Just Why Do Purebred Puppies From A Reputable Breeder Cost So Much?

Reputable breeders charge what they do for pet puppies because they have a lot of time and money invested, below are some things for you to consider when you are paying that high dollar for a quality pet!
 

1. Initial price of a Puppy of breeding quality ranges around $1500.00 and higher, this is most likely the fee that was paid for the dam and sire to the puppy you are considering at this time.

2. Health and temperament tests are done to determine if my dogs are even worthy of being bred.  Tests are very expensive, but well worth the price of increasing the chances for the puppies to live a longer healthy active life.  We do provide a written health guarantee for our puppies, so it is very important that we are breeding healthy dogs to get healthy puppies. We do tests like having hips, elbows, eyes and hearts checked which run about $200.00 per dog.  If any of my dogs are questionable as to my findings or my vets findings, we would then have to send the reports and films into OFA or the GDC for clarity and that adds another $50.00 or more per dog.
 

Remember, if anyone had 'failed' any of these tests, they would have been spayed or neutered, and just lived their life as a beloved pet.  Also, if that had happened, I would still be out my initial above spent money. A breeder is always gambling with any money spent.
 

3. Breeding expenses:

a. First things first, I always start with at least a 6 generation pedigree, knowing my dogs background or family tree is essential in producing good health, loving temperaments and of course conformation quality!  The more history a breeder knows about a dogs family the better chance a purchaser has for obtaining a quality healthy puppy.

b. A Stud fee has a value of $650.00 or more without getting into details

c. Progesterone tests $40.00 for the female
(to narrow down the day that the female is ready)

d. Brucellosis tests are done to be sure the dogs are both free and clear
of this terrible sexually transmitted disease $40.00 each dog

e. ultrasound if needed runs about $90.00

f. An x-ray is done only if there are questions or concerns with the ultra sound results and they start at about $50.00 per film

 

4. Litter expenses:  there are many things I have to buy that can be used over again:
 

a. clamps, alcohol, whelping box, bedding, emergency stuff (for pups in distress) My husband builds my whelping boxes, and I just use new carpets with reusable blankets and towels so I am usually able to save a little there. 

b.  Puppy Playpens(2), each playpen makes a 6 foot round circle, and provide a safe place for mom and babies and also a safe place for the puppies to romp and play.  Feeding bowls, toys, and an extra crate (these can be used again, and for other things)

c. Vaccinations for each puppy.  Puppies will have two vaccinations prior to leaving me.
$30.00 per puppy

d. Stool checks, and preventive worm medications for the puppies and mom too.
$30.00 each

e.  Frontline for protection from fleas and ticks, we do not use this on our puppies until 10 wks of age though and it costs about $100.00 per dog per season

f. Heart Worm Medications for my adults 9 months out of the year
cost about $100.00 per dog

g. Registration papers are $20.00 per each adult dog.  To register a litter of puppies the fees are $25.00 for the litter plus $2.00 for each puppy in the litter for their temporary papers and to make their temporary papers permanent, add $20.00 per each dog registered. Plus the sire to the litter has to be DNA profiled which adds another one time fee of $40.00 to him.

h. We let our puppies go home with microchips already implanted, but you pay the $17.50 to transfer that chip into your name.  Microchips are done for the future safety of our puppies!

i. puppy packet items (folders, brochures and printed information)

j. puppy food

k. advertising puppies or young available adults.

l. I almost forgot the membership fees to the various clubs I belong to. Club memberships are important as that is how much of the information on the breed, and its health, is shared.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some expenses. Remember, for the 2 years before a sire or dam are bred, they both had routine vet care, high quality food, and everything a pet should have. Also, they will both continue to get the same care after this litter. 
 

I'm not counting my show expenses, and in fact, I'm a little afraid to add them all up. I travel about 50,000 miles per year for dog related events, whether it be a dog show, a seminar, a club meeting, a dog picnic or some other dog event that I feel a need to go to... Showing is important, to keep breeders on the right track, and to keep in touch with other breeders.  Whether a dog is owner handled or professionally handled has not made a huge difference for me, but just getting them out there has!  Knowing the quality of my adult dogs has been a very pleasing experience for me, whether they are in the ring or just tagging along as a companion.  I have seen many of the puppies we have produced through our 16 + years and wow I wish they would have all been shown, but I know for many that is not an option!  I always make my puppies available to families, to be pets, or to be shown.  This option, which is done at the time of purchase, has created a few issues for me as far as some of the breed clubs who believe all puppies that are show quality should be placed in show homes only. 

I almost forgot to mentioned that My grandmother on my dads side had raised and shown dogs in conformation for more than 50 years.  My grandmother on my moms side also did her fair share of dog events but on the obedience side more so.  My mother and my father both have shown horses and dogs most of their years, or hauled us kids showing ours.  They are now somewhat retired, other than when they have to take their grandkids horse showing, haha grandma and you thought you were done raising kids...
 

As far as litters go, breeders have to be prepared for unexpected expenses, especially vet bills. Maybe there will need to be a C-section or other emergency vet care involved, hopefully not but a breeder needs to be prepared and ready just in case..

It is a very real possibility that a reputable breeder could spend $4000-$5000 on one litter, and not have any healthy puppies to place.. 
 

Time

I have not kept track of the time I have spent, like not being able to leave the house the first 2 weeks after a new litter of puppies is born. I have had to turn down invitations so I could stay with the pups.  I've had to get up every 2 hours all night long to be sure the new babies are latched on and nursing strong, I've had to make sure mom is comfortable and that the babies are not crying...

I can't really complain though, as I love every minute of it! 
I've had a few people call me an animal freak, who knows if they were kidding around or not, but I guess I admit that I sort of am.  Had to put this here just for you Mark :)

  My puppies are handled daily, socialization is so very important. I keep my puppies here until they are around 8 weeks old. The last 3 weeks are always a lot of extra work, and I don't even keep track of the amount of poo that is produced, or the amount of paper toweling we go through,  but I know those last 3 weeks are so important to my puppies development, and necessary for them to be able to fit into their new families.

So, why in the world do reputable breeders take the chance on losing all that money?
Because we don't do it for the money. We do it for the love of the breed, and to insure its future. Without the reputable breeders raising quality puppies, placing them responsibly, and putting the dogs before the $, there would eventually be very poor quality dogs.  Sure they might be purebred but what about health, temperament and just pure quality of the breed?  I am a strong believer that the American Kennel Club (AKC) is still the top registration club.  I am also a strong believer that the APR (America's Pet Registry), CKC (Continental Kennel Club) and UKCI (Universal Kennel Club International)  will survive as new clubs but they will never accomplish everything, or improve the quality as much as the AKC has since it began in 1881.

I do these things because I want to know all I can about the health of the dogs I produce, and the more I know, the better breeding decisions I can make in the future for all concerned.  I will take back any puppy I produce, for as long as it lives, and for any reason!