For a person having a first and last litter with 4 puppies and no health problems, it probably does seem like they are over-priced and she may be getting more than deserved. But..... if she was going to have more litters, she might find the next one to only have 1 puppy to sell, the mom might need a C-section and she might be in the hole money-wise -- then she would think... We are not charging enough for these puppies!
Just because nothing untoward happened with this litter does not mean prices should be set by this experience. Prices need to be set by the breeders that have several litters a year, know the averages on puppies, complications, and expenses AND need to make some sort of profit. Sure she made out, but there are probably just as many that had one litter, lost money, or even lost their precious mother Yorkie that would not think the price nearly high enough.
A one-time breeder probably should not charge as much as an experienced breeder -- Why? Because she cannot offer the lifetime experience, training, and sense of security someone who has done this over time can offer. That is JMHO.
When I was looking for my Yorkies, I saw $600 - $2000 Yorkies. I looked at several places, talked to others only on the phone. I paid $1200 and $1500 for the two I chose -- First, I bought from people whose mother and father were on premises and looked like the Yorkies I have in mind. Secondly, I bought from people who sounded like they had the experience, knowledge, and caring attitude to ensure the best experience overall. I don't feel fleeced -- I could have bought cheaper ones -- but these are little additions to my family and saving a few dollars doesn't really seem important over the long haul. It will be a drop in the bucket to what they will cost to raise and spoil. |