Cost of dogs

[jellybaby10]

I very sadly lost my 13 year old lab earlier this week and I'm devastated. I would love to get another chocolate lab at some point this year and contacted some breeders asking about potential litters. I got a reply from one saying they'd have puppies available at the end of April and they were £3000 each!

I understand that covid has put prices up due to demand but I didn't realise by that much. Is this normal now?

I've looked at rescue sites and they don't seem to be rehoming at the moment or have rules about children.

Aibu to be shocked at these prices or is it normal now. Please be kind, I miss my lab so much

Even the breeder we used in the past has put prices up as was concerned people could buy a pup and then sell straight on for profit. Personally I think a dog is for life so in the scheme of things prices aren’t that high, and a dog should be a carefully considered purchase so higher prices mean more thought before taking on a dog. However, having said this breeding/sale of dogs should be much more regulated. and it would also be sad if dogs became a status symbol or only available to the wealthy, as they give so much to family life.

It’s pure and simply greed. Cashing in on a situation.

@jellybaby10

Do you think that's why prices have been put up to stop people just buying them as a 5 minute wonder?

Nope - sadly it's because most people are out to make as much money as possible.

We have an absolutely stunning golden retriever who was bred with care and only cost £650 when we got him 6 years ago. GR puppies are also in the region of £3k now. It’s horrifying - I don’t doubt that many unscrupulous people are breeding out of sheer greed at the moment. We want a second dog, but are waiting for the moment. I would be highly suspicious of anyone breeding at the moment.

We've just bought a lab, £2000, I nearly cried at my holiday fund going in seconds but totally worth it I'll remind myself of that when I'm crying in the cold walking said dog Cheapest dog we saw within 50 miles was a year old collie at £800.

Lots of labs at rescues usually- they need a lot of exercise and people just see a lovely puppy

I know that when we were looking the rescues said to register in advance as sometime dogs were moved straight from their old home to their new without coming into the centre.

Lab prices will drop - they are not as popular. dog as they used to be. That said our last one was £450 unregistered in 2006 and they were £1000 registered then.

We have rehomed 2 cockapoos in the past 3 years.

@HazyJuly

Where did you get your rehomers from... we have almost given up because all the popular re homing places want children over 12

I just miss my lab so much and I just can't afford that price. I do have the money but it's set aside for an eventual house move. I'm of the mind that you have the dog for life so it's not an impulse buy for me and I was thinking it would be around the £800 price mark. I will keep looking but feel so disheartened. She was the sweetest girl with the kindest soul.

I’m sorry for your loss, it’s devastating, isn’t it?

I’ve been monitoring the prices, my breed has gone from about £700 to £3000, but prices were starting to drop, but with lockdown #3, I fear they will stay high.

There is fuck all in my local rescue, all reserved bar the ‘problem’ dogs. It’s depressing that breeders are charging such insane amounts. Hope they’re declaring it to HMRC.

I would look at established kennels. They have mostly from what I can see maintained their prices. It seems to be hobby breeders who are asking silly money. Even with full health tests eg hipscores etc, asking for £3K a pup is greedy.

It makes me so angry people are making so much money from dogs which are then dumped! I wish there was a way rescues could make use of the (hopefully kind but clueless) people wanting to experience having a dog whilst off work by letting them Foster a dog and then they could either adopt if they feel they can handle the responsibility or return (I know not ideal for the dog but at least out of Kennels for a while and possibility of a permanent loving home) and also less money to breeders and demand for puppies which end up in the rescue centres anyway?
Also I second register with a breed specific rescue 😉. So sorry for your loss op ❤️

We got our KC registered puppy in Nov for £1,200. Very lucky that our breeder was not out for profit and kept prices at pre Covid levels. I hope you find something to replace your old girl at a reasonable price

Sorry for your loss.

I’d recommend researching your breeder - legitimate, reputable breeders are not cashing in on lockdown puppy craziness and we bought our black lab pup in November for less than £1,500 - thoroughly health tested/KC registered etc.

This is why Romanian rescue dogs are now popular my mom is retired homeowner plenty of experience even with problem dogs she was rejected by rescues because her home is on a main road and couldn't afford a £3000 dog so she got one from overseas

@jellybaby10 I know how you feel our gorgeous dog died suddenly in the first lockdown. It's awful I really feel for you . Ours was a choc lab x , have you considered a x ? They tend to be cheaper as long as not crossed with a poodle or the other popular breeds.

It will calm down again and sadly I believe the rescues will be full of all these irresponsibly purchased lockdown puppies. It's a very sad world.

Wow, I've just had a look at cockapoo puppies - ours was £600 nearly 4 years ago. The cheapest I can see is £1,900, but most are over £2,500.

Anyone who’s stupid enough to pay £2.5k for a mongrel deserves to be ripped off IMHO.

I don’t really care if it is a mongrel (it’s a cross breed actually) people like what they like.

Anyway why aren’t rescue centres full of cockerpoos if that’s the case?

The thing is, a lab can have 10 puppies, if they all sell for £4k, that's obviously £40k. Couple of breeding bitches? £80k a year.

Better money than drug dealing, and as long as there are people out there to buy them, breeding dogs will be attractive to every skank out to make a quick buck.

I really doubt most breeders are paying tax.

Our elderly spaniel passed away right before Christmas. I'm so shocked at the prices.
The high cost must dissuade some people, but I know of two people who have only this year got their first dogs and decided to become breeders as there's so much money to be made. (no paperwork or health checks to show for it either)

I'm also looking for a lab. I have a couple of breeders I like and am going to try to get on a list for a litter later this year.

Sorry for your loss op. My house too is too quiet and my car too clean.

We are in a similar position to the OP but looking for a smaller breed or cross. Rescues are not full of unwanted pets, at least not near us. We are not within an hour of any of the big organisations, smaller rescues are closed or have only problem dogs. And I would be worried about a private rehomjng as we could be getting an unhealthy puppy-farmed dog. We will go on a 2 year waiting list

It is only the crappy 'greeders' who have done this. Reputable responsible breeders have not raised prices, but they are also not the people advertising as they've never needed to do so before, and don't need to do so now.

Contact the official breed clubs for the breeds you like, or look on the kennel club site for assured breeder listings and you'll find decent breeders.

Reputable breeders have raised prices - because they don't want their carefully produced puppies sold on for profit. Nether matter how well you vet your potential buyers, that is a risk

So sorry for your loss OP.A lot of this is sheer greed, and fuelling a worrying trend in dog thefts also.Most reputable breeders do it for love of that particular breed.We went to a KC registered breeder several years ago.First and only time we haven't rehomed for various reasons.. Her ethos and set up was putting the dogs absolute welfare first and foremost.And not seeing her two bitches as breeding machines.Two litters we h in their lifetime,and much loved family dogs.
Sadly trends for certain dogs has increased and fuelled a rise in the unscrupulous breeders.I am genuinely shocked how many owners I have chatted to on walks who got their dogs without ever seeing the mother.Obviously lots of lovely ,well prepared owners have taken in a new dog since the pandemic started.But so many dogs bought on a whim too.Makes me very angry.And a perfect storm when so many animal charities and rescue centres will really be struggling financially. Especially the smaller ones.

I'm in precisely the same boat as you @jellybaby10 and all I keep thinking is that the only way prices will fall is if people like us simply do not buy puppies at these inflated prices.

I am going to wait 6mnth at least for a few reasons

1. I am incredibly emotionally vulnerable at the moment and my choices are led by my grief - not ideal when I am committing 15yrs possibly.
2. I cannot afford the inflated prices and also do not like them on principle.
3. I am VERY worried about the amount of dog thefts around at the moment.

The whole thing feels like such a circus at the moment. It's sad but I know we will get there eventually