Cost of puppy

[Durdledore]

Hi there,

We have been actively thinking about getting a dog for over two years now. We would love to get one now as the time feels right. We would like a puppy rather than an adult dog but we can’t afford the huge outlay of what we are finding online - £2000 ish even for a mixed breed.

Can anyone advise? We are looking at local rescues too of course.

Yes I think we are and I do agree about the health tests can be done and a pedigree purchased for a low cost, all relative to the breed - this is where a higher numerical breed is likely to cost lower than a more rarer one. Sadly though, as seen with breeds such as French bulldogs, which were once a numerically small breed, too many are sold and bred by puppy farmers, for silly prices because so many people want them, all of which are then advertised on online sites.

But then we could say that nobody "needs" a dog of any sort at all as a pet. So where does that put us in regard to the original question?

Do your research maybe. Look up the rarer breeds and numerically small breeds. There are dozens to choose from.

Komondor, Kuvasz, Hovawart to name but three. But even some native breeds like Bloodhound, Otterhound and Skye Terrier, which are considered vulnerable and at risk since the advent of the designer cross breeds.

Well said.

Flat Coats Retrievers. Nova Scotias. Lagatto Romagnolo. Dandie Dinmont.

I don't think I've ever seen any of the above in a rescue centre either! You've made an excellent point tbh @PyreneanAubrie.

@PyreneanAubrie well, of course very few people need a dog - but as you're not going to get rid of them anytime soon, I don't think it's unreasonable to say to people that they don't need to spend 2-3 thousand pounds on a puppy from a champion kennel if they don't want to - because there are other options that aren't rescue or supporting puppy farming.

I'm in the same situation; I have been in my breed for 47 years, it is now numerically small in the UK, although it wasn't when we got our first pup.

I've never thought of it as exotic or a status symbol breed, nor have I ever considered getting a more commonplace/easily sourced/cheaper dog.

I totally agree about the risks around "working dogs" being bought by novice owners, and this thread serves well to highlight the naivety of many pet buyers when it comes to choosing a puppy.

I agree with you to a great extent @coffeesaveslives but I'm still not convinced that the average puppy buyer is clued-up enough to know whether they are buying from a family pet home or being conned by a backyard breeder/puppy farmer. It happens all the time. This is why I always recommend going via breed club or word of mouth recommendation, even though it may mean waiting longer and paying more.

I really am not sure what you want to get across to prospective puppy owners - not everyone wants a rescue (if people didn't want silly "designer" cross breeds there would be less dogs in rescue anyway, or lost their minds buying pups during covid), some people do want a fully health tested pedigree dog of a certain breed. There is no point in buying an Irish Wolfhound if you live in a small terraced house, but a Sealyham may work - so you find a reputable breeder who does respective health tests. As it is a Sealyham and not a Border Terrier for example there will be less of them available, therefore the price will be higher.

To push the narrative puppies should not be purchased unless at a low price, or go to a rescue, or buy a working dog because they are cheaper is foolish.

I have just said something similar on the second home thread, thankfully we live in a country where we can choose what we spend our money on, so for some if they want to buy a dog that is their call - all some of us are saying on this thread is do not encourage puppy farms or awful breeders.

As we all have a choice, your choice is to onlu have rescues, or pay low amounts - others will choose differently.

I haven't said you should buy a working dog- just that they don't need to spend more than 1k for a good one!

People can buy what they like- my point is you don't need to spend lots to get a nice healthy family pet, and I do think some of the posts show a lot of pretentiousness.

To push the narrative puppies should not be purchased unless at a low price, or go to a rescue, or buy a working dog because they are cheaper is foolish.

But I've never once said that

What I have said is that people should look at all the options and not assume that you need to spend thousands of pounds to get a healthy family pet. There are other options out there.

I've also never owned a rescue and would rarely ever recommend them to a family for a whole number of reasons.

Yes but what do they do that a more common breed doesn't? My point is they are all just dogs and people shouldn't be made to feel like they are stupid getting a low cost but well looked after pup!!

People can buy what they like- my point is you don't need to spend lots to get a nice healthy family pet

Yes, this is what I'm trying to say too.

By all means spend 3k on a rare breed puppy if that's what you want, or on a puppy from a champion kennel, but I'm just not sure it's fair to act as though there's no other choice if you want your puppy to be healthy.

If you can't afford this it's best not to get a dog (or cat) at all. You will eventuallly be hit with vet bills of this amount and likely much higher. Imagine your beloved dog is sick and/or in pain and you can't afford the price of the treatment. Insurance, unfortunately, doesn't cover everthing either.

I have an elderly cat and I am always holding my breath when I have to go to the vet. After she dies, I will not get another one. I am worried the costs would bankrupt me.

I don't know why people are shocked prices are high – they rocketed in lockdown when everyone decided to get a dog and they haven't lowered. We've just paid £2k for a pedigree KC-registered Golden Retriever with excellent health scores and a lineage going back at five generations. Worth every penny.

You say that whilst doing precisely the opposite - making people feel stupid for wanting a less commonly found dog and calling them pretentious for choosing a rarer breed.

Not all dogs are the same. As schloss has just rightly pointed out, you should choose a dog based on your lifestyle rather than how popular or how cheap it is. It's not about snobbery but your reverse snobbery defies logic.

And what do you mean by "what do they do"? It's not a case of a dog is a dog is a dog. You can't honestly think that a Newfoundland has exactly the same temperament and breed characteristics as a Cocker Spaniel but it's just bigger...?

Different breeds have different energy levels, exercise requirements, prey drive, overall temperament, excitability, trainability, food intake, coat care needs... there are umpteen things to be taken into account.

My breed was chosen for their size and certain traits that I didn't want in a dog
They are not a fashion or status symbol and luckily not popular either. Maybe exotic, but then, they often get identified as a pooX by the general public (I often don't bother to correct in the hopes that breeding stays where is currently is- healthy, fit for function dogs.
They can also be added to the list of dogs not found in rescue. There is a breed rescue but again often short of ddogs. People just don't want to part with them despite the fact that they are not an easy dog to have.

Yeah, I know what dog you have - I've come across you on another thread... and of course mine is in the name... Same with me, temperament or exactly as you say; knowing precisely what I do not want from a dog! Ours is not an easy breed either (very independent minded) and not for everyone, but I couldn't have anything else. It's this breed or nothing.

But here on this thread there is the one-size-fits-all dog that you can apparently get cheap pretty much anywhere 🙄You'd have to be stupid to pay more...😏

This is what insurance is for.

Of course different breeds have different temperaments but again it doesn't need to be an expensive dog to have one that meets your needs!! Just total nonsense. Buy an expensive one if you want but I am 100% sure you can get just as suitable dog without getting a rare pedigree.

Our boy was £1500, which was cheap even 7 years ago. To be honest though, with the vet insurance, food, meds and doggy daycare, it was pennies! Our boy costs about £500 pm all in, which is a huge outlay. I would have more (rescues this time) but just can't afford them.

Insurance doesn't always cover everything and vets feed have increased so markedly that even £10K cover does not get you very far these days.

Are you sure you have a pet? Someone who owns a pet would know this...

I asked earlier, what is your definition of an exotic breed, and not you say a rare breed - what breeds do you define as exotic and/or rare?

Yes I have two who have insurance which has no limit on the cover through the insurer the vet recommended.
I just think people have massively over complicated having dogs and are feeding into a money making industry.

Anything that is expensive and not run of the mill. Uncommon.