What Factors Affect The Price Of A Puppy For Sale?

When you start looking at puppies for sale in search of your next canine companion, you will quickly realize that puppies come at a wide range of prices. Some puppies may be selling for $50, and others for $500 or even $5,000! So what factors help determine how much a puppy is worth? Take a look.

Breed and Breeding

A purebred puppy is generally worth a lot more than a puppy with parents whose breeding is unknown. If a puppy's parents have an extensive show record or have produced other puppies who have been very successful in the show world or other competitions, that will also increase the puppy's value. Some breeds are also worth more than others. For example, Labrador retrievers are generally less expensive than Shiba Inus.

AKC Registration

If a puppy is registered with the American Kennel Club, or AKC, that raises their value. A puppy who is not registered, but is eligible to be registered, will sell for a little less since the breeder has not had to pay the registration fees to the AKC. Non-registered puppies that have not been verified to be eligible for registration are a lot cheaper, and if you only want your puppy as a pet, it is absolutely okay to buy one that's not registered.

Whether Health Testing Has Been Done

If the breeder has had the puppy health tested, then the puppy will probably be priced higher to account for the money spent on this testing. Health testing is important for breeds that are prone to certain health ailments. For instance, you would want a German shepherd puppy to have been tested for hip dysplasia since this condition is so common and debilitating. Research the breed you are thinking of buying to determine whether or not you should be looking for a health-tested puppy.

Economy in the Region

In some areas, the economy is simply better and puppies are worth more. If the cost of puppies seems really high in your area, it may be worthwhile to look for puppies for sale in other cities a few hours away. You may save a few hundred dollars by traveling a little way to buy a puppy from a breeder who can sell theirs for less.

Puppies come at a range of prices, but remember, even a low-priced puppy can make a kind and loving pet. The most expensive puppies are usually slated to be show dogs or competitive athletes.