Better Birddogs wrote:I was wondering what makes a dog worth 5000. What makes 8 week old pups worth a 1000. I feel that there are very few dogs in the world that are worth 5000 and furthermore if a dog is truly worth that then there should be no reason he is for sale. JMO. I'd like to hear a little philosophy behind the pricing of dogs for sale. I have bred a few litters (50-75) and sold most of my pups for 250-400. That includes pups out of Shadows Mark, Miller's Online, House's Rain Water, House's Rain Cloud, Miller's White Powder and so on. Just wanting to hear people's thoughts.
BB
BB
Let me start by saying we all want different thing in life and $5000 you may be a drop in the hat for someone else. The same with $1000 pup.
Lets start with the pups. I normally sell my GSPs for $600-$700. Alot of the other breeders in the area are selling GSP pups for $800-$1200. You find the Show people asking more for their dogs, and it seem like the Field Trail guys are starting to ask for more and are getting more now days too, these are for GSPs, again $800-$1200. Alot of guys sell a rare breed pup for more, just because its a rare breed. I've seen Weimys and V's going for $1200 each. As far as my GSP pup verses a Show bred pup that a hunter is lookng for my pup have more value to the hunter. If a Show Breeder is getting more why shouldnt I. If I feel my pups have more in the way of Natural Ability and Trainability verses other breeds that are getting $1200 WHY shouldnt I get the same amount for my pups. Area for Area and breed for breed etc... will push the value of a pup and or dog. All that said it becomes supply and demand. If you have a market and are selling your dogs fast you can ask more. If you get it good for you.
As for a $5000 dog. Well feel any good Broke dog is worth $5000. Heres how I come to that value.
1) $600-$700 in puppy value.
2) $400-$500 a year value when you add up dog food and shots times 3 years $1200-$1500 plus
3) Dog Training at $500 a month 3 months for the first year $1500 and 3 to 4 for the second year $1500-$2000 total money spent in training to reach the level of being Steady to Wing Shot and Fall until sent for the retrieve is $3000-$3500 thats if you used a Pro trainer. If you trained the dog yourself the dog will still hold value the same training value.
4) Any extra expences, Field Trial or Hunt Test entry fees.
5) Seasoned hunting dogs are made by being hunted alot so there is value in that too.
So do the math and you can see why some dogs are going for $5000 or more.
IMO a 1-2 year old Green Started (steady to Flush) dog has a value of $2500 depending on the dog. Now if the Seller has several dog and hes asking $2500 for some, you know some will look nicer, have better stlye than others, and maybe one or two will be better Birddogs, now that price of those two just went up, to maybe $3000-$3500.
IMO a 2-3 year old Green Broke Dog has a value of $5000 when you add up all the money spent on just the pup and training yourat almost that price.
IMO as a Started dog becomes a seasoned Hunting dog at 3-5 years old his value goes way up $3500-$5000
IMO as the Broke dogs becomes a more seasoned dog His value has "NO" Top End. If the dog is a FC or AFC along with being a great hunting dog, your talking alot of hard work has been put into this dog. And alot of money has been spent on this dog.
If your in the Dog Business, as a Breeder or Trainer, your NOT in it to lose money, so you have to keep records of money spent on each dog, starting with the cost of the pup, shipping, food, shots, training fees or expences, or rates, etc... etc... etc...IMO why keep a dog and train it to any level if your not going to make some money. If I was to keep a dog for 2 years and sell it for $2000 I'm losing money because again I have $800 in food and shots plus my $600-$700 puppy fee, plus 3 months of training at $500 a month thats $2900-$3000, I would have been better off just selling the pup for $600-$700, and I would have saved myself two years of raising the dog plus the time invested into training the dog.
So the value is what the market calls for in your area, and for your dogs individually. If someone is willing to dump their price people will alway remember dont by now because you'll eventually dump your prices. If someone holds their price they may hold on to their dogs longer, but if people want them bad enough they will sell. What it come down to is people want a good dog thats going to find them game. As a buyer you can go play around with all the crap dogs out their, and spend alot of money in small amounts looking for THE DOG, but eventually when your willing to spend the money your going to find the better dog, as long as you do your research first, and look at the dog first in person.
If your a person whos gone out an bought a pup and done it all yourself. Think back to the money you've invested into your dog, in geting him trained, whats your time worth ? gas, birds, shells other training equipment, the cost of the puppy, any shipping, food, shots etc.. etc... etc.... if you were to sell your dog to make a profit what would you have to sell it for $$$$ ?????? IMO alot of people have dogs valued at $5000 at least if its broke, or is a seasoned hunting dog.
