Puppy prices.

[Onelife]

We had to have our lovely working sheep dog "Gipsy" put down a few weeks back....and l don't mind saying l shed buckets over her.She had the best life we could provide for her and up until the last couple of weeks was still enjoying life. We had noticed that she was sleeping more than usual and acting differently, like laying in the flower borders. Anyway we decided to get her checked out and after a scan she was found to have a hole in her heart...which as you can imagine amounted to three broken hearts.....she wasn't going to get any better so we said goodbye the following day.....hey up, here l go again!

Anyhow the purpose of this post is to say how much puppy prices have shot up recently, presumably due to the demand during Covid?
Sadly, I fear there are going to be a load of screwed up dogs needing re- homing once we are out of this pandemic.

They are advertiing Border Collies/ Working sheepdogs for £1,000 + so we have decided to get another chicken instead...l just need to remember not to pull to hard on its lead

If any of you hear of a working sheepdog going cheap £250 max then drop me a line....must be no more than ten weeks old.

Cheers.

Keith

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[oldbluefox]

Sorry to hear that Keith. Losing a dog must be like losing a member of the family. Our next door neighbour had a golden retriever and since he was out most of the day we used to take her out for walks and run her around the garden, just for company for her. Many is the time we have said why not have a dog but there are so many reasons why not we have resisted, least of all the upset of losing them.

Good luck in your search for a puppy. Do none of the rescue charities not have one?

[Manoverboard]

To be honest I thought chickens rather than sheepdogs went ' Cheap '

Why can't you have a rescue dog ?

[Whynd1]

Well our minature schnauzer has just turned 4.
He was purchased from a Kennel club approved breeder with an excellent reputation.
Our vet knew him and said all his dogs are exceptional.
Anyhow he cost us just over £900.

Lindsey

[Stephen]

Never easy losing any sort of pet. I have taken all of our cats on their final journey to the vets over the years, and it's heart breaking. And no doubt the day will come when it will be Monty's turn.

Mrs S and I have talked about perhaps getting a medium to small dog one day, but not while we still have Monty though, and would certainly consider giving a home to a rescue dog. Thoroughbreds are all very well but you have to pay silly money for them.

[Onelife]

Thanks Foxy, Hi Mob.

The answer to your question.... by the time many dogs reach the age of re homing many of them will have already been screwed up...whether that be by not being socialised, afraid of traffic, and numerous other bad traits. I don't wish to blow my own trumpet, but as you have posed the question 'why not, re-home'?. l can only say this...l was one of the top dog agility handlers in my day and used those skills to teach others how to train their own dogs both in obediance/agility.
For every good re-homed dog there will be many that come with learnt behavioural problems....that's not to say that in the right hands these problems can't be ironed out but in may cases you are dealing with the problems that bad owners have created.....l don't want that hassle.

My prerferance has always been to have a puppy which can be moulded into the dog for life that l will be proud of.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Sorry to hear that OL. Losing a pet is heart breaking.

But re prices I'm not sure it's anything to do with Covid. I think it's called inflation since you last bought one. Our Cockerpoo from a reputable breeder was £800 five years ago, a lot more than our previous Cocker 14 years before that. I'd be very suspicious of any young pedigree dog on sale at the sort of price you mention. Rescue sounds a good idea to me.

[Onelife]

Hi Sir Merv......l was thinking more along the lines of a bog standard farm collie......l wouldn't touch a pedigree Border collie no matter how cheap/ expensive it was......but that's for another day.

[towny44]

Never easy losing any sort of pet. I have taken all of our cats on their final journey to the vets over the years, and it's heart breaking. And no doubt the day will come when it will be Monty's turn.

Mrs S and I have talked about perhaps getting a medium to small dog one day, but not while we still have Monty though, and would certainly consider giving a home to a rescue dog. Thoroughbreds are all very well but you have to pay silly money for them.

You can also pay silly money for designer crossbreads, our eldest son is picking up his first ever dog tomorrow a labradoodle F2, and he is paying £1800 for him. Then there is all the other essentials like Vet plans , jabs and/or insurance, as well as beds, cages, assorted toys, collar, harness and lead, before you think about feeding them. Cats are much cheaper to keep, but maybe not as much fun.

[Stephen]

This is where allot of people fall foul of getting a dog. They don't do their homework, instead they see the cute face but don't realise what they are taking on and the costs involved.

[oldbluefox]

Hi Sir Merv......l was thinking more along the lines of a bog standard farm collie......l wouldn't touch a pedigree Border collie no matter how cheap/ expensive it was......but that's for another day.

Farmers Weekly - might be worth a look. Do you know any local farmers?

[Stephen]

Hi Sir Merv......l was thinking more along the lines of a bog standard farm collie......l wouldn't touch a pedigree Border collie no matter how cheap/ expensive it was......but that's for another day.

Farmers Weekly - might be worth a look. Do you know any local farmers?

He knows their sheep better

[screwy]

Never seen the fascination in having a pet where you have to pick it’s crap up in your hand, albeit in a flimsy bit of plastic, then leave it on someone’s wall.

[Onelife]

Hi Sir Merv......l was thinking more along the lines of a bog standard farm collie......l wouldn't touch a pedigree Border collie no matter how cheap/ expensive it was......but that's for another day.

Farmers Weekly - might be worth a look. Do you know any local farmers?

Hi Foxy…The last couple of collies we’ve had came from Wales. The Welsh farmers tend advertise their surplus collies to people in the Midlands and afar using local papers. When I’m out and about again I’ll see what’s about. I have put the word out there with the local farmer (his bitch had some 5 months ago) but if I can’t get one within my price range I’ll just have to train the chicken to bring my slippers.

[Onelife]

Never seen the fascination in having a pet where you have to pick it’s crap up in your hand, albeit in a flimsy bit of plastic, then leave it on someone’s wall.

I always pick poo up in a plastic bag then stick it in my pocket....keeps your hands warm on a cold frosty morning

[Onelife]

Hi Sir Merv......l was thinking more along the lines of a bog standard farm collie......l wouldn't touch a pedigree Border collie no matter how cheap/ expensive it was......but that's for another day.

Farmers Weekly - might be worth a look. Do you know any local farmers?

He knows their sheep better

But If you know the local farmers it’s much easier to get access to their sheep…just saying!

[screwy]

Never seen the fascination in having a pet where you have to pick it’s crap up in your hand, albeit in a flimsy bit of plastic, then leave it on someone’s wall.

I always pick poo up in a plastic bag then stick it in my pocket....keeps your hands warm on a cold frosty morning

It then there’s only one wall where you live, that’s to keep the Welsh out...Lol

[Onelife]

Never seen the fascination in having a pet where you have to pick it’s crap up in your hand, albeit in a flimsy bit of plastic, then leave it on someone’s wall.

I always pick poo up in a plastic bag then stick it in my pocket....keeps your hands warm on a cold frosty morning

It then there’s only one wall where you live, that’s to keep the Welsh out...Lol

I didn't know Offa's Dyke ran through Ludlow but l can see some advantages

[screwy]

I'll bet she always does.

[Onelife]

I'll bet she always does.

You've lost me on that one screwy?

[Stephen]

I'll bet she always does.

I'm with you screwy

[Onelife]

I'll bet she always does.

I'm with you screwy

And you're welcome to him Screwy...just be careful if he tells you that you need another hole in your belt

[Onelife]

This is the last photo taken of Gipsy...about two weeks before we said goodbye

[Ranchi]

Info about collies, please. Is it true that one difference between Scottish & Welsh border collies is that one has ears which stand up whilst the other has ears that flop down?

[oldbluefox]

Plenty of information here Ranchi but no mention of ears I'm afraid. From pictures on Google it seems there is no difference apart from Welsh collies are bi-lingual!!!