Cost of mongrels is staggering.

merlin68

Why are people prepared to pay £700 for what is basically a mongrel.
Years ago you had to give them away.
I saw pugchi tonight is that a made up name.

In_Debt_Bet

I do think this trend of inventing dog breeds is a bit ridiculous but if someone has to pay a lot of money for a dog then hopefully they will put more thought into it and take it more seriously, in my opinion a mongrel should be valued just as much as the most expensive show dog.

*zippy*

Why is it staggering?

In what way is a cross breed inferior to a pedigree that they have no/little value?

Most will never be shown or bred and are family pets. Haven't most pedigrees had other breeds introduced into their lines to change body shape etc.

I have both, they are both lovely dogs loved very much and I paid a lot more than £700 to find a good breeder the same as I would when I buy another pedigree.

lisa110rry

In_Debt_Bet wrote: »

I do think this trend of inventing dog breeds is a bit ridiculous but if someone has to pay a lot of money for a dog then hopefully they will put more thought into it and take it more seriously, in my opinion a mongrel should be valued just as much as the most expensive show dog.

This post and the one following made me smile.

I have the most expensive mongrel in the world :rotfl:. For many years I had been a financial supporter of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, having sponsored a Hearing Dog in my mother-in-law's name as a present to her (she requested animal sponsorships one Christmas).

Then I read in the HD newsletter about rehoming "fallen angels" - dogs who didn't meet the enormously high requirements of being an HD. :A

Cut a long story short, in May 2006 I rehomed the lovely Miss Leigh, a 14 month old Heinz 57 type terrier thingy. In order to say thank you for allowing me to rehome "the most wonderful dog in the World" I have been giving £25 a month through Give as you Earn - that's £2775 up to today.

Best decision I ever made. As you can imagine, she is very, very calm and really wants to be a good dog. Until recently we were Pets As Therapy visitors to care homes, etc. At almost 11 years of age, she is now retired.

charliewocka

I have both - a 'mongrel' (I prefer the term 'mutt' personally) who is a Bassett Hound X Japanese Spitz and possibly some Labrador too, and a pure Bassett Hound (no papers but she looks like a Bassett, barks like a Bassett, smells like a Bassett so therefore is one). Both of my dogs cost €80 each initially in adoption fees from rescue shelters. I, personally, wouldn't pay big bucks for a dog as I have seen the dogs in rescue shelters. But some people are happy to. In the meantime, I have spent thousands on my dogs. Most recently, cruciate repair surgery, and my Bassett has hip dysplasia so regular injections, hydrotherapy and the likes.


Each to their own. If somebody wants a specific breed, then I guess they will pay for it. My in-laws always have Old English Sheepdogs and pay good money for the breed as they love the temperament around the young Grandchildren.


Oh, and Basil, my mutt - I've tried toying with the idea of giving him a fancy name as a joke - Baspitzador? Labritz? Spitzador Hound?

Shrike

When I was a lad (back in the '70s) most dogs you saw were mongrels. Not sure how it came about that dog owners only seem to want either a 'breed' or some fancy cross-breed. And yet the inbreeding in them means they are far more fragile than a heinz 57.

janninew

Not entirely the same but has anybody seen some of the 'charges' rescue centre's charge for re-homing dogs? I'm currently looking at re-homing an older dog through a breed rescue and an 9 year old girl has taken my eye, they want nearly £500.00! The breed in question only have a approx life span of 10 years so £500 seems quite high.

colazombie

nobody should be paying anymore than approx £90 which is the fee to adpot a dog from a shelter.
The idea of 'buying' a dog is preposterous
I've had 2 rescue dogs and would love more if i had the room

sheramber

When donating for a rescue dog you are not paying for the dog you are contributing towards the running costs ( staff, heating, lighting, licences, telphone and intenet costs) of the rescue, any medical treatment needed, vaccinations and probably neutering.

Of course you could go the pound and pay less as the costs of shelter are paid by the local authority.

Many people do not realise that you can get puppies in a rescue and you can get purebred dog- all dogs have a pedigree, Some are just more colouful than others.

The rescue my dogs ask for £160 for crossbreeds and £200 for purebred.

That includes any medical tratment needed, neutering and vaccination. Mine also involved transport from Ireland. A bargain for £160. I agreed to get my b- itch neutered myself so did not pay a donation for her but paid £195 to my vet for the operation instead.

But there will always be those who want something with a quirky name and want it now.

A member of our dog club was speechless when it was pointed out to her that her cockerpoo was a crossbreed.



It just takes a bit of research and time.

bouicca21

Battersea currently charge £135 to rehome a dog. Why buy from a breeder when there are so many lovely dogs in need of a home? My Battersea dog was perfect in every (well almost every) way. I will never understand why someone just chucked him away. And when we went out walking in the park, I found that all the nicest dogs were rescues.

teddysmum

The ridiculous thing about the high prices people pay for so called designer breeds is that there are dozens of them in rescues, desperately needing a good home and at a fraction of the price, which includes neutering and health checks.


Some crosses don't turn out as expected . For instance not all lab -poodle crosses produce the desired non-shedding puppies, so what happens to the rejects ?


Hybrid vigour was once used in praise of crosses, but mixing two breeds with known defects can result in poor souls who have the defects of both breeds as crossing does not breed out defects, but can intensify them.


Some crosses are truly gorgeous, but if that is what you want, go to a rescue, instead of lining the pockets of the growing number of 'breeders' jumping on the designer bandwagon.