Help! Is it possible to pay less for a healthy puppy?
That is a lot of money for me. I would be a GREAT old english sheepdog owner, please don't judge me because that's more than I can afford. I mean, I can see paying 700 or 800. Is there any hope that I could get a great, healthy, normal puppy if it isn't registered and it's on the cheaper side? I would be open to an older dog, but I have two kids and I want to start with a puppy. Can anyone give me some help, and steer me in the right direction? THANKS! |
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| $1000 is only $200 more than you're willing to spend and I know many reputable breeders that sell right around the $1200-$1500 range. Just save up for a little while longer while you're waiting for your puppy and you'll have the money in no time.
An OES is a 10+ year commitment so you want to invest in a good dog from a reputable breeder that does all the major health and genetic testing. It can save you a lot more money in the long run if you invest in a god breeder early on. Rescue may be another option that you may want to look into. |
| There is an 18 month old rescue on another thread that is great with kids and they would like him to go to a home with children. He has been in a family with 4 kids all his life. He is in the Chicago area...check under the rescuing a sheepdog topics.
http://forum.oes.org/viewtopic.php?t=21822 |
| When I decided on getting a quality pet from an OESCA breeder, I knew I had to spend some good money in order to do it. I saved for 8 months and was able to get my puppy...I am so happy I did!!! She is wonderful..her temprement is lovely, she is healthy and happy..
In the long run, it is worth the extra money. OR you can contact the rescue in your area, and wait for a puppy or a older dog from a rescue--....Good Luck!!!!. |
| I got a puppy for $650... and have spent literally thousands in medical bills and specialty training due to temprement issues in the 10 months since then. Trust me; spend the money up front for a reputable breeder; you won't be sorry! |
RESCUE  |
| I agree- rescue one that needs a home or buy through an OESCA breeder that breeds responsibly for health and temperament.
We are totally smitten with our OESCA puppy that arrived last month. We waited 4 months for him and he flew to us from southern California. He's been the easiest puppy we have ever raised and we've raised 6 others. Fingers are crossed that he remains this way!  He is just a super sweet boy that arrived almost totally housetrained, he crates well, doesn't bark much, he's got great bite inhibition. I'd better add one negative so everyone will stop rolling their eyes at me  I need to work on his confidence level in public (but we just started having adventures out in public  ).
Good luck to you with your decision. |
6Girls wrote: I agree- rescue one that needs a home or buy through an OESCA breeder that breeds responsibly for health and temperament.
We are totally smitten with our OESCA puppy that arrived last month. We waited 4 months for him and he flew to us from southern California. He's been the easiest puppy we have ever raised and we've raised 6 others. Fingers are crossed that he remains this way! He is just a super sweet boy that arrived almost totally housetrained, he crates well, doesn't bark much, he's got great bite inhibition. I'd better add one negative so everyone will stop rolling their eyes at me I need to work on his confidence level in public (but we just started having adventures out in public ).Good luck to you with your decision. Bumbles is the best puppy... Jaci and Jim you work with him constantly.....Kudos to good puppy parents! It takes LOTS of work! Yeah, I stood outside in the pouring rain a few times today to "pee the puppy" My little turkey was not liking this weather! Anyway good luck in finding a pup! Once you make them your best friend you will never regret it!  |
Anonymous wrote: I have two kids and I want to start with a puppy.
Wow, frankly, I don't know how you do it. I just cannot imagine having small children and an untrained dog. When my niece and nephews were young, it was such a help that my dog was obedience trained. The kids would always follow the dog - and the dog would always do what was asked of her, so she was a great partner in kid wrangling. Frankly, an older dog would be my choice with children. And rescued dogs always seem so grateful. There is a gentle gratitude with their loving gaze. I just wrote the check today for a dog I am confident every precaution was taken to breed a balanced, healthy pet, who may be show quality. With every precaution the owner/breeder/handler took, one of the pups is deaf in his right ear. He was the litter pick too. It doesn't matter to the person who bought him as she has no intention of showing nor breeding and she and the pup will live a lifestyle that it will not matter. But the fact of the matter is that until your dog is at least several months old, you just won't know about the caliber of the dog. You can see that rescued dogs can be a safer bet, as long as you are willing to invest the time to train it. At least, in my opinion. My new pup is the second puppy in my long history that I will raise myself. I have lived a wonderful lifetime with the greatest rescue dogs. I highly recommend it. Good luck in your search! |
QuailTrail wrote: Anonymous wrote: I have two kids and I want to start with a puppy. Wow, frankly, I don't know how you do it. I just cannot imagine having small children and an untrained dog. When my niece and nephews were young, it was such a help that my dog was obedience trained. The kids would always follow the dog - and the dog would always do what was asked of her, so she was a great partner in kid wrangling. Frankly, an older dog would be my choice with children. And rescued dogs always seem so grateful. There is a gentle gratitude with their loving gaze. I just wrote the check today for a dog I am confident every precaution was taken to breed a balanced, healthy pet, who may be show quality. With every precaution the owner/breeder/handler took, one of the pups is deaf in his right ear. He was the litter pick too. It doesn't matter to the person who bought him as she has no intention of showing nor breeding and she and the pup will live a lifestyle that it will not matter. But the fact of the matter is that until your dog is at least several months old, you just won't know about the caliber of the dog. You can see that rescued dogs can be a safer bet, as long as you are willing to invest the time to train it. At least, in my opinion. My new pup is the second puppy in my long history that I will raise myself. I have lived a wonderful lifetime with the greatest rescue dogs. I highly recommend it. Good luck in your search! I'm gonna back you up on this one 100%! When i got our puppies (granted there were two of them) I didn't sleep through the night for the first 2 or 3 months... there was always something. Crate training, needing to go pee every hour on the hour(eventually getting to peeing every third hour), wanting to play, or just staying up til the wee hours doing tons of laundry for all the stuff they accidentally soiled. OR washing them when they rolled in something they shouldn't have. I remember back then wondering how people with kids, and "real" jobs do it, and I was grateful to be child-less and working from home with really flexible hours. I'm glad we got puppies; its been such an enlightening and educational experience. But from here on our it'll be fosters and rescues for us. |
| Well, I don't know if I was just incredibly lucky or what, but I had babies at the same time I had 2 puppies, one being an OES, and it was fine. It wasn't any harder than having puppies when my kids were older.
That said, I would absolutely look at rescue if you're not willing or able to buy a puppy from a reputable breeder. |
| Our family has multiple dogs, and we did have some as puppies when my kids were little. Some puppies are easy, some are more challenging. You never really know until you actually get the puppy.
I grew up in a dog raising home - my parents were known nationally for their Brittany's. Raising puppies, training and showing were part of my life growing up. So, it wasn't any big stress to have preemie twins and 2 dogs. But - those 2 dogs were already trained when the twins came along. By the time our son was born, we had a young dog, but we were more experienced parents! Now the kids are grown and have their own dogs. One of my daughters was recently in the same boat - they have one older OES, and had the chance for a second. They had 2 to pick from - a 2 yr old finishing her championship or a new puppy from a litter coming up. And, LeAnne was pregnant with their 2nd child. Both were quality dogs, good breeding, health testing done. In the end, they went with the 2 yr old. She is so glad, as the puppy and new baby would have been so much more work. Baby Will is 6 months old now. The 2 year old LOVES the baby and just lays by him and lets him play with her hair, and gives him kisses - which he loves! My basset is a rescue boy - I got him at age 6. Such an easy as pie transition to the family compared to a puppy!! And don't worry about bonding - the rescue dogs never, ever take you for granted and love you with all their heart!!! |
| I think it's fine to have small children and a puppy as long as the parents understand it is a dog and will nip, jump, chew toys etc and that supervision is needed 100% of the time otherwise the pup needs to be crated. My kids have always been around dogs.
That said, buying from a reputable breeder and spending the money it costs to buy a quality pup will save you tons in the long run. Health testing, breeders who breed with temperment in mind, and breed to the standard,also support for training, grooming etc can save you money and heartache. |
| MY first OES was a 3 year old from the humane society. I had kids at the time and the transition was great. the dog was able to handle the kids from day one. |
| OK! I'm really thinking about rescuing! Now, off to post a question in the 'rescue' section! Thanks! |
| I dont think you will regret it and the dog will love you for it. |
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