Caring for the mother - is not the normal cost of having just any dog. While I don't currently breed, I used to breed Bichons and I will tell you the cost of maintaining mom is more expensive then keeping up with any other dog.
She is going to eat substantial more while she is pregnant and nursing the pups and if you feed a high grade, more expensive food it will eat into any so-called profit. Also, I always had to take into account when the female would be pregnant and when she would need to have her shots updated by law requirements. So a female may have to go to the vet more frequently just for routine care.
Also, grooming mom can be more work - pregnancy is hard on their bodies - but then you want them to look their best when prospective buyers come along. Also, there is more money spent on cleaning supplies to keep up with keeping a room full of pups in a sanitary environment. (I agree with all those other expense previously mentioned, too - even the utilities.)
Food for the pups is also a cost, not totally addressed before. And there is no way to account for the hours I spent caring for mom and pups. The hours spent with her during labor alone.
But I do have to say, when I see some breeders websites for Yorkies and they want $5,000 and up per pup it makes you wonder what their profit margin is. I wonder how could one of those pups be more valuable than a $2,000 or $1200 pup. |