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Originally Posted by Mardelin  Some show breeders do sell show prospect puppies at 12 weeks or a little older but they sell them at a reduced price and do not guarantee them to be show quality. You take a risk when you do that. Some people just cannot afford to pay $2500 to $3000 for a show dog with a show contract. I would expect a nice show prospect to run around $1500 to $2,000. By show prospect I mean the puppy at 12 weeks should not have any glaring faults and should have a halfway decent pedigree behind it.
I would never sell a show prospect or show quality pup as 12 weeks of age. It's either show ready or not. My opinion is if you can't afford $3,000.00 to purchase a show dog, then you can't afford to finish it.
The problem with selling a show prospect is that you still sell it on open registration. So, what's to guarantee you that the person that is purchasing it says oh it didn't turn out and breed it anyway. I'm of the belief that if I wouldn't keep it in my program and show it, then it should be petted out. Pedigree is not everything....not all pups with great pedigrees should be shown or bred. Most of the breeder/exhibitors I know believe and follow the same practice.
I never take a deposit until the new owner has decided on a pup. Once they've been to my home and made that decision, the only way I'll hold the pup is with the deposit.
The only time I take a deposit prior to the purchase of a pup, is when they've asked for a specific breeding, then I require the total amount. |
Mary, I realize you would never do that but there are many show breeders out there that are willing to give a newbie a chance. Ideally anyone who wants to show would be better off spending a lot of money on a older show quality dog but many people choose to take a chance with a less expensive, younger puppy with nice bloodlines. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it does not.