I have come to realize that there are many things that you must consider before buying a purebred dog. Meet the newest member of the Coleman family, Winston, in the picture to the right.
After much consternation and nail-biting, my family and I finally decided to get a dog. This was a long, hard-fought battle of when and what breed to get.
When is the right time to buy a dog? I don’t think there is one. I’m not sure what we were waiting for actually. I joked with a friend the other day that it was a little akin to waiting for the right time to have children.
If you wait for the perfect time, you’ll never have children. I quickly found that it was the same thing with buying a purebred dog. And, dog lovers know that man’s best friend is an investment that offers the best return on investment.
How to Save Money Buying a Purebred Dog
You Have to Do Your Research
Buying a purebred dog is like buying a new car. I was amazed by their similarities after recently purchasing both. But, there are a few tips that can help you with both buying a car and a purebred dog.
You have to do your research before you buy either. Do you want a small dog or a large one? Is the breed that you are considering buying have a history of health problems?
Cash Is King in Negotiations
While we have all heard the saying repeatedly, I really saw it in action when I made these two purchases of a new car and a purebred dog. I received a decent size discount on my recent used car purchase by paying in cash. It provided an excellent negotiation tactic.
The same was true when buying a purebred dog. I was able to receive almost a 25% discount by offering cash upfront. I also knew from friends that the breeder had this last puppy for a while. So, I was able to use this information along with my cash to earn a hefty discount.
Protect Your Investment
One thing that you can do is to think about your new car or new dog as an investment instead of simply a purchase. I include the values of my cars when I calculate my net worth. If your purebred dog is worth enough money, you may want to consider adding them to your net worth calculations. I know that many people with purebred dogs also often take out pet insurance.
This can be worth it if you are breeding your dog and earning an income from the pet. That is the point of insurance anyway, life insurance or pet insurance, to protect a source of income. If you are looking for a book on the subject, you might want to consider “Your Guide to Understanding Pet Health Insurance“.
Or, click here to get a Free Pet Insurance Quote from PetsBest.com!
Know the Complete Costs of a Purebred Dog
When you buy a car, you have to understand the entire cost of your purchase. Far too often, people think about only the purchase price of their vehicle. They forget to consider its ongoing costs such as insurance, maintenance, fuel, and other required things.
The same thing is true with buying a purebred dog, of course. The costs continue throughout the dog’s life, such as food, veterinary, and many other expenses.
At Some Point, You Have to Pull the Trigger
I am always concerned about not getting a good deal on a new car. Car salespeople have so much more information about the transaction than the buyer does. I always think that the car dealership is trying to get an enormous amount of profit than what is expected.
I’m okay with businesses earning a profit, but I hate the feeling that I am being taken advantage of. But, at some point, you simply have to pull the trigger and buy the car. The same thing is true with buying a purebred dog.
At some point, you have to pull the trigger, or you’ll sit there without a car or a dog. You can have a mechanic look at the car before you buy it, or a veterinarian looks at the dog, but you will just have to go for it at some point.
I can remember that my childhood dog had a heart murmur. Of course, we didn’t know that until days after getting her when we took her to the vet. By then, it was too late. She was a member of our family.
Buying a purebred dog is like buying a new car. I was amazed by their similarities after recently purchasing both. But, there are a few tips that can help you with both buying a car and a purebred dog.
Have you ever bought a purebred dog? Did you get a good deal on the purchase? Did you try for a deal or just pay full price? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.
We have a purebred – a bichon – and she is EXPENSIVE. One of the weaknesses of the breed is allergies, and she’s got very sensitive skin and a very sensitive digestive system. The result? Expensive haircuts every month (more often than I get MY hair done!) and pricy dog food.
1. Go to animal shelter. Free.
2. Play with a bunch of awesome dogs. Free.
3. Picked the most awesome dog. Free.
4. Paid $75: vet checked, shots, fixed, rotated the tires.
5. SAVED a life.
6. Laugh at two personal finance bloggers who paid a boatload of money. I can’t tell if my dog is purebred or not. Don’t care.
People who boast about shelter dogs are so stupid.
Yes you saved all that money. But now you have no history of the dog so no knowledge of problems in its genes. At all. So you saved 2K. Wait 5 years when it gets sick out of nowhere and you either rip your heart out and have it put down (mixed breed, shelter types do this) or you pay 10-15K+ to get it treated assuming you have the money.
1. went to breeder my family has got Yorkies from for 2 generations
2. picked out the best thing that ever happened to me
3. 1 pet checkup a year for 50$ and every other year another 70$ for Revolution
4. watched countless mixed breeds get put down or go through hell to survive weird illnesses
Because I DO care. I care because breed standards and proper breeding practices are good for the dog’s well being. Shelter types just want whats best for their wallet. That’s beer money you know!