This topic is quite difficult to give a good answer to. There is such a very wide variation in pricing across the large USA and Canada.
There are several things that a potential purchaser would do well to keep in mind.
1. Cost or purchase price will be the least amount you pay over the lifetime of your puppy. Therefor look at lifetime cost and see if you can actually afford a puppy.
2. A healthy dog/puppy is priceless. Just ask any-one here who loves their dog with chronic health conditions, some of which are a result of genetic problems with-in the breed.
3. Remember Murphy's Law. Buy Pet Insurance that actually covers the dog in a meaningfull way. There is a great article in the library that evaluates several different insurers'.
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/die...rifaj-dvm.html
Use the above as a guideline as insurance companies can change their policy rules at any time they want. Use this article to denote the questions you should be asking, prior to signing on the dotted line!
4. The first year or so is always the most expensive. Bringing up to date on vaccinations. Spaying or neutering. Training costs. And yes I believe all dogs of any breed should take puppy obedience classes, and then further obedience classes. Buying your crate(s), leashes, halters, etc.
5. Irrespective of pet insurance you need to have a savings or kitty for your dog; as many insurance plans require you to pay up front for treatment then you get re-imbursed.
6. Find out and get a rough idea of annual vet visit costs in your specific city/town. Do this prior to actually purchasing the dog. Ask them about a full blood panel screening, as well as booster shots, office per visit cost, after hour care, etc.
************after all of the above*******************
I would like pet owners to know, that good breeders, breeders who actually health test their breeding dogs, have spent thousands of hours studying lineage and related health problems in their lines, spent many of dollars on their dogs on-going care, PRIOR to breeding them.
I have detailed this out in other threads here. But a very conservative amount of pre breeding screening tests per dog, is $500; and that pre-supposes one can take advantage of the health clinics that are often run at dog shows where we breeders can let us say CERF our dogs for $60, instead of booking a private examination at the opthamologist for $180 or so.
For most breeds of dogs it is customary to breed at 2yrs old, once all available health tests can be done are done, as well as the physical and mental maturity of the dog has developed.
So let us look at a new breeder (that is somewhat easier) please remember that as you go along with your breeding program, you will have to repeat certain tests.
You purchase your breeding pair, a male and a female. Approximate cost $5ooo or more.
You do all the health testing x two $1000 **please note this is NOT regular vet visits at all but the breed specific tests that should be done, prior to breeding.
You champion both dogs = $3000 or more.
You are already at $9000. This excludes the cost of food, training, housing, and pregnant mother and litter care.
How much will you charge for a puppy??? Average litter size 3-4
Average number of litters over the breed lifetime of your female. Starts at 2yrs old, retires at 6 years old. Oh let us say four litters. Let us say 12 puppies.
$9000/12 puppies = $750
And that is not let me remind you, even remotely a break even cost.
So in my mind if you have a breeder who does all the above, and much more, we have not talked about the breeder who spends an hour on the phone monthly with each of her puppy buyers, who sends the pups home with detailed instructions, and offers to help groom or train for free, then at the minimum you will be looking at
$1000 or what is more likely $1500 per pup.
And let us not forget that good breeders will give you a meaningfull health guarantee. This means we do need to set aside money to cover in case we do in-advertently breed an un-healthy pup.
I hope this helps clarifies things in the mind of future purchasers.