@Tayda_Lenny:
Just to add another comment about the cost of the puppy, since I've been dealing with this stuff recently - $600, $800, $1000… for a puppy... the difference is really insignificant when you take into account the amount of money spent at the vet over the life of the dog.... I've paid almost $4000 to the vet just this year on one of my dogs who cracked a tooth, got neutered, had an intestinal obstruction, and (just yesterday) got into a fight with a cat.
It's tough on the pocket book, but worth it to make sure they stay healthy. It breaks my heart when a necessary trip to the vet is bypassed for financial reasons that ends up putting the dogs life in real danger. Not that financial worries are not a REAL concern, but I guess what I'm saying is to make sure to take into account that on any given day, you could be at the vet dropping over $1000 for the health of your pet.
Oh, absolutely…just ask my vet if I am his very 'best' customer...I swear I personally financed their new offices
But, in my part of the country..rural (for the most part), blue collar...if people want a nice family dog, they are really unlikely to pay $1000 for one. If they can get a purebred dog for $500 they aren't likely to pay $1000 for one just because the breeder put more money into health care and testing etc. So to remain competitive with BYBs we are forced to charge less, I guess...often less than what the litter cost to put on the ground.
But that doesn't mean that I think people should be persuing purchasing any puppy if they don't have the means to secure adequate vet care, including emergency expenses.