Originally Posted by Yorkiemom1  Wonderful concept..............I think Cadillac Escalades should not be more than $40,000.00.........again, MY opinion, not reality! It is MY experience there is a whole lot more to producing a wonderful pup than just what it looks like! How do you suggest a breeder meet expenses of their breeding program, if not by sell of puppies? This is a concept that perpetuates the idea that ONLY show people should be breeding. Just curious......as a breeder/shower, where does your income to cover your breeding program, originate from? Do you collect the thousands of dollars needed annually to support a breeding program, from winning shows? It was my experience in showing Arabian horses there was no cash awards, just ribbons and trophies, which do NOT pay expenses directly.....it did boost the price we could charge for stud services to our stallions, as well as leasing fees for our mares. So, if we were NOT into showing, we wouldnt have had that source for generating revenue....which feeds into the addage that only people that show should be breeding. Do show winners now collect a cash monetary reward for winning shows, which can fund your breeding program or is your breeding program funded by winning trophies and ribbons? Do you sell puppies? It has been MY experience, that what one breeder considers a "pet", another breeder believes it is a show stopping winner! I just wonder how a breeding program is supposed to exist if puppies are not sold to cover expenses. When puppies are dumped at 5-8 weeks, before expenses actually occur, for $800.00-$1000.00, it seems a little ludicrious to expect a responsible breeder that keeps puppies for twice as long, does all the vaccinations, microchipping, etc to essentially "take a loss" on ANY healthy, well adjusted, "turn key" baby that leaves the new owner with nothing to do but spay/neuter and a rabies shot.
My "pet" puppies receive the same exact care, the same nutrition, the same vet care, the same vaccinations, microchipping, health records, etc that ANY of my puppies receive. I do not look at my babies and segregate the "pets" into one pile, where I am only going to do what is necessary to keep them alive and looking decent enough to sell, and the possible show prospects into another pile, to receive preferential treatment. My "pets" do go for less, but I do attempt to cover the expenses I have running the breeding program at the level I run it, with the sell of my babies......NOT making a killing "price gouging" unsuspecting owners. Puppy sales are indeed only one part of what is needed to run a successful breeding program, but it does count!
I choose NOT to get involved with showing dogs....been there, done that with horses, and it is all the same political games.....not something I am interested in doing....cant really afford the HUGE expenses....knowing what judges like who or what specifics they look for in the dog, not showing where you know the judge does not like what you may have, etc.....
Fortunately, no one has managed to put "caps" on what people can charge for anything they sell, for any reason. Anyone should be able to pay whatever they want, whatever something is worth to THEM. I have never been real big on trying to tell people what THEIR product is worth.....because I really do not know the time or investment they have in their product. I usually just say, "I personally will not pay that much for that product", and I just leave it for someone that will see the value in that product.
There are healthy, well adjusted, gorgeous pups out there, with SUPER pedigrees, super personalities, templates of the breed standard, that perhaps may not be show winning dogs, but are a great addition to a family. I don't like the idea of degredating such a pup to the realm of "just a pet" and only worth a nominal amount. Almost an insult to the responsible, ethical breeder, the new owner, AND the exceptional pup that falls short in the eyes of some, as a show dog. |