My first dog was a Black and Tan Coonhound. She cost me $40 from the pound, which was refunded when I had her spayed. My first Bloodhound was actually -$5, the pound paid me to take her. My Labradork came from the shelter, she was $34 plus the cost of spaying, so approx $140. My German Shorthair was $15 from the pound as an eight month old, and I had to get him neutered within a month. Funnily enough i've taken him to the local bird dog club a few times and everyone raves over him, he is such a handsome well-mannered dog and he hunts and retrieves with no training. He was taken in as a young puppy and I believe someone must have lost him. My husband's Black Mouth Curs were $300-400 each from breeders. Then there's the 'ouch'... we paid $1000 for my current Bloodhound. However, they are not cheap dogs in general and I wanted one with particular bloodlines to give me the best chance at making a good SAR dog.
$1400-$2200 for a designer mutt though?!! That is insane, and screams of someone wanting to make a quick buck (or several thousand) than someone keen to breed good family dogs.
I'd suggest travelling further afield to shelters. At $400 to adopt one in your area, you'd still be better off! Many will provide transport also, but I understand that you probably wouldn't want to adopt a dog until you've met it.
) Every single dog that I've paid more than $5 for has died young, while all the free mutts and my $5 rescued Pom have lived long lives.
