[gwtwmum2]

Any breeders on here - please don't take this post personally. I'm just really wanting to get another poodle - I'm not sure between mini and Standard. The problem is - the COST! I would like to be able to get a puppy from a trusted breeder that I know has done health testing, raises the puppies in their home (rather than in a kennel), and has parents that I can see and interact with but WOW does that cost so much more. I understand that with the cost of good food and the initial health testing that the puppies can't be "cheap" but some of the pet prices just seem so high!
I suppose it is good though in that it keeps me from getting another pup so quickly after Wrigley. My goal is to get him fixed and through obedience school and then maybe focus on another one.

 

[roxy25]

Any breeders on here - please don't take this post personally. I'm just really wanting to get another poodle - I'm not sure between mini and Standard. The problem is - the COST! I would like to be able to get a puppy from a trusted breeder that I know has done health testing, raises the puppies in their home (rather than in a kennel), and has parents that I can see and interact with but WOW does that cost so much more. I understand that with the cost of good food and the initial health testing that the puppies can't be "cheap" but some of the pet prices just seem so high!
I suppose it is good though in that it keeps me from getting another pup so quickly after Wrigley. My goal is to get him fixed and through obedience school and then maybe focus on another one.

The price can be high depending on what kind of breeder you are dealing with. You have BYB breeders who ask almost the same amount as a reputable breeder and none of their dogs are proven.

Health testing is a MUST! There are some people breeding dogs that have done all the health tests but do not show or put their dogs into some type of competition to show they have dogs worthy of being bred.

IMO the price can be high from a good breeder because they health test all of their stock. They show their dogs which is very expensive! traveling+ grooming+ entry fees adds up. A breeder I was talking to told me it will cost about 5k or more champion a poodle. I believe it! some breeders can not groom their own dogs so that is a lot of money being spent on showing.

since poodles are very popular in the show ring and nation wide this is another thing that reflects price. Some breeds are cheaper than others. I remember when I was trying to get an amstaff I was offered a few dogs at $500-$600 for a show quality pup.

Some breeders are very easy to work with and they want to make sure their dogs goes to a great home. These breeders usually will give you a break on prices ,but you have to show lots of interest and tell them all about your self and what kind of home their puppy will be living in.

I am looking for a show quality pup and the cost is my problem too lol so I been hunting and probably found my breeder I just have to call her soon.

 

[starkeeper]

Yes. The price is high.

I know though that they don't make all that much as profit for all the work they do with their task of breeding and caring for the pregnant dog and whelping and caring for new pups.

They often have to have dogs shipped or travel a distance to mate them to good quality matches.

Vet costs are astronomical. Lab costs too.

I have had cheaper dogs from BYB and better bred dogs.

They were all lovely dogs though the BYB had health issues (blindness, hip problems) that the more skillfully bred ones have not.

 

[Purple Poodle]

Well, if you want a "cheaper" well bred dog you may want to look at breeders who have older puppies or young adults for sale. I know most show breeders will keep a couple of puppies they want to see will be ring worthy and will have the one they did not choose who needs a good home.

 

[gwtwmum2]

I don't have a problem with that (older puppies/young adults) - and let me explain that I think anything from $400 - $600 for a pet is around the price range I'm calling "reasonable". So it isn't like I mean nothing. I just get frustrated at "pet prices" being anywhere from $1000 - $1500. Show prices are higher - I get that. But I don't see why a pet needs to be that much. In other breeds like an English bulldog that has to be artificially helped to conceive and then needs c-section deliveries - it makes sense to charge high prices for even a pet. But Poodles are not that type of breed.
And once you have your health testing done - your first litter of 8,9 or 10 puppies (I mean a Standard Poodles litter - I know a mini poodle will have less in a litter) can easily pay that back plus more ...
And I do mean health tested parents - because when a breeder charges that much for a dog that DOESN'T have health tested parents...it is just laughable.
I understand that you get what you pay for - but I do think that in some cases the price is inflated.

 

[roxy25]

I don't have a problem with that (older puppies/young adults) - and let me explain that I think anything from $400 - $600 for a pet is around the price range I'm calling "reasonable". So it isn't like I mean nothing. I just get frustrated at "pet prices" being anywhere from $1000 - $1500. Show prices are higher - I get that. But I don't see why a pet needs to be that much.

I agree% IMO I would not pay 1k or more for just a pet quality dog. I am going to send you a pm there is a breeder who has some pups that might fit your price range

 

[SECRETO]

I don't have a problem with that (older puppies/young adults) - and let me explain that I think anything from $400 - $600 for a pet is around the price range I'm calling "reasonable". So it isn't like I mean nothing. I just get frustrated at "pet prices" being anywhere from $1000 - $1500. Show prices are higher - I get that. But I don't see why a pet needs to be that much. In other breeds like an English bulldog that has to be artificially helped to conceive and then needs c-section deliveries - it makes sense to charge high prices for even a pet. But Poodles are not that type of breed.
And once you have your health testing done - your first litter of 8,9 or 10 puppies (I mean a Standard Poodles litter - I know a mini poodle will have less in a litter) can easily pay that back plus more ...
And I do mean health tested parents - because when a breeder charges that much for a dog that DOESN'T have health tested parents...it is just laughable.
I understand that you get what you pay for - but I do think that in some cases the price is inflated.

If you find a breeder that you really like see how she feels about co-ownership until the dog is paid in full or payment arrangments in general with out a co-ownership. When I originally called Cindy at Quest she was firm on the price for Sting (2K) and would not drop the price or consider a co-ownership deal. I kept calling to see what she had available for almost a full month. Then I got very lucky and during our last conversation she was VERY negotiable knowing how persistant I had been. I was at her house by 10 am the next morning picking between the two boys.

Don't be affraid to ask if someone would consider to sell you a puppy for 500.00 less then what they advertise. I have seen it done....ecspecially with puppies that are 3-4 months old and older. If they're thinking about the best interest of that puppy, they will work out a deal for a loving home. Those puppies need to get into homes and a good person realizes that and will take a small loss for a puppy to get placed.

Do you have any in mind that have been listed for a little while now?

 

[Purple Poodle]

Well look at it this way, if you are just breeding for pets, as a breeder you will spend (going by my local vet prices)

$39.00 for every x-ray you need of the hips
$45.00 for OFA to score the hips
$129.00 for vWd test
$129.00 for DNA profile with OFA
$50.00 for office call at eye specialist
$500.00-$1000.00 for stud fee
$29.00 on an office call to confirm pregnancy
$60.00 for the extra puppy food you feed during the last half of gestation.
$39.00 for an x-ray count of how many puppies
$120.00 if you dock and de-dewclaw
$60.00-$120.00 for puppy food for 8 weeks
$120.00 for puppy shots (for 8 puppies (if given by breeder)
$50.00 for de-worming (8 pups)

so that about rounded up to about $2000.00 not including the time and effort you put into raising the litter and keeping mom healthy, plus building/buying a whelping box, grooming of the puppies. Also does not include any emergency vet care the mom needs, if she needs a c-section or if you have to hand feed puppies or any advertising.

So then if you have 8 puppies and sell each for only $600 the breeder is only making at a maximum $2800.00

 

[T o d d]

I think we paid $1000 for Moose.
If we wanted to drive a couple hours could have found some for 700-900. Hard to find quality breeders of Poodles, or poodle breeders in general it seemed for us.. then we found one a couple blocks down that does it out of their home.

They are expensive.

 

[gwtwmum2]

PP -Okay - here is my question though - once you've done the health testing - does it have to keep being repeated before every litter or is it just done once? Maybe I'm confused on that...because if you don't have to keep doing it, it seems like you might only pay yourself back the first litter (which might keep you from being negotiable at that time) but after that - it seems like the breeder would have some room to work with prices.
Jen, I think what you said makes sense about speaking with someone and letting them get to know you. I really think to get a dog I can afford who I know comes from a healthy background - that is the only way I can do that.
I think my biggest problem is that I would like to get a girl next (totally planning on fixing her - Wrigley is also going to be fixed). I can find boys that I can afford in the range I mentioned but girls seem to be higher. I do have one right now that I would LOVE LOVE LOVE. She is out of my price range but I'm going to watch her and see what happens (like you said Jen).
Maybe if she doesn't sell at the price they currently want, the breeder will be willing to come down some.
And thanks Roxy for the PM and the suggestion - I'm going to look at that site too.

 

[SECRETO]

Well look at it this way, if you are just breeding for pets, as a breeder you will spend (going by my local vet prices)

$39.00 for every x-ray you need of the hips
$45.00 for OFA to score the hips$129.00 for vWd test
$129.00 for DNA profile with OFA
$50.00 for office call at eye specialist
$500.00-$1000.00 for stud fee
$29.00 on an office call to confirm pregnancy
$60.00 for the extra puppy food you feed during the last half of gestation.
$39.00 for an x-ray count of how many puppies
$120.00 if you dock and de-dewclaw
$60.00-$120.00 for puppy food for 8 weeks
$120.00 for puppy shots (for 8 puppies (if given by breeder)
$50.00 for de-worming (8 pups)

so that about rounded up to about $2000.00 not including the time and effort you put into raising the litter and keeping mom healthy, plus building/buying a whelping box, grooming of the puppies. Also does not include any emergency vet care the mom needs, if she needs a c-section or if you have to hand feed puppies or any advertising.

So then if you have 8 puppies and sell each for only $600 the breeder is only making at a maximum $2800.00

wow...thats one good deal. Hip x-ray and OFA score being done all together was in the $300.00 range last time we had a dog done here.

 

[roxy25]

wow...thats one good deal. Hip x-ray and OFA score being done all together was in the $300.00 range last time we had a dog done here.

I think 300 is the going price in CA it probably depends on what area you live in. I have never seen x rays price at 35 bucks !

 

[SECRETO]

I think 300 is the going price in CA it probably depends on what area you live in. I have never seen x rays price at 35 bucks !

I think the $35.00 is low also but probably all together is come's out to just about 200.00 or a little less. I don't remember how many different view's they need to determine the hip score through OFA. Its atleast a few from what I remember.

 

[AgilityIG]

OFA only requires one view of the hips, but a lot of times the owner will elect to do elbows (two more views - one for each elbow) at the same time hips are done since the dog is usually sedated. We charge about $65 for a single view radiograph ($89 for two views), about $50 for sedation (depending on what drug we use) + the charge for OFA to evaluate the radiographs, so $200 is probably about average for the visit.

 

[Purple Poodle]

wow...thats one good deal. Hip x-ray and OFA score being done all together was in the $300.00 range last time we had a dog done here.

That's why I said going by where you live, in my neck of the woods it is $35-$39 per x-ray.

The only thing I believe that needs to be retested are the eyes. So yeah I guess you could lower the price after the first litter. It just seams in today's market people expect to pay in the thousands for puppies and if anything is less then a grand its got something wrong with it. I think anywhere from $800 to $1200 for a healthy, happy puppy from a solid background is a fair price.

Personally I wish show breeders would be more open to letting pet people buy their dogs, it takes a lot of arm twisting and teeth pulling to get them to okay letting go a puppy to be just a pet. I totally feel this would help cut down on BYB and millers. But that's another can of worms lol

 

[gwtwmum2]

Maybe it is where someone is from, and at what economic place they were raised but I've come from a one income family growing up (mom stayed home) and to pay more than $200 for a dog as a kid was "crazy". Now, I am a stay at home mom with a teacher husband. I babysit for extra money. I have to admit that to me paying $1000 for a pet dog feels like it would be wrong for me to do. It would be asking my family to sacrifice other things that would benefit all four of us. (again - not judging ANYONE that wants to do that - explaining my background, which shapes my view). So, I guess alot of it has to do with one's personal experiences and how it shapes their views.

 

[Mandycasey'smom]

I completly agree with you gwtwmum2 Prices for pet homes are very high.
I think 5-600 is reasonable for a pet home. And if it goes buy getting all those tests done then why are some breeds of same size so much more expencive. I believe it goes buy what is hot right now and what the market will take.

I mean doodles and other mixes right now are 1000 and up. If the president gets a poodle you can bet that poodles will be way more popular and prices will go through the roof.
If he goes with PWD then I pitty them cause you don't see many around but give it 6 months and they will be all over the web for 1500 bucks I bet.

 

[Purple Poodle]

Maybe it is where someone is from, and at what economic place they were raised but I've come from a one income family growing up (mom stayed home) and to pay more than $200 for a dog as a kid was "crazy". Now, I am a stay at home mom with a teacher husband. I babysit for extra money. I have to admit that to me paying $1000 for a pet dog feels like it would be wrong for me to do. It would be asking my family to sacrifice other things that would benefit all four of us. (again - not judging ANYONE that wants to do that - explaining my background, which shapes my view). So, I guess alot of it has to do with one's personal experiences and how it shapes their views.

I am what most would call "poor" and have been in the low income bracket my whole life so I know where you are coming from. I would pay for what I wanted, I would save up that money and work hard to get what I wanted without having to sacrifice something else.

If you want a dog you don't have to pay a grand for there are always breed rescues and shelters. They need homes just as badly

Look at the price of cars and homes, everything has gone up.

 

[SECRETO]

There is a lady in the bay here that has a few creme puppies (not AKC and parents not health tested) and she is asking $150.00 I believe. They are about 5 months old. If you want one Im sure I can get it on a plane to you. lol

 

[AgilityIG]

I mean doodles and other mixes right now are 1000 and up. If the president gets a poodle you can bet that poodles will be way more popular and prices will go through the roof. If he goes with PWD then I pitty them cause you don't see many around but give it 6 months and they will be all over the web for 1500 bucks I bet.

One of my friends that I show in agility with runs her PWDs and they are already VERY expensive dogs - well over $1000 for pet.