COST OF RAISING A LITTER

2017

PRE-BREEDING HEALTH TEST

OFA HIPS $600
OFA thyroid Testing (annually from 2-6 yrs of age) $200
OFA DNA DM testing ($75 for each parent) $150
Neonatal Encephalopathy $235

von Willebrand Disease Testing $235

Canine CERF Testing $235
TOTAL $1,655

BREEDING COSTS

Pre-breeding bloodwork $150
Optional CBC ( blood test ) $200

Brucellosis Testing $75
Stud Fee $2,000
Ultrasound to confirm pregnancy $100
X-ray or ultrasound of puppies $100
TOTAL $2,625

PUPPY CARE COSTS
Per Litter (Average 10 puppies)

Dewormer $200
Goat Milk (not always used but always on hand) $35
Vaccinations ($50 per puppy) $500
Microchips ($50 per puppy) $500

Bedding $100

Toys $100

TOTAL $1,435

RAW FOOD (ONCE WEANED)

Weeks 3 - 4 On average 3lbs per day x 14 days (42lbs)
Weeks 5 - 7 On average 6 lbs per day x 21 days (126lbs)
Weeks 8 - 9 On average 7 lbs per day x 14 days (98lbs)
266 lbs at $2.50lb TOTAL $665

OTHER

Litter registration AKC $25

Puppy Kit supplies $150
Paper work/contracts, vet booklets/ info. $100
TOTAL $275

GRAND TOTAL PER LITTER $6,655

THAT DOES NOT INCLUDE...

The costs for keeping the dam (housing, increased food during pregnancy/normal food through rest of year, routine vet care, training or shows)
The costs for transporting of the dam to the stud or progesterone testing if required or artificial insemination if required
It does not include the building or purchasing of a whelping box, fuel to the vets office, unexpected complications such as C-sections ($1,500) or mastitis ($1,500)
The costs for any advertising costs or annual website fees or updates.
The costs for washing detergent or electricity to do 2 loads of laundry per day (plus)
The costs for running the heating units in their bedroom to keep their space at 73 degrees Fahrenheit

MY TIME

Litters require around the clock 24 hour supervision especially until 5 weeks of age. I get maybe 2 hours of broken sleep per night for the first 3 weeks of life. Then it improves to about 5 hours of broken sleep until 5 weeks of age.

It isn't until 6 weeks of age until I can get 6-7 hours of sleep per night, if I'm lucky.

How much do you think my time is worth? Let's just base it on a minimum wage job at 84hrs per week (that's 12 hour days and I do way more than that).

New York State minimum wage is $11.10.

8 weeks at 84 hours per week is 672hrs x $11.10 = $7,459.20

So that's a final total of $14,114.2 gross expenses

Breaking even (at minimum wage salary) is $1,411.42 per puppy in a 10 puppy litter

So when you see "breeders" listing their puppies for $750-1,500 you have to ask yourself where are they saving their costs and is it worth it to purchase from one of these breeders?

Please take this into consideration when evaluating the breeder you wish to purchase from.