My lab recently died and I was looking around at some breeders and litters available. She was almost 10 years old; I got her from a breeder north of Birmingham in March of 2011. I tracked down the breeder and told them what was going on and that I might be interested in a puppy some where down the road. I had to rethink it after they told me each puppy is $1400. That might be a lot for some folks and others might think that’s not all that outrageous. I spent $800 for her and I would gladly spend that much again and a little more but I was surprised at how much of an increase it was. Kudos to them for being able to swing those prices but not sure Im good with nearly a 50% increase as a returning customer. I ran in ton someone the other day that had a golden doodle they spent $4k on.

That sounds about normal for a well breed lab. You can get them cheaper, but I would say between $1,200-$1,500 is pretty standard.

Bird dog with a good nose that hunts close and don't mind briars...priceless

I said I'd never pay for a dog, then I wound up getting a $1,000 Rhodesian.

Yearly vet bills and food, maybe an adoption fee. But I don't do any hunting that requires dogs and if I do the guides have their own. I personally keep GSDs and have a couple of part time Pits(girlfriend's dogs) but all are rescues.

I spent $800 once, now my Mom spent a small fortune on her French bulldog 😯

i have owned labs that were free to way north of the price you were quoted. 10 years from now the initial cost will not be relevant. The more titles and health clearances a puppies sire and dam have will increase the cost of the pup; At a bare minimum buy a pup that has hips, elbows and eyes checked. I think CNM and EIC are also important. The puppy market has been soft lately. You can sometimes find bargains on 8-10 week old puppies if you look around. After cleaning up after a litter for 8-10 weeks those puppies stop being so cute.

Just spent $750 on a black lab. Get him next week. Good bloodlines too. Father of the litter has all the ribbons and crap (don’t know enough about it and don’t care). Mother of litter is owned by a friend and proven duck dog. Hope he turns out! I have looked for awhile and this was the best deal I came across.

I got my lab mix for free. Sire is a grand champ tree hound dam was a well rounded lab bird dog. Was an "accidental" pregnancy whatever the hell that means.

Anyways hes hell on a blood trail, dang good skwerl dog (far from the best), knows sign language, and most importantly he is the best damn family dog I've ever had. Very protective. Can't get much better than that as far as temperament and gamebred go together. Wish I would have got his siblings

Maybe $300. It's just a dog to me, not a part of the family.

Not a lab but on average with what i do and around working line proven parents and health guaranteed shepherds run as a puppy $1500-$3500 whether for active home,sport or work. And proven adults imported in from people i trust are $5000-$20000. And i see some folks spend 50k-up for the right bitch or male. But usually they're co-owned. With what we do you have to think of price like a race horse. $1500 stud fees would pay off a $20k dog quick like. My male i couldn't sell as he's a stud and the real deal. Have had several offers from Germany,Denmark and South Alabama and Florida brokers for k9 admins inquire and had to turn down the $. But the day he was injured from a 75yrd send and apprehend it worried me not only as a companion but thought it was career ending. And if that was the case it was injury and not genetic. 6 weeks of rest and rehab and he's more driven now than before. I say spend what you want but make sure of lineage,health,etc if spending major money. That said I've had several good labs and shepherd at the $750 mark.

I said that too. Now I'm sitting here right now with this chessie. My kids and wife wanted a dog so bad so I sold my 1948 browning A5 to buy this dog. He is great but living where we are I can only really use him for hunting a few times a year.... should have got a dog from the pound. Plus, this sucker won't leave my side. Worse than a clingy girlfriend.

Spent $90 on a feist...that was $89.50 too much. I’m done with dogs since the feist died a couple of weeks ago at 16.

If you are buying the dog to do a job, $1,500 to $2,000 amortized over a roughly 8-10-year working life, vs, feeding (for life) or giving away a couple of yard dogs that didn't work out, isn't all that much. Bloodlines are no guarantee, but if I'm getting a retriever, I want all the odds I can get. And before someone starts with the story about the runt/accidental mating that turned into a field champion; most of them.....didn't.

For a pet, I've seen some great shelter dogs. I've also seen a lot more shelter dogs that were abused enough before adoption that they never did work out.

Are you just wanting it for a pet or do you plan on making it a hunting dog of some kind?

The cost of the puppy is the smallest expense in raising a hunting or working dog.

If you need him to do lab stuff and do it perfectly then buying a dog in that price range seems reasonable. If you are looking for a buddy then I'd take time finding a mutt. Just had to put down a nearly 13 year lab/hound mix, he was one awesome dog. Not sure what all was in him, but definitely some lab and blue tick and dangit he was just a great dog.

My dogs meds cost more than my own

I've had dogs that were paid for and rescues. I'm actually much more able to afford a dog now but I'm not interested in looking for a breeder when so many in the pound need help.

What a person spends or is willing to spend on a dog is their own business and they are really the only ones that can make that decision.

My Field Bred English Cocker was $1200; pretty typical for that breed.