@nomrbddgs:
<< if the person looking at a $300 dog, $700 to $1000 a big jump for most. >>
If a person can't afford $300, then they shouldn't be getting any dog IMO. Just a vet check right after that is at least 40-50 bucks. Wasn't someone just talking about this earlier in this post? You don't want to put more money into the dog, but you're going to get another one? Doesn't this happen a lot to the people that put dogs in rescue? They conveniently get rid of a dog because of vet costs or lifestyle changes then turn around within (usually) a year and get another dog?
I 100% agree with this. The initial purchase price (whether it is $300 or $1000) is only a fraction of what it costs to own a dog. And yes, in this thread and in other threads, we've seen people re-home a dog (that sounds like training might be able to fix) that "can't afford" a behaviorist, only to turn around and buy another dog - or plan on buying another dog within a year. They don't listen to the advice that their home situation (lack of structure or training - animal & human) might be the cause of the behavior problems and expect immediate fixes. Their view is the dog is a failure, not that they were a major contributing factor to its failure.
Personally I've come to dread the new puppy threads each winter because many of them have purchased, without listening to the advice given, and you know that a good portion of the pups shown off will be re-homed.
I don't think anyone here is against rescue. At the same time, I don't think rescue should be against anyone going to a responsible breeder. It is an individual choice. I made the choice to initially get 2 retired show dogs - they needed a good home. And I didn't make the wrong choice - for me or for my dogs.