Expensive dogs - Page 1

I have been reading this message board about expensive GSD puppies and I decided to add my 2 cents. I have owned shepherds for 8 years. I train in Schutzhund and I just love the breed. I just put my male dog down for various health reasons and I was shopping around for another male. I chose a breeder and I am paying more than I ever paid for a dog. I wrote a check for my deposit, which spending this kind of money would usually put me in heart palipatations and a cold sweat, but after being at her house, seeing the immaculate kennels, meeting each one of her dogs and seeing how great their temperments were and how beautiful and well kept each and every one of them are, I handed over the money knowing that I'm going to get a great dog. There is a lot of money that a reputable breeder has to put into their dogs, and it is only fair to recover that money and make some for yourself. No one ever gets rich breeding dogs, but with all the time and energy put into the breeding prospects, the breeder should most certainly make some money.

Jhoitdugan, I wish that you had posted your exact same message on the thread "Exhorbent (Exorbitant) Pricing". You seem to understand exactly the cost of making quality puppies. Bob-O

I could not agree with you more. Too many people worry about what other people charge for puppies. If you don't like the price don't buy it. There is alot of expense that goes into breeding dogs. This year with kennel improvements, unexpected vet expenses and loss of one litter and a c-section in checking my books I am right now at a negative 2k. Hopefully with the 2 litters I have due this month I will end the year in positive territory. If I did not do training for the local Sheriff's K-9 I would be even further in the red. This does not even count the amount of time I put into the dogs and the puppies. I don't think anyone buying puppies would want to work for about 2 cents an hour. A puppy is a life long investment, and a healthy puppy is priceless.

Nicely done, Finally some people are understanding that the work that a "responsible breeder" puts into the pups they produce are worth more than the 100.00 backyard pup. Very well written and expressed.

trying again as it seems censorship is the name of this site.all i said was that because you can buy a pup at a much cheaper price than some of those on offer, it does not mean its any worse than expensive ones.

And also many breeders will microchip a puppy before it goes to owner so this goes onto vet costs also

I agree with that as well !! The Value is found within YOU ! Did you feel fairly treated ? Do you feel your purchase was valid ? Do you feel you got what you paid for ? Are you "happy" with your purchase ? Do you like the contract ? The Value is within each individual I agree you can pay 5,000.00 but that does NOT guarantee a "perfect" dog. But I too agree that if you pay 100.00 you buying a dead dog. ie... likely no shots, no de worming, no health checks, no hip checks, no bloodlines, NO GUARANTEES !!!

Simon , If all you want is a nice pet, you can surely evaluate the temperament of the parents and satisfy yourself as to their stability. There are many "pet breeders" who breed to a very low standard. Their dogs at best are pet quality, at worst they are good for nothing. These animals largely populate the shelters until they are destroyed because they simply do not have a place in society. The objectives of good breeding include improvement of temperament, health, athletic ability, training ability, etc. When we raise the bar on all these characteristics we do not guarantee that all dogs will be excellent, only that some will. There will still be a substantial number of pet quality pups for YOU. These culls in addition to making beautiful pets benefit from the temperament testing and health screening undergone by their parents. I see little justification for the average person to pay many thousands of dollars to gamble on a pup, however, that is generally limited to buyers for whom the dollar amount is less important than other factors. They are using the services of "name brand" retail breeders and brokers who do all of the hard work for them. Many of us maximize our value by doing the work ourselves (international phone calls, haggling, trvelling, etc.) The only true profiteering I have seen is when elite German breeders sell their well used top producers for 6 or 7 figures. Remember that while a dollar has a market value it also has a personal value. What is only worth 5k to you might for various reasons be worth 2 or 3 times as much to someone else. I see nothing wrong with a person making money, but rather with the disingenuous squawking from cheapskates who feel personally offended at the high price of excellence.

jdh, Very well done !!!!

Simon I also note that between the time I read your post and the time I submitted my own your original had been deleted and you had replaced it with an abbreviated version. I think it unfortunate that we cannot disagree and still maintain an open and candid forum. Where are the censors when the mud slingers are posting?