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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the cost of a puppy is bizarre?

137 replies

PersonaNonGarter · 09/02/2019 12:45

I am completely baffled by the cost of puppies.

I have been thinking about getting another dog. I’ve always had older rescues but this time I wanted to get a puppy. I googled puppy and OMG, all the sites showed dogs from £550 to £1300!

I am not going to buy one at that price, obviously, but it seems so strange. Who pays this, why, and why isn’t the cost so much lower?

OP posts:
Huntawaymama · 09/02/2019 12:46

It's crazy, my mum has just bought one for 1500, the last time she bought one of the same breed it was 400, 13 years ago

StripeyDeckchair · 09/02/2019 12:47

Adopt don't shop.

Rescue centres have animals of all ages looking for homes.

Bambamber · 09/02/2019 12:47

Lots of people pay these prices which is why the prices stay so high

FissionChip5 · 09/02/2019 12:48

It’s because responsible breeders spend a good amount of money on vets fees, quality food, vaccinations etc.

AlpacaPicnic · 09/02/2019 12:52

I always assumed that the cost was to make sure you were really serious about getting the dog. If they were a tenner a pup then people would get them because they are super cute then dump them when they start chewing the furniture or pee inside a few times, or get big and need more walks and food and become expensive.

The cost to breeders makes sense too.

Original poster
PersonaNonGarter · 09/02/2019 12:53

Honestly, you could buy a quality heifer with calf at foot for that price.

Seriously, I don’t by the ‘responsible breeder’ stuff. Vet fees and food for a puppy do not add up like that!

OP posts:
Myusernameismud · 09/02/2019 12:53

It is high, and there are various reasons for it but a side effect of that is it puts a lot of people off buying a dog on a whim. Which can only be a good thing. Imagine if a puppy was £30. How many people would be tempted to just buy a cute one without thinking it through?
We are desperate for a dog, we've registered our details with a few local shelters and we're waiting for our perfect match. Puppies are lovely, and they melt my heart but I'm not sure I could buy one, no matter how cheap. There are too many dogs in shelters still.

recrudescence · 09/02/2019 12:54

Responsible, knowledgeable breeders, doing things properly, and who are prepared to take a lifetime responsibility for the dogs they produce, incur very high costs. They frequently earn a very modest living from breeding.

From the point of the purchaser, knowing the dog’s provenance is worth the money spent.

WarpedGalaxy · 09/02/2019 12:55

Everyone wants puppies and, if they’re from reputable breeders, they’re going to be pricey because of the cost of breeding and rearing them and also scarcity because bitches can only have so many litters and these have to be spread out so as not endanger their health. Simple supply and demand.

Very few want the older dogs rescue shelters are overflowing with, therefore adoption fees are usually cheaper and include neutering and shots. I get it OP, cute little puppy who wouldn’t want one?
But honestly even if the cost weren’t a deterrent my conscience wouldn’t let me do it when there are so many unwanted dogs in the shelters.

Original poster
PersonaNonGarter · 09/02/2019 12:58

The responsible breeder stuff is bollocks. There is no reason why the Pomeranian breeder is £600 per puppy more ‘responsible’ than the spaniel breeder.

It is greedy and weird.

And where are the mixed breed puppies?! No - not the cross bullwhawas or whatever. Proper mix puppies.

OP posts:
KarmaStar · 09/02/2019 13:00

Hi op on DOGSBLOG they have dogs/puppies under twelve months.I hope you find a lovely New puppyFlowers

Lovestonap · 09/02/2019 13:03

I think part of the problem (and I know I'm going to get flamed for this) is that shelters are TOO exacting about the type of family that can adopt. Many specify no young children/other animals. Which means to get a family dog you need to buy a puppy, therefore there is a ready market.
I think dog breeding should be more heavily regulated, but I think that's coming into force a bit now.

MaitlandGirl · 09/02/2019 13:08

The cost of the puppy isn’t just the physical costs incurred (and those are numerous) but also loss of earnings.

The breeder we bought our youngest from made approximately $150 profit per puppy from that litter and with a different litter she had she lost over $10,000.

It’s not cheap breeding dogs, not if you’re doing it properly (and certainly not if you take 8 weeks off work) but there are always people who overcharge. In my experience those are the breeders who cut their costs and focus on profit.

recrudescence · 09/02/2019 13:10

The ‘responsible breeder stuff’ is not actually bollocks.

MaitlandGirl · 09/02/2019 13:10

Oh and the Pomeranian puppies will be more expensive that’s the spaniel due to a smaller litter size and less opportunity to spread the costs amongst the puppies.

Myusernameismud · 09/02/2019 13:10

Shelters advise what kind of family can adopt each individual dog. They don't tend to have a blanket 'no children' policy.

grumiosmum · 09/02/2019 13:12

It's basic economics.

Supply & demand. More desirable breeds will command a higher price.

InfiniteCurve · 09/02/2019 13:14

The breeders may be doing it for love but presumably also to make some profit,so some breeds will be more expensive because either there is more demand or fewer people breeding them.That's how markets work after all.
They are not selling puppies at cost just because some people fancy a puppy and only want to pay £ whatever.

WarpedGalaxy · 09/02/2019 13:14

There no need to get arsey just because you don’t like the answers you’re being given. I have no skin in this fight.

Breeders also have to make a profit and it’s not about the cost of rearing just one puppy is it? It’s ongoing costs of maintaining kenneling and vet bills for the breeding mothers and other business overhead. As for difference in price breed to breed, some breeds are more in demand and therefore there’ll be less of them available - scarcity, rarity value.

As for why no mixed breeds maybe people who in the past might have had one dog and a one off litter are now more responsible about neutering and not letting their in season bitches roam.

Bottom line: puppies are expensive, suck it up or don’t get a puppy.

Jaxhog · 09/02/2019 13:16

It's high because that's people are willing to pay.

Adopt a puppy from a rescue centre. You won't get a 'designer' puppy, but you will get a loyal, loving, little friend.

Crinkle77 · 09/02/2019 13:18

Yes and I don't get why people spend a fortune on a designer puppy when it is essentially a mongrel.

Delatron · 09/02/2019 13:21

I agree, rescue centres have such strict policies. We spent months trying to find a rescue dog but couldn’t match the strict criteria.

We went with a registered breeder in the end.

Jaxhog · 09/02/2019 13:21

Regarding the strictures of rescue centres. They probably don't know the background of the dog, or know that it was not a loving, nurturing environment. Badly treated dogs, need additional socialising. They may not know the exact parentage or breed. Some breeds are better with children than others. So they are right to be cautious.

Bombardier25966 · 09/02/2019 13:22

If breeding is such hard work, and apparently brings in so little profit, why do they do it?

There are plenty of dogs that need homes. Please adopt a dog OP, not least to give them a loving home but also to discourage this pets = profit bandwagon.

DarlingNikita · 09/02/2019 13:24

I think it's disgusting to buy a dog when there are so many in shelters.