Dog Prices Need to Drop, it just encouraging criminal activities!

[AgainstCrime]

I think since lockdown dogs prices have risen is a bad move. Crime on dogs being stolen is high due to their values now. I hate seeing stuff like this, for those people out there selling dogs at a silly price please think twice on what you are promoting.

Buyers please go to a dog charity and adopts.

If fog prices become to cheap people see them as a disposable commodity. If they pay more for their dog they value it more.

I also think prices should be fairly high, and breeding more regulated. I would also support dog licensing, and to get your license each year you need proof of vaccinations, or a vet exemption letter.

I am fed up with the "adopt dont shop" though, and the implication that is a breeder is breeding now they are irresponsible. Like many others I always have a working dog as I need one, and there is still a need for working pups in a pandemic. My older dogs breeder has just had a litter and she is the furthest thing from an irresponsible breeder you will ever find. All of the pups are going to working homes (she doesn`t sell to pet homes), all of the families have had pups from her previously.

I have fostered many, many dogs for several decades, and rescuing is absolutely not for everyone. To blindly recommend getting a rescue over a pup from a good breeder is so irresponsible. There are pros and cons to both, every family and every situation is different, there should never be a one size fits all blanket recommendation in either direction. I will get down from my soapbox now

@caringcarer

If fog prices become to cheap people see them as a disposable commodity. If they pay more for their dog they value it more.

Sadly, I really don't think that's the case.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of people will spend £££ on puppies, get rid of them, and do the same again a few months later.

At the moment, there is pretty much no regulation around dog ownership. Anyone can have a dog. Unless the RSPCA or courts get involved (which is pretty rare) you can get away with all sorts.

I think the high £ causes a knock-on affect that if the original owners cannot or will not keep the dog, it is more likely to be sold on than rehomed through a charity.

When you've spent £2000 on something, you are less likely to want to 'give it away for free' and more tempted to try and claim back some of the loss through resale. Which can then influence the choice of where the dog goes (i.e. to someone willing to pay vs someone suitable).

An acquaintance of mine has a family member that bred 10 puppies recently. Popular breed but prone to well known health problems. Announced on Facebook when born and wanted 3k each.

Every single one sold in 48 hours to buyers who hadn’t even seen them, or met the dam. Just a phone call and transfer of deposit.

My friend said one person had asked for a video call to view the mother and pups but the last one sold before they could arrange it.

I absolutely cannot believe anyone could buy a puppy this way.

@ShotgunShack

An acquaintance of mine has a family member that bred 10 puppies recently. Popular breed but prone to well known health problems. Announced on Facebook when born and wanted 3k each.

Every single one sold in 48 hours to buyers who hadn’t even seen them, or met the dam. Just a phone call and transfer of deposit.

My friend said one person had asked for a video call to view the mother and pups but the last one sold before they could arrange it.

I absolutely cannot believe anyone could buy a puppy this way.

It's just as bad (if not worse) that the puppies were bred and sold this way, though.

I agree sunflowers. I cannot imagine what sort of person could breed and then sell a puppy over the phone like this. Nothing more than a cash transaction with an anonymous, faceless buyer.

Not even a presence of care or concern on either side.

People I know working in rescue are more worried about the fact that they're not seeing the anticipated influx of hand-ins, because people who've spent £££ on lockdown puppies are more likely to try to resell them to recoup their money.

Sorry! Pressed send too soon...

Dogs being sold online are at risk of being bought by dog-fighters looking for bait dogs which is just horrific to contemplate.

@ShotgunShack

I agree sunflowers. I cannot imagine what sort of person could breed and then sell a puppy over the phone like this. Nothing more than a cash transaction with an anonymous, faceless buyer.

Not even a presence of care or concern on either side.

It's shocking isn't it?

We bought from a breeder but we're still in touch three years later. He's had three litters in total and everyone speaks and shares photos/advice/stories on Facebook.

I don't understand how people can breed their pets and just shove the offspring off onto the first person to call.

It shocks me how many people will blindly hand over hundreds, even thousands, of ££ for a dog without any consideration for the health, temperament, even breed. Some people just seem to want a puppy, any puppy, as long as it's a puppy.

People have also been getting angry at rescues because they simply don't have the dogs to rehome. It's not their fault.

Now is just the worst time to try and responsibly get a dog, and yet, so many people >_<

Take 5 minutes to read some of the freelisting adverts for some pups being resold as well, a large number being sold because they're too boisterous for the children they've been bought for, or actually really don't like living in a flat or house without a garden, or are already showing severe separation anxiety. I've seen people reselling dogs as the breed is "too large", or they've even bought a puppy as X breed and it's something completely different, I think I saw someone who'd been told it was a Rottweiler cross, but was very clearly a Lurcher.

It's a brewing storm of "broken" dogs that the rescues are going to have tidy up after.

There are so many dogs between 4-12 months for sale on pets4homes at the moment, still at crazy prices even though they are 'second hand' (Hate that expression but you know what I mean). Always 'not got the time for him' Makes my blood boil.

Demand is so high at the moment though I fear that if prices dropped it would lead to even MORE morons getting them.

An acquaintance of mine has just decided she wants a dog. We were chatting about it and I said I suppose you'll have to wait until lockdown lifts to be able to visit breeders and see any potential pups with mum. She said oh no, she didnt want to wait she would make do with a video call and have a puppy couriered to her. I know it's legal but seems batshit to me.

It’s sickening. I’m upset that people just buy over the phone like that. It’s criminal.

After reading numbers of comments some of you have opened my eyes a bit. For those who struggling to adopts I hope manage to find a dog.
Me and my partner always wanted a dog we were planning to get one 2021 this year and book time off to allow the dog to adapt to it new home. We manage to adopts our dog last year March before lockdown it a Romanian rescue and we already got plans on place and a dog walker for when we go back to work.

As for the breeders and selling side of things making a loss or profit etc. After reading a few comments, i agree there should be a license for breeders with regulations that only breeders and rescue centres are allowed to sell dogs off. As long they pass the regulation and got a license to prove it.

Rather than people going to dodgy people and buying it off those that perhaps have stolen someone dog/child and broken their heart. I have seen all sort of news, some stolen from front garden in front of the owners, someone been punched in the park by two blokes and stole the dog, other leaving back gates open early morning waiting for the dog to be let out for his morning wee and get snatch.

Dogs are like our children's we don't want this happening to our kids either. They are family and part of our heart and soul which is why I brought this up because it just makes me so sad for those people who had their heart and soul stolen and can affect them mentally in times like this.

Stay safe everyone