Post by *Christina* on Nov 25, 2005 15:20:03 GMT
I posted this at other site, but it wouldn't hurt to post it here as well.
I decided to post some information as I have heard so many times people complaining about puppy prices and referring to "cheap" puppies as "bargains". I myself would never ever use this word for a living being that is your companion and your best friends for many years (if you were smart enough to buy it from a reputable breeder). This is approximate estimate of all the cost that you have with one litter. It might seem a lot to some people, but if you buy it from the first person with "reasonable" prices it might cost a whole lot more in the years to come.... just imagine all the vet bills that you will have to pay for a dog whose parents were not checked for hereditary diseases.
Here it goes:
Preliminary health check/tests at vets
Stud fee
Traveling to & from stud dog's home x 2 (or even x 3) - averaging 200 miles round trip per time
Scan fees/vet check
Wormer for bitch
Additional food for bitch
Whelping box (new for each litter)
Disinfectants, etc
Heat lamp
Vet bed
Time off work for whelping/looking after litter - 3 weeks' salary
Vet fees for checking bitch & litter after whelping
Tail docking of puppies
Additional heating costs
Additional laundry costs for vet bed
Registration fees
Wormer for bitch & puppies
Additional food for bitch and puppies
Additional cleaning materials once puppies are on their feet
Phone calls to prospective owners
Photographs of puppies for prospective owners
Vet eye check for litter
Vet check prior to leaving home
........have I left anything out?
It all adds up to about £500 to £800 a puppy for dogs where there are no registration costs, no health scheme costs. I don't even want to include prices of cesarean (which happens a lot with chihuahuas). It can come up to £1000...... so, next time someone wants to sell you a puppy for much less than that, do ask yourself why!
I decided to post some information as I have heard so many times people complaining about puppy prices and referring to "cheap" puppies as "bargains". I myself would never ever use this word for a living being that is your companion and your best friends for many years (if you were smart enough to buy it from a reputable breeder). This is approximate estimate of all the cost that you have with one litter. It might seem a lot to some people, but if you buy it from the first person with "reasonable" prices it might cost a whole lot more in the years to come.... just imagine all the vet bills that you will have to pay for a dog whose parents were not checked for hereditary diseases.
Here it goes:
Preliminary health check/tests at vets
Stud fee
Traveling to & from stud dog's home x 2 (or even x 3) - averaging 200 miles round trip per time
Scan fees/vet check
Wormer for bitch
Additional food for bitch
Whelping box (new for each litter)
Disinfectants, etc
Heat lamp
Vet bed
Time off work for whelping/looking after litter - 3 weeks' salary
Vet fees for checking bitch & litter after whelping
Tail docking of puppies
Additional heating costs
Additional laundry costs for vet bed
Registration fees
Wormer for bitch & puppies
Additional food for bitch and puppies
Additional cleaning materials once puppies are on their feet
Phone calls to prospective owners
Photographs of puppies for prospective owners
Vet eye check for litter
Vet check prior to leaving home
........have I left anything out?
It all adds up to about £500 to £800 a puppy for dogs where there are no registration costs, no health scheme costs. I don't even want to include prices of cesarean (which happens a lot with chihuahuas). It can come up to £1000...... so, next time someone wants to sell you a puppy for much less than that, do ask yourself why!