GBS Posted September 18 Report Share Posted September 18 My sprocker recently had a small litter of puppies and we have been gently advertising them for sale. The demand for bitch puppies seems to be 6 times that of dog pups. Is this typical of the market? Has this always been the way or is the high price of pups now encouraging people to breed? Or do dog pups need to be advertised at a significantly lower price? I'm intrigued and all input appreciated. GBS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted September 18 Report Share Posted September 18 In my limited experience, all of the above. Some people think bitches are easier to train (‘more biddable’) than dogs. I don’t think that’s universally true. Some people think bitches are most trustworthy round kids (obvious caveat, never leave young kids unsupervised around dogs). Some people want to breed All of this means dogs are usually priced lower than bitches. Personally, I’ve got 2 labra-mongrel males. Eminently trainable and quite calm round the kids. Their failing is my lack of consistency with training. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
button Posted September 18 Report Share Posted September 18 I got a bitch, wish I had got a dog! Never again BTW yours look crackers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted September 18 Report Share Posted September 18 Always the way, the trial lads usually have the bitches all sold before the dam is even bred. Dogs pups always been harder to sell. Price them accordingly and they all go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
London Best Posted September 18 Report Share Posted September 18 29 minutes ago, Lloyd90 said: Always the way, the trial lads usually have the bitches all sold before the dam is even bred. Dogs pups always been harder to sell. Price them accordingly and they all go. Dogs have not always been harder to sell. Back in the 1950’s/60’s many people preferred dogs and dog pups were always advertised for more money. Not sure when the trend was reversed, maybe gradually starting during the 80’s I would guess. I had dogs but have only bought bitches since I first tried one in 1979. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lloyd90 Posted September 18 Report Share Posted September 18 I wasn’t considering 70+ years ago to be fair 🤣 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted September 18 Report Share Posted September 18 My first puppy was a Black Lab dog puppy when I was 19 and every dog I have owned have all been Black Lab dogs , nothing against bitches but If I had changed to a bitch puppy and it was a job to train I would had blamed the puppy and wished I had got a dog pup even though it was more than likely my fault , so dogs it have always been and always will be . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted September 19 Report Share Posted September 19 (edited) 14 hours ago, Lloyd90 said: I wasn’t considering 70+ years ago to be fair 🤣 C'mon Lloyd, how long you been on PW? 🤣 It's always a race by the PW massive to post the most dated anecdote, as tangentially relevant as possible. This one loses points because it actually directly answers the question the OP asked, albeit back when there was still rationing and national service. Edited September 19 by udderlyoffroad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poor Shot Posted September 19 Report Share Posted September 19 Nothing quite spoils your season like your only working dog, which happens to be a bitch, coming into season in the third week of December. Regular as clockwork and just in time for Santa to arrive and just at sweet point of the shooting season. Not keen on spaying, It ruined our other (non working) dog and sapped the energy and drive right out of him. We only did it on medial grounds as he had undescended testicles. My next dog will certainly be a dog and then I won't have to worry about seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted September 19 Report Share Posted September 19 3 minutes ago, Poor Shot said: My next dog will certainly be a dog and then I won't have to worry about seasons. Unless you have a dog with a very strong nose for a bitch on heat! Our first dog was a top notch lab with good breeding, great family dog, and in the right hands would of been a good worker, but a Romeo and a half, would travel miles to get laid!! ...hence my present dog (and any more i have!) will be gun dog cross males which are neutered. Cheers. Aled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udderlyoffroad Posted September 19 Report Share Posted September 19 1 hour ago, Poor Shot said: Not keen on spaying, It ruined our other (non working) dog and sapped the energy and drive right out of him. We only did it on medial grounds as he had undescended testicles. My next dog will certainly be a dog and then I won't have to worry about seasons. Those 2 sentences are in direct conflict with each other. Even the best trained working dog will struggle with recall if the blood flow necessary for his doggy brain to function is being...directed elsewhere. Think back to your youth and you should be able to empathise 🤣 It's also surprising the amount of on-heat bitch owners who are happy to let their hounds roam free, but less happy when the inevitable happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted September 19 Report Share Posted September 19 Even the best trained working dog will struggle with recall if the blood flow necessary for his doggy brain to function is being...directed elsewhere. Think back to your youth and you should be able to empathise 🤣 udderlyoffroad that is brilliant!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poor Shot Posted September 19 Report Share Posted September 19 3 hours ago, Aled said: Unless you have a dog with a very strong nose for a bitch on heat! Our first dog was a top notch lab with good breeding, great family dog, and in the right hands would of been a good worker, but a Romeo and a half, would travel miles to get laid!! ...hence my present dog (and any more i have!) will be gun dog cross males which are neutered. Cheers. Aled 1 hour ago, udderlyoffroad said: Those 2 sentences are in direct conflict with each other. Even the best trained working dog will struggle with recall if the blood flow necessary for his doggy brain to function is being...directed elsewhere. Think back to your youth and you should be able to empathise 🤣 It's also surprising the amount of on-heat bitch owners who are happy to let their hounds roam free, but less happy when the inevitable happens. I'll rephrase it then. I won't have to worry about my own dog being in season during the shooting season. I can't help if others choose to bring an in season bitch onto a shoot. If he still turns out to be a bit of a horndog then I'll get him a cold shower or something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clangerman Posted September 19 Report Share Posted September 19 after being married my logic in only buying female pups might have a slight flaw! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aled Posted September 20 Report Share Posted September 20 LOL nice one Poor Shoot that gave me a laugh this morning 😄 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted September 20 Report Share Posted September 20 I was talking about exactly this today with a successful trialler. On face there is a substantial over supply of pups at present, prices have fallen, and dogs in particular are proving very difficult to sell. She told me of well bred, fully health tested lab dogs at less than £500 and not selling. It may not be nationwide but I see it here in Scotland. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshAndy Posted September 20 Report Share Posted September 20 On 18/09/2024 at 14:22, GBS said: My sprocker recently had a small litter of puppies and we have been gently advertising them for sale. The demand for bitch puppies seems to be 6 times that of dog pups. Is this typical of the market? Has this always been the way or is the high price of pups now encouraging people to breed? Or do dog pups need to be advertised at a significantly lower price? I'm intrigued and all input appreciated. GBS I had a litter of Labrador pups for sale earlier in the summer. Surprisingly it was mainly dog pups which were sold first. As far as prices go I see quality health tested working pups going for sensible money - but there are always these… https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/122715933/quality-kennel-club-fox-red-fully-health-tested-labradors.html?link=%2Fsearch%3Fkeyword%3DLabrador%2B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave at kelton Posted September 21 Report Share Posted September 21 Always idiots who will pay silly money. I think unfortunately that you say “Fox Red” and fashion dictates an asking price like that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GBS Posted September 23 Author Report Share Posted September 23 Thank you for all the responses, it is very interesting to hear both sides of the argument. GBS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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