I was reading some of the threads about people(usually without any idea of what they are letting themselves in for) wanting to breed pups & thinking they could make some cash out of it :( & wondered just how much my current litter was costing me. (Big mistake!!) Anyone considering breeding a litter for no reason other than "to have a pup from our dog" might be interested to know the true financial costs of a litter!

My pups are now 7 weeks old and the seven of them have cost me just a little under £2000!
I haven't gone out & spent silly money on stuff that is unneccessary, and I had a lot of the stuff left over from previous litters. Furthermore this doesn't include the petrol for running about checking new homes out, telephone costs (dread to think what that will be!) or the 8 weeks I have taken off work unpaid (self employed!)

It does include a good quality food/wormers/vaccinations/stud fees/dewclaws/KC reg/scan for bitch/ 4 vet beds and some antibiotics. Imagine the costs if things had gone wrong!!

So my next generation of hounds (I am keeping two) will have cost me a thousand pounds each, 8 weeks loss of earnings and a hell of a lot of hard work!

I have been breeding litters for many years & only breed from my best bitches when I want something for myself. I hope this can serve as a warning for anyone who thinks dog breeding is lucrative. We all know it isn't, but I have never actually sat down & worked out the figures before!

hi sam, the problem is, that the people who do breed for money, dont have the welfare of the litter or bitch uppermost in their minds, the less they spend on the rearing of the litter ie - no vacc, no wormers, cheap feed, and of course not to mention not registering litter, and having any health screening done, and using their own male or 'someone' up the roads male - the more in profit they are :( :( :( :( OOhh I came over all ranting then :( :( dont know if I should have said this though, might still encourage some:( Julie:(

Here are some links that someone who is considering breeding their pet (esp. for just one pup to keep) should read BEFORE any steps are taken that will result in a litter.
Virtual Breeding Are you really ready???????
So you want to become a breeder
Breeding Costs in dollars.
Breeding your Sheltie
Breeding your BullMastiff
Breeding your Rottie
Breeding your Chow Chow
Breeding your Dogo Canario

This information and more is available on line by doing a simple search with the terms: Breeding costs add up dogs at Google Search Engine just input your breed to get specific information :)
regards,
toodles

having gone through virtual breeding, if I was doing it for the money, I would have a serious rethink :) It's a very well written site that takes the glamour out of rearing a litter, that I think unfortunately still exists for some people.

if you look at the virtual breeding site, and decide to go on to part 2 make sure you have a box of tissues handy :(

Hi Sam, and thats when all goes well!! It gets even worse when things go wrong. Think I might have a heart attack if I ever added it all up. Your a brave woman :)
Christine, Spain.

I went on some of these sites before i mated ebbie. If u look at my thread about vaccinations - you will see how much it has cost me so far......for this litter. And i was lucky - no complications with the whelping.

Nikki xx

That Virtual Breeding site I have had in my favourites about 2 years, really makes you think, and I love the interactivity depending on your choices, as to what the outcome is!

I have been amazed by the comments I have had from work collegues, such as ' Oh you must be making a fortune if they cost that much'. I have found that the average person assumes that you are just in it for the money (not being dog lovers) and thinks you just have a litter, sell them at eight weeks and bingo, lots of lovely money! I have given up trying to explain how much things cost in order to do things right.How I wish they could spend a week with me when the pups are born! and see my vet/food/cleaning bill at the end.
Amy

Admin Edit: terms of service

I was amazed by a comment someone made to my daughter just after we'd sold a litter. There was a fair near us and this woman said "Who I thought your mam would have took you with all the money shes just made"
Little does she know we've had our dogs for years I've only breed twice, once losing a full litter with the cost of a section.
I can safely say I'm in debt to it.
I would never do it to make money and anyone who thinks they can they have alot to learn.

I have just gone through Virtual Breeding choosing all the 'wrong' choices and the outcome made me cry. The thought that this happens in real life is just to awful to think about.

We were hoping to breed when our children leave home (not for a good 20 odd years yet!!) but I am not sure if we will ever be fully prepared. This site is wonderful at opening peoples eyes, it certainly opened my eyes. I just hope more people read this and decide against breeding for financial gain.

Jill

It does amaze me how people can say look at all the money u made. But they don't look at the big picture of how much u all ready put into ur dogs to get where u are now, and sure pups may be all sold and gone but it still cost to get them here and to get them where they are. The cost never ends.
ttfn :)