I forgot to add the cost of the petrol doing home checks - I'm in Somerset. The puppy I sold went to Manchester!

When you really start adding things up, even leaving out showing (bear in mind I was showing 6 to 8 dogs at Championship shows to help get the breed established), the costs really do mount up.

Debs

Nope the costs didn't include all of that just the cost of each individual litter. It's just you make even bigger losses if you include all costs!
Becky

Nope :smt002 £800 for a mini Poodle, a well bred toy will set you back about £1,200 a standard approx £700.
Becky

You could easily argue the £1000 stud fee shouldn't be incuded as you wanted a pup so you would have pay for this anyway, leaving you with £2000. Take out average vets fees, food etc, still over £1500

Must mention that to my friend, she sold a litter (2 pups, kept 2 herself) for £450 each inc microchip! Bitch has 2 reserve cc's, I believe the sire is a champion, and minis they are.

I don't see the logic in that!
Take a 4 pup litter at £800 each, you keep one so 'income' is £2,400. Costs just for the litter will be stud fee, vet fees, microchipping, registration, feeding etc and that needs to be deducted from your 'income'.
To me I see the losses I make as the cost of the puppy I have kept.
Becky

But that's your own opinion, which IMO is not the same as knowing through FACT !!!

It's not a hobby to Ethical Breeders who are in it to further their chosen breed. As I said before, there is a reason for it.

People rarely show, without the intention of breeding, they are very few and far between.

Yes I include show fees and all the equipment that gets spent on MY DOGS, NOT me !!

All this is just recouped.

I also work my dogs, to prove they can do they job they were bred for. If I incuded all that equipment SPENT ON THEM, then I would seriousy be in the RED regarding breeding.

The point is, that Ethical breeders spend vast amounts on their pets, moreso than your average pet, therefore when they breed, all they do is recoup costs, not MAKE money.

PFs and BYBs MAKE money, because they spend very little on their dogs, on average just over what your average pet owner spends.

Why do you begrudge people covering costs and maybe having a few quid over when they are breeding dogs in the correct manner? Providing them with good quality food, care and comfort?

Blimey! I was paying more than that for my girls 5 years ago, Wilson cost me £700!
Becky

Like I said, I must tell her, she appears to be very underpriced!!

Borders have risen very sharply. 14yrs ago, I paid £200, 2yrs after that I paid £200 again. 5yrs after that (1999) I paid £250, so just £10 a year rise! In 2002 I paid £400! Orey was VERY cheap. :smt002