Dog price question - Page 1

I'm considering selling some adult dogs, but I am not sure what to ask for them.  What do you look at when deciding the price of an adult dog, I'd assume titles, health testing, and bloodlines?

Depends on what you're selling them for- work, companion, sport, etc. For example, a police dog price would be more dependent upon the dog's abilities than bloodlines, though bloodlines matter, and a breeding dog would have to have all of those things plus excellent structure and health screenings...so it all depends. What do you have?

I had a question like this a while back and posted and got a lot of help.

When I look for a dog for sport, I look at the dog (teeth, testicles, hip ratings) and then at the pedigree....then start looking at hips/elbows, then I look at titles.  I am actually looking for a dog at the moment....and might be interested depending on what you have.....

Well one would be pet only, good working line pedigree, great conformation and temperament, but not up to par in the health testing department.  The other is a sport/working potential, has a few novice level titles and qualifying scores, good working line pedigree, nice conformation and temperament, passed all health testing, proven breeding dog.  I love the dogs, but I can't afford to train and title them as I'd like, and I'm going through some life changes right now so I'm not sure what I want to do.  Just exploring my options.

#1 for free to a loving home. #2 depends on what a novice title and your definition of breeding quality is. I may look at the dog and you couldn't pay me to feed it. Someone else may think it is worth $5000. What do you think they are worth?

My first question would be...have you contacted the breeders of these dogs you are considering selling? The answer to that would be...NO! The reason I know this is because one of those dogs is a dog you bought from me. No, not the one who isn't up to par on health clearances, but the sport/working potential dog who is a "proven" breeder with Novice titles. You have bred 2 dogs...your female (who I KNOW you won't part with) and this male...so I did the math.

I have tried contacting you for the better part of the day via email and phone. While I still get no response from you, I now see that you are offering the litter out of this male you bought from me and your female FOR FREE to sport homes! 

I have to say, I am beyond beside myself right now. I sold you this boy on your word that he was in his forever home and you would work him and title him. My mistake for sure. Now you are considering selling him. Well, I ask that you dig out your contract from me and read through it because it DOES state that IF you do not want or can not keep this dog, it is to come back to me or I have first rights to him. And I will pursue that if need be.

I love my dogs more than anything...those I have here at my home and those I place. ANYONE who has bought a puppy from me knows that and will back me up on that. I understand why you that you would go to the public and ask for a selling price on a dog you got from me...that should be RETURNED to me or OFFERED back to me per our contract. At the least, you should contact me to discuss options. Have I ever re-homed/resold a dog??? YES! But in both cases, the breeders were contacted and knew. Options were discussed and it was mutual. 

I was and AM more than willing to talk to you and work with you. I am willing to buy him back from you if you are in the situation of not being able to keep him or care for him. But you need to contact ME. I NEVER would have done this over a public forum and am only doing so now  because you will not return my calls. I tried to give you the benefit of the doubt that maybe you were at work or something...but if you can place ads on the PDB, you can return an email or call to me.

It saddens me that you are now offering his litter free to a good "performance" home. Really, I'd rather see you take them to a shelter and let them do proper placement vs. placing a free ad.

This male is out of a very nice DDR Import, V Puck vom Grafental SchH3 AD Kkl1. And my West German working female, U-CH G Brazen vom haus Behm BH AD FMCH. I have two full brothers to this male. One is a Certified HRD SAR dog, the other will be going for his SchH1 this fall. 

I realize you did not "state" who the dogs are you are considering to sell...and that you are just considering this. And the one with health issues, I don't know. But the other one you describe is Berlin. As I said, I did the math. I know you better than most anyone on this forum. I understand if times are hard for you right now, life changes as you mentioned, etc...in one of my emails to you I said I am here to help. If you don't have the time for him, the money for him, the whatever for him...I will take him back. And per my contract, you need to honor that.

Melinda Clark
vom Gildaf German Shepherds

I am sorry for whatever circumstance had lead you to this, but I urge you to return the dog to Melinda so she can place the dog appropriately.

I have one of her dogs, http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/german_shepherd_dog/dog.html?id=646746  call name Raja out of the same mother and I can say he is as fast, as protective and as smart as my Leefdaalhof grandson.  And that is saying a whole lot.  Anyone who gets this dog would be very lucky, but your contract specifies that you must give Melinda the option to properly rehome the dog. 

Please do the legal thing, and most importantly, the moral thing.

I have visited your website prior to this question being posted.  I  remember that you test for numerous health concerns. As a breeder myself who tests extensively, I commend you for your stated intentions and actions regarding medical testing of the dogs you own and breed.  I think you are among a very small percentage of GSD people who plan to test or who do test their dogs for anything besides hips and elbows.  

I do agree that any dog that has a questionable health situation, regardless of level of training or intellegence should be placed into good home if one can be found. Any new adoptive family is knowingly taking on a financial burden.  The person placing the dog should consider themselves blessed to find a responsible family who will accept a dog that is likely to develop significant medical needs down the line.  A very minimal fee, similar to that of a shelter might be reasonable but nothing more and I would ask for a first right of refusal clause so that if the family ever got to the point where they could no longer handle the dog for any reason, I would be contacted and still in the dogs life. 

As far as the dog that is turning out to be Berlin,  I urge you to honor your legally binding contract.  Legally /Morally / Ethically it is the right thing to do.  Additionally, in this business- Our reputation is not just important, it is really all we have.  

In my puppy contract, My first right of refusal clause states that if the client can not keep the dog, it is to be returned to me.  ( I may or may not offer them money for the dog)  I obviously try to do the right thing by my client and I consider the efforts they have put into their dog as far as titles etc... I have no doubt Melinda would do the same.  

Camilla 
SentinelHarts German Shepherds

I also have a puppy out of Melinda's kennel, half sister to Berlin, out of Razzy. Melinda's dog's are beyond excellent and she puts incredible work into them from day one. She cares about each and every puppy and dog that she places. You must honor your contract with her - there is no question. I don't understand why you have even gone down the path you have - you are a breeder yourself who sells puppies and has contracts!!! Do the right thing - give the dog back to the breeder.

Ok, I am gonna get hammered for this, but...The dogs being bred out of Melinda's dog at Granville are NOT the kind Melinda strives for.  Izzy is a DM carrier, and that means likely some of the puppies.  Her hips are only fair.  That dog is not adding to what Melinda has done.  The others are only prelims and pending except for Aja and she is pending good BUT is a DM carrier.  So let us not pretend that Melindas work is being enhanced by these breedings.  

To make it clear, I would only breed a dog that I think is exceptional and try to make the line better than anything produced by the kennel that originally bred them.  I would not take a dog from Melinda's vom Glidaf Kennel and intentionally breed them to a DM carrier or one that only has fair hips.  

Melindas work is not being bettered and if there is going to be a placement of the vom Gildaf male, it needs to be per the contract.