Pet peeve.....ON PRICING OF PUPS, your views wanted.

[Cardinal Fan]

I know I am a newbie in away, even though I have been around for a couple years (I believe).


I have sat back and read many nice articles/editorials on this website and on others. I have yet to take the plunge and get a GSP, but the day will come.

This being said, I have learned or have a pet peeve with some breeders. It is simple: If you got a pup (puppies) for sale, then list the price you want. I have seen many wonderful ads with pictures, etc. only to see no prices for the pup mentioned. List your prices.

Yes, I know, not lsiting prices probably helps breeders sell pups in different ways. Might sell a pup for X amount and then sell a different pup for Y amount........so one does not want to make one buyer upset for selling at a cheaper price, etc.

I guess it just annoys me that folks (some, not all) can not list their asking prices. If the price is too high because I think so or a potential bidder can not afford it, they just won't buy it......

Well lets here you opinions on the matter.


Thanks,

kenny

[hubweims]

many breeders are picky where they send pups. that's why it usually takes an application to even be considered. while some may interpret it as price fluctuation from pup to pup, i think it's more of a way to weed out the wrong buyers. for instance, is someone to base their decision on a pup b/c of price, they are most likely not the type of person a great breeder would sell to anyways. they obviously haven't done their homework, have little to no experience on the work that titling a dog requires, and usually end giving pup back or to a rescue. if an educated buyer that knows all of the above reads an add, when they make contact they are more likely to "fit the bill" as a true potential owner. the ones that make contact will be more serious about the purchase, understand what it takes, and know a fair asking price. just b/c breeders don't post prices doesn't mean they are more expensive. if that's the impression that someone gets, then maybe both parties are better off b/c that person might not understand the importance of quality blood. JMHO.

[ACooper]

The adds for GSPs that always bother me are the ones that go something like this. 2 m l/w 350.00 2 f l/w 400.00 3 m b/w 600.00 1 f b/w 750.00.
Again IMO if you are pricing dogs like this you are breeding dogs for the wrong reason, I know this doesnt mean everyone but that is the impression I get and it always turns me off. Sorry if I offend anyone but that is how I feel about it, for whatever that is worth.

Or the ads that say champion breeding sire and dam on premises and there is one titled dog 4 gen back in the ped, I just feel this is wrong, but you see it everyday on some websites.

[whitedogone]

As one who is looking to replace a dog that I had to put down, I can say that I have not run into too many breeders that don't have prices. The thing that bothers me is breeders that want $850 for a pup out of one of their brood bitches because they paid a stud fee to a champion dog. Both dogs come out of good lines. The brood bitch may have never been in the field or certainly not trialed/tested. The stud dog may be great. But he has never proven that he passes along anything or produced any winners or great offspring. Same with the bitch... has she produced any winners or great offspring?

I think that some breeders jack their prices up are just hoping that someone will think that their going to get a great pup because they paid twice as much for it as someone else. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem paying that kind of money for a pup. Just prove to me that the past breedings have produced great dogs. No breeders I've talked to so far can do that. WDO

[Greg Jennings]

An eternal truth: Caveat emptor. "Let the buyer beware".

Best regards, Greg J.

[ezzy333]

for instance, is someone to base their decision on a pup b/c of price, they are most likely not the type of person a great breeder would sell to anyways.

How many people ever bought their first dog and maybe the second one even for any competive type reason. And if price isn't a factor why aren't pups selling for $5000 or maybe $10000. This old axiom that the pup is the cheapest part of owning a dog so it really doesn't matter how much they cost never held much water in my book. When my first dog arrived it was free and if it hadn't been I wouldn't have had a dog. When you have $5 dollars in your pocket $4.50 is a lot of money.

then maybe both parties are better off b/c that person might not understand the importance of quality blood.

Two things come to mind. Who decides what quality blood is and how important is it?

I do think ACooper has a real valid complaint and you can be sure I wouldn't buy from people breeding for color and exploiting it.

But he has never proven that he passes along anything or produced any winners or great offspring. Same with the bitch... has she produced any winners or great offspring?

This is the reason I always tell people to check out the parents and pups they have produced and if they are what yu want go for it. Dogs and pups do not have to carry a title to be great dogs. Most of the great dogs in this world are curled up on someones couch when not in the field hunting. They never saw a test or a trial or a show ring.

Hunting dogs were bred to hunt and because man loves to play competitive games a few of us that can afford it run our dogs in hunt tests and field trials plus many many other organized games. Those of that do, tend to look at breeders that have dogs that do well in our chosen field and then we say these are the cream of the crop. And they are if you desire a competitive dog. But it goes right back to the above paragraph. The great dogs are the ones that do whatever you want and do it well no matter what that is. But the top of the list for hunting dogs that are great are ones that's are outstanding hunters with or without titles.

Ezzy

[ACooper]

Ezzy I agree how much money a person has doesnt usually have any bearing on how well they will take care of a dog, unless they are so broke they just cant afford to feed it.

[trailgoose]

Ezzy, i also agree with you, I am probaly one of the poorest gdf viewers on here. I am a broke college student!! But i can guarantee I think i take better care of my gsp then anyone. I build fences during college and he goes everywhere, including inside stores, truck, etc. He just loves it. If i go to class sometimes and dont leave him in the truck but instead leave him with the other dogs he goes bisurk. Haha

[WildRose]

People price their dogs the way they do for a number of reasons. Many price pups very high out of ego. Many will do it to intentionally screen out buyers they don't think will be willing to put the time and money into the dogs to get the best out of them.

Many price dogs simply to cover the expenses and build in a little profit. Not a darn thing wrong (in spite of what some say) with the profit motive. The rest of the world is not a charity why should raising dogs be any different?

Mine are priced reasonably and I rarely get anyone wanting to "bleep". When they do the discussion is over and they can go find another litter.

White dog all I can say is you haven't talked to the right breeders. There are at least two breeders of GSP's that I know produce really nice dogs that participate on this forum who aren't very far from you. Jerry Paddock and Ted Mayer (VZ and Hotpepper). I can't tell you what either one charges for pups these days but I've seen enough that each has produced (including dogs I own) to know they are quality dogs and worth the money. CR

[Vanguard]

I think Greg is very right "Buyer beware" You as the buyer need to put the time effort and research into the potential pup your buying. Ask questions, get referrals. If its going to be a competitive dog, AF Trials, Field Trials, Hunt Tests, NAVDA, ETC., Go watch the parents preform and not just once multiple times. If you can get out and watch pups from a previous breeding or other offspring from the pair great...go hunting behind them and find out if this is the type of dog(breed, style, ability, etc) that you really want. A pedigree is just a piece of paper, if correct, can tell you about 25% of what your pup might do the rest you need to see in person watching the parents preform.

But I also want to add "you get what you pay for"

obviously a Yugo and a Ferrari will both get you from point "A" to point "B" However I think we can all agree that as far as Fit, Finish, style, etc goes the Ferrari far exceeds the Yugo in all aspects.

[mm]

What about free. I am hoping to breed my dog down the road. I will search for the best male I can find and will pay the fee whatever it is. I will pay all the vet bills. This is a once in a lifetime thing. I want to keep 2 or 3 pups for myself and give one to my closest pal. I am more concerned that they would go to loving hunting homes than money. Do you thing giving them away for free is a better way to assure that. It seems if you charge a guy several hundred for a dog its a little hard to tell him what to do with it. If you give it to him hopefully he would feel obliged to do the right thing. What do you think.
mm

[markj]

What about free

I have given away pups for free. To good friends, or a young person wanting to get into the game or..... it isnt about money with me, it is about hunting and getting others involved in hunting.

[bird]

.

[kninebirddog]

I like many others put forth a lot of effort in to my pups and breeding program. What I ask for my pups doesn't even begin to offset the costs of which i put in to my dogs before even considering to allow them to breed.
There are way to many people who breed to fill a market.

and IE Free pups to your pups with breeding's that are not really well thought out have a higher chance of landing at the pound or rescue then those litters where someone has put forth time and effort in to proven dams sires and linage.

Pet Peeves is when I sit up at night with a friend who is helping a dam to whelp a litter of preemie pups which all DIED due to an inconsiderate jerk of an owner who surrendered their pregnant dog cause they didn't want to deal with a second litter in 6 months cause they didn't feel the need to keep their female separate from the sire and son when she went into heat again. My friend in rescue had already took on a couple pups surrendered from the first litter also cause the people couldn't place them guess cheap purebred were as easy to unload as they thought. Poor Dam was so petrified when she was surrendered she is still in rescue still being worked with before she has the chance of being adopted as she needs someone that will be home all the time.
I can go on with some owner surrenders of this dog won't hunt,,,to neglected My new favorite My wife's gonna have a baby so I am surrendering my buddy pal of 4 years over to rescue is the latest my buddy got...most of these dogs are unpapered

[Hotpepper]

In your assumption, the only thing driving the purchase is the rpice. If you are bargain shopping, you will likely get more than you are bargaining for. Lots of real bad things can happen with that approach.

Sometimes a deal is "NO DEAL " at all.

Pepper

[ohiogsp]

I would give a pup to a good friend because I will be able to see what this pup turns out like without raising it myself. Best of both worlds. But I would never give a pup to someone who I did not know extremely well. Like was said the whole I paid nothing so it's worth nothing to me. I don't mind ads with no price because it is not really relevent if it's what you want. I would never do this myself because I don't think it matters if someone knows the price. The only thing I would say is I would not sell pups cheap. When you have work into a "good" breeding you should get some return and pups are hard work. When you look at the fact that testing or trialing or any events for that matter cost tons of money to do, people should make money. Look at the tons of people out there making alot more on their pets that they put together because they are some fad and have done no work. I also would never sell pups from the same litter for more money than other pups and I don't think most good breeders are doing that either. I want to have a solid reputation and that would not be the way to do it in my book.

[AHGSP]

The adds for GSPs that always bother me are the ones that go something like this. 2 m l/w 350.00 2 f l/w 400.00 3 m b/w 600.00 1 f b/w 750.00.

I could not agree with you more! This really chafes my arse, ESPECIALLY when they "suggest" colors are "rare", or they are otherwise marketing as such!
One litter, one set of parents with whatever accomplishments, ONE PRICE!

As for listing the price: I never have, but then I've never really thought about it either. I really don't want someone calling me for a pup, "because I'm in their price range" though. I've always felt like if I had what a person wanted, price was not of over concern. Most of my pups have been sold on referral though.

[mikeyair]

thats one of my pet peeves as well not just with dogs but on any thing when we were looking at houses to buy i saw some nice ones online and in magazines if they couldnt put a price on them i wasnt calling i just cant see wasting my time on something if its not in my price range, im willing to pay for a good dog but thats face it i dont have an unlimited buget.

also on a side note about dogs ending up in rescues or back with the breeder i have a gsp that was surenderd to the humane society becuase of being heart worm positve it cost about $500 to treat granted that was a bit of money but she has decent blood lines and a good nose on her. now you can spend way more for a good dog and the people that gave her up wanted her for breading so i was told. when we got her she was very skiny to the point that she had pups a week after we got her and she didnt even look pregnant. the vet had looked at her after we got her we asked about the possiblilty of having pups because her nipples were saging he figured she had recently had a liter or it was a false pregnancy.

[mtjim]

Within the last year I had a friend ask where he could get a GSP pup. I put him in touch with a reputable breeder who had a great little male pup he could have bought for $400.

He thought that was too much and wound up adopting a grown GSP from the pound. $1000 later in vet bills other assorted expenses related to the neurosis of his new "pet" he looks at me now and shakes his head and tells me how smart I am and how stupid he is.

Education is expensive!

[Greg Jennings]

White dog all I can say is you haven't talked to the right breeders. There are at least two breeders of GSP's that I know produce really nice dogs that participate on this forum who aren't very far from you. Jerry Paddock and Ted Mayer (VZ and Hotpepper).

To head off any minor confusion, Jerry Paddock is "Hotpepper" and Ted Meyer, is "vzkennels".

Best regards, Greg J.

[phermes1]

As for listing the price: I never have, but then I've never really thought about it either. I really don't want someone calling me for a pup, "because I'm in their price range" though. I've always felt like if I had what a person wanted, price was not of over concern. Most of my pups have been sold on referral though.

Most of the breeders I know sold on referral. We've had one whole litter, but we never advertised.
I agree about the price range thing. Whether you compete your dog or not, the purchase price is the cheapest part of owning a dog. If someone chooses to go elsewhere to save $100-$200 on an animal that will be with them for the next 10-15 years, then you're probably not missing out on much, and there are probably better homes to put your pups with.

[bird]

.

[TrueBlu Shorthairs]

I believe in the axiom, "if you have to ask you can't afford it". If a person calls me for a pup or started dog and their first question is..."how much?" I won't sell them a pup. In fact, the conversation ends right there. People better be more concerned with pedigrees, better know a few of the dogs, owned GSPs at some point, want a housedog, family pet, ask about how much I HUNT my dogs, ask about temperament, range, demeanor, health checks. I prefer to have them come to the house, see parents, then, maybe, ask how much. If someone is worried about the difference between $300 and $1,000 they are not going to spend the money to get the dog trained to a level I expect. Dog needs to be run on wild birds, go to the prairies, be tested or trialed, maybe sent to a pro trainer, etc. Total expense SHOULD be upwards toward $5,000. If you can't afford that expense, then get a rescue dog or buy a dog from the paper.

[phermes1]

My first and foremost concern when looking for a pup was researching and locating not only a line of dogs that are proven in the field but my first concern was getting the "healthest" pup I could.

Money was never an issue in making my decision.

I just look at it like this. To me if a breeder wants $200, $500, $750 or even $1000 for a pup. Just say so. It would of saved me alot time in phone calls and internet research if I could of known some of the prices up front.

As I know that you always get what you pay for. Pay me now or pay me later.

I have to tell you - I'm totally confused. Was price an issue when selecting a pup or not?

It would be much easier if people would list their dogs with the pedigree of both the dam and sire along pictures of both dam/sire. Pictures of pups once born.

I agree with you there.

[bird]

.

[CherrystoneWeims]

I just never have put a price in an ad for a pup. I guess on a site like this it would be possible to put a price.

I also advertise my pups in the newspaper. Just about everyone in our club does. I've gotten some fantastic buyers through the paper. One of the reasons we use the paper also is to educate people on how to find a good dog, education about the breed, and how to find a good breeder. We have a lot of really bad Weimaraner breeders in my area who are advertising "rare" Blues, breeding bitches every heat cycle and then dumping them, no health screening, selling pups at 5 weeks, etc. Our whole club does rescue and we end up getting these dogs into rescue because they are sold to people who don't have a clue about the breed! So when someone calls about a pup from our ads we use it to help people find a good dog. I don't care if they don't buy a pup from me but it may just save a dog from going into rescue. So in my newspaper ads I don't put a price.

[Reech]

I always have an idea in mind of that I am willing to spend on anything I am buying. Knowing the price upfront just eliminates some of the hassles of buying. I bought my first GSP and had a price in mind for what I was willing to spend on the dog. I ended up spending a little more but the breeder came recommended from a friend and I liked her from the moment we talked. There is no sense of me driving 5 - 10 hrs to look at a dog if It is out of my price range. I surely will not waste the breeders time or mine for that matter.

Now the dog has become priceless and irreplaceable, so I guess the initial investment is a moot point anyway.

Reech

[bird]

.

[ckfowler]

As for listing the price: I never have, but then I've never really thought about it either. I really don't want someone calling me for a pup, "because I'm in their price range" though. I've always felt like if I had what a person wanted, price was not of over concern. Most of my pups have been sold on referral though.

Most of the breeders I know sold on referral. We've had one whole litter, but we never advertised.
I agree about the price range thing. Whether you compete your dog or not, the purchase price is the cheapest part of owning a dog. If someone chooses to go elsewhere to save $100-$200 on an animal that will be with them for the next 10-15 years, then you're probably not missing out on much, and there are probably better homes to put your pups with.

I do not want the next Ames winning dog and do not expect to pay the price pups from litters that MIGHT hold that dog bring. I want a good hunting dog with temperment to handle living as part of the family. When I researched for my ES, I shied away from litters asking $500 because most of those dogs would have been too hot for what I wanted. I chose a $250 pup from a guy that wanted a couple pups out of his dog. He did go back to the breeder he got her from for suggestions on a good stud so she was bred well but neither parent was titled. They both lived in teh house with kids, retrieved naturally and had tons of exposure on wild birds. That was what I wanted so that was who I bought from. Didn't want to start a breeding program, Scout is spayed. She sleeps in the bed, plays in some NSTRA and Tournament events to lengthen the season and contacts and gets wild birds shot over her. She doesn't care that she doesn't get to run at Ames. Best dog out there for what I wanted.

[TrueBlu Shorthairs]

First trial shorthair I bought, left Dallas at 2am to head to Houston, showed up at the breeder's house at 6:30am. He worked the sire and dam for me, worked two pups, loved one of them, talked pedigrees, my intentions, etc. and told him I wanted the one pup. He said great and we loaded him in my Vari-Kennel, only then did I say, "oh yeah, how much do I make the check out for?" I wanted that pup and it didn't matter the price. I knew I was gonna spend thousands when all was said and done so the initial price didn't matter. Like I said, if your biggest conern is money, then you might want to re-think whether you need a dog.

[ACooper]

Again I dont think how much a person is willing or able to pay for a dog has much to do with how the dog will be cared for, that depends on the person involved and should be screened for by the breeder. Me personally I like a particular type of dog out of a particular blood line, I am willing to pay what it takes to get the dog I want.

Recently I put a deposit on a pup, and similar to what Blake said after i talked everything over with breeder and told him that i would be mailing in the deposit amount we hung up, I then had to call him back to see what he was asking for the pups I wanted a pup out of this litter PERIOD.


There are just as many rich people who have no business owning a dog as there are poor people who shouldnt own a dog. JMHO


My first post had prices but I wasnt complaing about the price I was complaining about prices for puppies from the same litters being higher because of color. People should ask whatever they want for their pups it costs tons of money to put titles on dogs I understand, but dont for a minute think that because you charge big money for a puppy that all the owners are going to do right by the dog.

[Ayres]

In all fairness, though, it is easier to pay a $50 vet bill from time to time or pay an entry fee than it is to sit a lump sum of cash down on the table for a pup. That's got to be something you plan for. In your example, Blake, you didn't know the price but you had planned to spend more than enough. With some other folks, their planned spending might be well within the variable range of puppy prices, causing some pups to be within their reach and some pups to require further saving. If prices are known beforehand, then people know if they need to start investigating further or hold back and save up more.

[CherrystoneWeims]

I was complaining about prices for puppies from the same litters being higher because of color

Some people may think this is wrong but I sell every pup in my litters for the same price. Some breeders will sell "pet" quality puppies for less than a "show" quality puppy. My feeling is that I put the exact same amount of time, money, any effort into EVERY pup in the litter so I charge the same. Not only that you just never know if that "pet" quality pup will turn out to be the best pup in the litter! The first Weim that I ever bought (my first Weim was given to me) was bought on a Limited reg. for less money than the "show" quality pups. He ended up being the best pup in the litter! Breeder re-evaluated him at 5 mos. of age and asked if I would be willing to show him (LOL when I took a look at the litter I knew this pup had "it" and recognized it from my years of showing horses). I showed him, worked him in the field, etc. He has turned out to be one of the top producing dogs with several BIS, Futurity, and Maturity winners.

[eastwash]

I am investigating breeders now for a spring pup. I like the price posted. Lets me compare to find the best dog i can for my budget, and not being a Rockefeller i do have one. But if they don't post it and i am interested in their dogs i just ask. Know what i can afford and with a little time and research and help from the breeders am confident i can find the best i can afford and it will be one heck of a pup.

[High Voltage]

Again I dont think how much a person is willing or able to pay for a dog has much to do with how the dog will be cared for, that depends on the person involved and should be screened for by the breeder. There are just as many rich people who have no business owning a dog as there are poor people who shouldnt own a dog. JMHO

I agree. We don't have a lot of money laying around but people who know us know we take great care of our dogs. We got our 2nd GSP from the preserve we belong to. She was 4 months old and one of 3 that hadn't been sold. The owner knew we wanted another dog but didn't have the $300.00 he got for the other pups. He said we could have her. We were able to give him $100.00 for her. She has been a natural at hunting. The only problem is she doesn't care for water too much. Could be cause we got her in Nov and she hadn't been introduced to it. We jsut got another pup whose father has more titles then I can remember. We were also given a deal on him because the owner knew us and wanted him to go to a good hunting home.

[Razor]

You do not always get what you pay for. Some dogs just wash out no matter where they come from. I have a pup I spent serious money on and he is not worth crap. $1500 for a gsp is pretty high. I could have purchased 3 pups for the price of him and most likely found a good one. The best pup in my kennel was only $350. He is out of Nuke and no one wanted him. He is has more intensity, style, range, and nose than any pup I have had. It is nothing but luck of the draw. You have a better chance getting a great dog if you pay out the nose for it, but like I said this is not always the case.

[ezzy333]

I believe in the axiom, "if you have to ask you can't afford it". If a person calls me for a pup or started dog and their first question is..."how much?" I won't sell them a pup. In fact, the conversation ends right there. People better be more concerned with pedigrees, better know a few of the dogs, owned GSPs at some point, want a housedog, family pet, ask about how much I HUNT my dogs, ask about temperament, range, demeanor, health checks. I prefer to have them come to the house, see parents, then, maybe, ask how much. If someone is worried about the difference between $300 and $1,000 they are not going to spend the money to get the dog trained to a level I expect. Dog needs to be run on wild birds, go to the prairies, be tested or trialed, maybe sent to a pro trainer, etc. Total expense SHOULD be upwards toward $5,000. If you can't afford that expense, then get a rescue dog or buy a dog from the paper.

This sounds to me like you are renting your pups and not selling them. It always makes me smile when someone says it doesn't matter how much they cost. If that was true why aren't they being sold for $100. What is really being said it doesn't matter how much they cost as long as I get a good price for them. And the buyer who has a family and is just getting started with providing health care and schooling should be more than happy to spend whatever I want for my pups. And if you have that family then you dont need one of my pups for you and your kids to enjoy as they are growing up because you would probably spend the money on the kids instead of sending the pup to school.

I know what my answer to that kind of an attitude is, there are plenty of places to buy puppies from people who care about the peopel buying instead of strictly themselves and the pups they want to rent to you. This may sound harsh and I don't mean it that way but it is exactly how that attitude comes across and I think the people saying it are better people than that.

Ezzy

[nj gsp]

I see it this way - if I want a pup, and know what I want, I'll also know what I have to spend. My pockets aren't bottomless.

I would rather not waste someone's time if they wanted more than I could spend.

So if I spent 30 minutes on the phone with a breeder, at the end I was told the dog was $1500 (a number somebody put out already) and I only had $1000 to spend at the time, what do I say? "Gee, I've only got $1000 - sorry to have wasted your time." I'd feel like a complete turd.

I doubt the breeder would say "Yeah, you sound like a nice guy - $1000 would be fine".

[Razor]

I agree, post up the price and save yourself a bunch of phone calls. What are you going to do talk someone into paying that kind of money.

[Karen]

I believe in the axiom, "if you have to ask you can't afford it". If a person calls me for a pup or started dog and their first question is..."how much?" I won't sell them a pup. In fact, the conversation ends right there. People better be more concerned with pedigrees, better know a few of the dogs, owned GSPs at some point, want a housedog, family pet, ask about how much I HUNT my dogs, ask about temperament, range, demeanor, health checks. I prefer to have them come to the house, see parents, then, maybe, ask how much. If someone is worried about the difference between $300 and $1,000 they are not going to spend the money to get the dog trained to a level I expect. Dog needs to be run on wild birds, go to the prairies, be tested or trialed, maybe sent to a pro trainer, etc. Total expense SHOULD be upwards toward $5,000. If you can't afford that expense, then get a rescue dog or buy a dog from the paper.

I'm certainly glad the breeder I bought my first pup from didn't feel this way. He's been a happy house dog for 7 1/2 years, gets to go run in the field on weekends, and sleep on the bed every night. He was a wonderful introduction to gundogs for my family, and was responsible for me wanting to compete with the next 3 pups I acquired (3 yrs old, 2 yrs old and 9 months old now), who I have invested considerably in, and will continue to do so.

Although I should mention that my most successful dog to date was given to me. She's proven herself to be competitive with the top show dogs in the country AND she's a heck of a bird dog who will start competing in horseback trials this spring.

Not all breeders are in it for the money. Some make exceptions for true competition homes that will help promote their breeding.

[TrueBlu Shorthairs]

Ezzy, not the vicinity of a clue what in the world you are talking about..."renting" my pups. Not hardly. I flat don't need the money from pup sales to feed my family. I have a litter when I feel I have a female who will better the breed and who will pair with a male and potentially produce great hunting dogs and possible national champions. So far, one runner up National All Age Champ, many hour championships, national futurity placements, derby classic placements, and around 200 trial placements in the dogs I've owned or bred. I want pups going to good homes. Defined by...the owners doing something with the dogs, MUST hunt, period, prefer they trial or test them, and take excellent care of them. If someone can't afford $1,000 for the pup, then they can't afford to test or trial the dog and most likely will not hunt the dog the 15 or 20 plus days per year the dog needs to become the dog he should become.

Simple as that.

[ezzy333]

Tru Blu,

Don't have a problem with how you want your pups treated or taken care of but just remember most people see through the rhetoric and know exactly where you are coming from. You state it well when you say the family should center around the pup without a mention of the pup going into a home where it will improve their lives no matter what they want the dog for. I just don't see the importance of improving a breed and then telling people they aren't good enough to own one.

JMO
Ezzy

[snips]

We are middle of the road on our puppy prices, as we sell to the everyday hunter more than to testers or trialers. Of course we prefer them tested and trialed, but good home and at least hunted is a requirement. I know the average Joe may have a difficult time coming up with a big chunk of money and we take that into consideration, as I know when I was starting out I could not peel out a chunk and try to have understanding of that on buyers now. As breeders we need to make it worth our while tho and try to come out without killing someone. We were asking 650. last yr and up it to 700. this yr. But that is just how we prefer selling our pups, to each their own. I think some people have too much ego in their prices but seem to get it, as their are alot of people out there that seem to think they have to pay 1000-1500. to get a good pup. The same goes for stud fees, I remember seeing a nice dog run I really liked, I approached the guy on what he required for breeding. He said he charged 1000. stud fee. Wow, I said Thanks, and thought to myself, you won't get my 1000. That just hurt him, as I had super bitches at the time that he would not get out there with his lines. Rick has accomplished a ton more with Fritz and makes his stud fee accessable because he wants the dogs pups out there being proven.

[slistoe]

I have no idea what you are talking about either ezzy. He explained quite clearly that he prices his pups according to the aspirations he has for the new owners. Pretty simple and usually effective strategy I would think. Yes, he does care what type of home they go to - one with enough money to train, test, trail and hunt the dog.

Our pups are priced too low to weed out general folk and the number of pups in trial/test situations reflects that.

You folks should try and buy competitive field trial retriever stock.

[ezzy333]

Brenda,

Well said and exactly what most breeders want. Thats the attitude that makes people appreciate both you and your dogs.

Ezzy

[Don]

It's been a long time since I've raised a litter and was wondering what the true cost of raising a litter are now. Not really interested in the cost to campaign and champion a litter, that I think you'd do weather you raised a litter or offered a dog a stud anyway, just the cost of raising a litter from breeding to 8 wks.

[snips]

I don't think it costs alot if nothing comes up in emergency vet problems. We do most of the vet stuff ourselves, it is just the 8-10 wks of time involved, including the work of whelping, if you put alot into your pups as a good breeder should. We give 2 rounds of shots ourselves before pups leave and may have a pill occasion before pups leave for one thing or another. You never know if a C-section may come up, or price of a stud fee.

[TrueBlu Shorthairs]

Your probably right Ezzy, I care more about the pups than I do about the people. I'm not taking on people to raise, but I sure care about the homes for my pups. I have a waiting list right now for my next litter and won't have one for several years. Because I am an amateur and because puppy selling has no effect in my bottom line, I guess I can be more picky about where my pups go.

[trailgoose]

tru blu, where at in North Texas do you live, are you a trainer? I was needing some suggestions and help in training. Do you do this? Sorry didnt mean to hijack this thread, You can email me at trailgoose@sbcglobal.net

[Kiki's Mom]

t's been a long time since I've raised a litter and was wondering what the true cost of raising a litter are now. Not really interested in the cost to campaign and champion a litter, that I think you'd do weather you raised a litter or offered a dog a stud anyway, just the cost of raising a litter from breeding to 8 wks

This summarization is provided you are only working with your own bitch and you do not own your own stud dog:
1) Stud Fee Cost - pick of litter or $ - $200-$1000
2) Health clearances for your bitch ( also depending on what breed you have and what health issues you need to screen for) $200-$1000
3)Feed from breeding to weaning - $200 ( this approx and probably a tad high )
4) Vet fees for 1st puppy check ups, tail docking, dewclaw removal ( if you are not experienced in doing your own tails and/or dews $100-200
5) Laundry/Heating/Cleaning/whelp room supplies - $100
6) Worming and Vaccine - $100 ( if you do them yourself) - $200 if you have a vet do them
7) Your TIME, LOVE, and EFFORT to raise healthy, happy well SOCIALIZED babies - PRICELESS

TOTAL: $550-$1250 to raise a nice litter of well bred puppies