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• Jul 12, 2006 11:24 am US/Central
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  Where Do I Get A Dog At A Reasonable Price

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Where Do I Get A Dog At A Reasonable Price

Some dogs may seem inexpensive up front, but will you pay a hefty price down the line?

Dear Anne,
Do you know where I can purchase either a white german sheperd or a yorkie at a reasonable price?? So many I have seen are worth what Fort Knox is worth. I am not rich and am hoping to find a good dog that I can afford. I would be very thankful for your help.

Thank you,
Howard


Hi Howard,
Dogs are definitely expensive. The key is to find out what you are getting for your money. It takes research, as you don't want to be pennywise and pound foolish. There are four main ways of getting a new dog.

1. Pet Store or Internet
Avoid these puppies at all costs! These puppies come from commercial breeders (commonly known as puppy mills). In puppy mills the conditions range from bad to positively deplorable. Dogs spend the day in their own waste and are therefore next to impossible to house train. Further, the dogs don't get the critical early socialization and are VERY prone to temperament problems. Lastly, the puppies are not bred selectively for health and temperament. I have an employee who has spent over $5,000 in surgeries on her Labradoodle, Dixie, who she rescued from a puppy mill. (Worth noting: "rescuing" a dog from a puppy mill does not mean buying it and giving it a good home; this perpetuates the problem. It means adopting it from a shelter that rescued it after cruelty surrender.) Not only that, Dixie's parents are still in that puppy mill producing more puppies that will likely have the same health problems. These puppies tend to be the least expensive and most accessible, BUT you are perpetuating an industry that treats dogs very cruelly, plus you are very likely to get a dog with complicated health and temperament problems. You are unlikely to ever house train the puppy. See the related links for more on puppy mills.

2. Reputable Breeder
A reputable breeder goes to a great deal of trouble to select dogs with excellent health and temperament for their breeding program. They spend thousands of dollars in health clearances. Health clearances include checking the dog's hips, heart, eyes, and any other genetic issues common in the breed. A reputable breeder will also go to great lengths to socialize the puppy, screen potential families and will always take the dog back for the price paid if at any time you are no longer able to care for the dog.

These dogs tend to be more expensive because the health clearances are expensive for the breeder. However, making sure that your dog is well bred can save you a lot of money (and save your dog a lot of pain) in the long run. Although they charge the most, reputable breeders at best break even on a litter. Breeding is more than a snobby hobby. It is a really expensive, time consuming passion that people do because they enjoy dogs and wish to improve a breed. Quality breeding is not a "for profit" endeavor.

3. "Backyard" Breeder
This term refers to people who are breeding dogs and are not engaging in the rigorous health and temperament assessments that a reputable breeder does. They will generally not take responsibility for the dog throughout its life. (Thus contributing to pet over population. Their dogs end up in shelters and rescues if the family can no longer care for them). Dogs from backyard breeders tend to be more available and less costly. Many of my friends and clients have fantastic dogs they got from backyard breeders, but you are rolling the dice much more in the way of health and temperament. You are also supporting someone who is not willing to take responsibility for the dog for its entire life. There is definitely a continuum of back yard breeders. Many are well intended people but they have never thought about why they are breeding or what it means to improve a breed. Others are downright reckless and horribly unethical. I have seen backyard breeders continue to breed dogs with known painful congenital conditions such as hydrocephalous, hip displasia, cancer and the like. God does that annoy me.

It should be noted you can get AKC registered puppies from any of these sources. An AKC registration does not insure the dog is well bred or healthy.

4. Shelter or Rescue
In a shelter or rescue you can get dogs of any age, health, and temperament. They tend to be the least expensive up front. Like with the "backyard bred" dogs, the genetics are unknown so you are rolling the dice. However, you are paying less up front for the same amount of risk. And you are helping fight pet over population rather than supporting someone who is contributing to it. With many rescue groups you can be a "foster parent" to homeless dogs until they get adopted. This is a great idea, as you get a feel for the time, commitment, and expense of a dog (although the rescue generally covers any vet bills the dog acquires while it's with you). Plus it's a great way to find just the right dog for you. You can foster different dogs until you find the one you know you want to keep forever. I have three dogs that were all rescues. Two of them I fostered first.

So, reputable breeders and rescues are the only options that make sense in my mind. Also, it should be noted there is health/temperament risks even with the best bred dogs. There are NEVER guarantees with living things, no matter what anyone tells you.

Finally, remember to budget your monthly expenses for a dog and make sure it will work: food, medical care, training, bones/chew toys, and a possible major medical emergency. Also the additional up front cost of supplies like a leash, collar, crate, bed, brushes, Nature's Miracle (for accidents on the rug), Bitter Apple (taste deterrent), etc. If you don't already have a fence you are going to want one.

P.S. Consider doing some research on the genetics of breeding white into a dog.

Email questions to: anne@downtowndogsminneapolis.com