I sure don't see "Everyone" wanting a deal....at least not here....when we do see that... it's usually someone who is really new to yorkies.

Most people want a healthy cute yorkie at a FAIR price....we have to trust the good ethical breeders out there to supply them for us. Of course they incur costs... but let's not be silly and think that breeding and selling yorkies should bring in many Thousands of dollars per puppy....That's overcharging.

Most of the breeders I see here are priced fair & reasonable.... AND they have gorgeous yorkies on top of it....and to keep asking them their bottom line seems a little personal to me

Villette:

I have to agree with you. I never thought about the personal nature of asking someone's bottom line for breeding before you mentioned it. I surely don't ask my accountant what his bottom line is when he charges me nor my attorney nor my doctors or hairdresser.

Lisa

and good thing you don't !! LOL....You'd NEVER get a straight answer :) especially from the lawyer ....

I didn't mean anyone has anything to hide ....but IF I were a breeder I'd probably keep my personal business like that to myself...I guess I get that from my Dad...he is very private about his living expenses etc and would be mortified if even one of us kids knew his financial situation....

It's the same thing when people ask ME how much I spent on my girls - I ballpark the figure....but usually don't give out exact info down to the penny.

That does make alot of sense. I really just don't see the point in needing to know anyways, unless you are considering breeding yourself. I don't understand the reason for knowing this information when most people consider their finances, whatever they are, personal...at least not for the sake of "curiosity" or "just to know." Besides that, it differs from person to person as breeding practices differ from person to person, so the answer could never actually be 'exact' or even 'accurate' for that matter.

I think this quote is what I was getting at in Post #12. I wish more people were concerend about other things than the price of the puppy and were willing to fairly compensate a good breeder for their time and effort.

My reasons for this thread are set forth in Post #12 and it is really to help the breeders because if more people realized how EXPENSIVE and time consuming it is to breed yorkies, they would not feel badly about the price of yorkie puppies. They would be willing and even eager to fairly compensate the good breeders for taking the very best care of their new family members for the first 12 weeks of it's life. They would be not be so concerned about price but rather more about the health and quality of the dog they are getting.

This thread is also to help the yorkshire terrier breed because if would be yorkie owners realized that the benefit of a good breeder who charges a "fair" price for the pups is worth every penny they are paid, they would be willing to pay more for the extras that cost like using a reproductive specialist in their program, having the pups checked by the vet at their home instead of the office where they can contract diseases, hiring extra help when needed, buying the very best supplies and food, having a vet do the vaccinations, tails and dew claws at the home instead of the vets office instead of doing it themselves to save money, keeping the pups until a minimum of 12 weeks instead of letting them go at 8 or 10 weeks to save money, etc. These are only a few examples of the areas where some breeders try to save money and it may not be what is best for the pups.

I do not feel I am asking for "personal" information here. Every good consumer researches the market and the "price" for a product and comparison shops and all good business people try to keep costs down w/o compromising their product. The good breeders on here realize that I am only asking for a "ballpark" idea of their "costs" and they are free to respond or not respond as they see fit as we are all free to do here. And I never asked for a "bottom line".

bottom line
 

i don't even ask vendors their "bottom line" at the flea market or yard sales. When I have something for sell, I price it what I think is a fair price and I don't like people asking me to come down. I certainly don't ask people to do this. of course, some people hit pay dirt doing this then go off and brag at what a good deal they got.Oh, well!!!!!

I still think the best way to purchase a yorkie is research the breed - check the prices in your area ....and go from there - Also ...Word of mouth is a great way to find a good breeder....

Many people HAVE to be concerned about the price to be able to afford one...IF Every breeder had to use a Specialist or whatever you're talking about - many yorkies would be priced right out of many good homes.

No one is saying a breeder shouldn't be compensated....just the same as the BUYER shouldn't be taken advantage of.....

edited to add...I'm done here.....debate away !

Forget the cost, I would want to keep them all. I can't imagine raising them for 12 weeks and then giving them up. I'd end up with a housefull!

It costs a lot to pay for a good stud, take bitch to the vet many times, pay for her care, maybe pay for a C-section, back to the vet several times but this time multiply that by number in litter. Let's not forget the proper diet, vaccines and testing.

it costs nothing to let your 2 ratty looking pets romp in the backyard then throw them a bowl of Purina when they get hungry. The Ad in the Newpaper for these "Yorkies" is the biggest expense. such a deal.

Sugar's Mom:

I forgot that I'm a photographer and I HATE when people ask me to cut them a deal or ask what I pay for the cost of a print when I charge them for their portrait. Some people have no manners or just weren't taught better when they ask questions like that to a professional. I inform people upfront what the prices for my products/services are and it is for them to decide if they like what I've produced in the past enough to pay my prices. The same applies to breeders. They state their prices and if someone likes their stock, then they don't mind paying what is asked.

So what you're saying is that these are things "good breeders" should do? Just want to make sure that we are all getting your point in these statements as they were truly meant. You're saying that by not using a reproductive specialist, by taking pups to a vet for checkups, that docking tails and removing dew claws themselves are "areas where breeders try to save money?" I have seen many posts by breeders on here who do the tails and dewclaws themselves rather than have a vet do it. I would hate to think that some of these breeders do or don't do these things if it "may not be what is best for the pups."
Ah, but what do I know? Like I said before, I really don't understand the need for this information unless you are looking into breeding for yourself, or perhaps it is for some other reason? I don't see any breeders on here asking for help defending their practices or how and why they choose to price their pups the way they do. Oh, yeah, but all the "good breeders" as you put it understand this crusade. Since I am the one that questioned it, I guess I'm not a "good breeder?" Oh, but wait, I've only had one litter of my own....I believe that wouldn't classify me as a "breeder" at all, at least according to a previous thread. What in the world am I doing posting about this stuff if I am not even a "breeder?" Silly me...let me get out of here.

I agree. There are breeders here that do a lot of their own (from tails and claws to shots) but I would NEVER consider them bad breeders. They have my upmost respect and the respect of most all of the forum.

I find this whole thread insultive to a breeder- it really is not any of our business, if when you are looking for a breeder you have any question about their practice then you probably should not get your pup from them. JMHO

There is nothing "insultive" or insulting about this thread. In fact it is very Pro-breeder. It is all about recognizing the expense and hard work that goes into breeding yorkies and the fact that the breeders who demand fair compensation for their puppies can afford the very best for their pups. I was not implying that breeders who do their own tails, dew claws and vaccines are bad breeders and those of you who are accusing me of this are just "reaching" as usual to find something to "shake your heads about".

Yorkie Rose said "A GOOD BREEDER CHARGES A LOT"...does this mean that she thinks breeders who don't charge alot are bad breeders? No, and none of you would accuse her of that because you know that is NOT what she meant.

So why do it to me?

I know there are valid reasons for doing your own tails, dew claws and vaccines like not wanting the pups exposed to the risks and stress of travel to the vets office and feeling that you do it better and more compassionately than the vet after so many years of experience. I respect this......my examples were merely that...examples...and not an implication of anything bad or negative. We all have read the threads where breeders have admitted to doing all of these things to save money. I am just pointing out that there is a way to not have to cut costs...charge a fair price for your pups......hopefully the buyers will recognize what you have put into these babies and not complain.

Your words and your's alone. YOU are the one that implied that by doing this, the pups' best interest may not be at hand.

Exactly...with the operative word being "MAY". It depends on the reasons and the circumstances of each situation.

Please allow me to explain my comment- In my opine breeding is a type of business- as an owner of a retail store this thread would be no different than asking me what my margins are- I would not share that as it is my business- I feel we owe our breeders here some amount of respect- that while it is nice to ask them "what if" questions to help occasionally I believe that this type of thread crosses the line. Some things are not anyones business and money happens- in my opine- to fall in that category.

As for why do it to you- I am not clear what that means, but you were the one who "bumped" this up. So if you take my comments as directed at that ok, but that is your decision.

That was what I was wondering to begin with. I think all breeders are quite aware of their own expenses and the costs involved. I don't understand who is in need of beeing defended and who exactly needs all this explained to them. :confused: I continue to think there is another, unforseen motivation for this thread because I really don't understand the point. But hey, I'm sure the "good breeders" here understand it perfectly. :rolleyes:

indeed!!! making judgement based on reading not experience, period!

I said this on another thread and I will say it again "until you've walked in our shoes all you have are opinions." Nothing more nothing less! Take it for what its worth.

My maternal grandmother was a very wise woman who had many wise sayings. I wish my children would have had the opportunity to know her and learn from her.

One wise saying that I can remember vividly is "if you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen."

I think sometimes you take things personally and they may have not meant to be that way.

Breeder Cost
 

The only reason I posted to this thread was to maybe open the eyes of some people.. I think alot of people do not realize how much time or money goes into a litter of puppies, let alone just being a breeder! When we do not have puppies to place we still are hopefully obligated to give our yorkies wonderful care, which is NOT cheap! I NEVER decided to breed/show yorkies so that I could make a ton of money, it will NEVER happen! I do it because I love the breed and my goal is to better what I have everytime I breed for a litter of pups.. My own opinion is "If you make alot of money off of your dogs/puppies you are cutting alot of corners and NOT doing everything right by your dogs!".. JMHO..

Plus the possibility of losing your girl. If she's a CH that can mean a substantial investment and who can calculate the cost of a broken heart.

I haven't read the entire thread, but I hope it will help educate some that there is a fair "range" of puppy prices that I like to compare to adoption fees. It's not like buying a car or a new pair of shoes, it's more like paying an adoption fee and then claiming this little life as your own.

Well said! :thumbup:

The thing I think some people don't understand is that there is no MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) that has been set on puppies and there is no governing agency that is going to do so. I totally agree with the post that said basically, you wouldn't go into a store and say, "Just how much do you have in this desk? I want to buy it but I don't want you to pocket too much." The prices breeders ask are set at that price for a reason. Some people ask too much. Some people are not reasonable people and through proper research, you'll determine just who they are and you won't pad their pockets any more than they already are. Each breeder has a product (the puppy) and each breeder is fully welcome to set their price wherever on the scale they would like to set it. As for the amount that they should get for their time in raising these precious babies, their time is as valuable as their lives warrant.

The above statements are my opinions only. Thank you. :)

I invite anyone that what to know what we go through as breeders... pack you bags and go spend sometime with a breeder... :p You want finanical information contact my accountant... :eek: It isn't cheap!!! Do we make $$$, some after a 3 year investment time. Nothing to go take a trip around the world on. (This is something we can't do...Who would tend to the kids??) Why do we do this, sometimes I wonder... especially after losing a pup. I guess the rewards is when you see a face light up on a new pet owners face this is where we get our payment... :D

To the breeders who posted replies,
 

I would like to apoligize for reading them, although I didn't read all this thread! I felt like I was "eavesdropping" on a private conversation or looking at someones underwear! I cannot understand why anyone would possibly ask such "intimate" information from anyone! It's like the threads asking "What did you pay for your Yorkie?" There's noone on this forum that knows what we paid for Toto and because of ethical breeders, such as yourselves and knowing what we know now, we would have paid ten times that figure!!

I, personally, would like to thank you all for your selfless dedication to this breed! Because of breeders like you, we have not been subjected to the heartache that some have experienced because of careless/greedy breeding practices!! Our breeder is so truthful and wonderful, sometimes when I look at our precious baby, I feel that I should pay her again because of the unbelievable happiness our Toto brings us!! ;)

I just read this entire thread and I have to say I am shocked at the lack of manners of some.

I think now that we should ask every one on YT exactly what they make at their jobs. LOL How rude would that be ? What a breeders bottom line is, is no ones business anymore than if they worked at Wal-Mart or for General Motors. Where do we have the right to ask ?

Some times I have money after all those little bundles of joy go out the door and sometimes, not. How Much is my Business !!! JMHO

Some threads are best left alone. No mater how you answer you are going to fall into the toilet when you give your honnest and innocent answer.

It should not take a rocket scientist to figure out that some people spend more in producing their babies then others. It is quite evident when you look at the diverse quality of the yorkies that you see here, in the park at the vet anywhere that you see dogs. We see this in every breed. If you take poor quality dogs and breed them you are not going to place a large investment financially in how you raise your puppies. You have all ready shown this by the quality of the dogs you have chosen to breed and produce the puppies.

It is personal choice why some give their own shots and dock tails and remove dewclaws- I do not feel just a way to cut the costs on puppies.
Docking your own tails gives you the option to make sure that each tail is docked to the exact length that you want. When a vet docks the tail you can state how long and then you hope they have the right length. I have had some tails too short and some a tad too long .

I consider that I don't have to tell peoples about the amount I use for raising a litter .

Some are asking about money !! We had two yorkies for about three years;they both were spade; When we decided to breed yorkies our initial investment was $9000.00;so go figure from that.