Maybe so. You can contact breed rescue. Many good dogs are re-homed every year when for one reason or another their original homes did not work out. See Rescue Dogs for more information. Rescue dogs are not free. An adoption fee is required for these dogs--after all, the rescuer has often spent a great deal of money to get the dog in adoptable shape--but it is usually much less than the price of a puppy of the same breed. And you should get the same support from a rescuer you'd get from a breeder.

If you're set on a puppy, consider that in some breeds, male puppies and puppies of more common colors are priced somewhat lower. For instance, in a few breeds, the males are a couple hundred dollars cheaper than female puppies. (For some reason this seems to be true more often in toy breeds than in others.) And in Great Danes, for example, fawn puppies are much less expensive than the rarer harlequin colors.

And there are other ways to work around your financial limitations. If you are willing to put some serious time into your search and establish a relationship with a breeder, sometimes you can find just what you want at a price you can afford.

It never hurts to befriend a breeder of dogs you are interested in and let her know you are prepared to wait for an opportunity you can afford. Offer to help out at a show or dog-sit occasionally. Breeders can nearly always use some help, and this is a good indication that you are serious.

You can talk to breeders about giving a home to a retired showdog. Sometimes breeders place these adult animals in private homes so they can receive more individual attention than they would in the breeder's multi-dog household.

Sometimes a beginning breeder has good quality dogs for prices a bit lower prices, but be sure you are dealing with a newer breeder, not just a less careful one! Breeders who are well-established and have waiting lists for their puppies may charge more. You are paying for a track record and a reputation for excellence. But just as a high price does not guarantee quality, a lower price does not mean a cut-rate dog, either. Just do your research and ask the right questions.

Some well-known and reputable breeders do sell below the average for reasons of their own.

Puppies or dogs which have undesirable characteristics (such as white Boxers or wooly-coated Malamutes, for example) can make excellent pets, but the breeder may prefer to place them in special homes. Sometimes a puppy born with another disqualifying trait (such as an undescended testicle, which precludes a show career, but has no affect on a neutered pet) might be available at a lower price.

In some breeds, male puppies and puppies of more common colors are priced somewhat lower. For instance, in a few breeds, the males are a couple hundred dollars cheaper than female puppies. (For some reason this seems to be true more often in toy breeds than in others.) And in Great Danes, for example, fawn puppies are much less expensive than the rarer harlequin colors.

But above all, never, never try to bargain with a breeder. There's no quicker way to alienate someone who has put so much time, money, love, and dedication into a litter than to insinuate that her "product" is overpriced. Start with the premise that the puppies are worth the price being asked. (If you don't feel they are, then you should go elsewhere anyway!) But it doesn't hurt to be honest and explain what you can and cannot afford.

A very important point to consider: If you really can't afford the purchase price of the puppy you want, are you positive you can afford to care for it should an unexpected expense, such as a large vet bill, come up? Sometimes the answer is yes, definitely, but you need to think carefully before you make the commitment.

Back to Getting a Dog