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Original poster

What is a reasonable price for?

87 replies

FittyPheasant · 03/06/2018 16:03

I'll give a bit of back story as it may help. Last year I bought a puppy, she is a dear little thing and has been no trouble at all (apart from the usual terrier puppy shenanigans!).

A couple of weeks ago the breeder contacted me as another of the puppies from the same litter has run into difficulties in his new home. The breeder wondered if I may be interested in taking him on. It turns out that the pup has been badly bullied in his new home by one of the other dogs there and has become very nervous and hyper sensitive. Not at all aggressive but he is a young dog and it is a danger that he may develop fear aggression as he matures. The current owners are out of the house for many hours in the day and cannot devote the time he needs. They also do not seem to have the experience required to handle the situation.

I have now been to see this dog (a 8hour round trip) and the poor little mite is terrified but a lovely looking example of the pedigree and clearly has a very gentle, sweet nature. The breeder also came to the meeting to help with introductions etc.

Having weighed up all the advantages (there are precious few) and disadvantages (many) I have agreed to take on the dog and attempt to bring him on. So I sent the owners a message expressing my interest and suggesting taking our dogs for a walk at a halfway point between our homes to make sure they all get on.

I have received a text back saying that they would be delighted for us to have him and that they want £500 for him.

TBH I hadn't even considered paying for him as I had it in my head that they needed a good home for a difficult dog. I am offering a good, experienced home but I will be investing a lot of time and money on him to get him right. I appreciate that you shouldn't give a dog away but if he goes to the breed rescue they will simply take him and then charge the new owners a fee, fair enough but the current owners will get nothing for him. I know that they have made a financial investment in buying him so I am willing to offer something for him.

I don't know what is a fair price for a 10 month old pup with behavioural problems?

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missbattenburg · 03/06/2018 16:06

£0 is a good price. Seriously.

The breeder will have been paid by the original owners and it is fairly typical for them NOT to refund if a dog is returned for anything other than genetic medical issues.

£500 extra will mean they have been paid twice.

BiteyShark · 03/06/2018 16:07

In this situation I would not expect to pay a penny. They clearly cannot cope with the dog and did the right thing going back to the breeder but the wrong thing in trying to recoup costs.

strayducks18 · 03/06/2018 16:10

A responsible breeder would be taking the pup straight back themselves and then trying to responsibly rehome for free. Don't reward their's or the crap owners poor behaviour towards this dog with more money

Original poster
FittyPheasant · 03/06/2018 16:23

The breeder isn't asking for a penny, its the owners. The breeder would have taken the dog back but they decided that it was in the best interests of the dog to have as little upheaval as possible so tried to work with the owners to either resolve the problems or re home.

Both I and the breeder now think the dog needs to be out of its current situation as soon as possible. But obviously he belongs to the owners so they have control.

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Floralnomad · 03/06/2018 16:29

I’d just tell them that you are not interested in buying the dog .

crunchtimes · 03/06/2018 16:33

To be honest I wouldn't consider paying to rescue this dog.
You weren't looking for another dog, you are being asked as a favour as I read it.
Its not your problem, and you are being asked to help....you shouldn't have to pay on top of that.
I understand people want to get their money back, and puppies are really expensive to vaccinate/neuter etc, but if its an honest re-homing the original owners need to just cut their losses and try and find the best home for their dog.

fourpawswhite · 03/06/2018 16:35

Zero. Breeder takes the dog back and rehomes for free.

For example, I have here, the breeders best show bitch, also terrier breed. Became frightened when showing, despite winning top level. Has produced two litters of beautiful puppies. She is four years old. She came here for "retirement" she was free.

She has lead aggression from being bullied. She is exceptionally needy. A wonderful dog but a lot of work and patience.

Do not pay them anything.

Floralnomad · 03/06/2018 16:40

I would also give a lot of consideration into how taking on this dog will affect your existing dog , do you have time to walk them separately etc . My mum has brother / sister terriers with very different personalities and they can really wind each other up at times . They were bought up together yet one is dog and stranger aggressive and the other is a complete softy and loves everybody and everything , when out together he can easily get dragged into her madness IYSWIM .

strayducks18 · 03/06/2018 16:43

The owners are having a laugh but sadly I see this dog ending up on gumtree or the like in order for them to recoup costs

SpanielsAreNuts · 03/06/2018 16:43

I wouldn't pay them a penny. If you were getting him from the breeder, after the breeder had taken him back, then a small rehoming fee to the breeder would be acceptable, but for the bad owners to expect you to pay to take on the dog they have ruined and will need lots of work and training to put right, is beyond madness.

I do find it a little odd that breeder isn't collecting dog and then passing him on to you.

Original poster
FittyPheasant · 03/06/2018 16:51

Stray, that is my worry now

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missbattenburg · 03/06/2018 16:52

Surely they signed a contract with the breeder that means they MUST return to them if they cannot keep the dog?

SpanielsAreNuts · 03/06/2018 17:01

Battenburg unfortunately it's not legally enforceable. Good Breeders do it in the hope you will

NewToCats · 03/06/2018 17:05

How much did the puppy cost them originally?

Original poster
FittyPheasant · 03/06/2018 17:10

At the moment this is not acrimonious. The breeder is just trying to do what is best for everyone. He didn’t take the dog home because his own pack is fairly high energy and he didn’t want to upset him further. At that time I wasn’t an option ifysim. The breeder can only take the dog if the owners let him and that may yet happen.

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Original poster
FittyPheasant · 03/06/2018 17:11

£1200 newtocats

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strayducks18 · 03/06/2018 17:16

I would message back and say you are happy to take the dog but won't be paying as this is going to cost you time and money and see what is said. If the breeder wants to offer them some reimbursement that's up to them.

With luck the owners might not be complete gits and will take the loss in order to rehome sensibly

AvocadosBeforeMortgages · 03/06/2018 17:27

The owners are taking the mick. If they gave it up to any other rescue, they wouldn't get a penny.

FWIW when I adopted my young terrier cross with ishoos (inc. an element of reactivity) I paid... £0. He did come from a friend, but still.

Given the danger of the dog being rehomed via Scumtree, I would make a counter offer which is on a par with what the local rescue centre charges for a 10 month old dog - typically this is around the £150 ballpark.

BiteyShark · 03/06/2018 17:40

I would go with strayducks18 message back to them.

Tinkobell · 04/06/2018 08:32

What face! You need to say that you've paid for 8 hrs of travel! If money featured in this, that ought to have been stated upfront BEFORE you visited. I'd say £0 and it has to be subject to a satisfactory local vet MOT or no home. Outrageous!

niknac1 · 04/06/2018 08:36

Breed rescues normally charge about £250 to £350, nog sure if the dog costing £1200 initially means it’s worth more. Usually breed rescues bring the rescue dog to new home and have money to support vets bills, kennel costs for other dogs.

Tinkobell · 04/06/2018 08:40

By taking the pup on you WILL be taking on an extra financial commitment... insurance £20-£30 per month, food, any training fees, kennelling or away-care, grooming etc. It amounts to a lot.
Also this dear-pup needs confidence building and that requires huge amount of time and patience.
Actually, I'm gobsmacked at the nerve of them! They're not nice people.

Branleuse · 04/06/2018 08:41

I'd say no, that you thought they meant take him.as a favour. There's obviously been a misunderstanding but you're not paying £500 for an adolescent dog with behavioural issues. You're not that stupid

Tinkobell · 04/06/2018 08:41

If, heaven forbid, this adoption failed with you.....you would get no money from anyone if you then had no choice but to rehome.

Original poster
FittyPheasant · 04/06/2018 09:40

Thanks everyone. The initial conversation with the breeder was just a would I be interested type of convo. Following that I spoke to the owners re his issues. Money was not mentioned and I did not think to ask, I should have done before undertaking the trip to see him as now I feel emotionally attached to the poor little mite. But it didn’t occur to me.

I won’t be paying £500 (I didn’t mention that they actually want £750 but as they think I’d make a good home they are prepared to let him go for £500!). I think they are thinking I could make money out of their beautiful, well bred boy as a stud. They need to realise that breeding from a dog with behaviour problems is a massive mistake, I have pointed this out to them.

Anyway, I am well aware of the responsibility of taking on a difficult dog but think I may need to part with some cash in order to prevent him going on Gumtree Sad

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