Cost Of A Rr

[Remarkabull]

I have a friend who is very interested in getting a RR puppy in the next year or so and I am doing a little research for her.

What are they like with younger children (toddlers)?

Are they known for trying to escape or wandering (we know they can if bored but I mean is it part of their personality/temperament)?

Are they generally good with other dogs?

What is the average price of a pup from a good breeder? (I don't want her to get ripped off)

Thanks in advance

[poodlefan]

Your friend may find this thread helpful.

My friend charges $1200 for a limited register pup from fully health tested parents. Pups are checked for dermoid sinus.

Edited April 19, 2011 by poodlefan

[Erny]

It goes without saying that all dogs need to be raised, socialised and trained to and for the things in life we want them to be comfortable and steady around. With that, then my answer is yes, a Ridgeback can be an excellent dog around children. However, remember they are large dogs and when they are young, until they mature some (around 3 or 4 years old) they can be a bit exuberant and their body size alone could prove to be a child hazard. So training and supervision around children (and who of us would not recommend this regardless) would be required. If you were to come to my place, a huge danger is the bruising you might cop from my boy's 'whippy' boney tail. My sister's poor geriatric Bearded Collie dog whom I am minding at the moment, copped it in the face for being too close behind and let out a yelp with a hurt look - so it's definitely a weapon to be respected when you're at that end, lol.

They are dogs who bond closely with the 'pack' and are generally speaking aloof towards people outside of the pack. I would not expect them to seek to escape nor leave home territory or pack unless they had good reason to do so (eg boredom) but it also goes without saying that tall fencing the dog was unlikely to be able to escape from is a requirement - at the very least to keep your dog safe from others.

They do love exercise - physical and mental. And in fact they need it. But their greatest love of all is simply being around their pack members. They tend to be the sort of dogs who, if you are sitting, they are glad to sit with you. But just as eager to go with you for a run and a jaunt. To be doing what you're doing.

In my experience, they can be excellent around other dogs, but a good solid foundation of positive associations around other dogs from early age (critical period and forward of that) is a must, otherwise you may find yourself with a RR who is scared of other dogs and that can lead to fear aggro.

RR's can be 'nervous nellies' and therefore a good, sound socialisation program towards the things in this world they are likely to experience in their lifetime (eg. fireworks; traffic; crowds; meeting unfamiliar people; and so on and so on) will stand the RR in good stead. S/he might still be a bit of a nervous nellie at heart but far more confident with things than s/he might otherwise have been.

Check the breed line too - there are lines that are more weak on nerves but then others that can potentially be a bit too strong (for want of better words) in their nature than what you might prefer.

I think with the right owner/s they are great dogs. But I don't think they are as resilient as (for example) Labradors, so it does take a bit of extra understanding of the nature of these dogs to help with their training. They are sensitive dogs, yet can be quite wilful. They definitely need a leader, so a calm but assertive/firm yet fun attitude by their people does well for this breed . But yet again, the latter would count for just about every breed.

They can be sooky lala's and you'll certainly know about it by the volume of their vocalisation if you so much as nearly go to step on their paw, lol. Yet when they are on a mission they can be amazingly stoic.

Dedicated and loyal to their owner family. Generally only bark when there is something to bark at, so they are often wonderful watch-dogs.

My general opinion to anyone with young toddlers, no matter what dog breed they are looking at getting, is to factor in that they will need to be constantly teaching the toddlers and teaching their puppy, all at once and consistently. And there's training and walking the pup/young dog/dog no matter what. Do they have the time and the energy for that? If even just one of their children were a bit older, they'd have a little person who could help them with some things in the care of the dog or some basic/minor responsibilities such as keeping younger sister/brother away/still for a moment and so on.

This last part is not an opinion. It is food for thought. It is not through my own direct experience (other than when I was once that younger sister and my brother was that bit older to be able to look after me and help with our new first dog) but through me, in my work, seeing the difficulties some people have when they take on what they need to consider as another 'baby' (so to speak - not intended as literal).

IME price ranged from $900 - $1500

Edited April 19, 2011 by Erny

[Remarkabull]

Thanks for replies guys.

My friend only has one child (14 year old boy) but there will regularly be friends over that have 2 young children, hence why I asked.

She has not owned a purebred dog before and seeing as I don't know that much about RR's (they have always reminded me a Dobes though so I love them and think they are beautiful) I thought I'd check here to find out some general info to give her about the breed to go with what I've told her about why getting a dog from a good breeder is a good way to go.

I wanted to know cost so I can use it to compare with what a BYB dog may cost initially to what it could cost in the long run in comparison with paying more initially but having some kind of health guarantee.

[poodlefan]

Thanks for replies guys.

My friend only has one child (14 year old boy) but there will regularly be friends over that have 2 young children, hence why I asked.

She has not owned a purebred dog before and seeing as I don't know that much about RR's (they have always reminded me a Dobes though so I love them and think they are beautiful) I thought I'd check here to find out some general info to give her about the breed to go with what I've told her about why getting a dog from a good breeder is a good way to go.

I wanted to know cost so I can use it to compare with what a BYB dog may cost initially to what it could cost in the long run in comparison with paying more initially but having some kind of health guarantee.

We recently had a BYB litter advertised on our work bulletin board. No health testing and the breeder wanted the same amount of money for pups that my friend (registered breeder) charges. BYB dogs arent' always bargains - in many ways.

[Dogsrawesome]

i see a lot of RR's for sale and are generally the same price people as breeders without health testing like poodlefan said they arent always bargains or the best place to get an even tempered pup .