Lars von Wilhendorf  . I think Lars was also the first US bred dog to achieve a VA rating

Pia

If you think top scoring SV Working Line BundessiegerProfung GSDs are cheap, try buying one that is KK1 with clean joints.  You will have to pay a small fortune, if the owners are even willing to sell them.  Since there ae so few of these top winners, the market price is very high.  And if one has been producing very well, the price goes even higher.  And if it is V rated in zuchtschau, then the price goes atmospheric.

I know several breeders of excellent showline pups selling for ~$1500. The most I've ever paid for VA-sired pups has been $2000--I'm talking about VA-1 and VA-5 sires at the German Sieger Show.

There is no rhyme or reason to puppy prices, other than capitalism at work.  People pay outrageous prices for showline puppies because they are WILLING to do so.  Showline pups sell for more than workingline pups on average because buyers are WILLING to open their wallets for the black and red. 

Price does not guarantee quality, nor will you find any breeder of either type that will guarantee that you'll get your money's worth with the purchase.  LOL.

Capitalism at work, darlin'... supply and demand... except with GSD puppies there is no shortage of supply.  It's all about what the market will bear. 

Price does not guarantee quality, nor will you find any breeder of either type that will guarantee that you'll get your money's worth with the purchase.

I agree to an extent, but I got every penny's worth from the top dollar I spent from Tiekerhook, and would be eagerly willing to do so again.  There's less risk involved with some breeders than others, and I feel that 10 pups for the same total expense would have been a greater risk of not meeting my requirements.  Personally, I wouldn't take the chance on 10 of those $2500 pups from some breeders, though.