How much was a puppy pre-lockdown? Will the inflated prices ever reverse?

[thelastallosaurus]

I am wondering what people paid before March 2020 for a labrador puppy?

I'm looking to buy a black labrador from strong working lines and am being quoted prices about £2500+. I was under the impression that even champion line pups didn't sell for more than £1000 or so? I bought a springer puppy 15 years ago for £350!

Do you think the prices will ever go down? Should I wait (am keen to not be dogless for too long). While breeders could drop their prices again I am wondering if they will now all stick at something above £1000 as 'everyone elses charges that now,' so even if the demand drops the average price of a puppy remains inflated due to a lack of competition from other breeders. Responsible ones arguably should drop prices back to pre pandemic as the high prices would encourage those who want to profit rather than create stable dogs surely?

Also I keep reading that the UK has had a puppy supply shortage for some time hence the years long waiting lists, is this true or nonsense? I was hoping to get a decent pick of the litter as I intend to work my dog. Again surely the popularity of certain breeds waxes and wanes and it can't possibly be the case that before covid people were snapping up pug's say because it is the only dog left on the shelf and/or buying in from Romania?

Finally if anybody knows of any working lab breeders with some champion blood in them that I could go on the waiting list for that aren't charging pandemic prices that would be also helpful as there do not seem to be any locally to me (but maybe the high price is normal and reasonable? I don't know!)

I paid almost £1000 4 years ago for my working cocker spaniel.

I could have got him for about £400 cheaper elsewhere but I wanted one where the parents had dna tests for certain breed diseases which narrowed my choice and ultimately I have spent many thousands on him since so it pales into insignificance.

I think the prices might come down a bit if supply outstrips demand but then perhaps there won't be as many breeding if that happens so the prices stay high.

We paid £350 for our black lab about 13 years ago. Seems ridiculously cheap now!
Our latest dog was £1000 two years ago but he isn't a common breed so we accepted that.
However we also looked at Australian Labradoodles at the same time which were selling for £2500! Goodness knows how much they are now.
Some prices I've seen recently are absurd and I'm sure they will fall again though don't think they will go back to pre Covid level

DPuppy was £1200 a year ago.

She’s a KC registered and a vulnerable native breed.

I tried to find out what one would cost now but I’ve seen none advertised since lockdown, They’re rarely advertised as there are so few available and breeders have long waiting lists

Pups in my breed are going for around 3 times what I paid 7 years ago.
I’m ready for a new pup but will be waiting until they go back down in price.

We paid £1.5k for each of ours pre pandemic and they are selling for the same now.

The breeder we went with didn’t really discuss the price near the end. I think it was a case of if you quibble at the initial cost you can’t afford a giant breed dog anyway

We paid £550 for our shih ztu 2 years ago, I was looking last week for another addition to add to my family & couldn't believe my eyes when I seen the price breeders are asking for at the moment.
I will certainly be waiting for a while to see if the prices fall after all this mess is over.

I paid £150 for my (farm bred, working collie but unregistered so a ‘working sheepdog’ technically speaking) dog.
I haven’t seen any unregistered working sheepdog/collie puppies since lockdown for under about £700/£800 with the vast majority around the £1,000 mark.

Think my working lab was £300/£350 and he’s 7 now, although he’s no champion unless there’s a competition for being a dickhead, he’d win that easily
A few people I know have bought mixed breeds recently and paid £1400/£1500.
I had a discussion once with a lady who insisted her Labradoodle was a ‘purebred’ dog and more prestigious to own than my Standard Poodle
Just cos it cost a fortune doesn’t make it ‘better’ it just means they saw you coming.

Labrador 600 - 950

No I don't think they will go down now breeders know people will pay the prices so until people stop paying they'll never drop.

Border collies were 180 to 250 maybe 500 at a push but now they just keep going up and up they are now nearly two grand!!!

I paid £550 for my male working black lab 4 years ago. I would expect to pay about £700-£800 now (if the pandemic didn't exist).
They'll have to go back down at some point as people return to work and the desire for dogs dies down. I don't think they'll go back down to pre-pandemic prices though.

Why not rescue a dog from a shelter?

our breeder hasnt put prices up at all, but she isn't breeding to try and make money and is one if the good ones. I'd stay away from any who did whack prices up now as they're clearly in it for the wrong reasons.

Fuck me, someone is selling Lhasa apso x chihuahua puppies for £2k on gumtree. Wtaf?!

Not vaccinated, no insurance, probably not socialised or eating decent food.

This has been an absolutely horrific time for dogs. I hate everyone that’s bred these poor animals to make money.

My neighbours paid £3000 for a lab in August. He’s red.

I can't see why prices will go down any time soon. More people are realising they can work from home and so will be able to look after a dog - and even if a vaccine is found, I'm sure a great number of people will continue to wfh because it's cheaper for companies and more helpful with the work/life balance.

We just paid £2000 for our pedigree terrier puppy and had to wait ages to get him as I wanted a good pedigree from a proper breeder I trusted, and because the breed isn't that common. I highly doubt the prices will go down.

And don't even get me started on crossed breeds and mongrels! I mean seriously just because two names or three names are mixed together doesn't make it a breed but let's face it buyers have to take some responsibility Im in disbelief that would really pay that for a crossbreed!

I saw a lady advertising a blue french bulldog for £8500...... how did this happen? It's disgraceful 😞

Responsible ones arguably should drop prices back to pre pandemic as the high prices would encourage those who want to profit rather than create stable dogs surely?

@thelastallosaurus Why?

With the current prices, people think twice about getting a dog.
It's easier to buy / discard something for under 500.- than something that cost you a month's wages... and the rest!
I also think if some breeders drop their prices below current average, the temptation for the new owners to sell the puppy on for a few extra £££.is very high.

I know cross breeds aren't popular on here but why? If you are prepared to £2k for a King Charles cavalier why not pay £2k for a cavapoochon? If you are going to a reputable breeder what's the difference?

I would definitely wait. Shelters will be filled with abandoned dogs when their owners return to work/can't cope with behaviour because they didn't train them properly/the novelty wears off etc.

We paid £1250 for our dog in early 2019, they're now being sold for around £3500. It's obscene.

@GreekOddess

I know cross breeds aren't popular on here but why? If you are prepared to £2k for a King Charles cavalier why not pay £2k for a cavapoochon? If you are going to a reputable breeder what's the difference?

Because presumably the cavaliers parents will have had all the relevant health testing and the Cavapoochoons parents more than likely will not have . To answer the actual question I don’t think the prices will drop anytime soon and possibly never to actually get on a waiting list but you may be able to pick up a cheaper pup that someone hasn’t managed to get rid of IYSWIM . Unfortunately the ridiculous prices for puppies mean that more people who are deemed unsuitable to qualify for a UK rescue dog will look at getting dogs from foreign rescues which is a whole other issue

Prices won't drop until people stop paying thousands for unregistered,unchipped, underage puppies from dubious sources, and there's no sign of that happening anytime soon.
It's supply and demand sadly, and a welfare disaster in the making.

@GreekOddess

I know cross breeds aren't popular on here but why? If you are prepared to £2k for a King Charles cavalier why not pay £2k for a cavapoochon? If you are going to a reputable breeder what's the difference?

Three breeds is a mongrel! Are you mad 2 grand for a mongrel people used to give mongrels away for less than a hundred. I'm sorry but if you could ask such a obvious question I really haven't got the time or the effort to reply