How much would you be willing to pay for a dog?
- Thread starter Paige
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If you go through rescue or shelters, you're not going to know the dog's background as far as breeding, lineage, etc. The most you may be able to find out is limited info on history as far as who may have owned the dog before, how it behaved in that home, whether or not the dog has health problems right now, that sort of thing. If the dog was a stray then there will be very little information, except the dog's condition right now.
There may be some general behavioral assessment, if the particular shelter or rescue does that sort of thing. But there ARE mistakes there, either because some shelter or rescue personnel don't read dog behavior very well, or that individual dogs may behave differently in a different settings.
There is also sometimes the "halo effect" in behavioral assessments, especially by small private rescues. (Example: "Well yes, he has bitten four people in the past, in three different past homes ... but he's just misunderstood!!"
) There are even more mistakes in breed guessing, particularly with mixed breeds.
One way around not knowing background is to buy retired show or working dogs rather than go through rescue or shelters. Buying retirees means knowing lineage, breeding, known health issues in the line that may possibly surface in the future, how the dog was cared for as far as vetting and feeding, how it was trained and by what methods, etc. But honestly, you'd be very hard pressed to find any of those retirees for less than $200.
There may be some general behavioral assessment, if the particular shelter or rescue does that sort of thing. But there ARE mistakes there, either because some shelter or rescue personnel don't read dog behavior very well, or that individual dogs may behave differently in a different settings.
There is also sometimes the "halo effect" in behavioral assessments, especially by small private rescues. (Example: "Well yes, he has bitten four people in the past, in three different past homes ... but he's just misunderstood!!"
) There are even more mistakes in breed guessing, particularly with mixed breeds. One way around not knowing background is to buy retired show or working dogs rather than go through rescue or shelters. Buying retirees means knowing lineage, breeding, known health issues in the line that may possibly surface in the future, how the dog was cared for as far as vetting and feeding, how it was trained and by what methods, etc. But honestly, you'd be very hard pressed to find any of those retirees for less than $200.
I've paid $0, $1300, and $0 for my three dogs so far.
Cost wise; $0 - probably the most -- dealing with a neuter that nearly turned into a spay (they think he was a hermaphrodite), seasonal hypothyroid, kidney failure until I let him pass on. $1300/$0 - whatever $150/mos. for raw food costs for so far; 4 years and 2 years.
That doesn't count toys; but they don't really play with toys per se.
Doesn't count leashes and collars either; although that is rolled into the leather business; so not really an expenditure when they count as advertising.
Cost wise; $0 - probably the most -- dealing with a neuter that nearly turned into a spay (they think he was a hermaphrodite), seasonal hypothyroid, kidney failure until I let him pass on. $1300/$0 - whatever $150/mos. for raw food costs for so far; 4 years and 2 years.
That doesn't count toys; but they don't really play with toys per se.
Doesn't count leashes and collars either; although that is rolled into the leather business; so not really an expenditure when they count as advertising.
I paid $0 for Rebel (BYB, but they are my cousins so they gave him to us) and $75 for Harleigh (rescue).
I would pay ~$1500 for a dog from a breeder. Maybe more depending on the breed and stuff like that. I'm not sure what my Vizsla will cost me, but I'd probably more than willing to pay more if I needed to.
I probably wouldn't pay more than $250-$300 for a shelter/rescue. I'm not going to say I never would because I could fall in love with one, but I don't SEE myself doing that. Who knows though.
) and $75 for Harleigh (rescue).I would pay ~$1500 for a dog from a breeder. Maybe more depending on the breed and stuff like that. I'm not sure what my Vizsla will cost me, but I'd probably more than willing to pay more if I needed to.
I probably wouldn't pay more than $250-$300 for a shelter/rescue. I'm not going to say I never would because I could fall in love with one, but I don't SEE myself doing that. Who knows though.
No more than $1000 for a border collie -pup-. If I had the money at my disposal, I'd pay thousands more for a started/trained adolescent/adult dog.
As for other breeds, I was looking at $2500-3000 at least for another puppy.
I paid $500 for Eve (though traveling to get her was expensive and probably put her well over 1k), my parents paid between $500 and $800 for Dash and Dakota.
As for other breeds, I was looking at $2500-3000 at least for another puppy.
I paid $500 for Eve (though traveling to get her was expensive and probably put her well over 1k), my parents paid between $500 and $800 for Dash and Dakota.
See, some people think a puppy is more expensive, and that if they get an adult it needs to be less. I really value a started adolescent/young adult dog, and I think they're worth the extra money. There is so much that could happen with a puppy, not to mention so many costs associated with puppyhood. With an adult you know what you're getting.
Too many variables for me to label an amount.
If we are talking a shelter or rescue, that would depend on my feelings toward that shelter or rescue. Are they doing good work? Are the animals kept in good, clean surroundings? Given exercise? descent care? etc etc.......if they can SHOW where the money is going (by the environment) then I am always willing to pay more than a place that doesn't.
I guess the same goes for a breeder........can they justify the price they are asking? Health tested parents, quality care for parents and pups, etc etc.......if they can, then I would be more willing to spend a bit more with them than another breeder who couldn't show me those things
If we are talking a shelter or rescue, that would depend on my feelings toward that shelter or rescue. Are they doing good work? Are the animals kept in good, clean surroundings? Given exercise? descent care? etc etc.......if they can SHOW where the money is going (by the environment) then I am always willing to pay more than a place that doesn't.
I guess the same goes for a breeder........can they justify the price they are asking? Health tested parents, quality care for parents and pups, etc etc.......if they can, then I would be more willing to spend a bit more with them than another breeder who couldn't show me those things
I paid $600 for murphy (AKC registered pom)
Hannah, my chow (also akc registered) was free when I got her at a year and a half, but as she had never seen a vet before I got her my "free" dog ended up costing my $532 in vet bills (shots, spaying, flea treatment, micro chip etc) plus the $100 crate I got for her because she suffers from separation anxiety, then the $200 I paid for the 2nd stronger crate after she chewed herself out of the first one.
I haven't yet calculated the home repairs I need to get done after she broke my front window, chewed the window sill and door jam. tore up the rug
But I still say she was worth every penny
Hannah, my chow (also akc registered) was free when I got her at a year and a half, but as she had never seen a vet before I got her my "free" dog ended up costing my $532 in vet bills (shots, spaying, flea treatment, micro chip etc) plus the $100 crate I got for her because she suffers from separation anxiety, then the $200 I paid for the 2nd stronger crate after she chewed herself out of the first one.
I haven't yet calculated the home repairs I need to get done after she broke my front window, chewed the window sill and door jam. tore up the rug
But I still say she was worth every penny
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Depends greatly on the dog, the breed, the lines and the testing behind it.
For a shelter adoption...I would limit myself to $150.
For a well bred purebred that is a show potential $1,000 (my breed...Min Pins)
(Although keep in mind in some breeds, $1,000 would barely get you a quality pet, hence the reason i thought I should mention the breed)
For a shelter adoption...I would limit myself to $150.
For a well bred purebred that is a show potential $1,000 (my breed...Min Pins)
(Although keep in mind in some breeds, $1,000 would barely get you a quality pet, hence the reason i thought I should mention the breed)