The Cost of Raising a Responsibly Bred Litter of Puppies
Pre-Puppy Expenses
OFA for Hips & Elbows = $580.00 each/per dog
Sire and Dam =$1160.00 for the pair
CERF Eye Exam for OFA Eyes $135.00 = $270.00
Genetic Testing= $200.00 per dog =$400.00
Total =$1830.00
Brucellous test & health check for female= $160.00
4 Progesterone tests to pinpoint accuracy of timing
Health Exam & Cost of 1 Progesterone test =$178.00
Each progesterone test after initial = $121.00
Usually 4 per female Total =$541.00
AI (Artificial insemination & collection) =$187.00
I like to do 3 AI's X 3 Total =$561.00
(I almost always do AI's. I don't have very many 'natural' breedings)
Stud Fee to Stud Owner =$850.00 to $1300.00 average $1100.
Semen Collection of Stud & Shipping (if needed) =$500.
(If Stud dog is too far away to visit personally)
(I personally do use a Stud dog for some females)
Ultrasound to check on status of breeding – did it take? = $101.20
X-rays for a puppy count =$150.00
Pre-puppy Total: NO PUPPIES YET, just preliminaries (double if breeding doesn’t take, false pregnancy) Which we had one with Maddie-June/2017
Total for preliminaries =$3,343.00 (not using Stud Service)
=$4,943.00 (using Stud Service)
(This cost is for each litter with the exception of the OFA's Hip/Elbows, CERF eye Exams, Genetic testing =$1830.00 That is not repeated each breeding.)
Puppy Expenses
Accumulate needed birthing supplies (clamps, heat lamp,
heat mat, siphon bulb, replacement milk, whelping pads) assuming already have
some things from previous litters =$200.00
Extra food in anticipation of pregnancy for Mama =$300.00
Prenatal vitamins for female Calcium Tablets for Nursing Mother =$65.00
Birth Expenses – Natural =$30.00
(have oxytocin, other drugs on hand for complications)
Birth Expenses – C-section/Complications $1200. to $1600.00
(I often have C-sections, during 2017, I had 5 litters, all 5 ended in C-Sections)
Emergency visit cost (weekend, after hours or fading puppy vet visit)
Vet Emergency that always happens (weekend, after hours, stepped on puppy, fading puppy, Mastitis in Mama, puppy not doing well, etc)
( I often have Vet care way before the puppies ever reach 6 weeks of age) =$250.00
More premium food for nursing mom & puppies (once weaned) =$400.00
Nursing Mom refuses eat her dog food, Feed boiled chicken/rice each meal until usually until
puppies are over 10 days old. $100.00
Worm puppies 3 times (assuming 4-10 puppies) – stool sample $160.00
First Parvo/Distemper shots for 4-10 puppies (1 shot each) & Vet checkup
Insert Microchips, including purchase of Microchips = $450.00
New & replacement puppy toys, towels, baby gates, puppy activity centers,
baby seats, little tykes tunnels, baby slides, ball pits, other misc necessities
(each activity center cost 90.00 to make, not including toys for it), toys, bones,
pianos, sensory toys =$400.
Assemble puppy “going home” bags, including photos (puppy blanket with mom's scent, food samples, bags, toys, etc.) =$20.00 each bag total X 9 puppies = $180.00
Added utility bills and laundry costs for washing puppy blankets, towels, whelping pads and heating for puppies when they are first born, running furnace, heatlamps. =$250.00
Litter Registration =$45.00
24/7 job of supervising new Mom, making sure puppies are safe & fed around the clock, laundress,
countless hours and hours of care, socializing, families visiting, emailing & texting families pictures, posting photos so families can see
their puppy grow, kennel clean up, the list goes on, etc. =$0.00
Eventual Sleep and a Healthy Mom & Puppies – Puppy breath and cuddles PRICELESS
Total Cost of Whelping/Raising Litter =$4230.00
TOTAL COST TO BREED A LITTER OF RESPONSIBLY-BRED PUPPIES =$9173.00
These were my prices from Katie & Ryder's litter. When you have a false pregnancy or the breeding doesn't take, these cost still have to be absorbed and paid. This does not include the price of dog food for all the dogs during the year, I average about $8000.00 for dog food, for all the dogs. Puppy cost has to help pay for this. This also does not include Vet care for yearly shots or Vet Care when one or several gets an ear infection, loose stools, sick, etc. & Grooming. Nor does it include monthly heartworm meds, toys, etc. Breeding dogs is a very expensive hobby and the price of each puppy reflects the cost occurred with each litter. I hope this gives you a better understanding of the amount of cost that goes into each breeding, successful or not.
The Labs that do not live inside with us, live in a fully insulated comfortable barn. The tempts don't get below 45 degrees in the winter time, cool in the summer. We finished the barn out inside with the Labs in mind. Each Lab has a Kuranda bed, along with an insulated dog igloo for their comforts. My puppy room is also fully insulated along with it's own furnace. It's a very comfortable area. They also have large yards they go out into. Not small kennel runs. This year we fenced in a full acre of property to also give them more space to run. Any extra monies collected goes back into the breeding program and anything the Labs need to give them a good, fun, comfortable life.
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