... Or is the price of puppies absolutely insane??

[Tootletum]

I've been looking to get a dog for about a year, and now that I know I'll be at home for good, had started looking at prices for a spaniel or a viszla. The average asking price for a non KC registered purebred seems to be £2500, and even the lady advertising some accidental mongrel whippets wanted over £1000!!! Who is paying these insane prices???

Well said @bluesapphirestars and @Alsohuman

We have tried for a rescue dog before and been ruled out for having children.

Now we're looking for a specific breed puppy but there are none available in the whole country. I am on first name terms with the few breeders who say they might have a litter by Christmas, but it's very frustrating.

And reading the 'adopt don't shop' mantra repeated on superior tones when you've failed that route is INFURIATING.

@Tootletum apologies if I have misunderstood but when you said you didn’t want to risk a rescue dog with young children that sounded as if you had concerns about safety?

Yes, all dogs can become dangerous with improper training, this could easily happy with a puppy from a breeder too though and could easily not happen with a dog from a rescue. There was a thread on here a few weeks ago and the OP was extremely upset at how difficult and temperamental a dog they had bought from a breeder as a pup had become

As I said, many rescues have puppies so I highly recommend checking some out (including smaller, private rescues) as you may be able to find one there sooner than you will be able to find one that you think is reasonably priced from a breeder. No harm in having a look and even if there aren’t any currently, if the rescue approves you they could contact you once a pup does become available

The reality is the lovely family won’t be considered if they have children under 12 (14 in some cases)
Work (even from home, or part time with an arrangement for the dog when they are working)
Don’t have a secure garden
Don’t have another dog
Don’t have experience with owning a dog

This wasn't our experience - we had primary school age children, worked, hadn't owned a dog before and a local rescue centre allowed us to adopt two dogs (litter mates) after asking our local vet to vouch for us. We were on a steep learning curve but we adapted our lives and learned to understand their behaviour and what we could, and couldn't, expect from them.

However we had to look around to find them. Initially we went to specialist rescue centres for the breed we wanted who needed us to have a garden with a six foot fence (which we didn't have) but after a few weeks of looking managed to find our lovely girls.

I'm afraid I don't have much respect for people who go straight to breeders for their perfect dog without considering a home for a dog that really needs one first. Our family is also smitten with our dogs and they really needed a home - flea bitten, malnourished and never let out. They are now much loved, have a fantastic life and we didn't have to pay £2,500+ for them either.

Doesn’t sound like a great rescue centre to me if it’s letting malnourished flea bitten dogs be rehomed.

We got our Cockapoo pup just before the lockdown, paid the price that used to be considered “normal” back then - in April 2020 - below 1K. I was checking the prices recently out of curiosity and was stunned! The price has doubled if not tripled! It’s insane! As for a rescue dog - we looked and looked, and all dogs that were local to our area, they’re all had a note “not suited for families with children/teenagers”. We have a young child. I feel guilty when people asking me why we got a puppy rather than a rescue dog. Well, it’s for the reason above. But sometimes I just want to be rude and tell them to mind their own business. Our puppy is loved and she makes us happy and that’s all that matters.

@eatyourcake

What is insane here is not the price, it is the fact people are still buying puppies, where there are countless abandoned dogs in shelters, desperate for a loving home, including fancy breeds of all ages.

I do understand your POV, but having had dogs for more than 40 years, I just prefer to train and socialise a puppy from eight weeks, having seen the sire and dam. If I am going to live with a critter for 15 years, I want it to live with me, not me with it. So, no, I would be very reluctant to rescue a dog whose history was opaque. My mum has one. It's a toy breed, came direct from breeder, very sought after, didn't reach show/breeding standard, and it had not been trained or socialised properly and has taken years to reach manageable. Fortunately it weighs 7.5kg, so elderly DM can manage, but my Lab (small and deliberately kept light for orthopedic health) weighs 25 kg and is very fit and strong. A friend had a male rescue standard poodle, so a big dog, that tried and nearly succeeded in keeping her at home. She sent him back to the rescue centre after a year.

I am sorry; I have met some lovely rescue dogs, and some that have been well rehabbed, but I've met as many that were beyond saving, and I wouldn't have a rescue.

@Oliversmumsarmy the problem with the major rescue centres is that they are too concerned with ticking boxes than actually using common sense. I know a lovely lady that was looking to adopt a dog. She’s the wife of a sheep farmer. They lived in a massive farmhouse in hundreds of acres from land. Miles from a main road, no kids, no neighbours, the dog wouldn’t have been left in that house on it’s own at all as she would have kept it with her 24/7 whether she was at home or about on the farm and would have got ridiculous amounts of exercise every day. She got turned down by every major rescue centre for not having an enclosed garden 🤦🏼‍♀️

@bluesapphirestars - oh! Have not thought of that (and I really should have, as I tried to rehome a cat in the UK once through the RSPCA and it turned out impossible). Sorry :/

However. @Tootletum there are FB pages with rescue dogs available. Private rescuers that foster, then find home and foster again and so on. That is how I got my cat, the other one similar but from abroad. May be worth a shot. They will charge the vet fees plus the neutering fees I believe, but at least you will help a doggo and a rescuer will be able to help onwards.

Doesn’t sound like a great rescue centre to me if it’s letting malnourished flea bitten dogs be rehomed.

They had treated the fleas and were obviously feeding them appropriately but we could see that they had had a tough time. As I'm sure you realise, I'm making the point that there are many dogs out there really needing homes who can make lovely pets.

when will prices ever go down?

its absolutely ridiculous. but demand is there............!

when will prices ever go down?

its absolutely ridiculous. but demand is there............!

What @bluesapphirestars said.

When we were looking, we were registered with loads of animal charities. On paper we were perfect. My husband is retired, own our property, have a secure garden, no kids. We’d both had dogs as kids but not as adults and this was our stumbling block. There was so many dogs ruled out because they had ‘issues’ and any without were snapped up straight away.

People think you just wander into Battersea and walk out with your dream dog. It ain’t like that.

I think if they are a reputable breeder who looks after their dogs then it's quite alot if work involved and vet cost so maybe that's one of the reasons they are so expensive!
I'm guessing and of course if people will pay
It's a shame the majority of people who get dogs don't actually look after them properly and don't realise that they are alot of work

I have had good and bad experiences with rehomed dogs in my family but I have also had good and bad with dogs which have been in the family since puppies

I don't have a dog I don't want one but I do feel sorry for alot of dogs as the majority of people don't get them for the right reasons and really underestimate how much work they are

The rescue dog I would consider, but not quite yet, is one orphaned by the death of an elderly owner. So us geriatrics could adjust to each other. I would have got my MIL one and it would have maintained her health and wellbeing, but she rejected a toy breed that was the largest she could physically manage at her age but which would have provided the company and exercise she wanted.

I adopted two working cockers four years ago now. Sometimes family breakdown is just that and this lady was genuine. She had to go back to work full time following relationship breakdown and she simply couldn't leave the dogs all day.

She drove 3 hours to inspect us and our home twice. I think she was struggling to part with them. But they came to us and it was the right move for us all. I paid £500 for both dogs. Not everyone wants two dog hooligans, even devoted brothers.

You have to remember you inherit problems. Previous owner let them jump all over the furniture and play mad ball games in the house. She let them off their leads with their zero recall. They did not understand lead walking and it took me a good few months to sort out. They also needed to know what I expected from them as they are an intelligent breed.

They are deeply annoying, very loving and caring, naughty, smelly and greedy. But they are beautiful and am glad we got them.

Sometimes word of mouth op. I have been asked to take another (same breed) but its too many and not fair on my boys. He went to family friends where there is another dog and it has worked out well.

Prices are outrageous op. I would bide my time as its a case of supply and demand.

What XingMing said. Exactly that. We were chosen by ours after seeing both her parents and checking temperament for ourselves. She was the second of the litter I picked up, the first lay in my arms and said “Whatever ...”. Ours nuzzled into my armpit. It was love at first sight. She’s happy, confident, sunny natured, affectionate, she’s ruined me.

It is only the shitty breeders doing this, so its very easy to determine who they are by the price.

The average price for a well bred pup for most breeds is between 600 - 900.

There are some breeds where its more like 500 - 700.

Significantly different to that, run a bloody mile.

@40andginger

I think if they are a reputable breeder who looks after their dogs then it's quite alot if work involved and vet cost so maybe that's one of the reasons they are so expensive! I'm guessing and of course if people will pay It's a shame the majority of people who get dogs don't actually look after them properly and don't realise that they are alot of work

I have had good and bad experiences with rehomed dogs in my family but I have also had good and bad with dogs which have been in the family since puppies

I don't have a dog I don't want one but I do feel sorry for alot of dogs as the majority of people don't get them for the right reasons and really underestimate how much work they are

I'd disagree that the majority of people don't look after them properly, at least locally. I see children whose parents don't appear to bother about their education or aspirations. I'd rather they had dogs.

Dogs have a 20 year life at the outside: at 20, their feral children are only just starting out at that point.

We couldn’t rescue even if we wanted, which is ridiculous, given there’s never more than a 4 hour gap of a dog being home alone due to my DH’s shifts. Goodness knows how they think dogs cope overnight, alone in the kitchen for a minimum of 6 hours.

I can’t rescue nor do I want to. I doubt I’m going to find a hip and elbow scored puppy of my preferred breed in rescue. Chanting rescue rescue is all very well if you don’t work/are retired/don’t want a specific breed/a puppy.

[quote Tootletum]@Lookingbackatme as my kids are still very small, people keep telling me not to risk a rescue. Certainly would otherwise. Not actually fussed about getting some posh purebred, but also not willing to pay that much for a family pet...[/quote]
I wouldn't rule out a rescue dog without asking a couple of centres. There are loads of unwanted puppies and in many cases the centre know the history, for example if a dog has been a family pet and been given to rescue centre because the family had a change of fortune or circumstances such as redundancy divorce or moving to a new home that wont allow dogs. In this situation they would know that the dog or puppy was ok with young children. I adopted a greyhound when my daughter was a few months old. He had been fostered with a family and they picked out the most suitable dog for me when I told them my situation, rather than me picking one myself. Also with a puppy that has been born in the rescue centre you know it's not been mistreated, this is very common as many dogs are abandoned when they are pregnant.

I understand rescue dogs arent for everyone's circumstances but do think people should do their research and find a great breeder ( e.g there are reputable breeders on kennel club website). My friend breeds Bulldogs with the purpose of improving their health rather than profits and has a wait list of families months before her dog is even pregnant. Getting a dog shouldn't be impulsive, if you are serious you should be willing to wait.
I worry about all these cute puppies bought in lockdown when they get bigger and the terrible teens hit or owners go back to work fulltime 😬

our pedigree working cocker cost £850 3 years ago and was from a trial champ family...l thought that was enough.

Sadly l expect in 6 months there will be lots of people returning to work who will be rehoming young dogs, and prices will revert back..

I would wait op.

If you want a purebred dog from a proper breeder you would be best off contacting the breed society for the type of dog you are interested in. They will have a list of reputable members who may have puppies available. An assured breeder is not necessarily not going to be a puppy farmer - you can be an assured breeder and get a breeders licence with the council etc. if you simply know which boxes to tick. A breeder who is a member of a breed society will have the best interests of their dogs/the breed at heart. People really shouldn't be paying ridiculous money for a cross breed with a daft sounding name - those type of 'breeders' are simply cashing in on the latest fashion.

I feel for people in the UK. I’ve adopted a French bulldog, a pug and a Heinz 57 terrier from rescue groups in the US. If the dog is compatible with children, there’s no problem with adopting. The biggest prerequisites are a fully-fenced yard, excellent vet references and a few personal references.

I wouldn’t dream of buying a dog, as I simply don’t have to. It’s a better system, to be honest, if you seriously want families to consider rescue above buying from a pet store or online.

There are loads of unwanted puppies

Genuine question - where are you looking? The only pups I've seen in the last couple of weeks were some JRTs in Northern Ireland - useless for me as I'm in England.