£1500 for a puppy??? Greedy breeders?

[Stuckinstressville]

Wanted to get my mum her dream puppy of an Italian greyhound bitch as she just divorced and is so Lonely and sad . I can't be there for her 24/7 and she is honestly spiralling into depression , despite joining local clubs and stuff. She can afford to keep a dog but my dad screwed her financially so she needs to love to cheaper area 5 hours away from
Us and her home to afford retirement. Another thread etc .

She idolised her Doberman baby boy who passed 4 Year’s ago and is just about getting to be point where a dog would be lovely but she is is also fussy and would Like an ig.

The thing is the price. AIBU - the breeders are all saying £1500!! For a dog?????? Are they greedy or am I naive ? Sheer greed?or some other rational reason?
Would welcome some pedigree price comparisons.

( I know I know rehome not buy but she would be obsessed by this particular breed and character, this is not a thread on the merits of pedigrees etc pls!)

Mind - Italian greyhounds are incredibly delicate. I have two friends with them (one friend has two rescues, the other got a puppy - or, rather, her daughter did). The dogs injure themselves very easily, All of them have had broken legs just from jumping down from furniture (dogs are in adult old households - no children, not even visitors). One of them has managed to break her needle thin little bones THREE TIMES (though she is rescue, and may have had a bad start in life which would weaken her).

Insurance sounds a must to me, but may be dear if this is likely to happen.

Whippets are very attractive little dogs (still 3x the size of an IG, though), and they are fairly hardy. Beautiful temperaments, too.

Just paid £1200 for a cat, so would expect a pure breed dog to be more.

I’d highly recommend getting in touch with the breed club who will be able to point you towards good breeders who are planning litters. They’ve also got some decent information about avoiding dodgy breeders. Is your mum going to be involved in the whole process? Do bear in mind that no decent breeder is going to let you have a puppy as a surprise for someone they’ve never met.

Has your mum had an IG before and, if not, is she aware of what the breed is really like? People often expect them to be like miniature greyhounds/whippets; quiet and calm in the house with modest exercise requirements, but they’re actually very active and need lots of both physical and mental exercise. The Temperament and Exercise pages on the breed club site give you a good idea of what they’re actually like and what their needs are.

Cornflake yes - she has been to several dog shows and met a lot of breeders, researched and done the sums.

She spent about a year considering breeds and all that jazz so this is not a surprise, or a whim or unconsidered whimsy gift.

Probably over considered!!! Hah!

We always pay due insurance as I think this is a given in pet ownership.

I think the shock of price was as the first couple of breeders at the beginning said £800-900 when asked then a year later £1500. Her old dobie was £800 15 Year’s ago so inflation plus rarity adds up.

I would simply be paying as I believe the relationship between breeder and owner is key , the breeder influences temperament etc nor only the breed as it were- I own two Burmese myself so buy into this strongly.

A retired greyhound sounds perfect for your mum. I'm biased though 😏

Get her a rescued lurcher/whippet or greyhound.
If she wants a pup then get her a lurcher, you can get them for about £150-£300 ish. I'd just get her one and say it was an Italian Greyhound cross, she wont know.

Sounds like she's done her research. I paid over £1000 for my Wolfie pup. I went through the breed club and spent ages talking to people and asking questions and getting to know breeders.

What about an ig crossed with a whippet?

It sounds like you’ve thought everything through really well

I don’t think £1500 sounds that high for what is a quite uncommon breed and it seems in line with the current prices of litters (though there aren’t many) on Champdogs. As a general rule you want to be wary of breeders charging prices either way below or way above average.

Many of you perhaps don't realise how small an IG is? Same size as a cat but much lighter build. A rescue greyhound,no matter how lovely, is not the same thing.
Nobody is going to make a living breeding IG, or even much of a profit, not even at those prices. Fragile dogs,small litters, specialist to keep, as previous posters have said.

Whippets are great (biased!).

They don't need much exercise, only a little grooming, fab temperament, amazing to watch when they're up to full speed but fairly lazy in the house, not too big that they can take everything off your work surface... there's quite a few in rescues etc. as it's a more common breed.

Sounds normal to me. Rare breed pedigree dogs are expensive. Supply and demand and all that.
I just paid 2500 dollars here in Australia for a rare breed pup. She's from health tested lines-genetic bloods for certain disease,eye tests on her parents and hip and elbow scores(and this is a relatively healthy breed!) Ive met the breeder and seen her set up. Met my pups mother and older half sibling on my visit and they had temperments to die for. She comes with a 5 year health guarantee for genetic issues and a lifetime of support from a wonderful breeder. Myself and the other people who got a pup from this litter even have out own little facebook groupchat with the breeder so we can all keep in touch. Im hoping to train my baby up for sports(low level agility, rally-o and tracking) and possibly a therapy dog if she lives up to the families steady temperament.
On the other side of the scale you do not always get what you pay for esp with the backyard breeders and puppy farmers about. Ive also meet someone who paid 3000 dollars for a cockerpoo puppy...it was delivered by flight.had fleas, luxating patellas and a hernia and was terrified of life. No health testing done on either parent and was more expensive due to its colour.
Dogs need a lot of research done prior to purchase of both breed and breeder before you should consider taking one on.

If you want a cheap dog go to a shelter or breed rescue and they come with all a lot of med work done already and a quite reasonable pricetag :)

Ig's are very delicate little creatures so insurance is a very very good idea and from the ones I've met they can be quite timid. Best to hunt down some breeders and met the dogs and lines if you are thinking of them as your next pet,then go down on the waiting list for the most suitable. A good breeder with match people by personality and lifestyle
. It does sounds like you and your mum have done a lot of research already though!

@VivaLeBeaver

Why on earth are you friends with a backyard breeder?!?

she needs a high quality, high protein, low grain diet

All dogs need that . But I agree with the comments about looking into a rescue dog. Your mum would have to be fully on board with it though, it couldn't be a surprise as she'd have to have a home check first.

screepy

Well she wasn’t a backyard breeder when I met her. She’s another school mum. She adores her two dogs and treats them like kids. But yes I think now she’s hooked on the extra money they bring in and I do feel sorry for them having a litter every year but she does look after them and the puppies very well. She would see herself as more of a hobby breeder I guess. It’s not like they’re in pens in sheds. They’re very much family pets. She’s obsessed by dogs and when one pup didn’t sell last year she kept it and has taken a puppy back which a buyer couldn’t cope with so I guess at least she’s responsible like that.

There most definitely greedy breeders. Although you are seeking a less common breed you might expect to pay more.

Anyone paying ££££ for crossbreeds from a hobby breeder is basically fuelling backyard breeders and contributing to the massive welfare issues emerging around designer dogs.

I had a "breeder" so thrilled telling me how she had four "merles" in her cockerpoo litter. Pound signs flashing in her eyes - I had to walk away before I suggested she did her research into the health complications associated with the merle mutation. Yes it's pretty but these dogs often have associated defects - Google it.

Why pay out all that money for a pup when you can have a crossbreed who will live longer, have a lot less health problems and be intelligent, faithful, a lot less hassle and be adorable?

Here is Cleopatra at 6 weeks! Has a posh name and us about to be registered for activities with kennel club...Cleopatra the 7th, the amazing Queen of Kings.....happy Xmas to all. Cleo best £200 I ever spent!

My best friends French bulldog was 2500!

P.s. my last long legged staffie lived till he was 18 only went to vets for His injections and annual checkups, died peacefully at home no pain or suffering, the best dog ever, wonderful with the children and grandchildren, a proper family dog, still playing with his toys till the end....

Ridiculous! Dogs are not fashion objects, they are living, breathing animals! You don't get a pacific breed just cos its fashionable! The health problems for French bulldogs , pugs etc are awful!

I think the price is about right for an IG. I think, sometimes you have to weed out the less suitable puppy owners by setting a higher price. Again something that is important for IG. They are fragile and very sensitive by nature... not a hardy family dog. They are also great fun and very loyal dogs. Besides being sophisticated and good looking. OP Make sure your mum won't end up with anything less. A Grayhound or Whippet is lovely too, but are very different in their nature.

Does sound like a lot but depends on litter sizes and things. My last golden retriever cost £1k, her Dad has won at Crufts and similar though and her parents have all the health tests under the sun.

I thought the old ‘cross breeds are healthier’ chestnut would appear eventually.