I had done some homework on GSPs, so I new the price range before I called any breeders.  So, price was not really a part of the conversation until after I had already made up my mind.  I did give my breeder the third degree.  I wanted to know everything about the breeding, what she was breeding for, what she did with her dogs, etc, etc.  So, as a customer I was interviewing her as much as she was interviewing me.  Of course, we both were in love with the GSP so we ended up just talking about the dogs for a long time too.

My breeder sold me Ringo at her pet price because she knew he was going to a good home and I would show him in a variety of venues and keep her informed on everything I was doing with him.  For her it was more about the kind of home he would go to, than about the money.  She never makes money on a breeding and is probably lucky if she even breaks even.  For her it truly is a "labor" of love.

Also, it's not only the cost and time that goes into caring for a pregnant bitch, being prepared for complications, and taking care of the litter. Buyers tend to forget that even more effort and money goes into titling the breeding stock, getting them health certified and the care that goes into them BEFORE they are even bred.

So when calculating...they have 10 pups at $ 700 each that's $ 7000 they "rake in", that sounds like a good chunk of money, but add up all the costs leading up to the day the pups go to their homes...INCLUDING the work and time put into the dogs, training, exercising, grooming and driving to dog shows and field trials, I'd say, so what if the breeder comes out on top, it's well deserved.

Again, I myself have limits as to what I can, and ultimately will spend on a dog. To give an extreme but factual example: My neighbor paid $ 2800 for his 8-week old puppy. That for me is beyond comprehension. There are just way too many great dogs to be had for much less and I rather spend the money saved on fun stuff to do with the dog (training, long trips, agility, field trials, toys, equipment etc etc).  

What was even more mindboggling, the puppy was an English Bulldog which comes preprogrammed with so many health issues that he will spend many times as much in medical upkeep. It also turned out the dog was deaf.

Here, here!

I do agree with responsible breeding, testing for genetic problems, bettering the breed, etc.

I also think that generally, "you get what you pay for."

We got our GSP from the "pound" and know NOTHING about his background. We were willing to take that risk for a pet/companion. (If he has some inherited disease that surfaces in a few years, we may be sorry!)

Good for you.  If as breeders we don't screen potential new owners/buyers all we are doing is contributing to the rescue and shelter problems.

No puppy will ever sell for enough money for me to place them in a home I'm not confident in as being a good one.