[duck_god1982]

I am looking for a good male black lab either a pup or started pup been looking at some breeders over the net. But have had little sucess. many want way to much money for what they have. Anyone have a good breeder that they use. Thanks

[dfaugh]

Well, first off (as a breeder/trainer of German Shepherds), what do you consider too much money? Is it gonna be a hunting/working dog?

With most of the "common breeds" you should expect to pay $600-800 for a good dog (meaning good parentage, and w/ a health quarantee). Sometimes you find "good" dogs for a bit less, but this is a good rull-of-thumb.

As an example, I paid $3000 for a puppy, with an incredible pedigree (and all for nought as she had no working ability! Possibly one of the best pedigrees in the US, all her ancesters were "high-line" German dogs including several World champions). I paid $5000 for my prized (and exceptional) competition/working dog. A friend is buying a new male working dog for $3500.

Just to put things in perspective. Sounds nuts I know, but generally you get what you pay for

P.S. I had an incredible GSD, and was offered $20,000 for him when he was 2 years old. By that time he was already titled in Schutzhund Sport AND AKC obedience.

[Bwana John]

If you have the time to look I think you should be able to find a good lab pup for ~$500-$600.

After my last chocklet lab died I could not find a pup right away and because I was so sad and needed a dog ASAP I ended up paying twice that for my new white lab pup. She is now 2 years old and has turned out to be worth everything I paided for her.

She might turn out to be a good big game dog as well as a bird dog. Here she is telling an elk "this is my yard".

http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/1909/aaavu4.th.jpg (http://img65.imageshack.us/my.php?image=aaavu4.jpg)

(right click on the image for the pic)

[rwc]

My wife's family are serious dog folks (I was always a pound dog kind of guy). When she got her/our Irish Field Setter 9 years ago she took a month off solid to train her right. All I can say is - it works. Which is a round-about way of saying I think you should factor in a lot of time for training when making your "budget."

Look around a lot and visit the breeders you can. Meet the dogs and the right dog will pick you. Good luck.

[ldyates]

Go to any local pound and pick your AKC registered pup of whatever breed for $25.

[dakotasin]

http://www.rplacekennel.com/index.htm

can't say enough good about these guys. joe is a class act, knows dogs in and out, and is a hardcore hunter. he had my lab pup on hand signals before he was 12 weeks old, and by the time we were done working him, the dog was a hunting god. joe's pups are first rate, too.

[enkindler]

Check out www.petfinder.com

it may be shelters and pounds but they have quality dogs too.

[wuchak]

I suggest either a shelter, large black dogs are the hardest to place or do a google search for "labradore retriever rescue". Since labs are such popular dogs there's a good chance there is a rescue organization in your state that has excellent dogs in need of homes. Please consider an older dog. They are harder to place since they are not cute little puppies but they have the advantage of being past the chewing stage and already housebroken.

We adopted an 8 year old shephard/husky mix who's owner's wife was making him give him up. She said he chewed up shoes and snapped at the kids. If he'd gone to the shelter his chances of getting adopted were about zero. We were lucky enough to have him as part of our family for 8 1/2 years before his kidneys failed him at the age of 16 earlier this year. He never chewed a thing other than his toys the whole time we had him and he loved kids. I miss that dog, alot.

Last year we adopted a border collie mix from a local no kill group. She had made it through 4 kill shelters, thanks to her sweet personality, before ending up with them and since she was 7 months old and no longer an adorable puppy they were having a hard time placing her. She's a little gem of a dog and I'm convinced that having her around added about another year onto the life of our older dog.

Earlier this year we adopted a 1 year old Belgian Sheepdog who was just too much dog for her owner to handle, after she spent alot of money to buy her from a good breeder, so she was taking her to the pound. It's taken 6 months of love and attention to overcome some of the bad habits and the shyness she had from being neglected (left in a large airline crate all day every day, never brushed, never allowed to run) in her previous home. Now she's happy, confident and absolutely stunning.

[TrapperReady]

It depends on if you mean "good hunting dog". If not, then a shelter dog may well be fine. I've had shelter dogs my whole life (typically mutts) and they have been some of the friendliest, healthiest critters on the face of the planet.

However, shelter dogs can be very hit or miss with regards to hunting. In fact, some purebreds end up in shelters because their owners thought they'd be good hunting dogs, and they weren't.

I've got a very, very good 11 month old German Shorthair Pointer. Before I got him, I contacted a number of people I know with good dogs and got some recommendations from breeders. Talking to the breeders, I narrowed my search down to a couple. I then visited them and went over the parentage and saw dogs from the same breeding couple (only a year prior) working in the field. Then I made my decision.

The dog was $800, but after working with him and seeing him hunt, that's downright inexpensive compared to the job he's doing.