Page 39 - K9 News - Issue 14 - December 2020
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from health tested parents who have each been of their considered breeding programmes. The
made up as champions, having had a vast price of puppies should, in my opinion, reflect
amount of time and work spend on coat care, to their breeder’s commitment to their breed,
say the least? The list of possibilities is endless. knowledge about what they are producing (and
I doubt there is a devout canine enthusiast the associated ancestry), their success within
amongst us who would seek to extort new in it, and would be likely reflect the quality
owners, but similarly I wonder if there is a one of the offspring on the ground. Successful,
so willing to charge the price reflective of their knowledgeable breeders, of sound, typical
time, experience, success, and understanding, stock, should not be ashamed to charge at least
of their breed. Let’s face it we have all seen £1,500 to £2,000 for their precious, carefully-
adverts from those keen to make a quick-buck bred puppies. An interesting cost comparison is
from their dogs, who have zero interest in the that dog day care charged at £25 per day, would
health, well-being and future of their chosen come to more than some breeders charge for
breed. The price a breeder decides to charge their highly cared for 8-week old puppies when
is ultimately up to them. They have to consider it’s time for them to leave the nest!
the covering of all of their costs, the appropriate
market price, and also – surely – a price which Aside from the great price debate – and perhaps
won’t preclude excellent homes who don’t troublingly – are advice/guidelines from various
happen to have several thousands of pounds breed clubs, posted all over social media, which
sitting around waiting to be spend on a new suggest not only prices breeders should be
canine addition to the family. charging but the frequency a breeder should
producing litters of puppies. Recommended
As a sheep breeder, I am frequently astounded “price bands” for various breeds (one being one
by the lofty heights prices reach at pedigree of my own breeds) concerns me greatly. From
sales. Often for breeding males - who may go on a legal point of view, this can be considered
to sire hundreds of offspring - but also frequently price fixing. When any rival businesses, or
for females, and lambs. Devoted breeders individuals, agree a price of a product (which,
generally pay top dollar for top quality – this unfortunately, puppies are considered), this is
also applies to cattle, horses, poultry, and many legally known as price fixing for which there are
other species. Whilst these are, on the whole, hefty fines! Whilst some breed clubs may have
not domesticated animals their breeders efforts the intention of assisting interested parties with
are recognised by the prices paid for the results finding a reasonably priced puppy, they are
unwittingly encouraging some of their members
to increase their puppy prices to within the
recommended bracket (to quote one breeder:
“I’ll be upping my price if they say that’s what I
should be charging!”). We should never want to
encourage extortionate prices for our chosen
breeds, we ought to be equally careful to never
undervalue the dedication and hard work so
many invest into our breeds over many, many
years. Certainly it will be interesting to see how
prices level out following the pandemic, with
buyers at more of a premium and (hopefully)
fewer backyard breeders choosing to breed
random dogs and random bitches together, to
make a quick buck.
When it comes to breeder status there seems
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K9 NEWS DIGITAL / DECEMBER 2020
