My sister has a white boxer who is totally deaf, think she paid £500 for her, not sure how that price compared to the rest of the litter. Somebody mentioned exepcting to pay around half for a white boxer, I deduce therefore my sister was ripped off!

No I wouldn't no matter what the breed, it's the breeding, health & character that must come jointly first, everything else is an extra IMHO

I certainly would never ever buy a puppy for more money, just because it was a particular colour

In laymans terms, whatever the colour its still the same breed but in each breed there are ones that are suitable for show/work, and ones suitable for pets, although I don't think that colour affects the ability to work in a dog (although some people who work Labs say different - chocolate) it can affect the ability for the dog to be shown, so unless its a dog with a good work drive then really its only really suitable to be a pet, and pet dogs are everywhere in every colour, every breed, and almost every mix too, and why would someone breed pet quality dogs, and charge more for them because they are a cartain colour, unless its for money. Type, health and temperment are more important IMO, I think that even people who want a certain colour for their breeding lines would also go for a dog with better heathly, type and temperment really, instead of a dog which is considered prettier, or rarer, might be wrong though. And then there is also the fact that some 'rare' colours have health issues assocaited with them, my big bug bare is people breeding merle/dapple in breeds that shouldn't be that colour/pattern in, and then calling them rare, in some breeds the pups from these coloured parents can't even be registered any more, but that doesn't stop some people.

A rare breed is different though, many people go for the rarer breeds after years of research, or going out and finding out about them, and most would have to be put on waiting lists, and people breeding rare breeds are more then often breeding to improve the breed still, not just for a new pretty and 'rare' colour, and it would make more sense for a rarer breed to be more money then say a labrador (I'm not really picking on them in this post if anyone thinks so they're just a common breed ) then say a dog where people are having to put more work into raising awareness, and maybe even importing dogs over, and having a longer gap between breeding different bitches, as they are just harder to come by, but people who are doing this work and working hard, people who charge more for a certian colour regardless of whether its show quality or not, well they just stink to high heaven of BYB who shouldn't be touched with a ten foot pole IMHO

Nope colour is the least important thing for me when i am picking a pup!

and from looking around it seems to me that its the blue staffs that are being asked more for! So this is what 'hobby' breeders are aiming for, to get the extra cash that people like you would consider paying..Many show people wont keep or wouldnt want to breed blue staffs as i have heard they dont do well in the ring!! My mind boogles.

I totally agree i would question the ethics to it cost a breeder the same to raise pups of different colours the same amout of money, work, love and care needs putting in ect so why do breeders think they have the right to ask more? its beggers belife.


I love the black and white chinese cresteds and one day i will have one to show, will i pay more for it...ermm nope!
Because i would rather have a dog that is most correct to breed standard, that is from health tested parents, that is brought up from a decent breeder, from lines i like with a tempermant to die for at such a young age..everything is important to me BEFORE colour! and il wait until a black and white pup ticks all the above

I've already said that I don't agree with breeding just for colour, but again, I think you are assuming that it is only 'dodgy' breeders and/or poor quality dogs which would produce the 'rare' colour, but that isn't right.

Out of interest, are powderpuffs the same price as hairless? If not, why is there a difference - the same arguments as you've made above would apply.

Yep hairless tend to be more than puffs! (not all breeders will charge different though ..) Breeders say they charge more for hairless because there are less of them in litters! I dont know!

and who said i agree with charging more for a hairless than a puff?? so that argument doesnt stand!

I have no idea----but I reserve the right to choose and pay for it-----I have ended up with enough dogs which I have not chosen. Now I wany to indulge myself a little.

If that means paying a breeder who may not be ethical then so be it---the pup still needs a home.

rune