How much should a puppy cost?

[pinkpip100]

Hi, we have been thinking about getting a puppy for a long time but finally decided to go for it so I have been researching online. Breeds we have been considering are miniature labradoodles, cockapoo/cavapoo, miniature schnauzer and a few others. At the moment, everywhere I look they are around £2000-3000! This is a lot more than I was expecting. Are these 'normal' prices or is there a lockdown puppy boom that has pushed prices so high? I'm just trying to get a handle on whether this is reasonable- if so we need to save for a lot longer! Also any comments or recommendations on breeds would be much appreciated.

[Wolfiefan]

Wow. That’s mad. And that isn’t a breeder. That’s a greeder.

[vanillandhoney]

People are massively taking advantage of lockdown - they know lots of people will buy puppies on a whim at the moment, especially if they're furloughed from work and their kids are off school.

There will be a huge number of adolescent dogs coming into rescue over the next 12 months

[m0therofdragons]

I’m sad as we planned to get a puppy in September one back from our holiday, then holiday was cancelled and friend’s dog was expecting so it was going to happen earlier in July, but sadly only one puppy survived so they’re understandably keeping that precious one. In the current market I think we’ll be waiting some time.

[GrandAltogetherSo]

I’ve never paid any money for my pets as they’ve all been rescued one way or another. I must admit, I can’t imagine wanting to pay ££££ for a biting, chewing puppy. It will cost you that to replace the stuff they damage in the first 6 months of ownership.

[jumblersale]

My daughter has been waiting to buy a dog for nearly a year. She has moved into a house with a garden so is ready to buy. A chihuahua puppy is now over £1,500! Mad money. She will wait until there's a rescue dog that suits.

[m0therofdragons]

The rescue dogs are all more than £2k. It’s bonkers! If you have an allergy don’t you go back to the breeder?!

[Wolfiefan]

Bad breeders won’t take a puppy back. And many people want to get some of their money back so put them on scumtree.
It makes me so cross. So many people not putting animal welfare first.

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

WHAT for a goldendoodle?
That would, in normal times, buy you four spaniels out of health tested trialling parents with money over for vet and food.

[m0therofdragons]

Yes @Grumpy
We have been put in touch with a breeder with award winning pedigree show cockers who charges £1500 so are hoping we can have a puppy from her but that will be October time (if she accepts us and the pregnancy is successful).

[salcombebabe]

Have you thought of a Bichon Frise? Such lovely gentle natures, yes they need grooming every 6 weeks and a regular brushing, but they don’t moult and are great for children with allergies.
www.thekennelclub.org.uk/services/public/breed/display.aspx?id=6148

[CayrolBaaaskin]

It can be hard if not impossible to get a rescue dog with young children. 2-3k is the going rate at the moment for puppies of popular breeds and cross breeds. But you could more than half that if you went for a less fashionable breed.

Puppies are pretty hard to get at the moment though because everyone wants one as they are at home.

[weegiemum]

Four years ago our mini labradoodle was £550 (Scotland).

He also turned out to not be as mini as we'd thought. Trouble with newer cross breeds is you don't know what they'll turn out like! Wouldn't be without him, the great lummox that he is!

[RLGGG]

we would have loved to have rescued but were turned down due to our family/ living situation but if you can we have many friends who have adopted amazing dogs :) and we would love to one day. We were recommended border terriers by our friend who's a vet and our little boy is perfect. Found him on kennel club, all checks and assurances, met both parents, micro chipped, all tests, early worming/ fleeing and they had even started toilet training and exposing to household/ 'scary' noises daily though a cd. He cost £900 and is pure-bred. Cannot see why on early a dog would cost £2000-£3000 unless it is because of lockdown? Ridiculous money!!

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

We have been put in touch with a breeder with award winning pedigree show cockers
Hope it all works out for you, m0ther. Puppies are hard work, but utterly charming.

[Luckyonetwo]

My cockerpoo was £900 in January.

[m0therofdragons]

Thanks @GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman we will see what happens. It’s really for dh to help him survive three teen dds in a few years.

[runningon]

@jumblersale your daughter should look at SilverFox rescue on FB. They have lots of those dogs for rescue.

[OnlyToWin]

We paid £900 for a vaccinated, chipped, pedigree puppy from a line of champion dogs! Not that he lives up to his lineage when he is lolling about on our sofas!!!

[midnightstar66]

It really depends on the breed. Many fashionable breeds regular go for £2000+ at any time. My JRT pup was £600 though which is actually on the expensive side for the breed but is due to her breeding/colouring. There's such a huge variation between breeds.

[Newname12]

It’s really for dh to help him survive three teen dds in a few years

What an odd thing to say. Why would a dog help your DH “survive” your DD’s? Are you expecting them to be that horrible?

Or am I correct in it’s just a sexist stereotype about your poor male DH in a houseful of women?

[GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman]

Oh, lighten up, Newname.
One thing I've learned on MN is always to put 'lighthearted' next to any attempt at humour.

[Wolfiefan]

Well I only have one daughter. But two dogs to help us all through her teen years. And gin. Much gin.

[midnightstar66]

We are an all female household - me and 2 DD's, the snake is female and didn't even consider a male dog. Just taken on 2 Male ponies though, as they don't live in the home I'm hoping it doesn't upset the balance 😆