What is the most I should pay for a dog?

Question

I know that there are people out there who are looking for a show dog or a dog to breed. These people are often willing to pay a lot for one with great blood lines, and bred by an excellent breeder. I want a dog that is healthy, has a good temperament, and is raised by a responsible breeder. However, I'm just looking for a pet. Nothing more. I found a few excellent breeders who are really into showing and their dogs have great blood lines. But they want around $1,500. Is that too much to pay for a dog that will only be a pet? Will it be worth it?

For those of you who are telling me to get a pet from a shelter, that doesn't answer my question. I've asked various questions about dogs before on here, and have decided that a breeder is the best way to go for me. I'm looking to get a healthy Westie puppy. I never have seen one on the shelter websites in my area, or on petfinder. Puppy's alone are hard to find at shelters.

I asked a few questions awhile ago concerning reputable breeders, I and have learned that people who advertise their dogs in a paper are not the best way to go, and instead I should check out an upcoming dog show, and ask people who show Westies. Like I said earlier, these people are the ones who sell their dogs for high prices.

So I'm rather confused. I've been told to go this route to find a reputable breeder, but now I'm being told that this would be too much money. There's now way that I can get a good quality dog from a good breeder for a couple hundred dollars, or even from a shelter.

Answer 1

Well, I don't think it is too much to ask, I think it is a vote for the future if you care anything about dogs.

I know that any reputable breeder will always accept the dog back if it doesn't work out, and correspond with you before they place a dog with you, and will do their very best to ascertain that you are a responsible owner who knows what to expect from a breed of dog, and is a good match. Even blind people wait a long time to get a dog who matches their step, who shares their attitude to life. How awful would it be to love a pet dog and have to lose it to a disease you know you cannot afford to have cured, one that should never have been bred?

So a reputable breeder will fully expect you to ask for - or have your vet check - that the dog will not inherit very painful conditions like hip dysplasia which would shorten its life cruelly. And also prove to be very expensive for you in vet's bills, because once you own and love that dog, you are going to be responsible for their health and hate to have them go without good healthcare, right?

These inherited conditions are totally predictable through bad breeding, and so a real breeder will spend a lot of their own money tracking the dog's family tree all the way back, calling around to check that the parents and grandparents of that dog were free of those nasty and dreaded conditions. They will take the trouble to do all that before asking if they can be considered as a buyer of a future puppy from that pair. They really want all dogs to be healthy! They know in their heart and soul that this is the only way to be sure that they are doing their best for our best friend.

A pet shop won't ever do that. A person with two dogs and not enough kennel space won't ever do that. A person who runs a puppy farm - not only won't they do that, but they will overbreed a pretty dog and throw the corpses out the back in a barn until they can afford to hire someone to dig a hole to hide their failed sales. It is such a short term plan, and so ugly a move for the puppies bred that way, that I would never ever visit or even bear to look in the window of a pet shop that sells live dogs. I am serious. I do apologise for this very long posting. I do think that most people who love and buy dogs do not understand what an easy and cruel profit is made from the natural enthusiasm of dogs, and the deliberate careless breeding that results. People think it's easy money, and they can always drown the ugly ones. It's a horrible, factory idea, and then they advertise. But you really do get what you pay for. The price quoted to you is not unreasonable, but please, please, do ask for paperwork and be ruthless about having it first. It's the only way that puppy factories can be disowned. They have such a lovely image, and no one sees the skeletons behind a dog without a pedigree or a healthy and happy future.

You really should think and ask out loud - If their dog - this beautiful dog - is the best they can possibly plan for, and they love dogs, why should they sell it so easily to me? How do they know that I will not starve it or mistreat it? You will encounter wary breeders who have had a hurt dog returned, who have driven across a state or two to retrieve it, and thanked the buyer for letting them have it back before they had any other differences or punished the dog they were not suited to own.

If you do take a dog from an animal shelter, that is the reason why they will require it to be spayed/fixed. Because they deeply care about dogs. If you have a pet, it's not a working dog, one of 20 in the team, right? If it dies painfully and early in its life, or goes blind or lame, of a totally preventable condition, because it was bred from diseased siblings, how much worse are you going to feel? It's not one of a gang, it is your only pet and companion. I personally would save carefully and invest in a good dog.

But there is no reason why you should not budget as much as you might spend on a PC; for a good dog with healthy genes and a happy future as planned. I would not, myself, care to profit those unscrupulous people who think "Here are two cute furry animals - people pay good money for puppies. Who cares if they are mother and grandson and limping? Who'll know?" Breeders will know. And they and their own family and friends and other breeders will never ever buy a living creature from that person again. They won't even give a reason. Just No.
I believe they are worth investing in, because they are reputable, and so many dog-owners are absolutely not.

Answer 2

If you want a pure breed that is strictly a pet, you should consider adopting a young dog from a rescue. That way you have the traits of the breed you want, it's beyond the puppy stage, and has usually been through obedience classes. Any problems with behavior are (usually) already known. I'm sure there are adoption fees (in order to make sure they go to a good home where the perspective owner is willing to provide for the dog) but I'm sure they will be far less than $1500. Maybe you can adopt two so they have each other for company. ;) All in all, it's a good fit, especially since breeders are typically looking to improve the lines through selective breeding, and those efforts are lost when a dog is neutered or spayed and just becomes a pet. You pay high dollar for the genetics that can be passed to your dog's offspring, not necessarily for the dog itself. Good luck and I hope you find a good dog...

Blessings

Answer 3

The only type of breeder you want to buy from is a breeder who is into showing and bloodlines. This way you are supporting the GOOD part of the breeding industry, and you are much likely to get a healthy dog. Anyone who isn't showing or isn't involved with their breed is no more than a backyard breeder or a puppy mill, both of which usually produce low quality dogs simply for money.

$1500 is NEVER too much for a good quality pet.

If you are balking at the price tag, consider purebred rescue groups or a shelter dog. My purebred toy dog was around $200 from rescue. She was 7 months old, fixed, vetted, and came with a whole host of goodies. But, with how much I love her, I would easily pay $1500 for her.

http://www.petfinder.com and http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm


Edit: What's it matter what the people on here think of what you are spending on a dog? Remember 90% of the people on here support puppy mills and backyard breeders. They don't have a shred of morality and generally have no clue when it comes to buying or caring for an animal. Do you *really* want their approval? I sure don't. If you can afford it and you want the dog, go for it. It a heck of a lot smarter than spending $800 on some puppy mill mutt from a pet shop or $500 on a backyard breeder dog.

Answer 4

its a really hard question to answer on my opinion. But i do believe its a lot money to pay for a pet. its hard to say it is but i think if u look harder u might find another pet that is still healthy,and so on for cheaper.
also remember after u buy a dog, you must take it to the vet, its food, and hopefully it wont happen but what if the animal gets sick?
i have a dog and its alot of money.
well im not trying to tell u to not buy a dog, cause there are a man bestfriend and there so cute.
but think moenywise before.
so good luck.

Answer 5

In my opinion, it is WAY too much for a dog. I have a full breed Jack Russell Terror and he was insane the first couple of years we had him.Luckly, we got him from friends that paid the big bucks for him. So, it really just depends on the dog and not the price. My friend found a dog wandering the side of the road, and that dog is soooooo sweet and well behaved and was a stray. So, just use your best judegment and look at all your options before you invest.

Answer 6

If the two certainly one of you paid for the dogs then confident you're able to desire to help with the charges. dogs at the instant are not people yet, costly none the fewer. A dogs is a duty you handle once you carry it abode. The dogs did not ask to be there. it can't shield itself. If the two certainly one of you are able to't agree, it could finally end up in small claims court docket.

Answer 7

If you want a purebred with championship bloodlines then expect to pay $600+ If you want a pet only dog go to a shelter the adoption fees are less than $200

Answer 8

My best dog was a free one from a farm. She is a Border Collie Lab mix. Great dog when the kids was growing up. My other dog is a Border Collie that was in Rescue. 18 months old at one time he was abused. Has one leg 3 " shorter than the other. He is 6 yrs old now and was a lot of work. Get yourself a puppy or a young dog from a shelter.

If you have to ask how much to adopt a dog? Don't bother read the "New work of dogs" By Jon Katz

Answer 9

Here is the deal. What kind of a dog do you want, and what do you really want it for? $1500 dollars is not much money to pay for the following. You want a dog that will be a certain size when grown, no surpises here. You want to know the dog's temperament from the get go and what he will be like as an adult. No surpises here. You want to know what you can expect out of that dog in terms of social behavior, training ability etc. You want to now that there will be a health guarantee on the dog. Things like hip problems, genetic issues, do come up and they can be very costly, you want to know that a breeder will replace a dog if need be. Finally, you want companionship for the next 10 years or so. Divide $1500 by 10 and see if that money is worth it?

Answer 10

Any money you spend on a breeder is a contribution to the problem. You said you want a healthy companion animal, not a show dog. There are rescue societies. There are SPCA's. There are classified ads. Go one of these routes, or know that your purchase helped fuel another death at a shelter.