What is the Cost of a Puppy?

We pay more for the mother of our litters (called the Dam) than a standard puppy cost because our fellow breeder is trusting us to be responsible and risking loosing business to us in the future.

A responsible breeder does genetic testing that can run from $200-800 on all dogs before breeding.
As well as getting orthopedic certifications on hips and elbows via x-ray for $250-400.

This is all to make sure that puppies are going to be the best, healthiest puppies they can be for their entire life.

AKC Shows help breeders determine…
What is worth breeding?
What features could cause health problems?
Where is my next puppy daddy?

These cost can be $35-$150 per show, depending on handling and travel. If your dog is perfect, wins every show, and the points are with you… BIG ifs. You could finish showing in a week. My best dog did it in 9 shows. My favorite mom still hasn’t finished after 48 shows.

The same costs apply to the dad as the mom. If he is within your program, you had to buy him, test him, and show him.

OR… you can shop your local AKC show and arrange with a fellow breeder to get a Stud.

This usually costs about the same as buying him, but it comes with the less risks. He is already tested, shown, and you already know what you’re working with.

If you have a local breeder, or are using your own dog, this could be free. Otherwise you’re looking at transport costs to get him or her to the location for the deed.

OR you could have a vet collect the sample, carefully freeze what we call the “straw” and ship it to you. Where you have to have an equally knowledgeable vet to un-freeze and complete a surgery to hopefully get puppies. I’ve had fellow breeders do this to improve their selection options, but it costs thousands.

Let’s say you can wait to confirm your dog is pregnant. I’m sure your buyers don’t mind waiting. The initial ultrasound is $75-100.
Let’s say you don’t need to know how many are coming. I’m sure labor will go fine and no one will get stuck or surprise you later. The x-ray is $50-80.
Let’s say you don’t need a c-section. My dogs haven’t need one yet, knock on wood. $500-4,000.

We need to keep our momma’s safe and clean during and after pregnancy.
To reduce puppy mortality rates we need a kit similar to a traveling surgeon “just in case”.
$800 – whelping box, safety rails, pads, towels, wipes, warming blankets.
$700 – in gloves, medicines, cotton swabs, clotting solutions, oxygen, thermometers, scissors, clamps, goats milk, chicken liver, bone broth and feeding lines or bottles.
$50 – Calcium to help mom labor and recover.

Most of this needs to be replaced with each litter.

Let’s say you can do the preventatives at home. De-wormer and Parvo vaccine still have to be purchased to be administered. $8/puppy

There are fees for Health Certificates and the exams the vet is required to complete to get those. You will need a health certificate if your puppy is going to legally cross state lines $35-350.

AKC registration is a matter of pride and honor in this business, but no you don’t need it for a pet. Personally I like knowing the lineage of my pets, but that’s a nerd talking.

Microchips in this day an age is required. This will help you fine that fluff ball again if they ever go missing. And it acts as a proof of ownership that no stranger or collar chewing can remove.

Would you pay in the middle of the night? Every 2 hours for potty breaks? Outside in the winter?
How kennel clean up? What if someone gets sick?
There are a LOT of fluids with birth and more fun things after that.

Let’s agree it is an actual job.
Minimum wage is $15.00/hour.
Say I don’t get over time or weekends… so 40 hours a week.
And assume they all go home at 9-10 weeks old.
In a perfect situation… my labor is worth $5,400 – 6,000.

Taking the perfect scenarios in the columns so far.
No emergencies, no complications. Perfect parent dogs, local travel only.

Momma can have more litters, but you’ll always have the breeding costs, and vet costs per litter.