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  1. #1
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    Questions on Adopting Older Dogs from a Breeder

    We are looking for an older labrador to adopt, one between 2-5 years old We found one that is a 4 year old retired show dog. She is good walking on a leash for showing her, but she hasn't had any other training besides house and crate training. She has been bred a couple of times. She has had hip and elbow and eye "clearances". Although she seems to be cross eyed. She has a botched scar from a Cesarean section. This dog has a great tempermament, though. The breeder wants $2000 for her and another $500 for her to be spayed. Is that fair and reasonable for an English Labrador?

  2. #2
    Senior Dog windycanyon's Avatar
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    Depends on what you think things are worth. Basic obed, crate training and maturity are worth something-- actually a lot . Hip/ elbow/ eye clearances are worth a lot. If puppy purchase in your area is 1500-2000 (which I'm guessing it may be??), this is probably pretty reasonable. NOt sure what the cross eye thing is about. Narrow eyes? Is the ACVO concerned? $500 for spay is VERY reasonable for that part of the country.
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  4. #3
    Chief Pooper Scooper JenC's Avatar
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    Is the dog a show champion or was in some shows and got a few ribbons? Paying what it costs for a puppy ($2000 is about right in your area) is reasonable, although I am not personally aware of breeders retiring their girls at full price. But that's just me. The spaying part, absolutely.

    Just another thought, if a good breeder, the dog "should" have more than hips, elbows and eyes if she was bred...just my 2 cents. We're doing alot of testing now, the dog should have had it all. Worth a check on that too. Not that it matters to you on a spayed dog, but it would be a good marker on the quality of the breeder.

    Fran adopted a bunch of older labs from a breeder, she might be able to comment on what she paid for them.

  5. #4
    Best Friend Retriever LucyTudeOn4Feet's Avatar
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    Not yet a senior at 4, potty trained, crate trained, clearances, walks on a leash without being leash reactive, basically healthy, no puppy shark teeth to deal with AND "This dog has a great tempermament, though."
    The cross eye maybe thing will endear her to you. I'd run to give them my check.

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  7. #5
    Best Friend Retriever
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    I’m confused; if the seller (breeder) wants the dog spayed for health reasons, why haven’t they?
    If you (buyer) wants it done for health reasons, that makes sense and should be done.
    Why is one telling the other what to do as a condition of sale and having you to pay for it?

  8. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bernie View Post
    I’m confused; if the seller (breeder) wants the dog spayed for health reasons, why haven’t they?
    If you (buyer) wants it done for health reasons, that makes sense and should be done.
    Why is one telling the other what to do as a condition of sale and having you to pay for it?
    They don’t want the dog bred anymore, and having it done as a condition of sale ensures that.
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  10. #7
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    Between 1997 and 2006 I adopted 4 dogs from 3 different breeders. One was 3 points from his show champion title, but the breeder decided to stop showing him as he had been abused by a "pro" trainer she sent him to for field training. He was extremely fearful of men, with the exception of me for some reason, and that's how/why he ended up with me.

    2 of the dogs were neutered, and the one female was spayed after she had lived with me for about 2 years. He breeder had considered breeding her, but in the end decided not to. I have no clue of any clearances.

    I paid a total of $0 for these dogs. All of the breeders were extremely happy that their dogs went to a very good home, where they were loved and well cared for.

    I'm in no way saying that a breeder should not sell a dog they've run on, and I can certainly appreciate the need to recoup a portion of the money invested in breeding and raising the dogs. However, in case such as this, where the breeder is retiring the dog from breeding, their main concern should be finding a good home for a dog that has contributed to their breeding program. In my opinion the breeder recouped their investment with the sale of the puppies, basically the dog served her purpose and no longer fits in to the breeders program.

  11. #8
    Senior Dog Shelley's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Oak View Post
    We are looking for an older labrador to adopt, one between 2-5 years old We found one that is a 4 year old retired show dog. She is good walking on a leash for showing her, but she hasn't had any other training besides house and crate training. She has been bred a couple of times. She has had hip and elbow and eye "clearances". Although she seems to be cross eyed. She has a botched scar from a Cesarean section. This dog has a great tempermament, though. The breeder wants $2000 for her and another $500 for her to be spayed. Is that fair and reasonable for an English Labrador?
    House, crate and leash training is fine, at least you know she wasn't a kennel dog with low socialization skills. A good obedience class to help her learn the rest of what you would like from her would be a great way to bond. Passing hip, elbow and eye scores are nice, she should have had some genetic testing as well, and a cardiac echocardiogram.

    I am concerned that you don't seem excited about her, she "seems to be cross eyed", doesn't have a lot of training, and the botched scar thing, there seems to be a lot about her that you don't like. What in the world is a botched c section scar? As long as it is healed and she is doing well, that should not be problematic.

    Like Jen said above, I don't see a lot of adults going for full puppy price, their breeders are usually just concerned with finding a loving home for those that they retire and don't keep. I also usually spay and recover the girls (I would with males too, but I don't keep boys here) before they leave my house with a full registration, just so I know there will be no accidental litter(s).

  12. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Annette47 View Post
    They don’t want the dog bred anymore, and having it done as a condition of sale ensures that.
    Bingo!

  13. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by barry581 View Post
    Between 1997 and 2006 I adopted 4 dogs from 3 different breeders. One was 3 points from his show champion title, but the breeder decided to stop showing him as he had been abused by a "pro" trainer she sent him to for field training. He was extremely fearful of men, with the exception of me for some reason, and that's how/why he ended up with me.

    2 of the dogs were neutered, and the one female was spayed after she had lived with me for about 2 years. He breeder had considered breeding her, but in the end decided not to. I have no clue of any clearances.

    I paid a total of $0 for these dogs. All of the breeders were extremely happy that their dogs went to a very good home, where they were loved and well cared for.

    I'm in no way saying that a breeder should not sell a dog they've run on, and I can certainly appreciate the need to recoup a portion of the money invested in breeding and raising the dogs. However, in case such as this, where the breeder is retiring the dog from breeding, their main concern should be finding a good home for a dog that has contributed to their breeding program. In my opinion the breeder recouped their investment with the sale of the puppies, basically the dog served her purpose and no longer fits in to the breeders program.
    Couldn't agree more. Charging puppy price seems way over the top. Just my opinion though.

 



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