Advice on cost of puppy from "show" breeder

[Yorkiedaze]

Originally Posted by shodanusmc

The initial cost is the cheap part, regardless what you pay. Broken leg surgery? 2500-3000, Kneww surgery? 2200, Pancreatitis? 700+ depending, Liver shunt? Surgery etc? A lot. Buy from a reputable breeder. Sometimes you pay more for quality.

My first two came from a reputable show breeder with champion moms, dads, grandparents and so on, but one has CT and LP surgeries on both knees, and the other has LP grade 3. The third Yorkie girl came from a lady here on YT AKCYorkies4U, and does not show. She doesn't even have a breeding program, but my little girl has no health issues at all and is five years old.
My 13 week old girl came from a friend in the bay area that use to breed Yorkies and Biewers but this was her last littler and she has never had a puppy with any health issues at all, ever. You just can't rely on having a puppy without issues simply by going to someone who shows. It's all a toss up anyway. One friend adopted a puppy from a breeder who doesn't show, and she's perfectly normal and healthy in every way, then she adopted the sister but a different littler (same mom and dad) and that one had leg Perthes disease and had to be operated on. It's not always the breeders fault either.

[betterthanlife]

I thank everyone for all of the great information and insight! I have another question for all of you:

How much would you pay for an "older" dog - 7-9 years of age, who was a champion? No obvious health issues......

[KazzyK810]

I'd assume at that age, they are retired from breeding and the breeder is just looking to place the dog in pet home. Many breeders in my area let these kinds of dogs go for alot less, often just a few hundred dollars or even less. The quality of the home they will be going to is usually the breeder's greatest concern.

[betterthanlife]

Thank you KAZZY! It is kind of a "touchy" thing buying from show breeders. Many of them feel that if you ask for a price, you can't afford the dog, or if the price is the only thing that matters to you, they do not want your to have their dog. I understand this. However, the purchaser sometimes wants a "fair" transaction, and does not want to be exploited. There is a fine line in all of this - one that is difficult to tow.

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by betterthanlife

Thank you KAZZY! It is kind of a "touchy" thing buying from show breeders. Many of them feel that if you ask for a price, you can't afford the dog, or if the price is the only thing that matters to you, they do not want your to have their dog. I understand this. However, the purchaser sometimes wants a "fair" transaction, and does not want to be exploited. There is a fine line in all of this - one that is difficult to tow.

I've heard that attitude from a few on here too.

I think it's just a matter of the different perspectives between the breeder and the buyer. As a buyer I want a fair and reasonable price for what I'm getting, regardless of the kind of purchase...it's still a transaction of goods for money. To the breeder that sometimes comes across as trying to put a price on something they view as priceless (the love of a little yorkie pup they have raised since birth and have a connection with). We as buyers don't have that connection yet. Good breeders usually understand that and will not be offended by price inquires, just as good buyers should also equally not be offended by questions asked by breeders of prospective buyers about their ability to provide a loving home with quality care for the life of the pup.

[betterthanlife]

Someone told me yesterday - at the end of a very long conversation - that they liked it that I did not ask the price. I was not going to during the first conversation - just for this reason - I wanted very much to know what I needed to pay from that breeder - I was afraid it would put me in a negative light - I was correct. I wish it was not like this - human nature is human nature.

[betterthanlife]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

My first two came from a reputable show breeder with champion moms, dads, grandparents and so on, but one has CT and LP surgeries on both knees, and the other has LP grade 3. The third Yorkie girl came from a lady here on YT AKCYorkies4U, and does not show. She doesn't even have a breeding program, but my little girl has no health issues at all and is five years old.
My 13 week old girl came from a friend in the bay area that use to breed Yorkies and Biewers but this was her last littler and she has never had a puppy with any health issues at all, ever. You just can't rely on having a puppy without issues simply by going to someone who shows. It's all a toss up anyway. One friend adopted a puppy from a breeder who doesn't show, and she's perfectly normal and healthy in every way, then she adopted the sister but a different littler (same mom and dad) and that one had leg Perthes disease and had to be operated on. It's not always the breeders fault either.

I agree with you 100 percent YORKIEDAZE! My yorkie of 15 years (died last December) was purchased from what I consider now, to be a terribly irresponsible breeder. I guess now, that I am older and wiser, I have a hard time doing that again - because of the way it makes ME feel. I want to feel good about the purchase from every angle

[KazzyK810]

Originally Posted by betterthanlife

Someone told me yesterday - at the end of a very long conversation - that they liked it that I did not ask the price. I was not going to during the first conversation - just for this reason - I wanted very much to know what I needed to pay from that breeder - I was afraid it would put me in a negative light - I was correct. I wish it was not like this - human nature is human nature.

I think part of the problem may stem from the fact that many breeders, while selling pups, are not actually business people. I'd have a hard time holding back asking on the price. I want to know whether the transaction is even remotely a possibility from the get-go, because if its not...then they are just wasting my time. Likewise, if I visit a breeder and don't ask the price...it's because I'm not interested in the quality of pups he/she is offering. I don't then waste their time stringing them along for multiple visits/conversations if I know from first viewing, I'm not interested in their pups. I don't think it should be too much to expect the same kind of consideration.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by betterthanlife

Thank you KAZZY! It is kind of a "touchy" thing buying from show breeders. Many of them feel that if you ask for a price, you can't afford the dog, or if the price is the only thing that matters to you, they do not want your to have their dog. I understand this. However, the purchaser sometimes wants a "fair" transaction, and does not want to be exploited. There is a fine line in all of this - one that is difficult to tow.

The breeders I've read about understand people are on a budget, they just don't think cost inquiries shouldn’t be the first words out of your mouth, as if that's the primary consideration. They have feelings for their pups, and if you view them mainly as a commodity, it may upset them. If you can find a breeder that you can build a relationship with, then you will have a great resource, should you need some type of information or help with your Yorkies. As many have said before, you are buying the breeder, not the pup.

Concerning buying a retiring champ, I've read that for many you pay the cost of neutering and teeth cleaning. I agree with KazzyK810 that breeders aren't always great business people, and I feel badly for them because they have to wear so many hats. One of the most important roles they play is deciding who would make a good owner. I'm always so shocked when seemly very reasonable people, end up being irresponsible pet owners.

[betterthanlife]

Thank you Nancy for the excellent post. I am in agreement with everything you said. Everything is a balance. I gear my conversation more to the individuals personality and go from there.....It has been shocking to me, from a buyers perspective, that "show" breeders are "built up" and "revered" so much by the average dog-lover, as many of them (not all) are not very intelligent. They may know about dogs, but that knowledge does not always translate into doing the right thing. I will not go into details, but one lady told me she fed her dog some very unhealthy things. Since most people are very overweight, and very unhealthy, I am always concerned how they view caring for the dog in regard to diet and exercise. If they do not care for their own body, how can you expect them to care much about the dogs well-being. I have run in to this many times.....kind of off-topic, yet very relevant, as I see as many overweight dogs as overweight children.

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by betterthanlife

Thank you Nancy for the excellent post. I am in agreement with everything you said. Everything is a balance. I gear my conversation more to the individuals personality and go from there.....It has been shocking to me, from a buyers perspective, that "show" breeders are "built up" and "revered" so much by the average dog-lover, as many of them (not all) are not very intelligent. They may know about dogs, but that knowledge does not always translate into doing the right thing. I will not go into details, but one lady told me she fed her dog some very unhealthy things. Since most people are very overweight, and very unhealthy, I am always concerned how they view caring for the dog in regard to diet and exercise. If they do not care for their own body, how can you expect them to care much about the dogs well-being. I have run in to this many times.....kind of off-topic, yet very relevant, as I see as many overweight dogs as overweight children.

I would think learning about nutrition would be part of the education a breeder should get, there is controversial stuff out there, but by and large, we know of many safe diets. I think most of us are aware of health risks associated with being overweight, but sometimes there are emotional problems and people think food is the only way to show love. I would imagine that show breeders are as different from each other, as we are all different from each other. They just share the same hobby.

[betterthanlife]

Agreed - yet this is exactly where intelligence must transcend emotion - for the best interest of the dog.

[shodanusmc]

If a quality show breeder was looking to place a 7-9 year old fixed male or female, to be honest, I would not expect to pay outside of the cost of transportation and an exam.

[betterthanlife]

Thank you SHODANUSMC. I appreciate the feedback. I was thinking that also. As an aside, I appreciate the value that the breeder must place on the dog considering the long relationship and quality of the dog. On the other hand, despite this, they are willing to part with the dog. The whole "show" thing has a lot of contradictions, related to philosophy versus actual behavior. I do not view the business as one that as puts the animal first. I simply want a dog - I figure I would have a "better" chance of getting a "healthier" one from a show breeder. "Better" being the key word

[peachbongi]

Originally Posted by Yorkiedaze

My first two came from a reputable show breeder with champion moms, dads, grandparents and so on, but one has CT and LP surgeries on both knees, and the other has LP grade 3. The third Yorkie girl came from a lady here on YT AKCYorkies4U, and does not show. She doesn't even have a breeding program, but my little girl has no health issues at all and is five years old.
My 13 week old girl came from a friend in the bay area that use to breed Yorkies and Biewers but this was her last littler and she has never had a puppy with any health issues at all, ever. You just can't rely on having a puppy without issues simply by going to someone who shows. It's all a toss up anyway. One friend adopted a puppy from a breeder who doesn't show, and she's perfectly normal and healthy in every way, then she adopted the sister but a different littler (same mom and dad) and that one had leg Perthes disease and had to be operated on. It's not always the breeders fault either.

Thank you, great post.