Does the old saying "you get what you pay for" mean anything in the dog world? Specifically in the field dog world? Most owners, trainers and handlers would agree that the saying does hold some water. Everyone wants the best possible candidate they can get and most field trailers and hunt testers would be willing to fork out a pretty penny for the right dog. But exactly what is the right dog.

If everyone was like me they would want a field trial bred litter with tons of drive and lots of field champions in the pedigree. A puppy like that is going to cost anywhere from $800 to $2500 depending on several factors. For example, if the sire is a National Field Champion and the dam is a Field Champion along with most of their lineage showing Field Champions the litter is going to be at the upper side of the scale. If the sire is a Field Champion and the dam either has a upper hunt test title (like Master or Senior Hunter) or is qualified all age and the pedigree shows three quarters field champions the litter will be in the middle of the scale. If the Sire and Dam have upper hunt test titles or maybe the sire is a Field Champion but the dam isn’t titled at all and only half of the pedigree shows Field Champions than the litter will be on the lower end of the scale.

Prices below $800 can be sire’s with upper hunt test titles and dams with a hunt test title. Their litters may have up to half of the dogs with a four generation pedigree with field titles.

Other factors play a role in the price of puppy’s too. Like maybe the stud you want is deceased and there is a limited supply of his frozen semen. The stud fee may be very high resulting in the price of the puppy’s being higher. Or this may be the last litter of a really good female driving the price up. Usually the market dictates price. If a certain sire is popular, his stud fees will be higher than others and the price of his pups will be higher.

Breeders will incorporate costs of stud fees, vet bills, care and of course supply and demand into the price of each puppy. It probably costs a breeder of average pups around $2000 to have a litter. If the dog only has four pups the breeder surely won’t make much money even if the price tag is $1000 per pup.

Breeders should not be breeding just for monetary gain. The breeder should show interest in the breed and try to improve it by providing a better dog each breeding. Genetics play a huge role in the price of puppy’s also. These days breeders not only are micro chipping and having the hips certified but their also clearing the eyes and elbows along with testing for hidden genetic deceases using DNA like a CNM clearance. These tests cost money but it’s well spent by keeping the pedigree genetically sound.

But what if I don’t plan on running field events? I hunt ducks and occasionally shoot a pheasant or two. Do I really need a pedigree loaded with field champions? Some people would pay $5000 for their gun but only $200 for a dog. Well that gun isn’t going to bring you back those birds is it? The answer is simple. The cost of the puppy is going to be the cheapest part of owning that dog. If you want a genetically sound animal that’s very trainable and good mannered, than spend the most you can. If you’re not familiar with the field lines of a particular breed than find someone who can help you decide from which line of dogs you want. The internet is littered with forums and information about hunting dogs. Call several breeders and talk to them. Call trainers of the breed you’re interested in and let them know what you want in a do.

Research the pedigrees and purchase a dog of quality, hopefully you will provide yourself with a trainable, well mannered pet. And you never know, someday if you want to get into the field games or breed a spectacular animal you’ll have the pedigree for it.

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