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Originally Posted by ChocoMilk  Wow I'm really sorry but I think this is a little too much. Just because someone asked for the price first to see if it fits their budget does not mean that that they do not care for its health and the type of breeder you are. Because of breeders like this who react overly sensitive to certain questions I feel that most people just turn to petstores which promotes more puppymills. If you breeders would like to see the puppymill numbers go down, please stop assuming, lower your prices to sell without proft, and educate what they might not know instead of being offended and turning down potential great owners so that they don't just go along with what everyone else does- buying from a pet shop. |
Choco Milk, I think I can see both sides of the equation, but you are a tad off on your costs. First you have failed to put into your calculations the costs to have your breeding stock evaluated, that is the costs to finish a dog to it's championship. This is quite pricey, a baseline price/cost might be around $8000 or more per dog, and that is if you show this dog yourself.
Yorkie litters are usually not too large so let us say on average 3 pups per litter. All the prebreeding tests and all the health and genetic screening tests per sire and dam, will range between $500 to $1000 per breeding dog. Now if all goes well and there is no extraordinary vet costs, you might look to spend per puppy for vet shots and check ups and some pre screening tests about $250 or so per puppy. Then there are the food and whelping costs, more dollars. Also let us not forget the cost to register the litter.
Most breeders of good repute, will offer meaningfull health guarantees, which in certain circumstances will refund you the cost of your puppy, or may cover certain surgeries etc. Because we offer this, and mean to honor it, breeders should and do put aside a fair amount from each litter, in order to insure we can meet our financial obligations.
So what might look like a "profit" to you is in truth no profit at all. In fact for most of us, we are often "out of pocket" when it comes to seeing any true "profit" from our pups.
You may say well how can pet stores sell for so little, or I see ads on various websites, and some even here, that sells pups for a whole lot less than $1500 or $1600 etc. First I can almost guarantee you that the pups in pet stores do NOT come from Ch sires/dams. Often if not always from puppy mills. Secondly nowhere do I see, the USDA breeders being required to do breeed specific health tests, and screenings. The health guarantees are almost useless as well.
Raising a quality purebred dog is an expensive business if done correctly, and especially if done with the breeds improvement at the top of your mind.
I personally don't mind if the "first" question out of someone's mouth is how much does your dog cost? If there are more questions to come. Questions that show me, they are concerned with health and well being of the puppy, with any special needs that this breed may have. With questions that go to the ethics of myself as a breeder.