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Originally Posted by Ladymom  You might be surprised how reasonable puppies from many show breeders are, especially if you want a male. Most breeders don't want to keep males after they reach sexual maturity so many are priced much less than females.
A puppy from a show breeder will very likely end up being cheaper in the long run even if you pay a bit more initially. Those $500 puppies are usually from backyard breeders who don't do health testing and are not doing any genetic screening for problems inherent to the breed. They can cost much more in vet bills over the course of their life. |
From my experience you are completely right. My byb girl has cost me far more than my little boy from a reputable show/breeder. One illness and subsequent testing added to her initial "cheap" price and she has cost at least $500 more than my boy. That's not even beginning to consider the price on my nerves from worrying about her during her illness and the continued worry.
Oh, and she has LP surgery in her future (hopefully far off) still yet So we are still counting her cost! I wouldn't trade her for the world though, she's my sweetheart!