[lizzieg]

Originally Posted by cheryl19

Maybe $8500. is worth it for a VERY good dog? I don't breed so some one like manolos mom could answer that not me. But as long as people will pay for a tiny dog the price will stay up. I have had a lot of people say to me when I'm walking my crew "Oh I have a yorkie too, but mine is a teacup"
I now say "I don't like tea I like coffee"

Worth would be determined by the buyer and by the breeder. From a buyer's perspective who is seeking a great pet and companion, $8,500 is way too much. From a buyer's view that is seeking the 'almost perfect representation' of the breed, maybe for show, and possibly to breed, then they may see the worth. I'm speaking as if the overpriced pup was from a reputable breeder, meaning that the breeder strives to improve the breed by mixing the genetics of her dogs together that will compliment the pups' health, temperament, structure, color, coat, muzzle, and size. It is almost impossible to breed the perfect representation; breeders are always having to compromise coat for structure, structure for temperament, etc. Health should always come first. And from observation, a breeder who has been in the business for a long time for the right reasons is able to get closer to the ideal representation. And recessive genes can be a good thing or a bad thing, but those that would pay that much from a reputable breeder should also have an idea of the pup's genealogy.