Cost of Dog Breeding

troubleinparadise

One more thought - allow dog-sitting coverage for 24/7 for 12 weeks - we ended up with puppies that didn't leave when originally planned by the new owners and had to keep them for longer.

On top of that, we were keeping a puppy from the litter (the whole point of breeding from an exceptional working dog) so the litter care just morphed into new puppy care in our house.

So when "those that don't do the dirty work" start on about wanting to have a litter, I'm afraid I put my foot down - because to me it is akin to having a new baby!

And no, after all the costs, including my time, I certainly don't think I made any money - but do have a lovely new dog as a result.

krazyk

thorsoak,

Ta for the reply. The research I've done so far has raised all the points you've raised and appreciating the complications and multiple factors involved. The link I posted below alone was extremely useful as the breeder detailed not only the costs but all the problems they had as well.

I'll post in the pet forum to ask for more recent costs. The breeder on the link totaled up their cost (in 2012) to just under £2k so suspect that is much higher now.

Waiting list? I've now just started my research, I'm a long, long way off from actual breeding. I'm not jumping in at the deep here, that would be silly. I'm going to continue researching, talk to breeders, post on forums like this etc. before even considering doing this.

krazyk

Fosterdog,

Thanks for your alternative view.

Because we've had a rescue dog and had a very unpleasant experience. We've since had dogs from breeders and they've been brilliant.

I can't control what other people do with their dogs beyond the initial selection of the owners and the contract. Is it possible to control owners when homing a rescue dog? Could the scenario you mention also be said for rescue dogs? Appreciate the warning.

Yes can afford and home any size litter if returned. I'll be more than happy to keep them all. :-D

Thanks for the link. I've looked at my location and 100 miles radius and found half the ads are wanted posts and some on sale are not Goldens, nor Retrievers. I'll keep an eye on the list though and could contact the "wanted"'s if need be. There are no Goldens for sell for my location at the moment.

If the dog isn't an amazing breed nor has the right temperament then breeding is not an option.

Ta. I'll post in the pet forum to see if anyone can help with more up to date costs.

krazyk

thorsoak (replying to your second reply),

Understood. I've seen a whelping box that counters this (as best it can) by having a rail around the bottom inside edge that allows the pup to escape if Mum rolls of them. But yes I've seen this issue.

My previous dog's Mum was even worse than that, she gave up being a Mum pretty much instantly and so the breeders (that ones I'm in contact with) had to be Mum from the get-go. They called her a 'modern Mum'. ;-)

I've been mopping up poo for 25 years. :-)

krazyk

troubleinpara,

Noted about the puppysitting.

Hehe, yep hope to have a great puppy (or two ;-) from this too. :-)

troubleinparadise

Dear Krazyk,

It sounds like you're doing the wisest thing by doing your homework and informing yourself as fully as possible.

I've seen disasters where people have bred from a maiden b**ch who was too old in the first place, and ended up nearly losing all the dogs - and a huge vet bill on top.... Or unexpectedly only one very large puppy, emergency c-section, enormous vet bills and sickly b**ch &puppy afterwards... Just silly and a tough lesson to learn, with the dogs paying the biggest price.

But it can be very rewarding - my last litter of 5 dogs to new homes has worked very well, and all owners are very pleased with their dogs and the dogs are having the lives they should be. So good luck if you decide to go ahead :beer:

sheramber

Rescues normally neuter their dogs so there is no risk of their dogs being responsible for more puppies.

A good breeder never advertises the puppies and certainly not on sites like Gumtree and Preloved.

Nor will they use any dog as a stud dog. They will research the pedigrees of both dogs and find a stud that is a good match. That needs to be arranged in advance not once she is in season9 as happens on local community website)

A good breeder will also keep in touch with the new owners of their puppies and vice versa.

Just recently a local vet was asked to kill ( yes that is what it is) three 12 week old pedigree lab pups as the breeder could not sell them. I tis not easy to look after and train several puppies at the same time).

Fortunately, for these three the vet arranged for them to go to a rescue.

krazyk

troubleinparadise,

I'm researching as much as possible. But like having kids there is only so much research you can do without actually doing it.

But I feel I have a lot of experience with raising dogs (and very happy healthy dogs at that) and that the time and situation is right for me. I'm getting another dog either way but currently researching the possibility of breeding now (as if it's something I think I can do it will change what dog I get or when I get a dog - should I get a male first then a female or vice versa, or get just a female and find a stud or vice versa - rather than getting a dog, researching afterwards and finding the option to breed is not there.

Regardless of breeding, I would like to have multiple dogs that overlap each other so I'm never without a dog. My last one would have benefited from a younger buddy for example.

Like I say, only researching atm but will be getting on waiting lists very soon.

krazyk

sheramber,

No sure, that preloved website looked like an eBay-type website. I found it a little odd that dogs were being advertised next to packaged holidays and telephones. I did see a few KC breeders on there though. I rather go through the Kennel Club, which is how I've found a local breeder myself.

Yeah, putting down a dog is very very hard indeed.

Person_one

Why do you want to breed retrievers? What's your motivation?

Are you looking for a way to make a living and think dog breeding might be it or are you passionate about a certain breed of dog and want to contribute to improving its health and soundness long term and preserve/improve genetic diversity?