Dog owners are signing up for designer pooches costing as much as a car
DOG owners are turning their backs on the scruffy old mutt in favour of designer pooches that can cost as much as a car.
Tasmania
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AUSSIE dog owners are turning their backs on the scruffy old mutt in favour of designer pooches that can cost as much as a car.
The Tibetan mastiff — bear-like dogs weighing up to 100kg — takes out top honours as the most expensive breed in Australia.
The rare breed is extremely popular in China with one developer paying $2 million for a puppy in 2014.
Analysis by Pet Insurance Australia of the breeds commanding top dollar found the hipster dog of choice, the French bulldog, was in second place. Puppies are priced from $2000 — $10,000.
“The popularity is most certainly due to the cute factor as no one can deny how stunning this wee breed is,” Nadia Crighton, from Pet Insurance Australia, said.
“The French bulldog is also a very popular celebrity dog so it’s only natural that the global trends we see in breeds reflect those that are more prevalent in images and the media.”
Lowchens, chow chows and samoyeds are also high-priced pooches that reveal a fondness for the exotic and fluffy.
While most of the expensive dogs are pretty, the good old English bulldog and the rottweiler are popular and expensive breeds because of their character.
Hobart’s Jade Pross is a breeder of French bulldogs and bought her first one, Cali, with breeding rights for about $6,500 three years ago.
Cali has since had 14 pups (in two litters), which Mrs Pross sold as pets for between $4000 and $5000 each.
“Because Cali came with breeding rights she was a bit more expensive than your average pet,” Mrs Pross said. “[But] you can pay up to $25,000-$30,000 for a French bulldog depending on things like the colour … We kept two pups from the last litter for ourselves and I don’t know yet if I want to breed or sell them.”
Mrs Pross, a registered breeder with Dogs Tasmania, said she has sold “a fair few” of her pups to families who have children with special needs.
“Our youngest son has Autism and he loves animals. We originally had Staffordshire Bull Terriers, but they were just too much for him,” she said.
“The Frenchies are similar in nature to a Staffy, but they are a little bit smaller. They have a beautiful temperament.”
Penny Gaunson, of Hobart, likewise loves her expensive pets — four Samoyeds, which she bought from a breeder in Melbourne for between $3000 and $4000 each.
“I love the fact that they are so affectionate, really good company and real little characters,” said Mrs Gaunson, formerly a breeder of the large, white herding dogs.
“I’ve had about 20 Samoyeds as pets since 1969 … They originated from Siberia where they were used primarily for herding and to keep people warm at night.”
She said buyers should beware of potential health problems, especially relating to the dogs’ hips, elbows and eyes.
”People will pay to get the dog they want, but they have to realise that when they buy a dog, that whatever you buy that’s just the start of it,” Mrs Gaunson said.
“There’s the food, the vet bills, the brushes and the council registration fees. In our breed, they live for 13-14 years so it [can be] a lifelong commitment. I wouldn’t suggest people buy them unless they really love them.”
Tasmanian Canine Association executive officer Kerry Smith said anyone looking to purchase a purebred registered dog should contact Dogs Tasmania “to ensure that the person they are negotiating the purchase with is a registered breeder with the organisation”.
“We have found that people are willing to pay whatever price is being asked to get the breed of dog that they are after to best suit their lifestyle,” he said.
TOP DOGS: The most expensive puppies this year
Tibetan mastiff ..... $4000-$10,000
French bulldog ......$2000-$10,000
Lowchen ................$1300-$10,000
Samoyed ................$1000-$10,000
British bulldog ........ $1000-$4000
Chow chow ............... $700-$9000
Pharaoh hound ............ $1800 avg
Saluki ........................ $500-$2500
Rottweiler (below) ... $500-$2500
Yorkshire terrier ..... $1200-$3000
Source: Pet Insurance Australia
jane.hansen@news.com.au
penelope.mcleod@news.com.au
Originally published as Dog owners are signing up for designer pooches costing as much as a car