would you spend $2000 on a puppy?

[Cassius2]

I would also baulk at the price, but i really think that it comes down to research and knowing the breeder. make sure you can visit the actual premises (this is a biggie to avoiding 'fake' breeders...ie puppy farms). check out both the parents for temperment and see the way in which mumma is with her pups and with other people. it is a big investment (a lifetime!) and is your right to know exactly what you are bringing home.

Also, i recommend keeping an eye out on petrescue and purebred rescue websites. there are a few around these days and could be a way of seeing what else is on offer. i know for example that the RSPCA in canberra would get alot of labradoodles into their shelters and i remember the carers always commenting on how lovely they are.

TBH the initial buy price fades away fast anyway. things can always go wrong...even with a cheapo rescue dog! our Dawg Stella needs a full knee reconstruction for $3.5K, she has epilepsy, incontinence the works LOL! poor wee poppet. and she was a bog standard lab x rescue pup. (it's for this reason that i recommend checking out BOTH parents! in our case Dad Dog was the 'lucky dip' LOL!).

[Freya]

We paid $1000 for a choc lab puppy 5 years ago. $2000 for a labradoodle - are they really worth that kind of $$$!?

Still Im a believer in buying puppies from registered breeders. You know where they are coming from; you can view their parents. You generally get a healthy dog (although there always has to be the odd one that gets health probs no matter what). So I say if its what you want, go for it. Maybe find a similar breed though for a lower price?

We spent $1600 all up on our two labradors 5 years ago and I thought that was about as exxy as I could go before feeling ridiculous for spending such a large amount of money for a dog.
Our current puppy is an Aussie Bulldog (while a new "purebreed" its unrecognised by the Kanine Council, why I dont understand considering every dog is a mix of something if you trace it right back) but she is worth $1500. We havent paid for her because we are in a breeding agreement with friends of ours that are registered breeders. Its a great route if you want a pricey dog but dont have the cash upfront to pay outright for the dog

[*Beema*]

I couldn't justify $2000 on a dog....

We had Border Collies when I grew up on our farm a mum and one of her pups, the mum was brilliant, excellent temperament and brilliant working dog, her pup, was a nutter, rarely did what we wanted and always cause trouble :rollseyes:, I thne won a pure Bread Border Collie, through the local Field Days, from a very well respected breeder. But after we got the dog home, we lost every bit of respect for that breeder, my dog had been beaten and had been done so by a male. Only I was able to go close, no males could get near him, he was very skinny, undernourished, and extremely timmid and was uncontrollable. I spent hours and hours working with him, to lift his confidence and and so that he would go with my dad. We disocvered that he had gone through some training with the breeder as specific whistles he would do certain things, so we came to the conclusion that he was what they considered a "dud". So we were very wary of even the respectful breeders after that point.....

Alot of the 'smarter' dogs (border collies, kelpies etc) are working dogs and I think it's awfully unfair to keep a working dog in a backyard.

ETA- Cavalier King Charles Spaniels are AWESOME, gentle and great for families....in my fat opinion.

I completely agree with NOT having working dogs in the city, it upsets me seeing them cooped up in a backyard with limited opportunity to run or do what they are designed to do

Also a friends has had a couple of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, and they are brilliant!!! Definitely have a look at them

[Ginger]

i am one that will always go to a breeder for pets. our dog (golden retriver) cost $950 and our cat (russian blue) cost $600. they are both worth every cent. they are both fantastic with the kids. we checked out the breeder thoroughly and met the parents in both cases.
have you considered a spoodle at all? i know two people that have them and absolutely love them. they cost around $1200. pm me hun if you would like me to tell you their particular breeder.
i think $2000 is probably a bit excessive, but if you are in a financial position to be able to do it, then i would. i can understand why you would want to go this option having been burnt in the past with your last dog. i think the most important thing with pet ownership is finding the right 'match' from day one. doing your research and finding the right pet for your family situation, which it sounds like you are doing.

[Lulu]

Our current puppy is an Aussie Bulldog (while a new "purebreed" its unrecognised by the Kanine Council, why I dont understand considering every dog is a mix of something if you trace it right back) but she is worth $1500. We havent paid for her because we are in a breeding agreement with friends of ours that are registered breeders. Its a great route if you want a pricey dog but dont have the cash upfront to pay outright for the dog

OMG I LOVE those dogs. They are just amazing looking and so friendly (from what I have seen so far). Friends of mine got one and loved him so much they got him a girlfriend. I have often considered dog-napping one of them, but I don't think I could afford the food bill!

[YoYo]

in short NO WAY! Not for anything but a pure bred dog! From what I know (and it could have changed by now) the ANKC hasn't recognised labradoodles as a pure bred dog (IMO it's coz it's a cross between a labrador and a poodle!!) and anyone who says they are a registered breeder of Labradoodles is probably nothing but a back yard breeder out to earn a load of CASH! (sounds like they're getting it too!)

I paid $1000 for an Old English Sheepdog 4 years ago (he is a show dog, and a stud dog, although he hasn't had a woman yet - I myself am a registered breeder of OES).....I know the parents, grandparents, great grandparents (plus some) of my pooch, plus he has been tested for problems specific in the breed such as bad hips eye problems etc. My pooch isn't greatly 'in-bred' as someone else said....there are many lines pure bred dogs follow and as long as you aren't breeding brothers and sisters, mothers & sons together in-breeding really isn't the right word for it.

Perhaps look up the temperaments for both Labradors and poodles and see if you like them both on an individual level. They are both bred for different things, and you will never know the temperament you will get out of two breeds being crossed together. It's a gene lottery....just like with children and their parents!

[2CheekyMonkeys]

ok, we went to the markets this morning and the million paw walk was on ( i think it was called that) and there were soooo many dogs everywhere. we saw a dog called a cavoodle, which is pretty cute. anyone have any opinions on them? a labradoodle is still my fave but they cost sooo much and there is a massive waiting list anyways. i did a quick net search and found breeder of cavoodles who are selling for 500 bucks which is more doable price wise.

ginger is the spoodle the same thing as the cavoodle! is the breeder you know in qld?

[Lulu]

These things are still 'designer dogs' and this industry doesn't have the best reputation. Poodles are great, Cavvies are great you can always go for one or the other from a good breeder. Not a new one out to make a fast buck off the latest craze.

[feeb]

As previously mentioned we have a cavoodle is great with kids puts up with lots!!!!!! Is a bit loopy and jumpy when wants to come inside, doesnt bark, doesnt shed hair. Very nice dog.

[YoYo]

Spoodle is a ****ers Spaniel Cross Poodle
Cavoodle is a Cavalier Cross Poodle

Like Lulu said, they are all what they call 'designer dogs' which is a fancy name for a Bitsa (bits of this, bits of that) or a mutt! The designer dogs are designed to take money from you IMO by making their names sound fancy!

In the end, you will love a dog no matter what breed it is.....if it fits well into your family, if you are serious about caring for a pooch for life. I chose my breed for temperament and looks, but my breed of dog isn't for everyone IYKWIM.

There are loads of dogs out there that haven't fit into families (or circumstances change) that are desperate for homes too....even spoodles, cavoodles, and labradoodles so check out rescue places too.

Good luck

[Lulu]

I'm gonna call my staffy X a 'steeler' for more street cred....

[christy]

Personally, unless you are breeding or breed specific and you want a dog (not fussy) I would go to your local shelter, or phone around places like the Animal Welfare League or the World League Protection of Animals. They often have litters and heaps of animals. I have fostered dogs before and can say that you can basically go and choose the temperment. Some of the welfare agencies do not temperment test the dogs, so if you want to be sure, go to the RSPCA or somewhere like that as they employee dog trainers to temperment test all the dogs prior to rehoming them. You can take them for a weekend and see how they go. And most of them are just like the "designer" dogs that are not registered breeds.

I have a labrador, she was one of 9. I knew her mum & dad and she has papers. She's a black labrador and I paid $150 for her with papers. She was a very bitey puppy, and I was into training and as I knew her parents I got her. I was studying dog behaviour at the time and teaching puppy preschools so I basically spent the first 6months training her. She's an awesome dog with the children now, and very friendly with people. But she was hard work training her.

I've come across some of the poodle crosses who were bred with not so nice doggy temperments because they were bred for looks rather than temperment...

[Freya]

OMG I LOVE those dogs. They are just amazing looking and so friendly (from what I have seen so far). Friends of mine got one and loved him so much they got him a girlfriend. I have often considered dog-napping one of them, but I don't think I could afford the food bill!

Oh they are the greatest! I loved our labs but they are HIGH MAINTENENCE. Caoimhe is so easy going, sure she is a piglet but all puppies are, once she is about 12mths she'll slow down with her hoovering of anything edible lol She hasnt chewed and destroyed as much stuff, she clued in the toilet training pretty quick, she has only barked once and that was at Dh when he was wearing a hooded jacket while mowing the lawn so she can definately guard dog but isnt a yapper, she doesnt really smell cause her coat is short..............I could go on for days lol Plus we adore our friends two bulldogs (one of which is Caoimhe's mama), they are fabulous laid back dogs so easy going, Bianca and Roxie let my boys lay all over them, ride them without even raising an eyebrow. Then they just lay around and snuggle. Im not a huge fan of dogs overall but man do I love them!

If you ever decide on another dog definately go the bulldog lol

Dh says they have a face only a mother could love but I think they are so.freakin.cute

[littlebear]

I'm another no. We paid $500 for our ****er spaniel and although she is beautiful she is a bit of a handful and hard to train. Then we have our lab x rottweiler x whatever else he is we saved, who was horribly mistreated as a pup and he is an absolutely beautiful dog. The only "scars" he has of being mistreated is he ducks when you raise your hand and he's terrified of brooms.

I think if you can get a 'mistreated' pup from a shelter, do it. If they're less than 1 year old you can help them grow up to be great dogs with not much more effort than training an expensive pet.

[AliBaby]

What an interesting topic. I think I might blog about this later on tonight if I have time as I am very much a 'dog loving person' and have a blog below my sig all about my life with my dogs and baby.

In short answer, I think it is all relative to the individual. If you really like the puppy and it is a breed that will suit your family's lifestyle and your circumstances allow you to pay $2000, then why not?

I have 2 dogs. Yes some people may call them "designer breeds' but really its just cross breeding to get the best of both worlds.

One of my dogs is a Jack Russel x Shihtzu - he was $600 (technical name - Jackshiht)
The other is a poodle cross shihtzu - he was $1200 (technical name - pooshiht) - in all serious I think its called something else but meh!

Will re-post again later when I add to my blog. Everyone has posted some really interesting thoughts and opinions - none of which are wrong or right. Just different.

Let us know what you end up doing.

[Lulu]

One of my dogs is a Jack Russel x Shihtzu - he was $600 (technical name - Jackshiht)
The other is a poodle cross shihtzu - he was $1200 (technical name - pooshiht) - in all serious I think its called something else but meh!

OMG

[Trillian]

that is awesome Bella!

[2CheekyMonkeys]

i will check out your blog. i figure this is something i am going to do only once in my life (spend so much moeny on a pet). i still havent fully decided yet though.