'Breed for money'

Odie from the dog house (Contact Member) -

Does anyone here breed for money? My friend has a black lab that she wants to breed. Aren't labs a dime a dozen? I thought you could only make money with show type dogs.

Comment #1 lily from deep south (Contact Member) -

I am sure that there is someone who might buy a lab but I think it is more of the AKC registered pure breeds that will bring in the most money. Personally I worry about any breeder who does it simply for the money. They should be very familiar with the breed, temperament, and any health issues.

Comment #2 Beth (66.82.9.70) -

I would like to ask you why your friend's dog should be breed. Before you breed, take a little time to do some research. Talk to vet about how much money it will cost to bring those puppies into this world, and how much more after the dogs have been weaned and before they are sold. How much for genetic testing before the dog is even bred. Visit a local pound. See how many labs and lab mixes that are going to lose their lives today because there are not enough homes for them. Look in the paper at all the ads for dogs for sale or even to be given away for free. Would she want to see one of the puppies she brought into this world put to sleep because the owers decided that they didn't really want it anymore? What is she going to do with the puppies if they don't sell? Is she going to keep them all or take them to the pound? Is she going to put them to sleep herself?

Comment #3 Tegan (58.170.72.95) -

I use to breed guinea pigs for money but that worked out badly cause once there was 14 in a 5 foot guinea pig cage !!!!!!!

Comment #4 Bluekat from Wisconsin (Contact Member) -

It can take 5 to 10 years before you are experienced enough to make serious money breeding dogs. A veterinarian is not going to be able to tell you how much money it costs to raise a litter. Unless they are a breeder themselves. Veterinarians know little or nothing about raiseing puppies to sell. They make their money off of sick animals. If you have sick animals, that is when you need a veternarians expertise. They make their money off of pet owners who love their individual pet so much, they will pay endless amounts of money to keep it alive longer.

As a breeder, things don't always turn out so well. Your bitch may not like being a mother. She may refuse to care for pups or dispose of them. Before breeding, you'll want at least an extra $2500 in case of an emergency. Things like c-sections. Puppies that catch a virus because you didn't vaccinate your bitch, or you didn't vaccinate the pups, or you let someone handle the young puppies. All sorts of parasites to keep puppies free of. In general keep them dry & clean, dewormed on a regular basis. That can be more difficult than you think. Puppies can poo faster then you can clean up after them. They will eat their poop after you take the Mother away. The poo eating will give them a vicious diarrhea right about the time you want to sell them.

You're going to spend a lot on advertiseing. Initially expect to spend $50 to $100 per each pup to do enough advertising to sell them at a decent price. You've got 2 weeks to sell pups, at age 8 to 10 weeks. After that all the puppy lookers will want to know when you are having your next litter, because they want a younger one. A lab that is not a hunter, doesn't have any show titles, doesn't have passing hips on an OFA x-ray; expect to get $400 each for pups. If they don't sell, you'll be getting $75 to $200. If you have health clearances done on the sire & dam, show titles or proven hunters, then you're looking at puppy prices up to $800 to $1000 or more depending on the pedigree & if you can offer a decent health guarentee.

If your lab bitch is a pet only, you're going to loose money raiseing pups. You could have a litter of 13 & only sell half of them. Make sure you have enough room to maintain 6 more adult dogs in addition to the dam of the litter. About 1 in 4 of your pups will have hip dysplesia if your parent dogs were not cleared for it. Expect those puppy buyers to want their money back when their dogs are lame at age 6 mo. In some states you may be expected to pay their vet bills to fix the dysplastic hips. That could cost you several thousand.

I've just gotten started on the cost of raiseing pups. I can make money on mine, but I've been at it for over 25 years. That wasn't always the case. I can show you Sch C after Sch C where I was in the hole. If you do make money, then

you will be paying approx. 40% of that in taxes. Sales tax when you sell the pups, Federal & state tax on net income. Then 15.7 % or so in SS taxes.

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