How much would you pay for a top male ?

[DIXIEDOG]

I could easily see $1500+ but it would have to be a great hound with a hairless nose and tail that really liked the thick stuff and of course it would need a booming ARRRROOOOOOOO

[Nor' Easter]

I sold one for $400 Can.,Fillmore's Brandy, she was really well bred, she got a few ribbons in the first few trials as did her sister. I had no time to keep trialing her and she was 12", I ran 15"'s. She didn't have the amount of tounge I like for hunting either. She did have an above average nose and hunt. The older fella I sold her to finished her in 12 months and sold her for $5000.00 + a pup out of her.
People with coin pay more than the average Joe of course. I think a really good, well bred gundog should be worth $1500.00 and a finished one alot more.I would have to have the time to put the dog to use ofcourse also.
A stud male is only worth a good amount of coin if it's in the right location. We have to sell our ones down to you guys unfortunately and let ya'll may the big $$$'s of them.

[Buckeye Bob]

I would pay whatever I could afford and right now I have $150 in the new dog fund so it will have to be a pup or just keep saving.I would probably draw the line at $3000

[BuschBound]

$ 5,000 any for sale? Got to be THE BEST..

[chapkosbeagles]

busch bound 5000 come pick him up he wont stay in the yard and my woman wont keep him in the kennel greenbay shooter and dinha cross he can win big hunts heck bring me 4000 he's yours

[Nor' Easter]

Cost is only relavant to what ya have in your bank account anyway, or your ability to make coin back from your purchase,so there is no right answer to this quetion anyway.

[lowell robertson]

Agreed, a hound is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for him.

[db215]

1200.00 to 1500.00 I would say is the going rate right now.

[Kevin Dowell]

People with coin pay more than the average Joe of course. I think a really good, well bred gundog should be worth $1500.00 and a finished one alot more.I would have to have the time to put the dog to use ofcourse also.
A stud male is only worth a good amount of coin if it's in the right location. We have to sell our ones down to you guys unfortunately and let ya'll may the big $$$'s of them. Nor' Easter

What is meant by finished? One that has received all possible titles?

[Shady Grove Beagles]

Any hound is worth what one person is willing to pay and another is willing to accept.Generally speaking serious field trialers will always pay alot more for a top hound then a gunhunter will.But,not always.I have a friend who never trials but is very serious about his mid-winter gun hunting in deep snow.He's found it much easier to buy exactly what suits him rather then spend several years seeing if a prospect developes.He doesn't mind paying a good price if the hound is what he's looking for.
I REALLY have to chuckle when I read where some folks think they can buy a top beagle rabbit dog for $400.-$500.Maybe a grade dog for that price as that fact alone would minimize his value to most serious breeders.An A.K.C. registered TOP beagle bred the way I like would be worth alot more to me [whether buying or selling] then that.Maybe two to three times that.Before someone gets all fired up and says"what about U.K.C. and A.R.H.A./N.K.C. hounds? They are just as good as A.K.C. hounds".Yes,ability wise they can be just as good but the bottom line is that both those registries accept "grade" dogs to their files.
I don't sell many grown dogs[usually just pups when I raise a litter to get one for myself].But over the course of my houndogging career I have sold some.Twenty years ago I sold a 2 1/2 year old female reg.Bluetick coonhound under the tree for a $1000.I still have a handfull of the letters that guy sent me telling me how happy he was with her.I sold several other cooners for $600.-$800. back in those days and those fellows all were glad to get those hounds.
Six years ago I had a 10 month old male beagle that I did not plan to sell.A friend of mine who is a retired doctor really wanted him and offered $500. and I turned him down.A month latter he came and offered me $1000.which I could not turn down.Four years ago I went to a large trial several states away.My female placed well and after the trial a man and his wife approached me and asked what I'd take for Rose."she's not for sale" was my reply.They walked away and 15 minutes later came back and pulled out 10 hundred dollar bills and asked if I'd take that.I did and have missed her ever since.In the past year I've sold two males to guys that are just plain gun hunters for hare.One was 18 months old and I got $500. for him and the other was 2 1/2 years old and I got $650. for him.Both of those owners along with the guys who payed more routinely tell me how happy they are with their hounds.The truth be known the two beagles I got $1000. for are no better hounds then the two males that I got less for.The people that bought the more exspensive dogs just had more money to spend to get what they were looking for.Bottom line is that they were willing to pay what I was willing to accept and all parties ended up satisfied and happy with the deal.To me that means ALOT!!!!!!
One thing I've learned is DON'T price a hound if you don't really want to sell it!!!!!!!!To me the hunting is all about the dog work so a TOP hound that does it like I want is priceless.My problem is I've always had shallow pockets.

[Pine Mt Beagles]

IF I UNDERSTOOD THE QUESTION ,IT WAS A HOUND THAT WAS BRED LIKE I LIKE AND HUNTED AND DID IT ALL LIKE I LIKE,WITH NO FAULTS , THERE IS NOT ONE,,, I'VE OWNED AND SAW A FEW THAT WERE CLOSE,NEVER THE TOTAL HOUND,BUT A SEARIOUS GOOD RABBIT HOUND.HUNTS ALL DAY JUMPS GOOD ,GOOD MOUTH USED RIGHT.NO OFF GAME .RETRIEVES,BRED RIGHT AND REPRODUCES IN KIND,GOOD COMFORMATION,HANDLES GOOD,GOOD KENNEL MANNERS,RIGHT SIZE,COLOR.NO EXTRA MOUTH,NO BACK TRACKING,CAN RUN ON SNOW OR SOD,HOT OR DRY,I THINK WOULD BE WORTH WHAT EVER YOU COULD AFFORD TO PAY FOR IT.

PINE MT BEAGLES

[scootersjill]

i have my eye on one. but waitin to hear from CONGRESS about my bailout package.