How much should a puppy cost?

Person_one

bagginslover wrote: »

Since when have rescues given dogs away for free?! they cost at least £100 from rescues in my experience.

Oh you know what I meant. Those costs are usually a donation to cover vaccination, microchipping and often neutering, which you (should) pay for yourself anyway if they didn't do it. Also to keep them running so people have a place to dump the dogs they should have put more thought into buying.

NoSatisfaction

How much is that doggie in the window? (Woof! Woof!)
The one with the waggley tail
How much is that doggie in the window? (Woof! Woof!)
I do hope that doggie's for sale

Cost is always an issue with dogs. We are a first time puppy owner. (Pedigree but not Kennel Club).

A puppy can cost anything from say £10 to whatever you are prepared to pay.

On top of that you have vets fees for inoculations, say £100
Microchip £15
Bedding and toys £50
Crate £50
Food £20 per month.
Puppy classes £20 per month.
Kennels for when you go away £10 per night.

BUT

This has been fully repaid many many times over by the love and joy that our puppy gives us and this comes from someone who has not traditionally liked dogs.

hethmar

Im not sure what the "ethical issues" were? The posting appears just to be re pricing of an animal? I was expecting to read about welfare of the dogs?

What breedare the pups

jenhug

i'd be interested to know breed of pups, price, and KC reg?

I can only give info on the breed i know, Mastiff.

Health testing prior to breeding goes into hundreds for both parents
Stud fee approx £1k
extra food and supplements during pregnancy £200
Scan £60 ish i believe
C section cos 1 got stuck £700
8 weeks off work to care for !!!!! and pups (we'll estimate £1800 for 4 weeks self employed, so £3600, we won't calculate how much extra staff cost to cover that persons hours)
1 pup had umbilical hernia £200 op
food for weaning pups (£300 ish maybe?)

7 pups born. Price per pup £1000k
so lets say total sale price all going well will be £7000

Minus -

3 puppies died (£7000 - £3000 = £4000)
C section (£4000 - £700 = £3300)
Scan (£3300 - £60 = £3240)
Extra food during pregnancy (£3240 - £200 = £3040)
Food for weaning pups (£3040 - £300 = £2740)
Umbilical hernia op (£2740 - £200 = £2540)
lost wages (£2540 - £3600 = - £1060)
stud fee (-£1060 - £1000 = - £2060)

Thats without toys, vet checks, other odds and ends that i probably don't know about not being a breeder myself.

I can't see why anyone would think breeding is a way to make money, although the ones that make a profit aren't really interested in the wellbeing of the pups are they?

jenhug

if you are concerned they are puppy farmers, they often have many different breeds of dog, or several litters around at the same time, often they don't live in the house either.

suki1964

Whatdo wrote: »

Hi alll,

I found myself in the unenviable position of accompanying the parents of a family of non dog owners who have succumbed to their children s pester power to visit the home of a person selling puppies, the whole family having visited the day before.

I found the experience most uncomfortable and forced the couple to leave the property almost immediately. Later at the diner table I set out my reasons for my disapproval, and had to account for my actions, especially to the two daughters.

A number of ethical issues arose and I wondered if any of you guys might be able to help quantify some basic facts.

A starting point could be the pricing of a puppy, It is not uncommon to hear the argument from any seller " I do not make any money I am just covering costs". Does anybody have a basic SOA for raising and marketing a litter of say 5 puppies? Are there any hidden costs that might not be apparent to novices. This is simply to make the fundamental distinction between a hobby and a business or indeed distribution of an accidental servicing.

Many thanks for any replies.



..

Id just like to know how someone who has set him/herself up as an authority on the ins and outs of puppy buying needs to come to a forum or strangers to fight their corner.

Either you know what you are talking about or you step aside and point the novices in the direction of experts

gettingready

OP dissapeared...

No idea what the first post was about to be honest, does anyone?

What "ethical issues"?

Only price is mentioned....

No info about what sort of pups those are - pedigree or not, if so - what breed etc.... And all depends

star2007

Please don't breed or buy while homeless animals die

Dozens of animals have to be put down daily, purely because the 'owners' didn't give enough forethought to the animal's needs, or that their circumstances might change (new job/baby etc), or that the animal has a minor behavioural/anxiety issue they can't be asked to get sorted. It is absolutely criminal for breeders to be continually flooding the market with puppies and kittens, while pounds, shelters and rescue centres are struggling to keep up and groaning under the wait of new arrivals... many having to be PTS.

Puppy farms are a whole new level of cruelty, they are effectively battery farms for dogs, never get a pet from the free ads on the web/local paper or geezer down the pub or pet shop. No matter how sorry you feel for the poor wee thing, don't buy it to 'rescue' it, you are merely fuelling more cruel breeding practices. Better to report the operators to the animal welfare authorities.

See article here

https://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/feb/03/puppy-farms-battery-dogs

Please, for anyone considering a new companion, spend a good period of time thinking through the costs, lifestyle requirements, and level of commitment you can offer. Then go and discuss these with a rescue charity who can match you to a suitable animal. The love you get back from a rescue animal is magnified several times over, it's so rewarding to know you gave them refuge from a fate of otherwise doom. Barring terminal illness/disabilty/death there is NEVER any excuse for surrendering an animal for adoption. An animal is an unwavering lifelong commitment. Normal life changes like a new baby, job, house move etc... other people manage to continue to care for their pets, it is necessary to cut your cloth according to your circumstances and maybe reorganise your budget to e.g. pay for a lunchtime dog walker etc.