09/07/2024
I hate to be this person I really do, but I got to thinking today and maybe people just don’t really know. 🤔 Maybe they have no idea what actually goes into a litter of puppies.
This is kinda long so bear with me….
We strive to produce the very best we can. We put in an exorbitant amount of time, money, and sacrifice to bring these babies into the world and ensure they are ready for their families. We do it because we love them, we love the look on their families face when they first meet, the friends we’ve made along the way, the joy the service dogs from us bring….so many things!
We love what we do!
BUT we can’t do it for 🆓 !!!!
Here is a list of what expenses I have for one litter. And keep in mind this isn’t including everything I have already (pens, kennels, toys, mats, whelping boxes, etc).
-Cost of mom (I have to pay for the ability to breed the dog, I cannot pay for a pet and turn around and breed it, so my costs are higher):💲2,000-5,000
-Stud Fee (yes, I own some of my studs but then you have to factor in their purchase cost):💲1,000-2,000
-Health Testing: 💲200-1800
-Vet Care for one litter: 💲700-1000
- Extra food- 💲300
-Supplies for whelping/raising litter (these are one time use items that I can’t keep for next litter)- 💲500
My expenses- 💲4700-💲10,600
Then let’s factor in accounting fees, license fees, TAXES…..all this adds up quick.
Next….my time. ⏳
I spend days not sleeping or sleeping on a little couch/cot welcoming these guys into the world. I’m there every second for the momma.
Then I spend hours cleaning, bathing, grooming, and socializing the pups. So many hours, who even knows the true amount at this point.
I spend time meeting with families either in my home or when delivering their pup.
I sacrifice doing things because I can’t leave them. I missed my kids first day of school last year because a momma was whelping. Every event we go to, vacation we plan, holiday celebration…they’re all planned around our dogs and pups.
Surely that’s worth something.
There are litters I have absolutely lost money on. There are litters I’ve made some on. In the end I just have to hope it evens out enough so I can continue to do what I love to do.
I get, more than most, that the economy is out right insane right now, probably the worst my generation has seen. 😩
But please realize my expenses have gone up too!! 📈
And my prices have done nothing but come down. 📉
Could I do things cheaper? Maybe. I could not health test, I could purchase poor quality parents, I could buy vaccines from a farm store and just hope the pups turn out ok, I could not socialize and groom….theres tons I could do.
But if I can’t do it right, if I can’t do it ethically….I don’t want to do it 🤷🏼♀️
So when you ask a breeder about their puppies, consider everything that comes along with that. You’re not just buying a puppy, you’re investing in their lineage and their rearing.
This is not the same thing as picking up a pup in the Walmart parking lot you know nothing about with no guarantees or from Jim Bob down the street who just throws them out back and feeds them once a day only to find out they’re full of worms and parvo. You take a chance to pay that small fee, because they have put NOTHING into raising those pups.
Thank you for attending my Ted Talk today! 😜