What Determines the Price of a Puppy?
What Determines the Price of a Puppy?
Often I see people question: why does a purebred dog cost so much? Here is my personal opinion on this matter. Let's consider the breeder's costs from purchasing a puppy to the age of 4 years and having puppies. Here is a typical break-down of expenses. I still have more to add to it, but you will get the general idea.
| Price of Puppy who will grow to be the Dam of pups | $2000.00 |
| Grooming @ $60/month x 48 months | $2880.00 |
| Average Annual Veterinary Care Costs $750 x 4 years | $3600.00 |
| Annual Eye Tests @ Specialist $70 x 4 years | $280.00 |
| Dog Show Entry Fees (including $35 to $40 per event x 4 events/show = $140 to $160 per show (average $150) x 4 shows per year minimum x 4 years | $2400.00 minimum |
| Travel Costs to Attend Dog Shows - absolute minimum | $400.00 |
| Hotel Fees while Attending Shows ($160 x 12 nights x 4 years) | $7680.00 |
| Food and Beverages while away at shows ($40 x 12 days x 4 years) | $1920.00 |
| Dog Handling Fees (approx. $250/day x 4 days/yr. x 4 years if only used for Specialtes) | $4000.00 |
| Thyroid Test (full including TgAA) | $350.00 |
| OFA fees to register Thyroid results $15 USD = $18.81 CAD | $21.00 |
|
DNA Tests CLAD, DM, GLD, PRA1, PRA4, VonWillebrands, etc. |
$200.00 |
| OFA Reg'n of DNA test results in CAD | $106.00 |
| OFA Hips Radiology | $500.00 |
| OFA Reg'n of Hip X-ray Results $35 USD = $50.00 | $50.00 |
| Pre-Pregnancy Health Check, Brucellosis Test, Vaccinations/Titre Testing, Ultrasound 30 days after mating, X-Rays Day 60, etc | $1100.00 |
| Progesterone tests $200/test x 4 tests minimum | $800.00 |
| Stud Fees $2500 USD = $3550 CAD | $3550.00 |
| Frozen semen costs: including international paperwork, tank rental, semen container, health certificate for stud, shipping costs | $2000.00 |
| Whelping Box and pig rails | $1200.00 |
| Whelping Kit (ball-tipped small scissors, heating pads (4), bedsheets & towels,, hemostats, unwaxed dental floss, gloves, lubricant, pet scales, thermometer, Vaseline, coloured ribbons & ID bands/collars, puppy milk replacer, Nutri-Cal for dogs, syringes, Calcium, flashlight, notebook/pen, heatlamp with spare bulbs, stethoscope | $225.00 |
| Large pen to keep pups in as they grow | $500.00 |
| Pee Pads, Turf and/or alfalfa pellets, puppy crates, waterproof pads | $200.00 |
| Toys and play objects (infant slide, musical toys, wobble board, balls, swing, climbing blocks, tunnel, etc.) | $200.00 |
| Mom & Pups Post-Natal Exam (within 48 hrs after birth) | $400.00 |
| Puppy Health Exam & Vaccinations (6 to 8 weeks of age) - per pup | $100.00 |
| Puppy Health Exam & Vaccinations (10 weeks of age) per pup | $100.00 |
| Puppy MIcrochipping (per puppy) | $65.00 |
| Puppy Deworming $20 x 3 doses per pup | $60.00 |
Of course this isn't an all inclusive list. For example it doesn't include TCI (trans-cervical insemination) costs if using frozen or fresh chilled semen. It also doesn't include any veterinary emergencies such as a c-section, puppy requiring extra care, etc. It is easy to see why the cost of a puppy is so high. When I price my puppies I have to consider all of these costs and divide it by the number of puppies in the litter. My goal is to provide new owners with the most affordable puppy I am able to offer. Veterinary costs have skyrocketed the past few years and that is definitely an important consideration. Most reputable breeders don't make a profit; their goal is to ensure they can provide healthy, purebred puppies that meet or exceed breed standards in order to ensure puppy owners will enjoy a long-term relationship with a healthy puppy/dog of excellent temperament. that is a good representation of the breed. We don't over-breed our girls. We carefully plan each litter giving a tremendous amount of thought to the stud dogs health and temperament as well.
If you have any thoughts or concerns, please feel free to discuss them openly with us at any time.