Why good Started dogs are not cheap
Producing good Started dogs requires a lot of time and work. Often, we invest seven months to a year or more of our lives in these dogs. We raise them like they are our own dogs, in the house. Not everyone does this, but we feel that the end product is much superior to other Started dogs out there.
There are many costs to raise and train a dog. Most people don’t realize the cost involved. But if you have every raised up a puppy, you may remember the many expected and unexpected costs such as vet bills.
In addition to the cost of the puppy, which often exceeds $1,000, we pay:
In addition, we assume all the risk with these pups. If for any reason the pup isn’t able to be trained to the level requested, we absorb that cost and start over so the client gets exactly why he wants.
So while the cost of trained dogs may seem high, if you consider all the time, money and effort that it requires, it is actually a great deal!
We used to buy a few pups a year, trained them and sell them as Started dogs. But over time, we have found that our Custom Trained Retrievers program is a better option for everyone. With this program, we provide our clients with exactly what they want. It allows us to provide very specific training based on the needs of the buyer.
With Custom Trained Retrievers, our clients tell us what color of Labrador Retriever they want and what sex. From there we start the process with lots of research. We look for litters of retrievers that have proven lines. In this way we know the mom and dad are working dogs and have titles to prove it. We also want breeders that take pride in their litters and begin working on socializing and teaching and exposing the pups to new situations right away. And we want a health guarantee that we can pass on to our clients.
Once we pick up the puppy, we bring them right into our home. We take the time to socialize them to the house, people, and children. We work through all the aspects of our hunting training programs, focusing specifically on the client and how he/she hunts. As I previously stated, this means we often have and train the dog for seven months to a year or more. In the end, our clients have a well-trained, obedient hunting partner that will love and serve them for years to come.
In addition, we offer training and ongoing support to our clients with these dogs. We teach the new owner exactly what their trained dog can do and how to maintain that training. If they have questions or concerns, they just give us a call. We encourage them to seek our help often and early for any small or large training issues they see. In this way, we can help our clients maintain the training long term.
The value of a retriever trained specifically for you
Every year, here at Otter Tail Kennels, we get dozens of calls from people looking for Started retrievers. Many times, the person calling is looking for a cheap trained dog, something we don’t sell. There are dogs out there that people can get as a bargain, but, as with everything, you generally get what you pay for.
We do things a little different. We offer Custom Trained Retrievers. Custom Trained Retrievers are selected and trained specifically for our client. They tell us what they want, and to what level they want it trained, and we raise a dog up to meet their needs. We produce excellent Started and Finished dogs because we train the dogs specifically for the owner’s needs.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of buying a puppy versus buying a started dog.
Pointing Dog Pointers features monthly training tips by Bob and Jody Iler, who own Green Valley Kennels in Dubuque, Iowa. Bob and Jody have trained pointing dogs for over 35 years and have written many articles for The Pointing Dog Journal.
If the dog seems frightened or tucks his tail when working with the seller in the field, these are not good signs. If the seller indicates that he doesn’t want to talk to you after the sale, this also is not a good sign! Back off and search elsewhere. It’s also a good idea to ask to see the dog work in at least a couple different areas, not just the usual training field that the dog is used to.
Puppies also should come with a guarantee as to health and soundness. Good breeders take pride in their dogs and want you to be satisfied. They will offer advice on which pup might be best suited for you, depending on your needs and what type of hunting or field events you plan to do.
Even with the best of intentions, though, buying a puppy is more of a “crap shoot” – because other than seeing pup’s parents and noting their field performance and temperament, a pup can and will develop into a dog that you may not have bargained for. For example, you may want a closer working foot dog, and your pup (with field champions in his pedigree) just may grow into a dog with “wheels,” running off to the horizon as you wonder what to do next!