Puppy pricing???

[Smokeycat]

I have been doing some preliminary research into my next dog and have a question about pricing. It has to do with how breeders price differentiate. I have seen 3 common splits.
Pet vs show.
Male vs female.
By color.

I understand the pet vs show but why would one gender or color be more expensive than another? If any breeders could give me some illumination on this it would be greatly appreciated.

When I say color I mean within the breed standard not 'rare' colors.

 

[ruthcatrin]

I would assume one appears to be in higher demand than the other, at least for colors. For gender, possibly the same thing, possibly one gender is offered on co-own contract and so is priced different? Otherwise I'm not sure, Apollo's breeder priced everybody the same, sold them all on the same contract.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

I agree with Ruth supply and demand, but of course there are other reasons, certain lines, matching, etc.

When I was searching for another German mastiff I came under the impression that harls, blues, mantles were the most expensive. While blacks, fawns, brindles about half that if not less.....One day I would like a harl but I don't have $3500 + just laying around.....

 

[stephanieb]

I'm not a breeder, but believe that typically fully papered males can go for more because of earning potential. A female is good for I would guess 2 maybe 3 littres? A good stud can get you stud fees more than 2 or 3 times. As for color, supply and demand. For EM's at least it's a lot harder to show a brindle than a fawn or apricot. Not sure why that is, but definately what I have been told.

 

[Smokeycat]

I agree with Ruth supply and demand, but of course there are other reasons, certain lines, matching, etc.

When I was searching for another German mastiff I came under the impression that harls, blues, mantles were the most expensive. While blacks, fawns, brindles about half that if not less.....One day I would like a harl but I don't have $3500 + just laying around.....

That's where I really noticed it. I would love a show marked harlequin.

 

[raechiemay]

I always wondered why males & females were priced differently. I've seen males that were priced significantly higher than females & vice versa. And I've also seen pick of the litter priced at least $200+ more than the rest of the litter. What's the logic behind that?

 

[kevinmuaythai]

I always wondered why males & females were priced differently. I've seen males that were priced significantly higher than females & vice versa. And I've also seen pick of the litter priced at least $200+ more than the rest of the litter. What's the logic behind that?

A general pick price is 500$, breeders do this as they are potentially show/breeding quality. And they represent their kennel.

 

[raechiemay]

Makes sense. I figured it was a simple explanation. Seems like nowadays generally males are priced more than females which didn't seem to be the case back when my parents had bought pups from breeders when I was younger. Seemed like they always paid more bc they always wanted a female.

 

[ruby55]

I'm guessing that males are higher priced because, if it's a show quality dog, males bring in Best of Breed more often than females. Also if you're buying on an open breed contract, stud fees for males are easier $$$ than breeding females.

 

[Tailcreek]

Pet vs. show - typically a show potential pup will cost more. These are the pups that most closely match the breed standard and are expected to have sucess in the show ring
Male vs female - generally there is more interest in males so some breeders charge more for them - supply & demand
color - personally I have never come across different pricing for different colors in mastiffs...I would guess it also has to do with supply & demand

Jennifer
www.tailcreekmastiffs.com
www.thenaturalcarnivore.com

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

That's where I really noticed it. I would love a show marked harlequin.

I'd like to have at least one harlequin in my life, but I do so love my blues.

 

[Robtouw]

In my experience with OEM's and puppy pricing, the differences I found in the areas I searched in --NC, SC, VA, GA are:

Show v's companion pup

Breeder v's non-breeding rights

I have not found a price difference in coat color, but do find that older pups are less expensive.

Male v's female---I have found that males run about $300 more

Also, if prices are extremely low, question vet care, shots, worming, feeding and general care. Ask for records, verify parental testing. Anyone who with holds info or has issues with your questions, I would avoid. Best advice I can give is ask to spend time with the sire, dam and pups if possible. With my last two, as pups, we visited the breeder several times, she answered everything, gave us all we requested and allowed us time with her dogs--sire, damn, pups and grandmother! Our vet was able to call her vet and discuss the health of the dam and pups. We were lucky, but we also visited four breeders before finally making our decision.

I sound super picky, but each one of my dogs have been pretty wonderful and I have had no complaints!

 

[bullyBug]

I spoke to several breeders before getting Mason and only Show vs Pet had a difference in pricing. These were all reputable breeders though. I know BYBs and Pet stores follow supply and demand, or charge more for what the public perceives as "rare." It's been this way with breeds I've had or have been interested in. (Except Danes, I know show marked Harls will cost more than a show quality fawn because they're so difficult to get in a breeding.)

 

[raechiemay]

What kind of markings does a show marked harlequin have?

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

What kind of markings does a show marked harlequin have?

http://www.6stardanes.com/colors.html

Just a preference in the ring......

Personally I like a "heavy" marked harl

 

[raechiemay]

Oh cool. Thanks for the link. I personally liked the heavier marked one too.

 

[BlackShadowCaneCorso]

I love Harlequin danes! They are my favorite!!!! Someday I will have one.

In our breed we tend to have ones like Ruth's breeder where they all go for one price, ones that separate by pet vs show, ones that price males higher than females and ones that price "rare colours" higher. I tend to avoid the ones that price one gender higher as well as the colour pricers (these tend to be the rare blues, blue brindles, and wheat colours in our breed) as to me it is more a money grab. The other 2 are the ones I tend to look at if I am getting a puppy. If a breeder is selling their pick of the litter then I expect that puppy to be more than the others as that is the one they say in the litter that best conforms to the standard. Most breeders I know though either don't tend to sell these or they go out on a co-own contract with the breeder.

 

[ruthcatrin]

If a breeder is selling their pick of the litter then I expect that puppy to be more than the others as that is the one they say in the litter that best conforms to the standard. Most breeders I know though either don't tend to sell these or they go out on a co-own contract with the breeder.

That wouldn't bother me, though I'd want to know why they're not keeping their pick (though it could be something as simple as they don't need another male and the only female in the litter wasn't up to snuff or some such). I can kinda understand pricing for color, since some colors are harder to get without doing genetic damage to the dog (like merle), but it makes me worry that they're breeding for color for the sake of money....

I have a thing for Harlequin's too, but then I've always had a soft spot for leopard Appalusa horses too lol.

 

[Cody]

I would run from a breeder pricing on color.
I would also not buy from a breeder that didn't co-own the pick of the litter, as said before, why would they sell the "best" pup they produce?
That is just my 2 cents.

 

[m0rg4n]

I met someone with a Harlequin Dane this summer, people kept asking him if it was part Dalmatian. /facepalm