For all you quality breeders out there.. - Page 2

gracieface · 05-14-2008, 08:57 AM

I don't think there is anything wrong with asking price early on. When I was looking for my foundation I spent an afternoon at a breeders house, and left with the thought of what a wasted day when the breeder told me at the end that her pets go for 1500 but show would be 4000, you should have seen my jaw hit the ground. Needless to say I didn't get my girl there. In Ontario at this time prices generally range from 1500 to 2000.

Rauschund · 05-14-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caelestis

CaroleAnn,

I agree, while covering costs certainly helps, money is not the point of any good breeder. Money is not a factor in purchasing a puppy for me either, but we do have the odd breeder here who thinks gouging the public is an ok deal. I was surprised to find out how little my breeder charges but it was my last question after a 2 hour telephone conversation, right after "How soon and I meet you and the dogs?" and just before "How much would you like for a deposit?" lol lol

I breed and show Ragdll cats as a hobby and I lose a lot more than I "make" but I also do all health testing, show all over the US and Canada and I do things the "right way". Money is never a consideration, the health and quality of my cats is the only thing that matters.

Your dogs are to die for btw...I know where I'm looking if I ever decide to get a 2nd dog! lol

Thank you! Are you getting a pup in Canada? I know Francoise(Fabert)had a couple pups left I think. Just being nosey

I think some people don't realize all the expense incurred. From foundation testing of hips, MSU thyroid, etc, we also do thyroid, bruc, and an echo on the heart prior to breeding. If the litter is a vWd carrier to carrier I have to buy vWd kits. Gemma's 1st litter was one of those, and with 11 pups it cost me almost $1100 in kits alone! Plus, like you, we show and finish all our dogs in the US and Canada, and that can range anywhere from $2500 -$8000 to finish a bitch! Plus, I always try and help anyone that gets a pup and wants to show it, whether it be by showing it for them, getting it to and from the shows for them, etc...but I do love it, so I guess it really is worth it

gracieface · 05-14-2008, 09:33 AM

people all assume that breeding dogs means making $, my colleages got a lesson on the reality of that last year when I showed them an itemized list of my puppy costs. and then a rough list of what I had spent on Grace to get her to the point where she was bred. That stopped all the tongue wagging on what big bucks I was making.

Rauschund · 05-14-2008, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gracieface

people all assume that breeding dogs means making $, my colleages got a lesson on the reality of that last year when I showed them an itemized list of my puppy costs. and then a rough list of what I had spent on Grace to get her to the point where she was bred. That stopped all the tongue wagging on what big bucks I was making.

I hear ya! Then of course there are complications at birth on occasion....with Gemma this time I brought her in because the pups were not coming out in a timely manner..so I sat in the whelping room, I delivered all the pups...BUT they did give her fluids and checked each pup...we left 9 hours later and $600 poorer

Rauschund · 05-14-2008, 09:40 AM

Kora's last and final litter was last January.....1 live puppy......$1700 c-section....got real rich on that one!

gracieface · 05-14-2008, 09:50 AM

LOL, the only ones getting rich are the vets! between c-sections, testing, ear crops, tail docking, shots, examines..... knew I should have stuck with that career route in school, but I must admit I like my summers off.

**Retta** · 05-14-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juliabustard

Is it like, considered rude to ask a breeder what they charge for their puppies? I mean, does it make a breeder think the only thing you're looking at is price? Don't get me wrong, I've been doing my extensive research for a pup and have probably narrowed my search down to about 2 or 3 places, considering all things other than price. But do you think it's rude for someone to ask? I'm directing this towards the breeders on the forum, because I want a firsthand, honest answer.

Thanks.
-JB.

You have every right to ask a breeder what their prices are for a puppy.!!! Most reputable breeders will ask you questions, and just talking to you, will most likely be able to discern whether or not you would be a suitable home for one of their babies. You don't have to be condescending, or wishy washy in YOUR questions either, just be straightforward, and genuine, and you will impress the most reputable of breeders. And to tell the truth it is HOW you ask "how much?" more than IF you ask! For example if you called me and the first thing out of your mouth was "Are you a Doberman breeder??, so how much do you want for one of your Dogs!!! or how much you want for one of them there dawgs!!!"lol
Good luck!

**Megs** · 05-14-2008, 11:35 AM

Hi JuliaBustard

I think this is a good question, as I was wondering the same thing when I first started looking for a puppy. I don't think it's rude to ask at all; it's important that a buyer is well-aware of what to expect price-wise, and understand the costs behind that price. But I agree with what others have mentioned - price shouldn't be the first thing one asks a breeder. I think if a potential buyer has been doing their homework they should already have an idea of the range of purchase price for quality Doberman puppies. If a price comes as a shock and seems way too high, (or too low) it probably is!

Some breeders put the price up on their websites. When I first started looking, that gave me somewhat of an idea as to what the "going-rate" was. Then a friend of mine bought a little girl as a pet, and I knew she cost $1600. So when I started talking to Mariah at Braebrook Dobermans, I never asked the "How much?" question, because I already had a ballpark figure in my head, and even if it wasn't quite bang-on, it didn't really matter to me. I knew a pet would probably cost about $1500-$1700 and the show puppies were probably going for $2K +

The first time we met in person, I asked her if she had been getting a lot of inquiries about the puppies. She said yes, so many emails; but so many of those inquiries were simply, [Insert Adolescent G-Dawg voice here] "Uh Yo, How much for your dogs?" We both chuckled about it.

They offered no name, no background information about themselves and why they're interested in her Dobermans. No questions about the kennel. Not even a nice comment about the website or the girls. With a multitude of inquiries, I doubt she took those ones any further than the Discard folder. And when I left her house that day, we still had not discussed price!

Weeks of communication went by before either of us even mentioned price. We started to discuss a show potential puppy, so I was expecting to pay $2000 or more. Finally, when the pups were 2 weeks old, she requested a deposit and in her email, she asked "Did we ever talk price?" She gave me the dollar figure and sure enough, my estimate was right on the money. No surprises there.

For anyone that's interested, here's a link that provides a bit of an outline of the estimated costs of a litter produced by a reputable breeder who is doing things the "right way:"

The Cost of a Litter

tosca · 05-14-2008, 11:46 AM

I don't mind prospective buyers asking what I charge for my puppies; I think it's a very reasonable question. There's no money in breeding, for sure, especially when feeding the kids runs $20/day for the raw food!

**velmadobe** · 05-14-2008, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megs

Hi JuliaBustard

I think this is a good question, as I was wondering the same thing when I first started looking for a puppy. I don't think it's rude to ask at all; it's important that a buyer is well-aware of what to expect price-wise, and understand the costs behind that price. But I agree with what others have mentioned - price shouldn't be the first thing one asks a breeder. I think if a potential buyer has been doing their homework they should already have an idea of the range of purchase price for quality Doberman puppies. If a price comes as a shock and seems way too high, (or too low) it probably is!

Some breeders put the price up on their websites. When I first started looking, that gave me somewhat of an idea as to what the "going-rate" was. Then a friend of mine bought a little girl as a pet, and I knew she cost $1600. So when I started talking to Mariah at Braebrook Dobermans, I never asked the "How much?" question, because I already had a ballpark figure in my head, and even if it wasn't quite bang-on, it didn't really matter to me. I knew a pet would probably cost about $1500-$1700 and the show puppies were probably going for $2K +

The first time we met in person, I asked her if she had been getting a lot of inquiries about the puppies. She said yes, so many emails; but so many of those inquiries were simply, [Insert Adolescent G-Dawg voice here] "Uh Yo, How much for your dogs?" We both chuckled about it.

They offered no name, no background information about themselves and why they're interested in her Dobermans. No questions about the kennel. Not even a nice comment about the website or the girls. With a multitude of inquiries, I doubt she took those ones any further than the Discard folder. And when I left her house that day, we still had not discussed price!

Weeks of communication went by before either of us even mentioned price. We started to discuss a show potential puppy, so I was expecting to pay $2000 or more. Finally, when the pups were 2 weeks old, she requested a deposit and in her email, she asked "Did we ever talk price?" She gave me the dollar figure and sure enough, my estimate was right on the money. No surprises there.

For anyone that's interested, here's a link that provides a bit of an outline of the estimated costs of a litter produced by a reputable breeder who is doing things the "right way:"

The Cost of a Litter

Oh man, those one line e-mails kill me! The "do you have any puppies, and how much?" No name no location .... NOTHING! I HATE THAT!! They get a one line back (no I don't).

When I get a reasonable e-mail from someone, I take the time to answer them and often try and help them find a puppy or talk to them about rescue if they seem like a good prospect.

I don't mind answering the question of "how much?" as long as it is not the only question asked, and the person sounds like they have done some homework. It is a valid question. Dobermans are not a cheap breed, but there are other more expensive breeds out there too.

I think what people need to realize is that price may reflect quality, but it often does not - just look at what some of the commercial greeders and horrible bybers charge out there for Dobes that are not tested in either health or comformation/performance. It costs a lot of money to do it the right way - but way too many people just see $$ signs of the sale and cut every corner they can while still charging mega bucks.