Why are West German Showline GSDs higher?

GSD Fan · 09-23-2011, 06:09 PM

Okay,

the average price range of working German Shepherds is $1200-$1800? Right?

The average price range of a west german showline GSD is $2000-$3000? Correct?

Okay, my question is, why are WGSGSDs so much higher than working German Shepherds?

I just don't understand it. It would make more sense if the working german shepherds were higher.

Is it because west german showline breeders are a lot fewer than working GSD breeders?

onyx'girl · 09-23-2011, 06:15 PM

I think there are many more SL breeders than WL's.
The price has to do with the shows themselves....expensive to campaign, travel, hire professional handlers, not to mention the cost to send the dog off for training/titles.
WL breeders generally train/trial on their own out of enjoyment of working their dogs, learning about the pedigree's etc...which in turn keeps the costs down. Though trialing with any line is expensive, yet breeders don't always add that cost into what they are charging for puppies.

Then again, some SL or WL kennels don't show or trial at all and just sell pups due to the previous titles on the dogs they are breeding....so the cost to show/train is not an issue. Yet they still command higher prices for their pups.

BUT I do believe there is an inflation in prices and people will pay what certain SL kennels charge...doesn't make the dogs any better(though some people seem to think higher price=better doggy)

paulag1955 · 09-23-2011, 06:28 PM

I think breeders can charge what the market will bear and there may be a bit of snobbery on the part of the buyers wanting a "show" dog.

Emoore · 09-23-2011, 06:29 PM

I thought we had a thread about this. . . ?

lemans · 09-23-2011, 06:29 PM

Vanity and egos.

mthurston0001 · 09-23-2011, 06:40 PM

The monetary value of an item is whatever the public is willing to pay.

selzer · 09-23-2011, 06:43 PM

One of the things is that there is more name recognition for the top of the line show dogs, sieger and VA dogs is a concept that is easy to explain and is generally accepted. This was the top dog at the sieger show two years in a row, chosen out of hundreds of dogs. Similar to our Grand Victor, Grand Victrix here. This was the number 6 dog for the year, and in order to get that rating he had to jump through these hoops.

I think that working line dogs, at least from an outsider, you almost have to be a working line enthusiast to have the first idea who is who, what makes a puppy out of this breeding worth more than a puppy out of that breeding.

For a working line dog, you want a dog for this, that or another thing. If you want a dog for police work, the top herding dog for the year is not going to be your first choice, and probably the tops schutzhund dog for the year will not be either. More impressive might be military or police dog in the background. But even then a puppy out of any lines for that type of work is a gamble. And it would make much more sense to by a green dog to train or a trained dog.

But most of the buyers for show line dogs are pet owners. They are more concerned about how the dog looks and acts in a companion way (friendly, easy to train), and you can get a good idea about a pup in eight weeks, at least for the qualities that pet owners are looking for.

So the majority of the people buying working lines for work or serious competition, are buying a young adult, or are raising up dogs out of their own breeding. These greed dogs will probably be started and reflect that in their cost.

People buying a dog for actual show, are often buying an older pup or young adult with promise and will spend more too. But people who want a puppy that looks the part, and has the temperament they want will pay more for show line pups than people who want a working line puppy will, and thus the price difference. It costs a lot for showing and importing or buying dogs with the qualities you want, and if you gamble buying a pup for breeding or raising up your own, there are so many reasons that pup will fall out.

GSDElsa · 09-23-2011, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emoore

I thought we had a thread about this. . . ?

We did, and I got in big trouble!

wolfstraum · 09-23-2011, 06:52 PM

LOTS more SL breeders - big bucks in the show ring....more prestige....

But most Euro breeders sell for 1500 - 2500....show or work....

Lee

GSD Fan · 09-23-2011, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emoore

I thought we had a thread about this. . . ?

I am sorry, I didn't know there was a thread about this already.

09-23-2011, 06:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
GSD Fan Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: MS Posts: 1,128	Why are West German Showline GSDs higher? Okay, the average price range of working German Shepherds is $1200-$1800? Right? The average price range of a west german showline GSD is $2000-$3000? Correct? Okay, my question is, why are WGSGSDs so much higher than working German Shepherds? I just don't understand it. It would make more sense if the working german shepherds were higher. Is it because west german showline breeders are a lot fewer than working GSD breeders?

09-23-2011, 06:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 17,605	I think there are many more SL breeders than WL's. The price has to do with the shows themselves....expensive to campaign, travel, hire professional handlers, not to mention the cost to send the dog off for training/titles. WL breeders generally train/trial on their own out of enjoyment of working their dogs, learning about the pedigree's etc...which in turn keeps the costs down. Though trialing with any line is expensive, yet breeders don't always add that cost into what they are charging for puppies. Then again, some SL or WL kennels don't show or trial at all and just sell pups due to the previous titles on the dogs they are breeding....so the cost to show/train is not an issue. Yet they still command higher prices for their pups. BUT I do believe there is an inflation in prices and people will pay what certain SL kennels charge...doesn't make the dogs any better(though some people seem to think higher price=better doggy) Last edited by onyx'girl; 09-23-2011 at 06:19 PM.

09-23-2011, 06:28 PM	#3 (permalink)
paulag1955 Knighted Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Western Washington Posts: 2,781	I think breeders can charge what the market will bear and there may be a bit of snobbery on the part of the buyers wanting a "show" dog. __________________ Paula Shasta - GSD (4/30/10) RIP Duchess - Shetland Sheepdog (12/25/88 - 2/14/04)

09-23-2011, 06:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
Emoore Crowned Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: North DFW, TX Posts: 9,214	I thought we had a thread about this. . . ? __________________ Rocky vom Backyard- 10 years young Kopper vom Felssclucht Bach - 17 months At the Bridge: Cash van der Animal Shelter 2006-2010

09-23-2011, 06:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
selzer Crowned Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Denmark, Ohio Posts: 17,499	One of the things is that there is more name recognition for the top of the line show dogs, sieger and VA dogs is a concept that is easy to explain and is generally accepted. This was the top dog at the sieger show two years in a row, chosen out of hundreds of dogs. Similar to our Grand Victor, Grand Victrix here. This was the number 6 dog for the year, and in order to get that rating he had to jump through these hoops. I think that working line dogs, at least from an outsider, you almost have to be a working line enthusiast to have the first idea who is who, what makes a puppy out of this breeding worth more than a puppy out of that breeding. For a working line dog, you want a dog for this, that or another thing. If you want a dog for police work, the top herding dog for the year is not going to be your first choice, and probably the tops schutzhund dog for the year will not be either. More impressive might be military or police dog in the background. But even then a puppy out of any lines for that type of work is a gamble. And it would make much more sense to by a green dog to train or a trained dog. But most of the buyers for show line dogs are pet owners. They are more concerned about how the dog looks and acts in a companion way (friendly, easy to train), and you can get a good idea about a pup in eight weeks, at least for the qualities that pet owners are looking for. So the majority of the people buying working lines for work or serious competition, are buying a young adult, or are raising up dogs out of their own breeding. These greed dogs will probably be started and reflect that in their cost. People buying a dog for actual show, are often buying an older pup or young adult with promise and will spend more too. But people who want a puppy that looks the part, and has the temperament they want will pay more for show line pups than people who want a working line puppy will, and thus the price difference. It costs a lot for showing and importing or buying dogs with the qualities you want, and if you gamble buying a pup for breeding or raising up your own, there are so many reasons that pup will fall out. __________________ RIP Arwen, CD RN CGC RIP Whitney, RN CGC Jenna, RN CGC Babs, CD RA CGC Herding Instinct Certificate Heidi, RA CGC Tori, RN CGC SG3 Odessa, SchH1, Kkl1, AD Ninja, RN CGC Milla, RN CGC Joy, Star Puppy, RN CGC Dolly & Bear

09-23-2011, 06:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
lemans Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NY Posts: 390	Vanity and egos.

09-23-2011, 06:40 PM	#6 (permalink)
mthurston0001 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 255	The monetary value of an item is whatever the public is willing to pay.

09-23-2011, 06:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
wolfstraum Crowned Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: PA Posts: 7,088	LOTS more SL breeders - big bucks in the show ring....more prestige.... But most Euro breeders sell for 1500 - 2500....show or work.... Lee __________________ Csabre Sch1, Hexe Sch2, Bengal, Kyra, Kira & Kougar v Wolfstraum ~ Basha Sch3, Ghost Sch3 - Danger Sch1 SAR - ATB/Ret - Kyra, Sch3, Alice Sch1, Kelsey, Fenja Sch3 wolfstraum.net

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