Do you think dogs are overpriced on websites (eg. £800 for a blue staff)?

Question

Would like to know if some people agree with me that people who put dogs for sale on websites are ridiculous. Looking on sites like epupz you can find staffordshire bull terriers for 1000 pounds which is someones idea of a prank perhaps. You can find Even crossbreeds going for a few hundred, Its not suprising that the people who put these kind of prices on pups are still usually trying to sell them 6 months later but you can bet someone has atleast shelled out for a few of the litter at this stupid price. I am not sure who to feel sorry for as anyone who would pay that kind of money almost deserves to be conned. Let me know your thoughts?

Answer 1

Around here, the local breeders don't charge much less than what you'll find on websites. In fact, most of them do list their puppies on websites but will NOT ship the puppies, they must be picked up. This ensures that they breeder and the new owner get a chance to meet and the breeder can talk about what has already been done for the puppy (worming, etc.). The high price of puppies is due in part to small litters that are had by a lot of breeds. High demand and low supply will raise the price. Blue colored dogs generally sell for a more expensive price as their coloration is very desired and it is a more rare color. The high price also ensures the safety of the puppy in a way. Only people serious about dog ownership will pay upwards of $800 for a dog. Someone who just wants a cheap dog for their kid to torture will go to the humane society. When people pay that much for an animal, you can pretty much bet that they will be visiting a Vet regularly and making sure the animal stays in good health.

Answer 2

You should look into the cost of responsible breeding. Tests to make sure the breeding pair are healthy. Prenatal care for the female, vet checkups on the puppies as well as shots and food for all the involved animals and then there's the time involved in it. It does seem insane what puppies go for but doing it right isn't cheap. Anybody can put 2 dogs together and sell them but for the lesser price how confident are you that the puppy doesn't have genetic problems (quite common now) like allergies, seizures, hip/back problems that will exceed the cost of a healthy pup in the coming years.

Answer 3

While some breeders are only trying to make money (con people), responsible breeders actually have to spend a lot of money to try to insure that the pups will be healthy. I spent $1,000 for my border collie pup, plus the expenses of flying him, etc. While this may seem ridiculous, consider this: I bough this pup for agility. An agility dog with hip dysphasia (a common problem in this breed) is unable to jump (not to mention the dog will be in pain). My breeder had done the proper tests (OFA/Pennhip) and cleared both parents of this hereditary disease. OFA is $300 and Pennhip is $500 (plus you have to pay the vet to take the X-rays- $100 fee per dog). Next she had to do a CEA (Collie Eye Anomaly) test this coast $180. Then there is the CERF (another eye test- $45). The certification is good for 12 months from the date of the exam and afterwards the dog must be reexamined and recertified to maintain its' registration with CERF. Then there is the heart test- $300. Then if the litter is dual sired (or if the female accidentally breeds to another male) you have to DNA profile the mother, father, and all the pups ($40 EACH). Then there’s the stud fee (for a $1,000 pup the fee is usually $1,000). My breeder also takes the dam to the vet for a sonogram (not cheep, either). The puppies are born- after four weeks they need to eat a good quality food (Innova puppy- 33-lb bag - $45.99). Then the breeder should give them their first shot and take them to the vet for a health certificate- $50+. (By law, you HAVE to have a health certificate.)

For those of us keeping track:
Dam (puppies included in DNA, food, and vet fee):
OFA- $300
X-ray fee- $100
CEA- $180
CERF (5 years)- $225
Heart- $300
DNA profiling- $280 + 40 for sire
Food expense- $100
Health certificate + vet fee- $50+

Sire:
Stud fee: $1,000
Pennhip- $500
X-ray fee- $100
CEA- $180
CERF (5 years)- $225
Heart- $300
=
$4,030!

I am using my puppy’s situation for these figures. Of course, most breeders are not this responsible. My main concern was hips (OFA/Pennhip test cleared my puppy’s parents). If I had gotten my puppy from another breeder, I would have taken the chance of my pup having hip dysphasia. The surgery to try and correct hip dysphasia is $4,000 per hip. So, to answer your question, while most dogs are overprice on websites, responsible breeders are not. What you have to find out is if this breeder is responsible- ask for proof of health test and the things I mention above. (You can research this if you are really that interested.)

Answer 4

They are over charging by alot. A good show quality AKC dog of most breeds should run you between $300-1400. I know big difference but it depends on lineage. I got my AKC pug for $200 but she is a little long for show standards and I got my AKC Beagle for $350 and she has not a single fault. Won a couple of little shows too. Never pay more than $50 for a cross breed even a designer breed like puggles and yorkie poos. They are popular but they have health prolbems that you could not believe.

Answer 5

Since only people who don't know any better would purchase a puppy from a website, I'm not surprised that the animals are vastly overpriced.

Answer 6

Sunny is a great call. it incredibly is what my brindle/white paintings tension boy is termed. i replaced into going to call him Scooter, or Scoot. That appeared to extra healthy because of the fact as a puppy he replaced into constantly doing that 'mad working' up and down difficulty that Staffs do - you realize, whilst all of them of sudden skelter forwards and backwards (finished with 'wheel-spin') for some seconds then basically as all of sudden quit - yet he appeared to desire Sunny, or a minimum of he replied to that extra.

Answer 7

that is huge!
you will pay much more less in another country, (East Europe)