Why Are Yorkies So Expensive

How Much a Breeder Charges for Their Puppies 

I think it's safe to say that most of us are not rich, and we all appreciate a good deal. Why not? Blowing money unnecessarily is just a waste, and most of us enjoy finding a bargain even if we can afford to spend more. When shopping for cars, electronics, furniture, or even a pet, frugal living is the way of the wise these days.

What’s the big deal about shopping around when looking for a puppy? 

Because the price you pay for a healthy well-bred puppy is minimal compared to the veterinarian cost for the life of a dog that's ill-bred, and sickly, and the bitterness of a poor-quality dog will linger long after the sweetness of a cheap price is forgotten. Ever heard the saying, You get what you pay for? Well, the pet dog industry is one place where you won't find a better example of the prudence of that advice. Quality in the breeding world can range anywhere from absolute crap to jaw-dropping fantastic - and everywhere in between and what you pay for a dog may cost you thousands in medical bills for a dog with a lifetime of health problems. Quality has never been cheap and buying a quality puppy certainly is not! You will have to expect to pay more than just a few hundred dollars to buy from a responsible breeder.

What Factors Go Into a Good Breeder

There are several factors that go into the price of buying a puppy from a good breeder. The ever-increasing price of top-notch veterinary care is one of the main reasons, many breeders spend thousands upon thousands each year at the vet. Not to mention the money that goes into a breeder breeding stock, to produce quality dogs. A breeder has to buy quality dogs, feed them high-quality diets, pre-natal exams, pregnancy x-rays, supplements, whelping, breeding, puppy supplies, emergency veterinary care, C-sections, assisted whelping when complications arise, vaccination for adults and the puppies, health testing, routine blood-work, dental cleanings, veterinary exams, health checks for each puppy at least twice, sometimes 3 times if you have sick puppies if you can imagine this is just the short list of costs, but it gives you an idea.

The most responsible breeders cannot breed a female until she's almost 2 years old and due to the fact toy breeds have typically such small litter sizes with two puppies, three if you are lucky now divide all those expenses by the number of puppies and even at $5,500 most responsible breeders are lucky if they even break even. Responsible breeders of any breed are lucky to break even.

Well, bred dogs are expensive to breed, even poorly bred dogs are not cheap to breed. For toy breeds especially they often need a C-section for the birth that can cost $1,500 or more and an after-hours emergency C-section can cost upwards of $2,500- $5,000. In addition, there is the cost of care for the dam during pregnancy and after birth which can add more unexpected expenses if the mother develops a life-threatening postpartum complication such as metritis, eclampsia, or mastitis. If a breeder is breeding responsibly there will be health and genetic testing before breeding.

The average litter can cost $2,500 or more to breed by the time all is said and done. Often the case many toy breeders are susceptible to neonatal loss because the puppies are so tiny and require so much intervention to survive causing more economic loss for a breeder.  Any purebred dog will be expensive when you purchase a dog from a reputable breeder, you have to remember that the breeder has already spent a good amount of money on veterinary care for the mother and the pups, which will be reflected in the price of the puppy. Pre-breeding health checks for both parents, stud fees, prenatal care, initial vet visits, shots, wormings, food, and all the other things that the breeder takes care of long before you ever get to bring your puppy home which costs a lot of money.

Breeders know the quality of their puppies and what they are producing and are not willing to negotiate the value of their dogs. Not to mention not just anyone can walk up, pick up a toy breed and take it home. They are high maintenance, fragile, can be difficult to potty train, and require daily grooming and dental care due to their small teeth but for the right family, it will be the best emotional investment which is priceless!  Good puppies start long before their parents are bred. Both the sire and dam need constant care, or conditioning, to produce the best offspring. This means regular veterinary care, screening for genetic problems, pre-breeding health tests, regular exercise, and good nutrition. Animals, not in good health, and fed proper nutrition can experience fertility, pregnancy, and whelping complications. Many breeders swear by the belief that the dam's temperament affects the puppies and that good puppies come from good mothers therefore a breeder will avoid breeding shy, unstable, or aggressive alpha dogs.

It is estimated the average cost for the first year of raising a dog is $3,470. With an average of 5 breeding dogs, a breeder spends ($17,350) annually.  Supplies are $650 per year, food is $960, Preventative Medications are $450 per year, and Veterinary costs are $1,200 including all lab work plus one serious illness. An annual cost of $3,260 and the average lifetime cost of raising one breeding dog is $48,900. That's for just 1 dog! Here’s the truth in one sentence: The initial purchase price of a dog is a drop in the bucket compared to the other expenses of dog ownership if you end up with an unhealthy dog with a lifetime of health problems and expenses. Let’s do the math. A $900 dog from an unethical, poorly bred breeder costs 16 cents a day over the puppy’s 15-year lifespan. A $5,500 dog from a quality, health-conscious breeder costs $1 a day. The difference is 84 cents a day. If that $900 poorly bred dog ends up with hip dysplasia, a heart condition, luxating patella, collapsed trachea, or worse yet liver shunt you could easily absorb that $4,600 difference if not more in a single vet visit, and still have a dog with a shortened life or a compromised quality of life.