How much would a purebred dog, cat, or horse sell for back in the 18th century (1700's)?

Question

I ask the question to satisfy my own curiosity and for a story I am writing. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

idk

Answer 2

For a dog or cat of pretty much any kind....nothing really.

Cats bred by themselves, and in multitudes.

No one cared about a pure blood cat.

They pretty much kept pure blood because they didn't get around much.

Same thing for "special" breds of dogs, they were only in one location.

A good sheep dog or hunting dog was bred and usually traded for.

But a horse is a different story.

Horses were used for everything from farming, to travel, to warhorses, and even racing.

40 pounds (because the British and the Americans used pounds then) was a very good yearly salary for a young journeyman tradesman in the 1700's, so a good horse was a lot less than a whole years salary.

Horses sold for as little as £5, but a fine racehorse cost as much as £500.

This may give you an idea of what that money was worth to them.

When using the CPI/RPI, the (average) value in 2007 of £5 from 1830 is $547.51.,  the value in 2007 of £500 from 1830 is $54751.17.

See the site before for prices of other items during the 1700's.

Answer 3

cats weren't really worth anything. Dog's were mostly farm or hunting workers and less as pets, but a large marjority of them were hounds or mutts. Usually a dog wasn't much at all, so accounting for inflation the best dog would fetch maybe $5-$10 assuming it was for a specific purpose.

Horses are completely different. It depends mostly on the breed, discipline, and area. Thoroughbreds were most likely the most vaulable as they were used not only in racing, but sport hunts. Around the world they were used in polo and improving other native stock. Arabs were not as prominate in the US but they were common throughout the middle east, India, russia, poland, Africa, and parts of europe. Most horses in Europe were of thoroughbred origin, thoroughbreds hail from arabs.

So depending on where you are talking about, what breed, and what it is trained for will determin price. If it is just an average horse $5 may be the top price, are draft, draft mixes etc. where used on farm work and had to be inexpenisve. They also where not regulated as far as breeding so conformation, tempermant, breed, and vaule all varietied extremely rendering most cheap. Purebreds and thoroughbreds where mosdt likely found in the homes and stables of the rich, as no thoroughbreds just appeared in the US, they had to be shipped. In europe, middle east, russia, poland, etc. Thoroughbred where slightly cheaper but more used to improve native stock. Around this particular time period carriage horses were a must as well but a good carriage horse fetched only about $4 US money. Germany, poland, russia, and native english ponies where often breed to create these and as a result the horse was cheap. Again arab or thoroughbred blood 'improved' the breeds.

So what breed? discipline? and where are you talking about? the best horses where in rich stables, fetching high prices of $150-$400 for thoroughbreds. But this ranges again according to where you are.