Dual champ pup prices - your opinions

[Bsbowhunter]

I was reading in the Doc S column about a lady paying $700 bucks for a pet store pup, most of you confirmed she was getting ripped off. I am scheduled to pick up a very nice puppy in January. I am paying $600 bucks for a male (the females were reserved). The pedigree contains some impressive dogs (UKC CH and GRCH) as well as some show stock (ie Strongbow Beagles). This deal came out of my "looking for conformation" post. Am I paying too much? The show breeders are asking 1000 to 1300 bucks for a show prospect and require (1) references as long as your arm, and (2) most request restricted AKC registration. Your thoughts.......

[Guest]

that is to much !!!!!! and you wont get akc papers on that pup you bought !!!!!!!! i hope you wernt going to show in the akc shows !!!!!!!

[TomMN]

Yes, that is way too much for a pup but if it turns out to be what you are looking for it will be worth it. I have paid up to $500 for a pup but my best dog was free. I would forget about AKC if you are looking for a dog that can hunt and show. AKC just doesn't promote that type of beagle. There is a guy from Virginia that has some of the White River dogs that comes on these boards sometimes that goes by RES. He may have what you are looking for.

[Bev]

TomMn, I believe some of Mr. Prunty's stock came from the Strong Bow line. They seem to be good hunters as well as good show'ers, so maybe BsBowhunter will make out just fine with this pup. I've paid quite a bit for a young hound here or there when I was looking for something in particular, but like a lot of folks, some of my best ones were free or almost free.

[Boomer]

Most show breeders do extensive genetic health testing (hips, thyroid, epilepsy, breeding disorder, eyes, etc), so you're also paying for a very solid health guarantee. Most show breeders also only put out a few litters per year, too, so their average cost per litter is higher.

The references are just to make sure you're the kind of person who is going to treat the dog properly. Some people find it insulting or intrusive, but you have to understand that these breeders care about the dogs they sell and want them in good homes. They also don't want their kennel to gain a bad reputation for selling dogs that end up in shelters, on the highway, in puppy mills, starved or frozen to death outside, etc. I would actually avoid any breeder that didn't do some sort of background check or at least asked a lot of questions when meeting with you.

The limited registration does not mean you can't register the dog with the AKC or compete in AKC competitions - it just means that any litters your dog produces won't be AKC registerable. The breeder has the ability to change the registration at any time, so if your dog becomes accomplished, you can convince the breeder to change his/her mind. The purposes of a limited registration are to help keep their dogs from becoming breeding stock in puppy mills and/or have their kennel name show up in the pedigree of every backyard breeder in the area and ruin their reputation.

[WSRandy]

I just had to chirp in on this.
I dont think $400-$600 for a pup that is out of a proven breeding with past winners is outrageous. I think the important thing is what happened in the previous breedings.......the more this breeding has produced winners and proven high % of winners, the more you should expect to pay.

One other thing.....Just because dogs are UKC Champions and Grands doesnt mean its not an AKC dog as well. If I were paying that for a pup I would want an AKC dog for the simple reason I can take an AKC to AKC,ARHA,UKC,PKC, etc......I cant take a UKC dog to AKC if I want to.

Just my thoughts, Randy

[TomMN]

Bev, I agree with you about Dale's dogs. In fact the pup i paid $500 for is a sister to the one one the cover of the December TAB. But I still think that is a lot to pay for an unproven pup (so did my wife ha ha).
I think it is interesting that these UKC pups are selling for so much. I don't think the same people could sell the same pups for these prices if they were AKC only. I am talking about rabbit hunters like us, not city people that show their dogs at Madison Square Gardens. When was the last time you heard of someone paying $600 for a beagle pup to hunt rabbits with?
I know most of the dogs winning in UKC shows and hunts came from AKC dogs but I think UKC is doing a lot better job promoting dogs that can show AND hunt.

[blackdirt beagles]

I think $250 is about the maximum realistic price to pay for a pup. And that if you absolutely have to have a pup from a certain cross that you cant find anywhere else. I think most of the time, $150 should get an excellant, well bred, healthy, registered(important to some people) puppy.

[Big Dog]

I payed $300.00 for a 4 1/2 month old pup, and that was only because he was already started and could circle a rabbit by himself. I can't see paying more than $250 for and unstarted pup regardless of what his breeding was. However this is America and" to each his own" but it wouldn't be me(LOL).

Big Dog

[snowshoehareguide]

i think its a gimmick. you pay for your pup but you cant register pups out of it. i understand why breeders like to sell them this way. i dont want to buy a pup with limited registration unless i plan to spay or neuter it. if its not good enough to breed i dont want it taking up space that could be taken by a dog that is. and i also dont think a breeder that does a good job should be afraid to charge for his work just like anybody else. i see guys selling pet breeds for 500 ,600,even 1500 for some breeds of puppys. they dont have any qualifications other than they are cute and healthy. then a hound guy who pours his guts into breeding and hunting the best he can sells pups for cheap money . now i need to buy some beagle pups in the near future so i hope you guys dont raise prices right away. pete

[Bsbowhunter]

As always, I first want to thank each of you for your thoughts and opinions. To be honest, I can't help but to wonder if I'm paying too much. That's not to say that this pup isn't worth it, but with four kids, $600 "smacks" is a lot to drop down. Just as an FYI, some of you did get confused. The show breeders were the ones not allowing full registration (ie spay/nueter contracts). I can use this dog as part of my "foundation program". This pup comes from a long line of impressive champions an has the conformation I'm looking for. Some of the field champs in his pedigree would include WhiteRiver and FireCreek dogs. I have no preference or loyality to a certain registry, but the UKC is packed with dual champs and hall of fame winners out of this line. Bev metioned Dale Prunity, yes.... some of his dogs are out of these lines. I don't have a 6 or 7 tier pedigree, but from the research I've done, there is plentyof BIG AKC show names in there as well. Now the bad part that really makes my decision hard. The dog only comes with UKC papers, therefore can not be registered as AKC also (AKC changed that rule in 96). I'll let you guys/gals know how it all turns out. Thanks again.

[Guest]

NO AKC PAPERS IS WHAT I POSTED ON THIS TOPIC DAYS AGO !!! PUPS ARE A LOT HARDER TO SELL WITH OUT AKC PAPERS !!!!!! I DONT KNOW WHY GUYS DONT KEEP UP WITH THERE AKC PAPERS !!!! I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW DALES DOGS DO IN AKC FIELD TRIALS !!!!! BUT THEY OF COURE CANT RUN WITH OUT AKC PAPERS !!!!!

[Maynard]

The person that made the reply that he would like to see Dales dogs run in AKC . I don't own any of Dale line of hounds but you can take it to the bank they can flat smoke a rabbit . White river Miss Ricky is one of the most impressive jump I have seen in a long time and the dog in Ohio named Beu of touchstone is a nice one to . Don't rule out UKC hunting beagle program until you have tried more than one . I don't think the pup is worth that kind of money .

[RES]

BsBowhunter, my name is Ryan Stancill. I live in Chesapeake, Virginia. I have three dogs that I purchased from Dale Prunty. Two females that were about 3 years old when I got them. As well as a male that is now 16 months old. The price I payed for him at 8 weeks old was a whole lot cheaper than what I would take for him now. He started running at 5 months old. He is a now a good jump dog, fairly fast, with very good line control, and is a great looking hound, as well. I also have seven 6 month old pups that are from a cross between the two females that I purchased from Dale, and two males that Dale had recommended. I took the two females to Dale in WV for breeding. Four of the seven pups that I kept for myself have started running. One is doing extremely well. They started on wild cottontails. No starting pen was needed. You may feel that the price for the pup was a little steep now, but in the long run, I don't think you will be dissapointed. If you have any questions that I could help you with, feel free to call me at 757-547-4296.

[Chris]

If YOU think the pup is worth it, then buy it. Don't listen to anyone else. YOU'RE the one who's going to put countless hours into the dog. YOU'RE the one taking the chance. I wouldn't hesitate to spend $600 on a pup that I really wanted. A friend of mine just paid $1,200 for a puppy that's the breed of the dog Eddie on the show Frasier. I can't remember what the breed is, but I know I'd have NO use for the mutt -- just cute and cuddly -- useless to me, but different strokes for different folks.

Think of the message we're sending... A lady goes into a pet store and pays $700 for a puppy mill pup, or goes to a local breeder (who had poured his heart into the pups) and pays $150??? Folks assume the quality by the price tag. Go to your local car dealership and look at 2 cars -- one has a tag of $39 and the other has a tag of $17,000 -- which one will you assume to be better. Supply and demand doesn't warrant giving pups away, and I think we do an injustice to ourselves to insinuate that a well bred pup isn't worth the cost of a cheap shotgun.