Buying a Labrador these days
Discussion
I just gritted my teeth when I got Hester; in all reality there won’t be cheeky deals going as it’s so well known that puppy prices are just through the roof. And yes I did have to “apply” and go through that malarky, but she’s good working stock from well known kennels in Aberdeenshire. All good. Her gun dog training starts next week.
seanyfez said:
Very sorry for your loss - we lost our old girl back in June last year and although I hadn’t planned to replace her quickly I found it difficult to cope without her so we started searching.
Everything you have said pretty much applies to what we found last year. My wife spent three weeks on the internet , day after day, re-checking every hour, covering all the puppy and re-homing sites. As you say the internet is full of chancers and the most ridiculous pricing we have ever seen.
Finally, at the back end of July, a re-home turned up (1 year old male black lab), he had some behavioural issues but nothing I couldn’t sort. In this particular instance my wife was 3rd on a waiting list that rose to a couple of hundred in the space of a few days for this one dog - absolutely nuts!!
Sorry about going on a bit but I’m afraid your experiences are shared and there doesn’t seem to be any way around it - but it does appear that persistence pays off in the end.
Btw don’t bother with RNIB, you probably won’t get a reply (We didn’t) as I suspect this is the first stop for many new potential dog owners.
Good luck
RNIB? Guide Dogs?Everything you have said pretty much applies to what we found last year. My wife spent three weeks on the internet , day after day, re-checking every hour, covering all the puppy and re-homing sites. As you say the internet is full of chancers and the most ridiculous pricing we have ever seen.
Finally, at the back end of July, a re-home turned up (1 year old male black lab), he had some behavioural issues but nothing I couldn’t sort. In this particular instance my wife was 3rd on a waiting list that rose to a couple of hundred in the space of a few days for this one dog - absolutely nuts!!
Sorry about going on a bit but I’m afraid your experiences are shared and there doesn’t seem to be any way around it - but it does appear that persistence pays off in the end.
Btw don’t bother with RNIB, you probably won’t get a reply (We didn’t) as I suspect this is the first stop for many new potential dog owners.
Good luck
No wonder people are getting dogs stolen.
Worries me that all these folk who are paying all that for a dog will have to go back to work and god knows what will happen to all those dogs, its like bicycles are hard to get hold of at the moment but it doesnt matter if you leave a bike in the garage to gather dust.
Just hope people are buying responsibly with the potential 15 year commitment in mind.
Worries me that all these folk who are paying all that for a dog will have to go back to work and god knows what will happen to all those dogs, its like bicycles are hard to get hold of at the moment but it doesnt matter if you leave a bike in the garage to gather dust.
Just hope people are buying responsibly with the potential 15 year commitment in mind.
We’ve been waiting for a couple of years to get a Ridgeback pup. We’ve got a 14yo cat who’s used to being the only animal in the house now (apart from my 7yo son...) so didn’t think it was fair on him to have an energetic little ball in the house putting his nose out of joint.
The prices are just insane! We just started looking about 2 years ago when both of us moved back to full time home working and were looking at £800-1k - they’ve been £3k+ recently!!! Factor in training and 1st year vets and you could be looking at near £10k for the first 12 months
On the plus side, there are a few seemingly reputable breeders who are pulling the prices down a little of late. There are a couple for back down nearer £2.5k from people with good histories etc so it’s definitely going in a sensible direction, but a long way to go!!
A mate of mine bought a cockapoo during lockdown 1 for £4K. Went back within 2 weeks and took on her sister for another £4.5k! He needs his head examined!
The prices are just insane! We just started looking about 2 years ago when both of us moved back to full time home working and were looking at £800-1k - they’ve been £3k+ recently!!! Factor in training and 1st year vets and you could be looking at near £10k for the first 12 months
On the plus side, there are a few seemingly reputable breeders who are pulling the prices down a little of late. There are a couple for back down nearer £2.5k from people with good histories etc so it’s definitely going in a sensible direction, but a long way to go!!
A mate of mine bought a cockapoo during lockdown 1 for £4K. Went back within 2 weeks and took on her sister for another £4.5k! He needs his head examined!
You might have to wait for one but if you want a proper well bred dog as opposed to some puppy farmers profit then it’s well worth it.
https://www.fenwaylabradors.co.uk/
https://www.fenwaylabradors.co.uk/
Also these guys.
http://www.drakeshead.com/puppies.asp
Tbh the purchase price of a puppy from a top breeder is cheap, my last dog racked up 8k of vets bills in her last 6 months of life when she developed health issues, so I honestly would not take a chance on a dog that didn’t come from a decent breeder with the amount of people purely breeding for profit.
http://www.drakeshead.com/puppies.asp
Tbh the purchase price of a puppy from a top breeder is cheap, my last dog racked up 8k of vets bills in her last 6 months of life when she developed health issues, so I honestly would not take a chance on a dog that didn’t come from a decent breeder with the amount of people purely breeding for profit.
1602Mark said:
I paid £500 for Ted (my yellow lab) about 5 years ago and rescued Holly (an elderly black) about 3 years ago. I've been thinking of getting another so that Ted isn't alone when the inevitable happens but I couldn't afford thousands. Do we think prices will drop back post Covid?
Prices will probably drop somewhat, but there will be loads of dogs in rescue centres as people realise they're not going to be WFH forever and they don't actually have time to look after their lockdown companions now the pubs and other places are open...Pothole said:
1602Mark said:
I paid £500 for Ted (my yellow lab) about 5 years ago and rescued Holly (an elderly black) about 3 years ago. I've been thinking of getting another so that Ted isn't alone when the inevitable happens but I couldn't afford thousands. Do we think prices will drop back post Covid?
Prices will probably drop somewhat, but there will be loads of dogs in rescue centres as people realise they're not going to be WFH forever and they don't actually have time to look after their lockdown companions now the pubs and other places are open...Pothole said:
1602Mark said:
I paid £500 for Ted (my yellow lab) about 5 years ago and rescued Holly (an elderly black) about 3 years ago. I've been thinking of getting another so that Ted isn't alone when the inevitable happens but I couldn't afford thousands. Do we think prices will drop back post Covid?
Prices will probably drop somewhat, but there will be loads of dogs in rescue centres as people realise they're not going to be WFH forever and they don't actually have time to look after their lockdown companions now the pubs and other places are open...moorx said:
I think before we reach that stage (and you can see it starting already in the 'free ads') a lot of people will be trying to re-sell their dogs to recoup some of the ridiculous amounts they have shelled out.
Figures. This situation has certainly shown a fair number of people for who they really are.
Those are mad prices.
My youngest retriever was £1600 a few years ago,
Actually that’s what my wife said, maybe I ought to check it out.
One of our neighbours bought a lab during lockdown, my wife used to breed retrievers and gave them loads of info but they bought the first one they saw, which is obviously a cross between a lab and a lurcher or something. Which is all great but I’m not sure if they were told they were getting a Labrador or whatever cross they’ve actually got. It’s a bit late to ask them now.
My youngest retriever was £1600 a few years ago,
Actually that’s what my wife said, maybe I ought to check it out.
One of our neighbours bought a lab during lockdown, my wife used to breed retrievers and gave them loads of info but they bought the first one they saw, which is obviously a cross between a lab and a lurcher or something. Which is all great but I’m not sure if they were told they were getting a Labrador or whatever cross they’ve actually got. It’s a bit late to ask them now.
El stovey said:
Those are mad prices.
My youngest retriever was £1600 a few years ago,
Actually that’s what my wife said, maybe I ought to check it out.
One of our neighbours bought a lab during lockdown, my wife used to breed retrievers and gave them loads of info but they bought the first one they saw, which is obviously a cross between a lab and a lurcher or something. Which is all great but I’m not sure if they were told they were getting a Labrador or whatever cross they’ve actually got. It’s a bit late to ask them now.
So PH reflects real life: people ask for advice and then completely ignore it.My youngest retriever was £1600 a few years ago,
Actually that’s what my wife said, maybe I ought to check it out.
One of our neighbours bought a lab during lockdown, my wife used to breed retrievers and gave them loads of info but they bought the first one they saw, which is obviously a cross between a lab and a lurcher or something. Which is all great but I’m not sure if they were told they were getting a Labrador or whatever cross they’ve actually got. It’s a bit late to ask them now.
Pothole said:
So PH reflects real life: people ask for advice and then completely ignore it.
Indeed.It’s odd though as they spent hours going through everything with my wife, (apparently to make sure they got a lab from a reputable breeder) she gave them all sorts of things to look for and questions to ask and they did none of it and ended up with what looks like a Labrador cross.
As I said, fair enough if they’re happy, I know these decisions often end up being about emotion rather than logic and hopefully they haven’t paid thousands for something they didn’t know they were buying but as they’ve got it now it’s a bit late to ask and they’ve not really offered any information about how it all went down.
I’m still amazed dogs were going for £4000 during lockdown, imagine having a litter of 10 or so.
No wonder more dogs are apparently getting stolen.
El stovey said:
Pothole said:
So PH reflects real life: people ask for advice and then completely ignore it.
Indeed.It’s odd though as they spent hours going through everything with my wife, (apparently to make sure they got a lab from a reputable breeder) she gave them all sorts of things to look for and questions to ask and they did none of it and ended up with what looks like a Labrador cross.
As I said, fair enough if they’re happy, I know these decisions often end up being about emotion rather than logic and hopefully they haven’t paid thousands for something they didn’t know they were buying but as they’ve got it now it’s a bit late to ask and they’ve not really offered any information about how it all went down.
I’m still amazed dogs were going for £4000 during lockdown, imagine having a litter of 10 or so.
No wonder more dogs are apparently getting stolen.
PS If you're looking for a reputable dog breeder to buy a puppy from, this looks like a good place to start from. https://www.champdogs.co.uk/
Edited by robinessex on Saturday 20th February 11:42
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