I'm just wondering about a couple of things... We have just returned from Scotland where my uncle has got an 8 month old Golden bitch, she's from a farmer who breeds working stock or Goldens and Black and choc labs, he said he paid £450 for her which is what we paid for Leo and he's only a sheltie?
Are pups from "working breeders" cheaper? i would have thought a lab would cost more than a sheltie but maybe not?

Also how do you get in contact with the working breeders? it seems quite easy to find breeders who show their dogs etc.

Are working stock KC registered? I think they are but not 100% sure

Thanks

A Labrador, work, show or pet will cost you anything from £300 to £600 depending on a/ how good it is or b/ how much the breeder feels the market will pay! I have seen some very poor puppy's at the upper end and some really nice ones at the lower end!! A really good Labrador from the top working kennels will cost you quite a bit more. I've known puppies from top working lines exchange hands for four figure sums.

<<Are working stock KC registered?>>
Of course they are! We would never be able to work our dogs in KC controled events such as Field Trials or Working Tests if they were not any more than you would be able to take part in shows.

Regards John

Some good points from John. Most of the more expensive lab pups that I have seen advertised appear to be of very indifferent breeding (especially the chocolate ones).

I dont disbelieve you about a four figure pup, although I am struggling to think of a bitch that I would pay that much money for a pup from. (particularly knowing what I could get for half the price!) I'd be interested to know which kennel they are from (but not necessarily expecting you to tell me ;-) )

There are quite often unregistered litters advertised in the shooting press & internet, they seem to average at about £200-250. Quite probably very nice dogs, but I would consider the extra money required to get health checked breeding to be well-worthwhile.

Dogs are not necessarily like cars, they do not increase in price necessarily with size :D

Neither do all cars;-) there are some very small very expensive sports cars out there hehe

Anyways thanks for your help :)

Some breeds have small litters and/or are difficult and expensive to whelp and they are the expensive ones, breeds like Labs are not difficult and that is reflected in the price in that unless as John has said they have an added value of some kind, like coming from a well known working establishment especially if their training has started.

A pure bred dog is a pure bred dog and can be registered with the Kennel Club, it only requires that the parents are registered and that the breeder bothers to do so. The fact that it is to be used for working, shown or a companion makes no difference to is pedigree and if that is suitable then the dog can be registered as a pure bred.

PS. some breeders have working and show stock, they do not differ that much and some lines could do both. What sort of work are you interested in, if it is field then John may be able to point you in the right direction.

Did you want one for working or are you just curious about the price? A lot of show people also have working strain dogs and they look much lighter in bone and in goldens I would say not quite so 'pretty'. If you have a working strain they need to work just like a border collie needs to do something otherwise they can become very destructive.

I was just generally wondering about the price, OH won't let me get a Lab until we get a bigger house so i could have a while to wait :(

I paid the best £350 in my life for my lab.  He is worth every single penny of it and is now priceless to me!