[J. Marti]

I noticed that, on average, field-bred Golden Retriever litters out of parents with advanced hunt test titles are much more expensive than Labrador litters from similarly titled parents.

Are the puppies from Golden litters more expensive because there are fewer Golden field breeders or because there are fewer Goldens than Labs with advanced field titles? Or another reason?

 

[Kenneth Niles Bora]

I would say it is no different than selling a turnip versus selling an organic free-range rutabaga. The price is set by what your Market is willing to pay.

 

[saltgrass]

JM _ just like field breed Boykins , A friend / training partner . Had a liter sire and dam are MH sire i thin was also HRCH . had 15 aps for 8 pups at 3500 .

 

[Bryan Parks]

Supply….

 

[dr_dog_guy]

I speculate that there as many FC/AFC to FC/AFC or NFC to MH or NAFC to AA bitch breedings in Labradors as there are simple field bred Golden breedings. It seems to me the higher titles in Labrador breedings have puppies that cost as much as "average" titled field Goldens. Well, a little more, but not that much. In other words, there are a LOT more Labrador breedings to pick from, and a particularly nice Labrador breeding will have puppies costing about what an MH to MH or * to * breeding in Goldens. Ive got both - NFC to FTCH/AFTCH bred Labradors and very nicely bred Goldens, and the costs weren't that different. Or, as our maple syrup-selling friend says, supply and demand.

 

[Tobias]

There has been a recent surge in the desire for working goldens from parents with upper level titles. So, yes.... supply and demand.

 

[drunkenpoacher]

It is definitely a supply problem and I don't see it improving any time soon. The pedigrees of the best field Golden litters are comparable to below average Labrador litters.
If the quality of field Golden litters improves, and I hope it does, the demand and price will increase even more. There are a lot of closet Golden lovers that run Labs because they want to finish a trial now and then.

 

[Golden Gibby]

I agree it’s supply and demand. I’m relatively new to the field bred Goldens, I got my first one in 2010 and have gotten two more since then. When getting my first one in 2010 I found that it required quite a bit of sorting to find a truly well bred Golden. Since then what I’ve learned at hunt tests is that Labs outnumber Goldens by around roughly 7 to 1 particularly at MH tests. (Just an educated guess at the ratio) So there are many more MH labs than Goldens. I don’t run FT’s but in looking at some entries it looks like the ratio is probably even higher towards Labs.

 

[drunkenpoacher]

Golden. Since then what I’ve learned at hunt tests is that Labs outnumber Goldens by around roughly 7 to 1 particularly at MH tests. (Just an educated guess at the ratio) So there are many more MH labs than Goldens. I don’t run FT’s but in looking at some entries it looks like the ratio is probably even higher towards Labs.

Between 15 and 20 to 1, even more if you just look at all age stakes.

 

[Steve Shaver]

I would say it is no different than selling a turnip versus selling an organic free-range rutabaga. The price is set by what your Market is willing to pay.

You are a wise man Mr Bora.

It is definitely a supply problem and I don't see it improving any time soon. The pedigrees of the best field Golden litters are comparable to below average Labrador litters.
If the quality of field Golden litters improves, and I hope it does, the demand and price will increase even more. There are a lot of closet Golden lovers that run Labs because they want to finish a trial now and then.

I dont see it as a supply problem. I have seen MANY Goldens come through my place simply because the kid that leases my kennels has a Golden so Gloden owners flock to him. I actually see this as a curse for the Golden Retriever. I have seen Goldens go for $3500 with no more than a JH title on one side. Many of these breeders just breed and breed just for the money with very little concern about abilities and 90% of them are not much as a working retriever. These breeders will pay good money to have these dog trained just for the JH title to try and justify the price they charge and then go no further. One such dog was at my place for over a year to try to achieve a SH title and that never happened. I would rather own a show bred Golden than a field bred one. One such breeder doesnt even keep her dogs at home. They are fostered out to other homes until the go into heat . Then they are taken away to be bred then sent back to their foster home after the pups are weened. Owner of the dog does nothing to feed, house and care for the dogs. Just rakes in the money for the puppies. Another one of these owners got raided by animal control for animal cruelty. They confiscated somewhere around 83 dogs from them.

 

[drunkenpoacher]

I dont see it as a supply problem. I have seen MANY Goldens come through my place simply because the kid that leases my kennels has a Golden so Gloden owners flock to him.

The supply shortage is only in good field Goldens.

There are straw hat wearing no pocket having "breeders" that literally have barns full of Goldens being raised like hogs.
I have seen some signs recently of the bottom dropping out of the Golden puppy market, time will tell.

 

[jjbuckley]

The supply shortage is only in good field Goldens.

There are straw hat wearing no pocket having "breeders" that literally have barns full of Goldens being raised like hogs.
I have seen some signs recently of the bottom dropping out of the Golden puppy market, time will tell.

I've been looking for a year for a quality field breed golden. I have found a few nice litters, but something stops me from buying such as timing, cost, health clearances, etc. I believe the litters that have one AFC parent have pups that are better than just the average breed labs but their 2 or 3 times the cost of the that average breed lab litter. All of my golden pups (7) over the years have had at least one parent with AFC. Some of those AFC goldens were Topbrass Cotton, Top Brass Zap, Top Brass Hawk and Enberain Rugby, etc. The supply for AFC Goldens is very limited. I've been strongly considering buying a nice black lab with an AFC or FC in front of their name because their much more abundant and a lot less money generally. I only enter hunt test but mainly do to have a well-trained hunting dog.

 

[crackerd]

... I've been strongly considering buying a nice black lab with an AFC or FC in front of their name because their much more abundant and a lot less money generally. I only enter hunt test but mainly do to have a well-trained hunting dog.

Are you finding many of those available and at the right price? I've set my preferences for notification from Costco next time they have a buy two, get one free deal on 'em, but I figure it'll be a while.

MG

 

[swampcollielover]

Eco 101 unless the government or some other 'authority' gums up the market...the price is always an outcome of Supply and Demand

More demand than quality pups the prices will go up
More quality pups than buyers the price will go down.

Market timing is not immediate...it takes some time for these factors to actually influence pricing.

 

[Steve Shaver]

The whole market supply and demand thing drives me nuts!!!!!!!!!!!! I understand it but it just creates greed and prays upon the consumer. I get it, really I do, but to me it's wrong and I dont like it. I have always had a soft spot for goldens but this would keep me from even trying one. So I guess I am a part of the demand thing.

 

[dr_dog_guy]

The whole market supply and demand thing drives me nuts!!!!!!!!!!!! I understand it but it just creates greed and prays upon the consumer. I get it, really I do, but to me it's wrong and I dont like it. I have always had a soft spot for goldens but this would keep me from even trying one. So I guess I am a part of the demand thing.

Steve, its even worse if you think about Goldendoodles and Labradoodles. They cost as much as a good Golden Field breeding.

There are some nice breedings out there for what passes for a reasonable cost these days if you keep looking. But it is a weird market, that's for sure.

 

[drunkenpoacher]

Selling pups for less than market price will attract the wrong buyers.

 

[swampcollielover]

The whole market supply and demand thing drives me nuts!!!!!!!!!!!! I understand it but it just creates greed and prays upon the consumer. I get it, really I do, but to me it's wrong and I dont like it. I have always had a soft spot for goldens but this would keep me from even trying one. So I guess I am a part of the demand thing.

OK, but you only have two choices. Free Market Capitalism or Central Control of the market, usually referred to as SOCIALISM! Free Market has made America what it is today. Love it or leave it!

 

[dr_dog_guy]

Selling pups for less than market price will attract the wrong buyers.

Oh, do I disagree with this. Discount prices are for great homes based on prior knowledge. Know your buyers for all those puppies has always been my mantra, either through personal knowledge or through their veterinians vets and their associates. Its a small world. My applications always read like "are you good enough to own one of my dogs?" On the other hand, I haven't bred a litter in 10 years and have no intention of resuming now that I think about it.

 

[Steve Shaver]

OK, but you only have two choices. Free Market Capitalism or Central Control of the market, usually referred to as SOCIALISM! Free Market has made America what it is today. Love it or leave it!

Duh, no ****! Like I said I get it. Might be what made America what it is today but things are waaaaay different than what America started out to be. Doesnt mean I have to like it or that it is right. It is not the system that I question it is the people that USE it AND TAKE COMPLETE AVANTAGE OF IT. I am FAR from being a socialist and all for capitalism but the greed in some people that use the system is what I have a problem with. With that being said I will buy a $500 black male labrador before I will spend $3500 on a Golden with a JH for sire and dam. I would have just as good a chance for a performance dog with that Lab and the capitalist in me will have a better chance of selling that $500 lab as a gun dog after I put some work into it if it doesnt meet my standards. Also my standards are far and above what an average hunter needs and I will always provide them with pretty much the best dog they ever have had for a good price. Example last summer I sold a dog that the "MARKET" would tell me was worth 7 to 8 grand. I sold him for $5000 because I knew he would have a good home and that means a lot to me. I'm not going to take into account what the "MARKET" will give me but what can I give a customer and what is the best for the dog.. So dont give me this free market capitalisim crap. People just need to rein in their greed and provide a good product for a good price. Quality over quantity. To me that is what America is all about. I despise MARKETING. It is just sales and bullshit!!!!!! AND GREED!!

With all due respect to golden people, like Jim Buckley and John Robinson, both people that I like and respect, Golden people are nuts. They are Golden people and thats fine I will never look down my nose at them for that. I admire people that want to make good Goldens..

SO there is more than just 2 choices!