Sanity Check - Puppy Price

[ReeferBob]

I have decided to get the family a Labrador Retriever for Christmas. I called a local breeder and was quoted $1650 for a puppy. The puppy has shots, wormed, dewclaws removed, chipped, etc. That seems really high to me. Is it?

 

[DracoKat]

my friend bought a lab puppy a few years ago at $1500. she said it was average and she checked out several breeders

 

[cmcoker]

Thats high, they are a couple hundred or less at most of your local shelters.....

 

[Chrisfish]

I have decided to get the family a Labrador Retriever for Christmas. I called a local breeder and was quoted $1650 for a puppy. The puppy has shots, wormed, dewclaws removed, chipped, etc. That seems really high to me. Is it?

If you currently have a vet that you deal with they are usually a good source of information for breeders, prices, reputations etc. you do have to take into consideration everything that the breeder has already taken care of.

 

[Broadfield]

Thats high, they are a couple hundred or less at most of your local shelters.....

Shelter dogs are the only way to roll! I have adopted four and they have always been the most awesome mutts. They just seem to have more character than a pure bred dog.

 

[cmcoker]

... you do have to take into consideration everything that the breeder has already taken care of.

And what they haven't... they will still need probably 2 more puppy visits (same as shelter pup usually, depends on age of pup) but shelter dogs usually include the spay or neuter these days, and the animals often have been microchipped already (some breeders do also but not common, ime though I see OP mentions it's included).

I am also assuming you are not surprising your spouse with a puppy for Christmas?

 

[Chrisfish]

And what they haven't... they will still need probably 2 more puppy visits (same as shelter pup usually, depends on age of pup) but shelter dogs usually include the spay or neuter these days, and the animals often have been microchipped already (some breeders do also but not common, ime though I see OP mentions it's included).

I am also assuming you are not surprising your spouse with a puppy for Christmas?

By no means am I knocking pet adoptions,the first 2 puppies I had were rescue pups. I was just responding to his actual question, was the breeders price to high.

 

[MCooper]

Shelter dogs are the only way to roll! I have adopted four and they have always been the most awesome mutts. They just seem to have more character than a pure bred dog.

Can find a Lab for adoption in seconds!
Adopt and save a life!

 

[Untamedrose]

If your talking about a show quality animal and plan on doing the whole dog training thing then ya 1650 is pretty reasonable but your paying for the fancy blood line names on the paperwork, not the actual animal.

Just wanting a pet? 300-500 is more reasonable from a breeder, 30 to 150 from a shelter/rescue group.

 

[steve&mari]

Pedigree has a lot to do with prices of puppies. I had a boxer who was studded by a boxer champion. Both pedigrees where top notch and a boxer puppy went for 2500 for best puppy of litter. Pet puppies where grand and up. So totally believable if pedigree is full of champions.

 

[ReeferBob]

I am fine with a rescue animal. I checked on that too and it is $375 plus I agree to have it fixed at my cost. This area is expensive!

 

[steve&mari]

Check out the local kennel club sometimes they have listed breeders who's reputable. Some give huge discounts on pet puppies with agreement to spay or neuter at 6 months. It protects their kennel and limits puppies that are unwanted.

 

[Brew12]

I am fine with a rescue animal. I checked on that too and it is $375 plus I agree to have it fixed at my cost. This area is expensive!

We rescued a lab and a mix from a local kill shelter 6 years ago. Out the door for $120 and a coupon for a vet to fix them for $30 each (We opted to go with a vet we were more comfortable with.) Both dogs have been wonderful. They look a bit different now! ;)

 

[Chrisfish]

We rescued a lab and a mix from a local kill shelter 6 years ago. Out the door for $120 and a coupon for a vet to fix them for $30 each (We opted to go with a vet we were more comfortable with.) Both dogs have been wonderful. They look a bit different now! ;)

Adorable

 

[cmcoker]

We adopted a chihuahua front the humane society of North Texas 2 years ago for $120. Included vaccines, chip, spay, heartworm test and they even removed her rear dewclaws during the spay.

she's a little spoiled
I'd check other shelters and humane societies.
Pet finder.com is a good place to link you to a variety of rescues and shelters in the area, all with different fee schedules and requirements. You can even search by breed, iirc, to see what different places in your area have for adoption

 

[Chrisfish]

Ok , these 2 weren't rescued but I just couldn't resist, it was their first trip on a ferry:D please don't blast me

 

[cmcoker]

Ok , these 2 weren't rescued but I just couldn't resist, it was their first trip on a ferry:D please don't blast me

Cute! I love many breeds of dog and won't blast anyone for buying one. We just have a big problem locally, South dallas is estimated to have 9000 stray dogs on the loose. A pack even attacked and killed a woman. So I have a hard time not pushing for adoption but everyone has to decide what is right for their family.
It's a catch 22, I love Chihuahuas and Shelties. But I can't buy one from a breeder, it's not right for me. Even though those tiny little Chihuahuas babies are soooo cute! So we look at the shelter..

My sheltie mix, adopted for $5 from local shelter in fall of 1999, lost her in December 2015.

 

[Brew12]

Ok , these 2 weren't rescued but I just couldn't resist, it was their first trip on a ferry:D please don't blast me

I'm always up for gratuitous puppy pictures!

 

[iLLwiLL]

We were looking into getting an Italian mastiff (cane corso) puppy for a while but breeders wanted around 2k ... that's a good chunk of stupid fish tank money for a guy like me. Ended up finding a 6 month old un-altered male on craigslist from a family that was moving and couldn't take him with. It was a great feeling saving this guy from a shelter and giving him an awesome home, the 95% savings wasn't anything to sneeze at, either.

 

[Brew12]

Cute! I love many breeds of dog and won't blast anyone for buying one. We just have a big problem locally, South dallas is estimated to have 9000 stray dogs on the loose. A pack even attacked and killed a woman. So I have a hard time not pushing for adoption but everyone has to decide what is right for their family.
It's a catch 22, I love Chihuahuas and Shelties. But I can't buy one from a breeder, it's not right for me. Even though those tiny little Chihuahuas babies are soooo cute! So we look at the shelter..

My sheltie mix, adopted for $5 from local shelter in fall of 1999, lost her in December 2015.

Now that is a good long life!