I got into a round table discussion about dog breeding and the business side of it....I did not have much to offer, because I never got into breeding in order to make money....stupid, right??!!!....people that DID start out with that goal, were very quick to contribute to the conversation....the figures that stick in my mind were: A breeder must breed 85-100+/yearly dogs in order to make any money doing it.....that number of dogs will cover the dogs that are "drainers", that is, dogs that cost you more money than you can clear from a litter, and they are consistent losers....so you need to cull those non producers.....the "breeding game" is a cruel and heartless business, with "bottom lines" and "profits" and "outcomes" the driving principles behind the business....if they dont consistently make money, get rid of them....
I quickly realized this was a side of the "business" that I was not capable of tolerating or participating in.....you have to get into this with the right frame of reference, with your goals and reasons for doing what you are doing....if it is to make money in a nice little business, it aint gonna work! The fewer dogs you have, the less emergencies you can absorb.....one c-section in the middle of the night, will run you over $2000.00...and you may lose the momma as well as all the babies...and that does not include follow up expenses.....Then there are the few litters that do live and grow and you manage to sell....only to have them (UNLESS you have invested thousands of dollars in excellent lines and years learning what you breed with what, and what you NEVER mix) develop health issues in their new homes....you have a responsibility as a respectable breeder and person, to help make that right for the people that are trying to save your breeding screw up.....so you are out MORE money....and if you have a dog throwing genetically inferior babies, you pull that dog off line and spay her....so...your little small breeding program has cost you a fortune, and you are down to ONE dog....and what is wrong with THAT dog and genetic pool has yet to be experienced!!!
This is NOT something you want to do! |