WOW. Its amazing the responses I got and I thank you. BUT I don’t remember where I stated that the price was a problem because I wanted a new puppy right now, now!! Nor did I say I couldn’t afford it!
No, you said you
wouldn't afford it. Remember this bit?
If one wants a proven healthy boxer, one has to go to a professional breeder that actually can provide health tests and pedigree papers. Unfortunately, that also means paying $1200+ for a boxer as a pet. ...Now let there be no mistake, I am well aware of the costs and time involved in creating a champion and the costs involved in all the testing that is done but $1200-$2000 for a boxer is above and beyond. ...I never thought I would see the day only a select few rich people are now the only people that can afford a healthy dog! I apologize but I am very frustrated and truly saddened that I may not be able to get a boxer.
From what I have been told, the tests for heart, thyroid, hips, etc run on avg $1500 per dog. That’s 3k right, and the average litter of puppies run around 6-8 puppies? Average sales price run around $1500? Lets throw in another 1k for shots, worming, puppy food, time, etc. Total cost around 4k. That’s a minimum net profit of $5000-8000!! Hummm, yup not in it for the money, right. The hypocrisy is amazing.
You inability to see beyond the end of your own nose is equally amazing. On the other hand, your fixation on and (inflated) estimations of other people's income is quite astounding. Average litter size, incidentally, is not 6-8 puppies (try 5). You missed out stud fees also (at least equal to one puppy, so that's only 4 to sell) And heck, the point of breeding the litter was to produce the next generation for this breeding program. So one is being retained - the breeder actually has only 3 pups to sell. Average cost of whelping/raising a litter isn't 1K either - 2K is more like it (assuming a clean whelp and no other problems, naturally). Your supposed $1500 average price is still going to leave breeders of the AVERAGE litter out of pocket. Averages aren't that relevant though, when most responsible breeders are only going to have a litter every couple of years or so anyway (bad luck then when there's only one puppy in the litter - as is quite common)
Simple economics folks and if you cant see the logic, your either really rich and foolish and/or just lost a dog to poor genetics or are a breeder that makes some good money.
Indeed, simple economics. TOO simple, since you managed to leave out most of the costs (I understand, it helps your argument to do so). I'm not quite sure why you think that the price of a puppy should equal the cost of production in the first place - but if you insist upon looking at your puppy commodity in that way, you should also consider that since most responsible breeders will only have a litter once every couple of years or more, you've got a whole lot of costs (feeding, housing, showing, vet bills, stud fees) that you're conveniently leaving out your equation here. Or you think it's only costs in the few weeks that the puppies are actually on the ground that count? How about the costs of ongoing support to buyers and a guarantee to take the pup (or adult dog) back if at any time the buyer decides they no longer want it?
You also fail to even consider the costs of (common) occurances such as medical treatment for the dam. Eclampsia, emergency c-section, pyometra, etc - if it happens, that's going to run to a heck of a lot more than the 1K you've allocated. What about when it all goes wrong, such as the situation described in this thread?
http://www.boxerworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4534
There are PLENTY of responsible breeders from whom it is possible to get a well bred puppy whose parents have been screened for those genetic diseases common to the breed (and for which effective testing is available) for a
heck of a lot less than $2K. If you're not prepared to pay that much, get off your backside and look further afield till you find one with a price you consider more reasonable (or get a white one, or rescue). It will bring you far greater satisfaction than sitting here whinging about prices and profit levels that - in the vast majority of cases - are a product of your imagination, with little bearing on reality.
As for cancer - sure, its a concern. Responsible breeders will not breed from cancer sufferers or their close relatives - and that's one of the questions any buyer should be asking in determining whether or not the breeder in question is actually responsible
There isn't much point in insisting upon a "test" until such time as an effective one exists. There is plenty of work in progress though - for example this:
http://www.boxerbreedcouncil.co.uk/cancer.htm
No, genetic screening does not provide a 100% guarantee. Nothing does. But it greatly reduces the risk of your commodity dropping dead at age 3 and requiring expensive replacement (not to mention little issues like the heartbreak that tends to go with it).
What my question was, should I purchase a boxer breed from a white boxer and I think I got my answer.
You did, and it should be the end of it.
