@MDSPHOTO:

Not to question your ability, but if you can't afford another $300 to get a puppy from a reputable breeder, do you have the means to give the dog the proper care it will need. If I look at what we have spent on the puppy since we got her from our breeder we have probably paid an additional $400 (Vet bills, shots, crate, food, treats, obedience class, sweaters, toys, collars, etc.). Dogs can be an expensive proposition you should really think about the total yearly costs to care for the dog not just the acquisition price. I see the BRAT rescue as a great alternative if you are cash strapped right now.

@Kipawa:

If told you guys how much we have spent in vet bills for our cats and parrots over the last 26 years, you guys would gasp!! Those $300 ****atoos are now worth a small fortune. If one of our birds becomes ill, an $800 - $1000 vet bill is not uncommon. For the cats, 2 years ago we had an $1100.00 vet bill for radioactive isotope therapy (for the tyroid). So, I concur with MDSPHOTO. I don't think anyone here is being uppity, more likely realistic.

Both of these posts are right on. The initial purchase price is only a small fraction of the cost of an animal.

As for breeder's prices, when you are doing the health testing, providing excellent care for the bitch and her pups, etc, the $700-$1000 price isn't always even covering the costs of the litter. To further reduce the price of puppies would mean either cutting corners or losing even more money which in these economic times many don't have to give.

To summarize the breeder costs given in other threads:

Health testing for 1 parent:

OFA Hip x-rays $75 + $30 OFA fee
OFA Patella Check $10 + $15 OFA fee
OFA Thyroid Panel $81 + $15 OFA fee
Fanconi Marker Test $60
CERF Exam $35 + $8 CERF fee for renewal
Brucellosis Test $65

Total for health testing 1 parent = $394

Travel Expenses to get the Bitch to the Stud

At least $300 either in shipping and boarding expenses or in gas and lodging expenses, often times more if shipping.

Stud Fee $750-$1000 (Usually the cost of puppy)

Prenatal care $125 for either ultrasound or x-ray. Some breeders do both in order to confirm pregnancy and then to have a good count of what to expect during whelping.

Post whelping expenses (Assumes an average sized litter of 4)
Dew Claw removal and wellness check for mom and puppies - $90
First Shots + Microchip - $310
CERF Exams - $140
Second Shots - $115
Registration - $140

Now most breeders will also send home a puppy kit of some sort and these costs don't factor in the food, bedding, clean up supplies, and extra electricity costs. This estimate also does not include any emergency fees which can quickly escalate the cost.

Total is $2364 - $2614. Which would put a low estimate of cost per puppy at $591 - $653.40.

lvoss