I think that it is important for anyone who is considering breeding a dog to understand the cost of doing it right. The cost is not just monetary either, I know from personal experience how high an emotional cost there is when your girl who is in exceptional health and everything was done right ends up in the emergency room for an emergency C-section.
Just to give an idea of some of the costs involved in a normal litter.
Before breeding, the dog you are considering breeding should have at least the 4 health tests done to obtain a CHIC number. That means hips, eyes, thyroid, and fanconi test. Hips and Fanconi test are only done once in a dog's lifetime but the the thyroid and eye exams will need to be repeated throughout the dog's life, so if you are planning on placing your bitch after breeding her you will need to find a home that is willing to do this continued health testing and stay in touch with you about the results.
The costs of the these tests will depend on vet care in your area but some rough estimates.
OFA X-ray done after 24 months of age - $100 + $35 OFA fee
Fanconi Marker Test - $60 + $25 or more for blood draw and overnight shipping (can be done as soon as the 3 cc of blood can be safely drawn)
CERF Eye Exam - $35 + $12 (Recommended to be done yearly)
Thyroid Panel - $75 + $15 OFA (Recommended yearly until 4 years old then every other year)
Now most responsible breeders do not own both the male and the female. Since all breeders who are breeding responsibly should be looking for the best match for the bitch conformationally, temperamentally, and health wise, it is often the case that the best match is not the dog that is in your house. Most breeders are going to want to know that you are committed the breed and are going to follow through with your litter and take back any puppies you produce for their lifetime. Some ways to these things are to become involved in local clubs, membership is usually around $17-25 a year, help with rescue in your area so you understand the very real issue of pet overpopulation and homeless basenjis, and to get involved in basenji activities like lure coursing, conformation, or agility. These events also help to prove the quality of your animal and what it has to offer the breed as a whole.
I do not count these expenses into the cost of breeding, just like I do not count the cost of the premium foods I feed my dogs and their annual exams. My dogs are first and foremost pets and companions so I figure I would do all of these things no matter what.
If everything checks out health-wise and your dog has proven that it has something to offer the breed and you have found a stud dog that compliments her the next step is to plan the breeding.
For my first breeding my expenses were something along the lines of
Brucellosis Test $35
Progesterone Tests $65 x 3
Don't remember what the cost of gas was back then, way cheaper than now but the trip to the stud dog was 600 miles round trip. I was also lucky and didn't need to get a hotel room since I could just stay with my mom who lived nearby.
Stud Fee $500
Ultrasound at 28 days - $75
X-ray prior to whelping - $75
Dew Claws - $35 + 15/pup
Microchips - $35/pup
Puppy Shots - $35 + $15/pup for 1st and again for 2nd shots
Eye Exams - $35/pup
AKC Registration - $20/pup
These costs don't include the whelping supplies, the extra food, the toys and everything I include in my puppies going home package.
An average litter is about 4 puppies.
In my second litter, I had all of the above expenses, even higher fuel costs to an even further location. I also lost one puppy and had to pay $1200 for an emergency C-section. Also, there was nothing that could have been done to prevent it. The puppy just plain got stuck. Bad luck pure and simple.