Is this really how much a labrador puppy costs?

[Cupcase]

No I'm not getting a puppy, however it's nice to dream but these prices can't be real, can they?

I had been reading about the cost of cross breeds going into thousands of ££££ and thought I would check labradors and I'm shocked.
Now I know this is not a reputable site to buy pups from, however this is where a lot of people look.

 

[Granca]

Oh dear, no more puppies for me, then! I’ve just checked the same website for litters nearby and found a litter of five at £2000 each and another litter with ‘boys £2495, girls £2995’ - those are all sold.

Interestingly, though, when sorting the adverts into most recent, the majority are are from people wanting a labrador rather than selling puppies, so that’s probably driving up the price.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Pandemic has made the price go up.

 

[Cupcase]

Pandemic has made the price go up.

I did wonder that it has affected the price. How much would the realistic price be? I can't believe that people will pay that though.

 

[Jen]

I would expect to pay a lot for a puppy depending on the pedigree.

I paid £600 for Stanley and he’s not KC registered.

My friend paid £2000 for her Great Dane.

 

[snowbunny]

I did wonder that it has affected the price. How much would the realistic price be?

There are so many factors. I think dogs from strong field lines tend to be more expensive than equally-titled show-bred lines. Obviously the more red in the pedigree, the higher the price. I found that breeders farther north tended to be cheaper than those closer to the south, and specifically the south east.
I don't think it's fair to the breeder to say on a public forum how much I paid for Luna, but it was certainly less than those prices. I was expecting to pay twice as much, to be honest, given her pedigree. Willow and Shadow were a bargain at €400 each, basically because in that area of France, there isn't much demand for working-line Labradors. If the same litter had been born in Scotland (where the parents originated), they would have been pushing £1k each, if not more.

 

[Candy]

I paid £600 for Joy three years ago. Also not KC registered.

 

[Cath]

We paid £650 each for Fred and Annie. They come from good field lines, with very good pedigree and are KC registered.

 

[Emily]

We paid $1,800 for Ella back in 2015. When doing our research, we found most KC labs on limited register were going for $1,500-2,000.

Ella is KC registered with show champions on both sides, although in recent years the champions are all on dad's side.

 

[Natalie]

Back in 2014, we paid £550 for Monty, he was KC registered, and there was some health testing, though no champions or any outstanding heritage.
Like @snowbunny said, I won't share Bear's price, to be fair to the breeder, but it was significantly lower than some of the prices suggested on those ads, but a lot more than Monty cost - and taking into account inflation, and all the champions in Bear's lines, I think it was very fair.

 

[Boogie]

2013 £550 for Tatze. Kennel club registered, excellent pedigree, all Heath checks for parents and I met Mum and Dad.

She‘s had no health conditions herself.

 

[Boogie]

“I’m not getting a puppy”

We’ve heard that before!

 

[Cupcase]

I don't think I will ever have another puppy for a number of reasons, Cupar being the main reason but I would never pay that amount of money anyway.

I would however in an ideal world like another chance at getting it right with a puppy but with these prices it will never happen. I will in the future go back through the rescue and take up the challenge of a 9 month to 18 month old rehome. My years of working with a training formula that I'm more comfortable with, will make it easier on the next rehome. Or I might just adopt old labradors, after all their personality is already set in stone and you just can't help but love them, if Cassie is anything to go by.

 

[Atemas]

We paid £650 for Red three and a half years ago - it was the going rate at that time for a KC registered bitch and well worth it. Interestingly Red’s dad is from Partridge Fen. I love the way they describe their dogs as biddable ‘cos that’s exactly what she is

 

[Boogie]

I don't think I will ever have another puppy for a number of reasons, Cupar being the main reason but I would never pay that amount of money anyway.

I would however in an ideal world like another chance at getting it right with a puppy but with these prices it will never happen. I will in the future go back through the rescue and take up the challenge of a 9 month to 18 month old rehome. My years of working with a training formula that I'm more comfortable with, will make it easier on the next rehome. Or I might just adopt old labradors, after all their personality is already set in stone and you just can't help but love them, if Cassie is anything to go by.

Withdrawn guide dog pups?

they are £350

 

[Emily_Babbelhund]

When I was doing all my breeder visits in the UK three years ago, the price for a very well bred hybrid working/show line (what I was looking for) was GBP 1000-1200. Seemed pretty standard.

Carbon, of course, was "free".

I always think it's funny that people even think of the initial price of the dog. It's going to cost you many, many multiples of that for medical care, food, training, BANDANAS, etc. I kept track of Brogan's costs for tax purposes (as a certified service dog) and he was well over $80k. All money well spent, but it made his $500 rescue adoption fee look like peanuts.

Ironically the higher the asking price for a puppy, the more likely I am to think they are scammers. Responsible established breeders simply don't go thousands over the norm, at least not in my experience.

 

[kateincornwall]

Reubens siblings were £850 , KC registered from health checked pedigree parents . I didnt pay that much because the breeder is someone I know , she bred Sam ( different parentage ) and bless her , she offered Reuben to me at a large discount because of losing Sam .

 

[SwampDonkey]

I've paid a fair price for all my dogs. What happening now is demand is outstripping the availability. People want puppies and the unscrupulous will take advantage. Prices have almost doubled in 3 months. Untested unregistered pups are being sold at vastly inflated prices. Registered breeders who health test are charging more too. There have been cases and of people on waiting lists who have paid deposits been told the pup they had been waiting for is no longer available. Then they found out the breeder has sold it to someone for double the price. The breeder has been reported to the KC and trading standards.

 

[Shaz82]

I heard that too @SwampDonkey , this morning actually.
Someone reserved a Spaniel at £800, paid a deposit and signed a contract with the breeder, paid in full later and was then told it was £400 more. The buyers said no and found the pup put back for sale at £1200, and they had to fight to get back the £800. Disgusting.

Hopefully inflated prices will put off the people who are buying on a whim, and they will come back down later for us lot.

Maisy was £800 3 years ago, I also looked at GSD which were over £1k.

 

[Emily]

It's going to cost you many, many multiples of that for medical care, food, training, BANDANAS, etc. I kept track of Brogan's costs for tax purposes (as a certified service dog) and he was well over $80k. All money well spent, but it made his $500 rescue adoption fee look like peanuts.

I prefer not to think about it