This is probably a dead post by now, but it's interesting how the different areas of the country seem to have different standards. In my area "generally" speaking, a puppy sold with a limited registration is basically considered just another pound puppy and if it isn't good enough for the breeder to keep & breed is expected to be discounted considerably, similar to the price one would pay at a pound. A breeder wishing to control the sale post sale needs to "buy" that control in the form of a discount, which doesn't come cheap to the breeder. Full registrations are optional and priced accordingly. All which creates a balance. There doesn't seem to be an over-abundance of abandoned/given up or even, at the other end of the spectrum, available Yorkies in my area so it seems to be working (come to think about it, I've never heard of an available purebred Yorkie at the local animal shelter, when I asked a couple years ago, they said they've never had one). Which might be because people are given options when they buy a puppy which, in turn, make them happy as they had a say in their purchase. The line of thinking is also probably what does it matter to get the registration papers if you weren't planning on breeding, thus who would buy a "pet" that isn't good for breeding (AKC-paperless) for over a couple hundred dollars? I don't think too many people around my area would pay exorbitant prices for a paperless puppy, some maybe. Working or hunting dogs, maybe.
My Yorkies came with full registrations but I was willing to pay their costs just so I could have the option of breeding if I ever decided to. I certainly was given the option to purchase them at significantly lower costs for a limited registration. If, at some point, I choose to have them spayed, then it was extra money spent needlessly...but at least I have that choice...which I "bought".
~KC |