Is it worth paying for a "papered" dog?

Looking at adding a four legged critter to the family. Been looking around online, prices and services are all over the place.
Is it worth paying solid gun money for a dog? I mean, health guarantees are awesome, and AKC registry looks cool, but it is a lot of money.
Curious what y'all have to say on the subject.
(Looking primarily in the Cur, German Shepherd, or Lab)

 

Depends what is meant by papered.

If you mean pedigree papers, then that may perhaps only be of use for breeding purposes. If you mean medical / vaccination and spaying records...that may be useful in buying decisions, and in maintaining the dog's health and wellness. Knowing what breed the dog has, may help in identifying potential health problems that seem to affect that particular breed more so than others...which may also determine buying decisions and probable pet insurance / health cost outlays.

 

We are also Puppy shopping now, so I can share some thoughts on this!
A papered dog doesn't always mean there will not be issues or that your getting the quality you would assume.
Papers are really only important if you intend to breed your dog, or sell Stud services, or for dogs that will be shown or compete in trials or other competitions. Even breeders don't paper all the pups, one pup may have a "defect" in color or size, or may have a minor issue that would prevent said pup from being desirable, or to prevent said pup from ever being use for breeding purposes!

DO your home work, look as as many pups as you can, never choose the first pup you see. Check out the breeders and demand to see both the Sire and Bitch as well as any other "relatives" and observe how they are treated and cared for!

Some things I look for in a breeder:
A clean and organised operation.
Healthy looking dogs that look well cared for and properly fed and groomed.
All papers available for inspections, good and bad, I wanna see them all.
I want the breeder to Interview me and ask me all kinds of questions about me, my home, my experience with dogs and this specific breed as well as my yard, and fencing or containment.
Health records and Vet report, all shots, and worming, and dew claws removed and healed up, as well as the pup weened.
I want to see the pups in a group and I want to see them separated, and finally I want to look at several pups individually!
Once I pick out a Pup, I want copies of all papers ready to go, and copies of the pups records and health report, as well as any food and meds the pup may need. I also want feeding recommendations based on what the breeder is feeding the pups so that when the pup gets home, it is getting the same food it's used to and wont get sick!

All this should be used for any dog you may wish to purchase, from a papered breeder or Just some one who has a good litter of pups to sell.

Good Luck, and keep us posted, and be sure to share pictures of your New Fir Kid! LOL

 

My late parents' last two dogs were AKC Registered. Male Lab and female Lab, siblings. Really great dogs.
The only times I ever saw Dad cry was when each dog died. Over the years, we had mixed breeds and pure breeds. Most were good dogs.

 

idk I'm a pound puppy buyer myself. I think genetic cross breeding in mongrels makes superior animals. But you have to shop alot more.

my only exception to this would be to buy a dog from this guy but you pay for training and breeding... He is not cheap

Watch his videos.. He is good at what he does
David Harris

 

I look at the dog and the breed or breeds that make up the dog mad Max was a boarder terrier whippet mix and was free the lady that had him had 9 dogs when I pulled up Max grabbed on and choked slammed him in the yard and I said I will take him after he got ran over I went in search of the breed I had heard about a pattersdale terrier come to find out they are expensive I found scout in the add papers just a few Townes over from me the asked me a lot of questions about what I planned to do with him and when I said everything and hunt the price went down a lot I plan on breading him to a blue healer I think with his traits and blue heeler traits the off spring will be awesome.

 

That sounds pretty ballin Bishop. We had a good dog I picked up form the pound, fixed, and I have honestly lost sleep getting upset I was never able to breed him. Exceptional dog, finding it very difficult to find another mut to fill the gap.

 

Some of the best dogs are mutts. Friends had a Lab /German Sheppard mix, best dog ever. Brother has a Boxer/ Golden Retriever mix, he looks over " His Kids" very closely and is a very invved in raising those kids!

Dogs are like nursemaids with children, i see it all the time, even breeds you wouldn't think. Cousin has a Doberman that watches over his little daughter and takes care of her, and plays real gentle with her. When the little one cries, that big land shark is right there peaking in to see what the fuss is all about amd then goes to get Mom or Dad!

Dogs are the 2nd best thing man ever did for him self, domesticated the wolf!

 

If your a good owner father master whatever you will have good loyal dog no matter if it $100 dog or a $5000 dog

 

No

 

Our dogs are, like Mrs. Dawg and I, mongrel pound pups. They all have done what dogs do and have done it well. My opinion is that love and training is worth more than water soluble paper and you have saved a life that may save yours in return one day.

 

I don't see any point in intentionally inbreeding dogs for our own entertainment.
I consider it animal cruelty.
Not too long ago a saw some stats on pure bread dogs.
Half of labs die of cancer by age 7.
English bull dog pups usually have to be delivered by c-section because their over sized heads can blow out the mothers vj.
Very large breeds like bull mastiff, most of them have to have hip surgery as soon as age 5 or be put down as early as 8. My sister did this, she is always broke so the dog got put down.

My best dog was a great Dane dad with ausse Sheppard pyrenee mix mom.
He was the k9 master race.

 

My boss buys very expensive pure Poodles. They die really early because they have been over bred or something. Weaker bones, brain development issues and cancer have all been issues that my boss has had to deal with.

We have always had mixed blood dogs and they work for us. I bought a $100 lab/golden puppy from a pet shop. It grew up to be a chow mix. It was the best dog. He watched over the children and alerted when bad critters were around.

 

Dogs are great, all of em', but a verifiable genetic track from a reputable breeder will definitely enable you to select an animal that is top of the lineage, All breeds have certain characteristics, health issues can be genetic as well, size, temperament, longevity, all are traits that a properly researched pedigree can help with. I like to start with the best stock I can find and, like all dog people, it just gets better from there.

 

Knowing the parents is a valuable asset in this issue, if you can ascertain them.
I am partial to the Curb Stone Setter ,mongrel . Mixes have proven through the years to be healthier and happier animals ,that is providing the mother in particular has the characteristics you desire in the animal. dead serious about this.
Invitro pups are being trained before birth every thing the mother does and how she reacts to every thing , this is true in humans as well.
I would make a very close examination of the mother first before getting to know any of the pups , one's choice should not be based on emotion, but on fact .
If you don't know what your looking for and you pick any thing, you get any thing .
If the mother is fearful so will the pups be fearful .
If she is courageous , so will the pups be courageous.
if she is difficult to train ,so will the pups be difficult, and so on.
There is an intelligence test done with Dogs that can be viewed on line . And a book called The Dog Whisperer .
Not all dogs are the same and can vary greatly in character . Most dogs are bred for something in particular (work) like shepherds and they need a job , if not they tend to be frustrated .
a note of caution. if you choose a potentially big dog and you don't want it fighting you over the couch or jumping on your lap or jumping up on you , do NOT encourage it to do these things as a pup.
Use simple language (not baby talk)
Give commands , not suggestions .
They need you love, and they also need your discipline.
They need to know their boundaries and where you designate they do their business .
The more time you spend with the dog talking teaching and doing the closer you two can get.
I have had dogs in the past that seemed to almost read my mind .
I have also taken in rescue dogs that are already 7 years old or more and we/I must establish who is alpha or at least create an understanding on how much I will tolerate ,seeing I control the food .

 

Dogs,

They best dogs are the ones given a job in the pack. If you do not give a dog a job they he/she will work to put themselves in the pack possibly as your equal. Had many dogs and trained many more. A dog can be your best family member, but make sure they know their place in the hierarchy, and this is done by given them a purpose. We got a 6 year old dog 3 months ago. Have worked 3 months day in and out. The dog now knows its job in our pack and is happy and content. We took her because everyone said she was untrainable. Had 3 homes in six years, including as a puppy in the shelter after she was born. She is a purebred dog but we do not care either does she. But three months in she has surpassed everything people had said about her. She is now very well trained and is actually near perfect, takes dedication from owners. And dogs may like being your friend, but to be content they need a job.
Many people think of a dog as a pet, maybe to you. But all dogs no matter what are pack animals and are most happy when having a place in that pack. Thats just in their DNA, its why if you watch dogs you will see pack behavior because thats what they crave.

 

One of the best dogs we ever had, "Bobo", was a throw-away pup when he showed up in our yard. He was one ugly pup! He grew into a big black (mostly) GSD mix. Very smart mutt, loyal and reliable. Never had any health problems.
Dad's last dog, the male Yellow Lab registered AKC, ended up with hip trouble and finally died of kidney failure. His little Black Lab sister died a couple years earlier of suspected brain anurism.