What is a reasonable price to you?
 

I was just wondering. I was researching on breeders in my area when I saw an ad saying something about yorkie puppies at reasonable prices. So clicked it and saw some puppies and the prices. They were 1500-3000! The males are 1000 to 2000(depending on future size as adult) and females are 1500 to 3000( also future size as adult) . These breeders think that those are reasonable prices. Plus they also stated that they costed more because the pups were from a c-section? I was very confused. :confused:

What do you think is a reasonable price?


Thanks for listening. :)

I wouldn't buy from any breeder that basis their price on size. That being said I paid 1200 CDN from a show good show breeder for my puppy but with no guarantee of show quality.

when i was looking........ not even pet quality ones in my area go below 800 (for a pet quality MALE) so....... i looked around harder and found one for 500, the most i was willing to pay for a yorkie would be that much..... show quality would obviously be more but i have no interest in show quality dogs, the pet quality is just fine for me :p

Confused
 

This is what confuses me the most. They are pet quality. But I wonder why do they cost so much? :confused:

I agree
 

You're right, PinkMartini. I think its terrible. Some breeders would do that. Many say they kind about their puppies but do they really if the prices are so high. All I want is a reputable breeder selling puppies at reasonable prices. But will is it so hard to find one.

I paid 800 for Mia & she was worth every cent. May I ask you how many pups she has available? Please research the breeder and get references.

The breeder had 3 males and 4 females. I thought that was a little to much. From what I heard Yorkies have 3 to 5 puppies in a litter.

Pink Martini

more often than not pet quality come in many different forms. As you know on the internet a pet quality price is not based on pedigree its based more on size of the dog. Pet quality here in Portland Oregon will sell for $1000-$2800 for a good akc pedigree. Other registries sell for $650-$1500. A tiny yorkie no matter the pedigree or registry will sell for $1000 - $2000.

Its very difficult to tell if a puppy has show potential before about 4 -6 months (you are hopeful before that time). Even though a breeder may breed a pure champion pedigree doesnt guarantee one "champion puppy" will be born out of that litter or the next or the next.

Once the pup reaches 6-7 month you may still believe he has show potential a fault may appear for example once the adult teeth are in a slight overbite or underbite shows up (its rare but happens that wasnt obvious with puppy teeth) or the pup doesnt have the temperment for the ring or the coat doesnt break properly then he or she is sold as pet quality.

You say you would never buy anything less than show quality. It is rare for a show breeder to sell their show potential pups (not impossible but rare). When they do it is usually to someone they know well and or will co-own the dog until it finishes its championship.

Most people who buy are not looking for show quality pet but are in search for a good representation of the breed will pay $$. Some breeders that breed for profit will state they are show potential (the first boy I bought I was naive and was told he was show potential as I learned more about the breed I knew by 8 months he was no where near show quiality)

Why do you think there are so many soft coats, large ears, long bodied or over sized yorkies, some breeder just wont tell you the truth!! Those are the pups you can buy all day long for $500 $1000.

just my humble opinion

my scrappy i call him pet quality i only paid 600.00 for him i dont think that is to much for him.

I paid $500.00 for Zsa Zsa and $1,000.00 for Jade .

I think $3,000 is ridiculous! Around here (and this is Indiana, so I am sure our "scale" is lesser than many of you) I've seen them $500-$1,500. It seems that show quality around here runs $900 and up. I paid $600 for Baxter and am paying $750 for the one that I will have in a month. Baxter is ADORABLE. He was definately worth more! (He's AKC) The little girl is small and has 52 champions in the sire's bloodline-I think $750 is VERY reasonable-VERY. The breeder is an older lady and she isn't in it for the money, so I found a rare type of breeder.

It seems that all breeders ask for more on the smaller dogs. All of the ads that I've seen around here, the smaller ones are ALWAYS more. I think that's crap, but they look at it as supply and demand-everyone wants the smaller dog. They can get more, and they will...because people like me will pay for what they want (I would pay $1,200 for the dog I really wanted if I had to).

Kel

lol........ HEY, watch it pinkmartini, my baby is one of those dogs with "big ears a soft coat and oversized!" :p
I understand that people breed to better the breed of the dog HOWEVER, who sets these ridiculous standards anyways???? Yorkies USED to be much bigger than they are now, my baby (weighing in at around 9 lbs) would be small according to the "standard" way back when..... i think it is "stretching it" to have qualifications of a yorkie being 4-7 lbs ect... when they werent originally naturally that small to begin with

Sorry Martini I thought you had said "you would buy nothing less than a show quality" I read your post wrong...

to sell a pet quality for $500 would be me donating my puppies.

Care alone on my 5 adults is about $5000+ per year providing there are no complications or disasters.

As for the breeder that said the price was higher because the pups were c-section a procedure here cost about $400, then it's dependant whether the mommie can continue nursing. If not there is many hours of a breeders time spent 24-7 for the first three weeks of a pups life feeding every 2 - 4 hours and the supplimental costs and many other things to consider. I am not justifying her price, perhaps I am trying to make sense of it.

yorkie pay
 

I would pay for a yorkie up to $800.00 only becuase they do get expensive and sometimes I think that people put yorkies for so much like a breeder put a t-cup yorkie for $5000.00 isnt that alot of money for a t-cup yorkie? :) :confused:

Please don't take this wrong & I hope this doesn't come of as sounding rude but I tend to disagree with you on that statement. Price has nothing to do with quality. Some beautiful, great examples of the breed can be bought within that price range. Some poor examples can be purchased for double or triple that amount. From what I have seen some good breeders seem to sell pups in that range or for slightly more. I have also seen pet store pups or pups off of websites sell for 2000 or more. I always worry that some people may be lured into a false sense of security in thinking that a higher price may guarantee a good quality healthy pet. Prices can vary according to the area you are searching in. I think both of my dogs are beautiful examples of their breeds and both were in the 500-1000 range. I have seen good quality from the 600 - 2000 range. I have attended many dog shows, a few breed specific specialties and have done lots of talking with many breeders so I know there are some good pups out there. It's alway important to do your research.

no offense taken

I know if I get a less quality pup out of a litter I would sell him/her for less.

What I was attempting to state was a show potential pup from a show breeder is not going to be in that price range. Pet quality higher pricing is really based location, pedigree and registry IMHO as well true representation of the breed standard.

As I previously stated for me to sell a pup at $500 I wouldnt even consider it.

sorry........ i went to the "quote" that you did on her post....... i get a little mixed up with words...... a little dislexic and distracted
joke anyways..... no harm done........ seems i cant say anything right today :p

I agree with you on that. "If" I were to breed and with all thats involved, risk and expense it would be very unlikley that would let them go at the lower range either. It would be rare indeed to find one on the low end of that range but I guess I couldn't say it wouldn't ever happen. In the Dallas area you can get them from very good reputable breeders in the range of 800-1600. Glad you didn't take me wrong.
Thanks :-)

I wanted to add if someone is looking for $500 yorkie that is usually what they are going to get "just a yorkie" the higher priced pet quality would be at the very least $800 AKC bred well within the breed standard and that would be a bargin.

I sell my girls for $1500 and the boys for $1000 IMHO if a potental adoptee can't afford the price they can't afford the quality care my babies deserve.

BTW that is on a limited registration as well.

I was prepared to pay in the $900-$1200 range :)

I have to stop reading this thread, i think this is the last time i am going to look at it........ no offense, but that is an outrageous statement.... i paid $500 for toby, and no he is not papered or all that jazz, but to label those of us who do pay that much as having "just a yorkie" thats kinda silly.... we all have yorkies, some are just closer to the "standard" (which i also find ridiculous) then others..... No, i couldnt afford to pay $1000 for a yorkie (but i f that was the only price available then i would have saved up until i could make that goal).... i think that the quality of care by baby receives is bordering on 'excessively spoiled' and 'fussed over' , just because people cant afford the higher range yorkies doesnt mean that they cannot take care of them properly.... you run your yorky hobby/buissness the way you like to and that is fine, but seriously i dont know whether it is the birthcontrol talking or what, but sometimes i feel like im being picked on for my "limited income" and " college student" status, and lots of people on this board hold the same "limited income/ college student" label as i do

Well we paid $850.00 for Sebastian and my husband was willing to go up to $1000.00 I think more than that would not be reasonable for us. There are Yorkies advertised in our local paper every once in awhile ranging from $500.00-$1000.00.

I bought Sydnee from a breeder in Tampa Bay and paid just over a 1000 for her but she is not AKC. However, after the conversations we have had about akc and ckc I called and asked. She said it wasn't anything to do with the quality of the puppies it s was just that the fees had gone up so high in the AKC and that since Sydnee was going to be a pet not a show dog, she didn't bother to explain it to me. Michael had paid for her I just picked her out of the litter after it was born. None of the litter was registered AKC all CKC but the stud was AKC anyway whatever that means, but there wasn't a male among them I guess all females. Besides that I fell in love with her on sight, so it wouldn't have made any difference if she had been without papers, well except for the monetary value of her and that was Michael's problem. So from what you guys have said I guess 1000 is alot to pay for CKC puppy right? Plus I couldn't tell you if Sydnee was close to the standard or anything else. I think she is beautiful and basically I think that is what it all boils down to isn't it, if you arent going to breed or show. But hey I am clueless this is only my opinion which doesn't really amount for much since Sydnee is my first Yorkie and I have only had her for 2 and half months.

I have no problem compensating my breeder for the care and attention and expense that goes into breeding a litter of yorkie puppies. I am willing to pay for the "extras" that I want for my baby. In California yorkies are more expensive than in the midwest for instance.

I have no problem with people who love animals making it their livlihood and making a profit from it. I am not in the least offfended by that. I think it is naive to assume that breeders shouldn't or don't want to make a profit. It is hard work and they deserve compensation for that hard work.

I agree with Kimberly that breeders need to charge enough to make it worthwhile for them and I have no problem with that. I wouldn't want their jobs!

I also look at the value of the dog to me and my family over the entire 15 years of it's life and I figure the up front cost is "nothing" compared to what I gain in love and companionship for the lifetime of that dog! Almost any price, even $5000 is cheap, if you look at it that way. It's sort of like asking what your child is worth. There is absolutely no way to put a value on that because it is priceless.

I do not think the breeders who charge the big money are unscrupulous, unethical or bad. I just think they know the value of the dog to them, and they want to sell it to someone who also recognizes that value, and can afford it.

Orinskye, That was my concern with the statement. I have always stood by the fact that a high or low dollar amount does not gaurantee quality. There are people who pay on the lower end and have wonderful little dogs and there are people whom end up paying 2000 & up and end up having a dog that isn't anywhere near the standard and may be unhealthy. I just don't want anyone to see a high price and be lured into thinking
"wow! $3000., it has to be from a good line, high quality and healthy. I expect good breeders to be compensated for their efforts but most good breeders are going to tell you that they are not making much profit even when they charge 1000-2000 for a pet quality puppy. Most are not producing mass numbers of pups to sell. There are specific breeders who are producing a huge quantity of puppies and they charge outrageous prices, look at the Hollybelle Maltese scandal, look at Jeffs websites.. quality and health is not their priority but $3000, $4000, $5000 and $6000 or more is robbery. It's usually an uneducated consumer assuming that if they charge that amount, the breeder must be a good breeder. There are some good small scale hobby breeders with knowledge and experience out there, they may even be few and far between but it doesn't mean it's an impossible task in finding them. IMHO your best bet is to research, go to shows, talk to vets, talk to show breeders, people whom are active in rescue, find out who is breeding in your area that is reputable and then realize the area you are live in does have an impact on pricing. Anyone searching needs to talk to people, do research and take your time. It doesn't hurt to contact breeders whom are not in your area to see if they know of anyone near you whom is reputable.

Both of my yorkies are pet quality. I paid $600 for my male and $900 for my female. My female was originally $1200 but I "talked the lady down". :D