Price differential

Darvin Ecklund · Post by **Darvin Ecklund** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 3:52 pm

After reading, I figured I would put in my 2 cents worth. Maybe those folks that are buying these dogs are the smart ones. After all, think about the time, food, and gas it takes to make a good dog. I believe those that have more money than time, will purchase a good dog know matter what it cost. I have owned over 30 hounds in my life, and have only sold a couple. One being for $3000.00 dollars and I bought it back two years later when the person I sold it to got out of hunting. I paid him exactly what it purchased it from me for. I still own the dog today and he is 13 years old. I still see guys buying dogs on the westcoast for big bucks but these are mostly bobcat dogs. They are not buying these dogs to guide, they are buying them because they want an instant hound that they can catch game with. For those hounds that are going to a guide, I would take this into consideration: If a guide gets $3500.00 to 6000.00 dollars for a lion hunt and $2500.00 + for a bear hunt, and the dog I am selling can tree any lion I put him on or any bear - how much is this dog really worth? One or two times out, this hound is paid for...how much time did it take me to make this dog. I personally hunt because I enjoy it and I enjoy training young dogs. Some guys don't have the time nor the patience to train dogs and never will. So if they choose to buy a hound for what it is worth-"the big bucks" it's good for both parties. Your hound is worth what it is worth, don't under sell your dogs if they are truely as good as you know they are.

bowhunter7 · Post by **bowhunter7** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:42 pm

I don't know about bobcat dogs, but the ones I looked into were finished bear dogs and western outfitters were selling them with very lofty price tags. The bobcat dog stuff is a little off topic, but from the little I've heard about them it's harder to find a good bobcat dog than it is to find a good bear dog and this may justify a pleasure hunter paying more for a finished bobcat dog than a finished bear dog. As far as your comment about a dog being worth what it's worth is that really true? What I mean is we might place a value on our dogs ($100 to priceless), but that's not necessarily what the dog is worth on the market. I think value and worth are two different things. Like anything else, I think a dog is only worth what people are willing to pay for it. For example, I am looking for a solid strike to tree bear dog. I find one in Idaho for $8,500 and get him flown in for a 30 day trial. He turns out to be a great dog and everything I'm looking for, but at the same time I have another dog on trial out of NC and he performs just as well. Now my point is that dog from Idaho may be worth $8,500 to somebody, but not me. I have this other dog with equal ability for $5,500 less.

Jim

PIGLET · Post by **PIGLET** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:56 pm

now your priceshopping, if you can buy a model 700 .300 mag from wal-mart for 450 or at the gun shop you can order it for 659.oo i gi with walmart. Each person puts their own value on a dog, The value also depends on how you hunt, the conditions u hunt in, and what species u are hunting for and what species is in the area.. Such as a good bobcat dog in an area that has bears but you want them broke off bears.. I guess their is a person out there for every dog you just have to find him or baffle the sh%t out someone and make them believe thats the dog for them..

I seen on here where a dog got 12,500 dollars. did this dog crap gold, what made him worth so much, I have seen many dogs that would stay treed for a day or two if you leave them, they would tree about any lion u turned him loose on, he caught bobcats consistanly, and was the man on bear.. They didn't send them on jaguars but i don't run into many of them to hunt where i hunt!!

pete richardson · Post by **pete richardson** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:34 am

somebody told me once- an expert is anybody that lives more than a hundred miles from here-

same deal with dogs- ive seen people spend thousands on dogs from far away--and get nothing--
and do it again- lol
- i cant imagine paying several thousand dollars for a dog id never seen go --

my best dog is never for sale and second best always is,, if the price is right lol

most houndsmen i know are the same

"best" dogs are seldom sold -

i never buy trained dogs-- but i think they are a bargain if you can afford them and find a good one--

lol i had a buddy try pretty hard to buy my best dog once-

made me some crazy offers-- being stupid, i refused -

told him id trade dog for his brand new pickup-- lol he was shocked -

i said whats the chances i could replace that dog before pickup is junk ?-
dog died less than a year later- but i still have same policy--

best is not for sale- what will u give me for second best lol

a great dog is worth as much as a new pickup anyday--and harder to get

pete richardson · Post by **pete richardson** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:36 am

a great dog is worth as much as a new pickup anyday--and harder to get

i should add to that
unless hes squashed in the road - or killed by a bear

Ike · Post by **Ike** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:51 am

I'm not sure a great dog is worth a new pickup (depends on what kind) but you can sure as the heck wear one out bringing a dog like that along from a pup :wink:

But you are probably right in that I wouldn't take a new pickup for my best dog.

PIGLET · Post by **PIGLET** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:38 am

your both crazy, I would sell any dog on this earth for a new pick-up and wouldn't think twice. I can guarantee you before night fall i would have another one or two that can tree game. Maybe not even close to as good as my number 1 but for a new truck he's gone..

Darvin Ecklund · Post by **Darvin Ecklund** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 3:49 am

Pete I think I would ditto your thoughts. I would just add you may pick up a guys great dog if he were getting a divorce and or just quit hunting all together. And I have even seen guys I hunt with go out of State or somewhere else to find a good dog or buy a pup, even if I offered to sell them a pup from my line of hounds - which do pretty well I might add. Hound folks are definately a different breed. Tough to figure a lot of them out. I love to see a great dog. I don't care where it came from, what color it is or who's got it! If I saw a local guy's hounds that caught bear and cats consistantly I would sure make a point get one if I was looking for a hound.

cecil j. · Post by **cecil j.** » Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:35 pm

DWD58 wrote:Then you got guys like the guy from Texas in last monthes magazine that had 7 top big game lead hounds for sale at a total of $ 25,000.00. Every hound in every ad that he had was a top dog. This might be a good sign to steer clear. Most houndsmen, even top guides might have 2 or 3 top dogs, but 7 top notch, number one lead dogs? Come on , give me a break.

pretty much if ya slee that dog can ya replace that dog ya just sold-off ?! So if you really have the complete pkg dog power ,unless your not going through a divorce, or your not sick an dezeaed your self an have 2 qt. hunten/ why would ya up an sell that honest too goodness real bear or lion dog ? If hes 4 sale another reason might be ya need moneys quickly too pay the attnny who is going too repersent ya in court on your charges of illg. biggame killen ! In otherwords boys we all know a man has too just find your price or your not going too sell that dog/ less he is overamped in some way and goen too get his self kill by a mistake he just hasent the brains too fear as being a deathwish come true in his bear or lion fighting . Most guys eather want too keep hunten successfully or if they sell/ they are as good as quiteing !

Ike · Post by **Ike** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:18 am

Paul Conway · Post by **Paul Conway** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:52 am

Piglet, our running hounds will run fox and coyote and a bob cat or two. Most don't have a clue when the cat trees though they think MAGIC has happened and the cat done disapeared. We've added a few treeing hounds to see about changing this problem. Most cats we shoot on the ground ahead of the hounds (the few we've shot, but have seen a bunch in front of the hounds without a cat tag though) Most of our hounds run both fox and coyote. Some are real sharp fox dogs (mostly reds, occassional greys). Some of our hounds are just Coyote crazy to the point of getting off a hot fox track for a hot yote track every time. Lots of fox we leave to run again due to declining numbers and the chases are in a more compact area, especially greys, which keeps you in more of the chase and the hounds safer. Try drawing an 8 or ten mile line anywhere in PA and see how many roads the line crosses. The curse of the eastern coyote for sure. We've been lucky with only one hound getting hit (and living to run again, thankfully) but we know folks that hunt in similar areas and are just as cautious that have lost 4 or more hounds. Man I wish I lived out West. Enjoy, Paul Conway

Ike · Post by **Ike** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:26 am

PIGLET · Post by **PIGLET** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:40 am

I see thanks for letting me know Paul,

Rockcreek · Post by **Rockcreek** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:49 am

pete richardson wrote:my best dog is never for sale and second best always is,, if the price is right lol

That's the truth right there! :wink:

timberman · Post by **timberman** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:49 am

Piglet in reference to the fox dogs running coyotes dont have much problem only seen it happen a few times not alot of coytes here but if they run anythng but gray fox or bobcat we treat it as off game our biggest problem is deer and sometimes red fox or coon we usually fire off a round up in the air. with the shotgun and they will knock the door off the dog box trying to get in most of them are gun shy which ok because we dont shoot any game on the ground anyway IF we have to shoot a bobcat out of tree we use 22short that dont make lot of noise

Price differential

hounds

how much should a top biggame dog cost