QUOTE --- "But when you think of price you are not just paying for a pup you will own for around 15 years, and a companion, but you are paying for vet care, shots, hours it takes to be with the momma dog while whelping the litter, food/feeding, cleaning and changing pads or papers, supplies ~pillows, blankets, and the long long hours that the breeder did researching and learning all she could to have good quality pups. It is not just for your one pup, but what quality and care the breeder gave to her mom and the sire to produce this healthy happy puppy."
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Does the above apply only to Yorkies --- or to any breed of dog????
If you factor all the above into the price of a pup -- then all puppies (regardless of the breed) --- should cost nearly the same amount of money.....as well as some mixed breeds. All puppies should receive a lot of loving care and visit the vet for their shots and special care, if they are sick, etc.......not just Yorkies.
Years ago - I raised two litters of puppies. One was an Irish setter (who did have to have a C-section) --and the other was a little mixed breed that did just fine on her own. We loved and took care of these puppies 24/7 - got their shots, etc., and off they all went to good homes.
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I think we are dealing with two groups of people here. The professional breeders (I am referring to the ones who have high quality parents and are hoping to produced high quality show and breeding puppies) - and others of us who simply have pets who have a litter or two.....and breed them regardless of their their own standards.
Like any breed, I think it is totally fair to charge more for a very high quality -near-standard puppy. These people are the ones who work years to produce these little guys. They are simply worth more. (And, I think this is true with any breed.) You can go out and buy a Brittany Spaniel pup for $300 or $350 - or you can search and find the very best, closest-to-standard, little pup possible and pay three times that much....
Nothing justifies some of these prices that are being asked for little Yorkies - they are ask simply because Yorkies are a very expensive popular little breed right now.. and people will pay these prices.
***** If you have a litter of four puppies and get an average of $1400 for each .... you will get $5600 for your "trouble". Even with a C-section (which doesn't usually happen) -- how can you say that it cost this much to care for those little guys.
Why do people expect to be paid for every minute, every hug, and every bite of food or bowl of clean water they give their little pups. And, so what - if you have to stay up and hand feed a little runt for a while. Having puppies isn't a job where you "clock in and out" for every minute you spend caring for them. At least it shouldn't be (and all of this care should be spent on any litter of puppies...not just Yorkies!) Plus a lot of this care and time should enjoyable. It was when I had litters of puppies or kittens It was work, but we all enjoyed it. We hated to see the puppies and kittens go.....
I think you should get a fair price for your expenses ---the ones you actually incur - but not the possibilities of this and that, which often never happen. And, certainly not for every minute of loving (enjoyable) care and the time you give them. All breeds deserve this same care.....even the little mixed breeds.
****** I am sure the price of Yorkies will come down in the future --and, then it will be some other popular little breed that will command and get these ridiculously high prices. If you are a real dog lover and aren't real young, and have followed the prices and popularity of different breeds for 40 or 50 years -- you will see that this has happened over and over again. The popularity and prices of different breeds comes and goes and is constantly changing over time.
I'm sure the actual expenses involved in the litters I had were a little greater than what I got for my puppies -- but that was okay. None of us every expected to make a profit or even be compensated for every penny we spent. We let two of our dogs have litters, loved them, enjoyed the experience of having them, and found good homes for them --- then we got our little girls spayed because over time we realized that this was the more responsible thing to do.
****** A lot of people who raise a litter of puppis do not "spend long long hours researching and learning everything they can." And - if you do, do you really need to be paid for this also!!!!!
I have spent long long hours studying how to raise different flowers in my garden -- (I probably have 15 or more books that I have read over and over again -plus I have spend dozens of hours discussing raising different plants with people). And - I can't tell you how hard I have worked and how much money I have spent..... I know this isn't the best analogy in the world. I just want to point out that we don't need to be paid for every minute we spend doing things that we enjoy doing and learning to do the best job possible.
You "professional breeders" with the highest of standards - go for the gold! I am the first to believe that you deserve to be well rewarded for your efforts. It is a wonderful thing that we have people who unrelentingly strive to maintain the highest of standards in all the different breeds of dogs. I love to watch all of these beautiful animals in the many different dog shows - they are a joy to to watch.
Carol Jean |