Cross Breeds

How can a pet store justify selling mixed breed puppies for so much money?

There is an add in my local paper for a pet store selling multiple types of mixed breeds of dogs, some I didn't even know what they were, I had to call and ask. When I told her they sounded like mutts- the worker said "No, they're 'crosses'." How can pet stores justify charging hundreds for these "crosses? Below I've listed the puppies and prices that were in the ad: Shugs- $399 Maltenese- $499 Forkies- $399 Shihtza-Poo- $399 Mini Bull Dogs- $699 They have new arrivals coming in called Yorkie Chons too....

Public Comments

1. Supply and demand......its all about the money.
2. Easiest question ever - because there are enough suckers who will pay the money. Puppies are cute, end of story.
3. People will buy it. Why shouldn't they sell if they're all going to be sold anyway?
4. Because people will buy them for that much. Some people hear a cool unusual name and think they're getting a dog that's rare or unique. They wouldn't sell nearly as many if they wrote MUTT on their pens. I think legally they should have to disclose that type of information. Instead of blowing smoke like your dog is registered with the APR. They need to be told that your dog can never be shown nor bred and it will only be a good family pet. Your registration papers mean absolutely nothing. Your getting a dog that was bred strictly for experimental purposes and to make money! *ADD* They should also state: That while you think you are getting a designer dog for a wonderful price this price will be the least of your concerns down the road. Your vet bills may be astonomical depending on the poor health and genetic issues your dog could develop at anytime.
5. These are all puppy mill puppies They come from places like these http://www.stoppuppymills.org and http://www.prisonersofgreed.org It sounds like they are unlicensed dealers. Call or write a humane society in your state and report them Also report them here http://stoppuppymills.org/forms/tell_us_your_story.html for sure. Get as many details as you can Warn everyone in your community. These are problems dogs raised in terrible abuse, and trhese abusers keep doing this because people buy these dogs They need to be shut down. Keep reporting them!
6. If people are buying they keep selling.. simple as that.
7. they're stupid. someone was trying to get me to adopt a mini bulldog i love bulldogs but a mini one would have much worse complications than a regular bulldog. i never even heard of some of these....yorkie chon? shug? wtf? lol
8. They can justify it because morons will pay the price and proudly claim they have this wonderful "rare" breed!
9. because ignorant people will buy them because they are different. as long as the demand is there they will keep supplying them.
10. DESIGNER I know its crazy but hey thats how it is i see it as still a mutt but put Designer Breed or Hybrid and people fall for it
11. How they can sell any dog is beyond me. It is a shame we are breeding mixes on purpose in the first place. The dog population is overwhelming and pet stores are no dog advocate I can tell you that right now.
12. Don't blame the stores! They do it because they can! It's supply and demand and clever advertising! It's buyers who set the price, As long as people are DAFT ENOUGH to pay those prices for non existant breeds of dog whose silly name denotes it's nothing but a X breed, and unfortunately there are so many who are, then stores will charge those prices! Sorry but calling a Shepherd Labrador X a Gerlab doesn't make it worth more, it's still a X and therefore by definition a mutt! People might think it makes them look a cool, 'designer breed owner' but all it does is make them look stupid! It's no different to any mutt you could find in any shelter for a fraction of the price or even free! When I was growing up these were the 'free to good homes' pups you could find in any weekly ad column! It seems odd that what was once the pet of the poorer in society is now the 'status symbol' of the wanna be rich!
13. Thease are the new designer dogs, we used to call them mixed breeds or mutts thease were the dogs that yoused to be free or cheep but not anymore.and each dog has to be full blooded like you would have to have a boston terrier full stock and a begal full stock to get a cross called a boggle . you can look on the akc web site to learn more.
14. because people will buy them thats why. If someone goes in and buys one of these new crosses then they can then go out and buy about 3 more as they are only getting them for about 100 or less from a puppy mill that has another litter on the way or already born. They dont care where the dogs go or who has them. Just that they are makeing money. They can get crosses allot cheaper then they can purebreds and crosses right now are all the rage esp if they are small dogs.
15. They justify it because they are GREEDY and as long as ill informed people insist on purchasing dogs from pet stores then the demand will still be there. Do not purchase any pet from a pet store, and this cycle of puppy mills and "designer" breeds will stop.