Already trained dogs

Following on from a couple of other threads, I was wondering who would buy a dog that had already had some training or socialising already and would you pay extra for that dog?

For example, I have bought a part-trained working sheepdog in the past, but did actually only pay pup price for him as his owner had died and the shepherd just wanted him to go to a good home. I would have been prepared to pay more though, as he had already had some training.

Another example is a personal protection dog. These dogs are highly trained and then sold for £1000s I believe. Do you think it is a good idea to buy a dog trained by someone else, especially a dog trained to bite?

My third example would be buying a pup that had been run on by a breeder - and say that breeder had house trained, socialised and started basic obedience with the pup. Would you be interested in such a pup, and if so, would you be prepared to pay a bit more than regular pup price.

There are lots of different scenarios, so would be interested in anyone's opinions.

i always wanted a fully trained dog!

but after Roggie i would miss out on soo much and i prefer doing all of the training and things myself!

but never say never!

I would not want a dog someone else had trained as would miss out on so much ..............

My thoughs are....

A) Personally....I LOVE working with pups - developing a relationship and watching them learn and building a bond.

B) Yes it is resonable to charge more for older dogs who have had specific training for a purpose (Sniffer dogs/sheepdogs/gundogs etc.) I am not so keen on the protection stuff as I think - in the wrong hands these dogs could be abused.

C) As a dog trainer I offer residential training - I do feel it is a lazy option - but if people are willing to pay and the dog has a better life at the end of it I am quite happy with that. I am also quite surprised at how well the dogs cope. (EG - I have a ESS here at the moment - before he came to me he spent 1/2 his time shut in ther garden and 1/2 his time shut in a cage - he now goes for walks, becasue he comes back, and spends time with them in the house as he no longer pees everywhere! - he is back for holidays!)

I have also had a dog from the Isle of Scilly - they wanted to train and socialise the dog but do not have and training classes over there so they sent her to me - I have no doubt if they had been able to attend they would have taken her them selves

A lot of people asked why we were adopting a pup from the rescue, and not an older lurcher. I know some people thought it was because we wanted something "sweet and cuddly" but we loved Amberella's puppyhood and decided to do it again with Roux. Yes, there were hard times and sometimes we despaired of having got a puppy, but we got so much out of it, and it has been wonderful watching her grow up into a beautiful little lady. I know if the rescue thought we wanted a puppy purely for the "cute factor" they would have told us where to go!

However, there are a lot of people who simply need to integrate a dog into their lives, such as if they have small children. There's nothing wrong with that, and there are plenty of dogs who have already had obedience training and house training who need loving new families. Training takes time, patience and often money (i.e. if the dog goes to classes), so I think it should be expected to pay a bit extra for a dog who has had the work put in.

I get dogs as rehomes or recues so I take pot luck! The first dog I had trained me - the rest was a co-operative effort.
I think training your own dog brings you closer together - and it`s fun (though challenging)

Totally agree, that's what I love best, even the ones I have had as older pups haven't had any or very little training, I get so much pleasure from it. JMO.

I wouldn't be keen to buy a ready trained dog. I'd miss the 'fun' and I'd really want to know how the dog had been trained. I noticed a site that claimed to train your dog in three weeks and guaranteed the result. Now I wonder how they do it.
Working dogs are possibly different and I don't have any experience so can't comment. Though I do remember a farming neighbour we had some years ago bought a trained sheepdog. Unfortunately it wouldn't work for him and took off. Eventually he had to get in touch with the original trainer to help him hunt for the dog.

Im a bit different. I like to have a dog and get cracking! You cant do that with a baby pup. I bought Breeze, vaccinated, house and lead trained, it was GREAT!! Didnt pay more for her though. I love pups, but personally I like them about 10mths for the "trainability"

sitting on the fence...swinging my legs.