Breeding for profit
 

I'm not a breeder yet, still looking around and studying and trying to assemble some nice breeding stock. I won't bore you with the reasons why I think so, but I believe this is something I could do very well. I'm not rich but have financial resources to buy what I need to get started and take good care of my dogs. I have a nice big house with a safe yard. Everywhere I keep seeing breeding can't be done for profit. Please explain to me why not. I do understand that a good, responsible breeder will most likely not get rich at it because it is extremely labor intensive and the welfare of the dogs must always come first, but they should be able to make some profit. Some people make it sound like something dirty to make a little money breeding. I'm confused about this and would like to hear from some breeders who do make a profit. Thank you.

Many breeders do make money from breeding their Yorkies but what upsets many is that some jump into breeding Yorkies without any knowledge of the breed or any knowledge of health concerns. It sounds like you are going about it the right way. Now if you are into showing your Yorkies then there would be very little profit because show breeders invest so much in showing costs and breeding stock. A very small show home would most likely always be in the red. Some people get into breeding and find out really fast that it is really not so simple. So many things can go wrong no matter how prepared you might be. You have to be able to take the good with the bad and pray that all goes well. The main point it that you should not start breeding just because you want to make money. If you love the breed and think you can breed responsibly then I see nothing wrong with that. First and foremost I feel a Yorkie should be a beautiful, sound, healthy companion dog and then if all goes well they can also be a show dog.

I didn't read this whole thing, but here's a thread that was posted not too long ago:

http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=118151

My thoughts on breeding
 

I've posted this before, but I would like for you to read it as well. These are my thoughts on breeding... Breeding and working with dogs has been a blessing for me and my family. Sometimes I do well and make a profit sometimes I don't. We do a good deal of training and boarding Yorkies, so I am able to off set loss that way.. In the long run, I can say if I accounted for my time, not just expenses, I'm sure I am beyond the negative in profit.... That said, here's something to think about.....

Every breeder on this board started somewhere…. Let me tell you the story of our humble beginning as something to consider. I had an excellent mentor….. She was passing the torch of 25 years of knowledge and experience to me (how lucky was I?)…. My second litter was due being whelped by my most beautiful dog (not to mention that I was also attached to her as much as I was my children)…. Talk about a textbook pregnancy…. 42nd day ultrasound showed 6 very well proportioned, small puppies…. Delivery started…..no distress….easy labor on the first puppy… then nothing….and nothing… I was prepared…. I had read all of the books…. Not to fear, middle of the day, no emergency call…. We headed to the vet just to be sure (12 miles)….she died in my hands as I walked through the office door…. I called my mentor in horror and unbelievable grief….she said, “you’ll know in a few weeks if this is for you.” …. She said that because I had 6 very tiny puppies (5 saved through c/s) that needed to be nursed every two hours for weeks….I buried my Gizmo where our new kennel stands today and got started with her babies…..I would hardly close my eyes b/f it was time to feed again….two weeks into it, one just didn’t thrive….now I was at wit’s end….three days later one aspirated on the feeding tube….I was done, called my mentor and told her to come get them all… she said, “no, this was your choice”…. 20 or so weeks later of round the clock care, One by one, these tiny replicas of their mom, of whom I had become a surrogate mother, were picked up by new owners, placed under various Christmas trees….and absolutely delighted special families….One to 4 kids, one to a wife of 35 years, one to an only child, and one to new bride. To this day, I still grieve for my Gizmo, to this day I still check up on every puppy I sell… I’ve shoveled truck loads of poop, dried gallons of pee, built kennels, torn down kennels, delivered puppies at 2:00 am on every holiday celebrated by man (even my kids birthday parties which I had to miss)….Breeding is a complete sacrifice of everything else when the moment counts b/c your female is counting on you for everything….If you bring puppies into this world they are your responsibility and yours alone. My mentor made that quite clear to me. If you do not have the ability to deal with the difficulties with the same passion as you delight in the rewards, keep you little girls as a pets….. If you do have the ability, this could be the blooming of a wonderful new career…one that I love more with every pooper scooper full….

Every breeder should make some money, the ones that have to have c-sections, etc. don't make as much, and it depends on how much you sell your pups for...If you sell them for $4000-$5000 apiece, well, sure, you're going to see a profit, but, if you sell them for $500 on up to $1500, you won't make as much..that would be my problem if I bred, I would probably only sell them for $500 apiece..so, I would go in the hole..;)

Very nice post:thumbup: :thumbup:

I know of another woman who lost her bitch while giving birth too..this is why mine are all spayed/neutered..if I bred and lost the mother, it would devastate me..

Thank you to SET Yokies
 

Your story made me cry. What a wise mentor you had. Best, Mattie

:goodpost: there is so much more to breeding than what a lot of people think. and this post is a prime example. it's not all about having a house full of puppies and getting to revel in the puppy breath. and hoping to make a little money. there is just SOOOOOOOOOOOO much to it!

Thank you so much for sharing this story.

"trying to assemble some nice breeding stock." :( They deserve to be someone's pets and family - not breeding stock. :(

Elaine

Not breeding stock?
 

Well, that was nasty and sarcastic in an otherwise pleasant thread. Breeding stock is an efficient, technical way to refer to animals that were selected for their particular suitability for breeding; it wasn't meant as a derogatory way to make them sound like mere commodities. One can have pets that are also good "breeding stock," don't you think? Since you disapprove of breeding, where do you propose we should get Yorkies?

The term "stock" makes it sound like the yorkies you are planning to breed are just items, or supplies that you plan on selling. She wasn't being nasty or sarcastic IMO. You wouldn't call a breeder and say "do you have any yorkies in stock?" right? Maybe the term is more acceptable for farm animals (not that I would know), but yorkies are pets, not cows or chickens that you are going to get food from.

I don't think I was being nasty or sarcastic. I'm not fond of any animal being refered to as breeding stock and unfortuanatly MANY think of animals as commodities. Didn't you ask about making money with your breeding and ask to hear from those that did make a profit, so isn't it in a way using them as a commodity? A breeder may make money but a good breeder will not be in it for the money. Again, wasn't being nasty - the term "Breeding Stock" bothers me. My Yorkies were rescues, all but one. I'm not against breeding per se but I am against breeders that initially get into breeding for the money. Not suggesting either way that you are doing this - just explaining how I feel. And, again I do not think I was being nasty what so ever. Elaine

What a great post. One of the best examples I've read of the life of a breeder. It gives me even more appreciation for reputable breeders.

:thumbup: Thank you.

I've heard this term used on YT several times and never took it to mean a negative thing. One breeder asked another potential breeder on another thread if they believed their dogs were from "sound breeding stock". I took it for exactly the way you said it above. I have really enjoyed reading this thread so far and hope it continues in the same vein.

I dont particularly like the term "breeding stock", only because it makes any animal seem like its a baby making machine. HOWEVER, I know that isnt the intent of the people here that use it, so I dont let it get to me. Lets just not like the person that created the term instead of the people that use it, LOL!
While looking for another horse, I ran accross a lot of "breeding stock" mares. At first I overlooked these because I wasnt looking to breed and wanted a good riding horse. That term made it seem like it was just a horse out to pasture all the time that just came around to breed and have babies. However, a lot of them are good horses (not food like cows and chickens, but I did make some great chicken stock for soup the other day! LOL! ;) ) very much pets, that are ALSO used for having babies.
If someone looks at their dogs as NOTHING MORE than breeding stock, thats one thing, but I am sure this person loves her dogs as well, and they just happen to be for breeding as well. :)

When you are involved with rescue etc. you tend to be much more touchy about terms. I realize how some use this term but I also know all too well that MANY literally use them as "Breeding Stock." I'm not fond of the word "Bitches." either but that's me. I just cannot get used to all of this. I do not breed. Four out of my five came through rescue. I'm not against breeding, but I do think that far too many are in it for what they will make. My first Yorkie was bought from a byb/puppymill. I didn't know any better back then. I lost him this past summer to a rare cancer. I work diligently to keep people away from places like the one Newman came from. If anyone takes my posts personally, I appologize. Elaine

Good stock bad stock..I understood completely what she was saying...I sure didn't take it the wrong way.

Beef Stock, Chicken Stock....I've got soup on the brain!:D

to all who are offended by "breeding stock"...
 

Since this is the Breeder's Forum, I thought it would be safe to use technical terms like "breeding stock" without controversy. I apologize to anyone I've offended. My only intention was to convey that I've been selecting and purchasing Yorkshire Terriers for the particular characteristics that make them likely to be good for breeding and producing offspring that will be sound in temperament and health, as well as have correct conformation. I thought "nice breeding stock" just kind of put all that in a nutshell for you. I didn't mean to give anyone the impression that my dogs and their puppies would be like stock stored on a shelf or anything like that...Thank you very much to those whose replies were intended to be helpful. Some were from the hearts of genuine breeders. Best, Mattie

no problem mattie, on here, it's very easy to open mouth, insert foot..don't worry about it

Being a breeder myself I certainly understand what your were referring to and I took not offense. It is great that you are taking your time and doing research. I hope all works out for you. We are here to help all we can.

No problem!:)

When I saw the OP first use the term it bothered me too.

Thankyou so much for sharing... a really good post...

Awesome positive post. THANK YOU

I had no offense to them being called stock either.If you are a farm girl everything is stock dosent matter if it is your prize dog in the house or the cow,horse out in the paddock.

Great posting everyone!!

I am making chicken stock
 

at the moment..... we're having Gumbo tonight..... or Mc Donalds if the roux burns... Thanks for all of the posts about the story..... It was an experience I hold very close to my heart.... Anyway.... We all get too caught up in words..... I grew up in this business and I can say the old timers called every thing stock and the term bitch was held in high regard..... I come from that old bird huntin' stock myself.... Us kids were certainly second to the prize bitches in my grandfather's kennel... I think that is why having a mentor is soooo important and that would me my advise to the original poster.... If it is someone in your area or even someone on this board willing to answer your questions without judgement.... Maybe someone who you could email directly..... Breeding is a hard thankless business.... I don't get a lot of thank yous for making Christmas perfect for a kid (although I have always wanted to be a fly on the wall), or replacing a beloved pet.... I mean I do occasionally get thank you's... but they are few and far between.... However, you can bet when something goes wrong, I am their first call no matter where I am or what time it is..... To do business with animals regardless of the type, you have to really feel a certain level of responsibility and that is what differentiates good breeders from bad ones... take those 2 am "is my puppy sleeping too much" calls, miss your kid's birthday parties, meet the vet on Christmas morning while your husband watches the kids unwrap Santa .... My clients know they can count on me from day one to year 13..... I truly believe that is the way to set yourself apart and be a good breeder. There is nothing dirty about making a living with what you love..... You just have to be careful how you do it so that it doesn't......