Breeding Puppies For Profit

There are many reasons to decide to start breeding puppies. Some dog owners are truly committed to a particular breed and want to do everything they can to ensure the breed maintains a high standard. These breeders are very discriminating about the types of dogs and bitches they will breed so the lines are of the highest quality possible. There are other breeders who start breeding their dogs just for the fun of it. These breeders are hopefully still responsible in their breeding practices but for them the real reward is having a house full of puppies for a few weeks every year. There are other types of breeders who get into the world of breeding for profit. It is certainly possible to profit on your litters but it is important to maintain the overall health of the dogs as the highest priority. This article will discuss the subject of breeding puppies for profit and will offer tips to breeders who wish to start breeding for this reason.

Potential breeders who wish to start breeding for profit would be wise to first carefully examine all of the costs involved with breeding and raising a litter of puppies. Many people see advertisements for puppies in newspapers, magazines and online and immediately multiply the cost of the puppies by the size of the litter and jump to the conclusion that breeders must make a great deal of money on each litter. However, this is rarely the case. Some breeds of puppies, and especially puppies from litters with proven show or working lines, may be quite expensive but there are a number of costs involved in breeding a bitch and raising a litter which must be considered when figuring out the potential profit. Some of the costs associated with breeding a bitch and raising a litter include stud fees, the cost of obtaining health certifications, pre-natal care for the mother, healthy nutritious foods for the mother and food for the puppies once they are weaned. Other costs include a whelping box and bedding as well as cleaning supplies necessary to keep the whelping box and other areas of the house clean.

The costs listed above are just the standard costs associated with breeding a bitch and raising a litter. If anything goes wrong during the gestation period, birth or while the puppies are still in your care there will be additional expenses. An emergency c-section might be necessary if the labor is difficult and the life of the mother or puppies is at risk. Puppies may also be born with health concerns or become injured which results in additional expenses. When breeding puppies for profit it is important to be aware of these potential emergencies and the extra costs which may result from these situations.

There may be other costly aspects involved with the breeding process. Some breeds are notorious for not being able to deliver puppies naturally. Potential breeders should be aware of whether or not these concerns exist and should calculate the cost of a planned c-section if they choose a breed that is known to require c-sections. Depending on the availability of the stud dog, artificial insemination may also be required. However, again this expense is likely to be known before the breeding process so it will not take the breeder by surprise.

Another way in which breeders may find their profit margins compromised is in buyers who back out of contracts. Typical puppy contracts require a non-refundable deposit but do not require the potential owner to purchase the puppy. Even breeders who have a waiting list for puppies from a particular litter may end up losing money in this type of situation if they cannot find buyers for all of the puppies in a litter. This often happens when a litter produces mostly puppies of a particular sex and buyers on the puppy list and waiting list are interested in another sex. It may also occur in litters which may produce a variety of colors and markings but most buyers are interested in colors or markings which are not well represented in the litter.

Breeding for profit is possible but these potential breeders should carefully analyze the costs as well as the potential costs before making a decision to breed for profit. They should also be committed to making the well being of the dogs or bitches a priority.