25/08/2021
Do breeders make money???
Here’s the quick and dirty breakdown of our costs at vom Kugelblitz Kennels. Don’t let my husband see this, he’ll cry 😝
Bitch-$2500
Transport of new pup-$500-1000
Sire-$2500
Transport of new pup-$500-$1000
Titling/certification rough cost of bitch-$2500
(Entry fees, travel, paying a helper or trainer, training classes, hotel, gas, mileage, socialization and temperament testing. It could be as high as $4000)
Titling/Certification rough cost of sire-$2500
Heath testing bitch-$1200 (OFA Hips/Elbows, embark, heart, eyes)
Heath testing sire-$1200 (OFA Hips/Elbows, embark, heart, eyes)
General health and feeding and vetting of a bitch for 2 years with NO major vet bills-$1200
General health and feeding and vetting of a sire for 2 years with NO major vet bills-$1200
So your at two years old and finally able to breed a litter, we’re at $16,800 with no major emergency’s, not having to wash one of them out for failed temperament or health testing and owning both the stud and bitch
Progesterone, AI and general vet costs to breed $800
Supplements and increased food $300
Whelping box and supplies $900
Time off work or paying helpers during delivery $500
Csection or complications $4000
Puppy toys, pen, activities for development $400
Food for pups $300
Vetting, wormers, microchips, vaccinations $500
Registration $200
Countless hours, up all night, extra time off work, gas and time to socialize and take pups to prepare for life. No $ will cover that.
Your at $7900 for litter costs, if no emergency at all with mom or a pup $3900
So total for your first litter $20,700- $24,700
Now if you don’t own the sire you will save a good amount but you’ll be paying a stud fee and we’ll over $1500 for shipping in semen or traveling all over to the stud, plus more time off work and travel costs.
Now let’s say you have 6 pups. In our case we keep one and usually donate one or place in a guardian home so your down to 4. At $1800 each that’s $7200 and your at a loss of $17,500. Even if you repeat the litter ( and chance/invite another $8000 in costs again) you still wouldn’t even break even until a third litter, if you get 6 or more healthy pups in each and every litter with no complications.
Breeders who do so responsibly do not make money. We must invest in good dogs from the start and often take a loss of thousands when a dog does not fit our health, temperament or workability requirements.
Remember this the next time you say Breeders make money.
