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Originally Posted by gemy  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. |
Thank you for the thorough answer. I think it may have answered all of my questions regarding the breeding costs. If a breeder does not sell for much profit, then I am by any means all for their set pricing even if it is high. If it exceeds any potential buyer's budget, they can probably find other breeders with less "champion-lines" and such so that they can find their right dog.
I am glad to know that you wouldn't judge a potential client from what they ask first. Most people are uneducated in this area, and for quiet some time I thought it was rude when I saw posts with breeders rudely stating "if you haven't researched, you don't deserve a dog". Just because a mother was not expecting a baby when she became pregnant does not mean that she will be a bad mother. Likewise, just because a family looking for a dog didn't know the "right set of questions" that won't tick them off, does not mean that they will be bad dog owners. In the end, what matters is that the puppies are placed in good homes and that general public is encouraged more and more to buy from caring breeders who are willing to inform them over pet stores.