[Mardelin]

Originally Posted by feminvstr

While some have touched on the actual cost of rearing a bitch, studding then raising a litter...I think some of the other costs have been omitted

a bitch average breed/show quality $2500
rearing that bitch to breeding age average 2 years $$$
grooming, vet visits, (show cost if being shown, entry fees, travel charges, hotel, gas, food, grooming spaces)
stud fee average $500 - $800 some up to $1500
prenatal care average $500
c-section non emergency $800
emergency $2000
care of a litter doesnt just include the food, vet visits, vaccinations but the 24-7 care for the first 2-3 weeks keeping the pups at minimum 12 weeks.

this entire process at the very least a 5 month process in producing a happy healthy good representation of the breed pup.

There are many breeders that dont show, so they dont incur those cost, there are many breeders that purchase a breeding bitch (not a good representation of the breed) therefore the price of that breeding bitch could be much less. There are breeders that dont take the time to find the right stud, breed the bitch to the boy next door, eliminating a quality male going rate for a stud fee. There are many breeders that work full time, leaving the bitch to whelp on her own, there are many breeders that don't do the necessary penatal and post natal care (eliminating the vet costs)....finally there are many breeders that raise pups in card board boxes and shove them out the door at 6 weeks (no vaccinations, no vet checks, no guarantees) they are tired of cleaning up the poop!!! These are the breeders that will sell for the $500!!

Hear, Hear Kim. I wasn't adding in those costs. But, here's a few more to add. Pre-breeding screening....Hearing and eye tests by specialists. Smears for STDs. X-ray on hips and legs.....OFA testing, Bile Acid Testing. Temperament testing on the pups and the same tests as above run on the pups - the STDs. And then how can you put a cost on the countless sleep hours lost.....your mother hearing is turned on. Countless wash loads (soap, water and machine wear). Oh yeah! The time it takes to keep your dam in condition...