How are Breed Prices Determined?

Hi all

Following on from a much debated thread, it got me thinking on how breed prices are actually determined!

I know that they are vastly variable at times, but I do also think there is an around about price with some breeds, like with my current breed (Beagle) I knew the 'normal' charge was around £750-£850! When looking for a Beagle I was 'put-off' by any adverts charging around £250, but when I think about it, why was I? I mean who sets the amounts of how much a breed should sell for, was I right to avoid the 'cheaper' prices or were they simply just charging a lower rate as they were not looking to make any money! I might be the only one who has ever thought about this, if so I feel a little embarassed!

So how are breed prices determined? Why do we pay more for example a Beagle to a Labrador? (I am not saying it is wrong or right to pay more or less, just wondering on why we think it is determined like this)

My only guess is that (using the example above) Beagles are not so easy to get hold of and are bred less, therefore cost more but what determines them being £800 odd!

Just a query I always think of! I probably sound a fool posting this thread!

I have noticed that there is a massive difference depending on location for a lot of breeds.

I imagine it is probably a supply and demand thing- if the breed is rare where you live you'll pay more for it etc.

What i have also noticed is that there really isn't much difference in the price of KC registered pups and ones that aren't, which i found quite surprising.

A lot depends on the parents, are they registered?, have they had the health tests required, etc, also on wether the pups are registered, a lot of breeders are hobbyists and do none of these things, a lot are just in it for a quick buck, also how rare the breed is, what linesthey are from lots of different reasons. The best advise is no matter what breed ensure all health tests are done on the parents,

I agree with you on the KC registered subject, I also noticed that when looking for Monty!

Any commodity is priced according to the market.

If you look at antiques/collectables it goes in phases, so it does with dogs.

Supply and demand.

If you can get £750 for a pup then it is 'worth' that to the buyer. If you can't get it then there is no demand for it.

rune

I also wondered the same thing when I was looking at getting a puppy.

The way I thought it worked was the price should cover the amount it costs to have the litter. Like, a good ethical breeder's prices may be 'average' or slightly higher because they pay for the stud dog, pay to have the bitch health checked with all the necessary tests, pay for any extra medical help should the bitch have problems during labour, then the bitch will presumably need to be checked over after, the puppies & the bitch need to be fed high quality food, the puppies are socialised & have maybe started being house trained and the puppies are vet checked & have had their first injections. Plus if the breeder has to go and check out all the prospective owners & their houses I'd expect them to include the cost of travel into the price of the puppies.

I think supply & demand also comes into it too though! Sometimes a dog will be cheaper because they're a more common breed or they have large litters and sometimes a dog will be more expensive because they're really popular but only have very small litters (Like chihuahuas).

I have been looking into cocker/springer spaniel puppy prices just in case the rehoming does not work for us, the price varies enormously from £200 to £600 with varying levels of support inbetween, i suspect the lower end will be be back yard breeders with no support but i noticed some KC reg witch offered just the papers, then some who offer the earth and will fully vet you before they sell you one.
I suspect there is a middle ground of healthy pups who are not kc reg but it seems to be a minefield, i guess not everyone can afford to pay top dollar and that is why puppy farms will always do well, it does amaze me some of the high end prices but thats the market system.
Until the kc sort out the allegations from the 'pedigree dogs exposed' programme then i am very dubious about dogs who are kc pedigree and that is why i think the price is not much higher than without papers.

In welsh we all seem to charge the same for pups £750. We also charge the same for a proven stud dog £500.

And is that because thats how much it costs to breed etc or just an agreement amongst breders to charge that amount do you know?

To be honest I'm not altogether sure when I had my first litter thats what I was told to charge. I do know that if you have a singleton pup that price covers the cost of the stud and health tests.