Why are Labradors so expensive? Would get a rescue, but we already have a cat....

[bacardiandcokeplease]

....which is apparently a no no with adult rescue dogs.

Have always wanted another lab. I had one growing up and was completely in love with her. Have been constantly looking online and you can't seem to get one for less than £550! Seems so expensive to me! I've been out the loop for a while though. Not even sure we paid for our dog and she wasn't a rescue.

I don't suppose anyone has or knows of anyone who has, or will have a lab or lab x pups and just want them to go to a good, loving home? We have a good sized house and garden. Loads of fields close by (as in a two minute walk away) and I'm a SAHM, so will be around most of the time. We'd be happy to pay something of course! Just not £550+.

TIA

Aww Duckie he's lovely.

Here's my bargain buy.

www.pets4homes.co.uk/classifieds/1481147-miniature-schnauzer-exeter.html

Check this out fir a Christmas pup (not a lab, sorry). Some people!

Adding my 2cents worth to confirm that inexpensive puppies often turn out the costliest. We gave £650 for ours a couple of years ago, from a known local source, and ended up with bilateral elbow issues. Fixed beautifully by vet, but at a price (££££). The health checks reputable breeders should do cost a great deal, and don't completely rule out congenital abnormalities. This is especially important for larger breeds.

But rescue Labs at about a year to 18 months come up regularly, when people realise they can't cope with a large boisterous that would like to walk or play for eight hours a day. Fortunately, they calm down again once they get to five.

Keep trying the rescues. Here are my two labs, both rescues, both happily given to a house with cats.

honey, my god, they're gorgeous! What age were they when you got them? Did you go on a waiting list? My local rescue centre said to just keep calling them, as it wasn't fair on other wannabe dog owners to be put on a list.

The choc was two, not actually in a rescue, but a friend's sister's dog that needed a new home. She was very fat and bouncy, she just needed exercise! She was so easy we decided to get another, so we got the yellow one. He was 1 and had four homes already, and ran rings round us for the first year or two (literally!). He is so high energy, but a very fun and loving dog. Finally growing up now he's 7!! He came from the north west lab rescue. We registered with them and they suggested him (we had acres of land and another bouncy lab, so I think they thought we were a good bet!). I stayed involved with them for a year or two, sometimes they had loads, sometimes less. Busiest time seemed to be August - Nov when the previous year's cute Xmas pups had grown into teenagers and owners would give up.

Try other rescues further away too? Try and find one you could have a good chat with, tell them more about yourself and convince them.

When we get a new dog (got a Romanian rescue last year) we just put a stair gate up so the cats can feel safe until they're brave enough to mingle.

Lovely Lab cross at Griffon Adoption UK. Also lovely lab at Help Pozega Dogs

Both groups on Fb, they probs won't be on websites yet.

Dogs Trust had a large litter of labs come in the week after we got our puppy - I know because my friend was looking for a lab puppy.

We were put on the Puppy List at the Dogs Trust as we had an elderly cat so they wouldn't even consider us for an adult dog.

It worked out really well as we got the precise dog we wanted. They are worth a look.

Leo is looking for a home - at Help Pozega Dogs.

I'd expect £550-£750 for family pet. Anything over that would be strong show or stud ddogs and although many bred for family have great temperament conformation and linesand could do very well showed or bred they are not the intensively bred/shown types.

I have certainly come across commercially bred dpups too regularly churned out under auspices of being careful and geniune breeders who charge lots! as do puppy farms! Price is not a good indicator of quality ddog until you have found a quality breeder.

I am not aware of any at the moment but you can pm me if you like and I can pass on your details to others who would want to vet you before finding one for you?

Please be very careful with big breed ddogs - not knowing what health issues (long-term suffering all round & very expensive) well amy ddog. But do make sure you see regular stools and diet given and try to find history

If you think £550 is expensive, please be sure you've properly thought through the 'running costs' of a dog - most obviously insurance but there are always other non-insured vets bills, holiday arrangements if you don't have people who can take care of the dog etc.