Hobby vs professional breeders

[ruthcatrin]

I found something really interesting on the whole, "breeders are making a profit" debate we have been having. The sites Bloomberg.com set the number of owning a dog for 12 years at 59,688.88 and RaisingSpot.com has set it at 4,620 to 32,990 for 12 years depending on the breed. Obviously, mastiffs are going to be in the higher bracket and if you take the cost of health testing, stud fees and everything and said a breeder puts in closer to the bloomberg quote, then a breeder is spending close to 60k to raise her dog from birth to retirement. If you are lucky and she has 8 puppies in each litter and she has three litters, your total profit is 52k selling them at 2500 per puppy. So in the long run, you are actually 8k in the hole.

I sat down last night and did some basic math. In the first two years of Apollo's life I have spent an estimated $8372.14 to aquire him and feed him. That number doesn't include vet bills, doesn't include toys, doesn't include the show we went to in Nov, doesn't include grooming supplies, doesn't include a fee for my time spent on him, or anything other than the cost of buying him and his food.....Now $3k of that was the cost of buying him from the breeder. So lets say $5372.14 for food over a two year span, if he lives for 12 years (entirely possible for a TM), his total cost out of my pocket will be $35232.84. And again, thats not including ANY vet bills, any health testing, any showing costs, any extras.....AND assumes that my cost of food doesn't change (not likely the way the economy is going).....So lets say I end up being able to stud him out 4 times during that time period at approx $2000 each (not likely to be more times than that unless he wins Westminster or something), $8,000. You know what? So NOT a profit....

 

[Kelly]

Well said, Ruth.

 

[Robtouw]

Originally Posted by masteneo
I have seen dogs do the bonding with a visitor or regular friend so tight and quick.

I bonded immediately with Cruiser's grandmother and offered to take her home on spot! I usually am attracted to the boys but something about her was so impressive, and she took to me right away. The breeder said that she was pleasant with all visitors and she had never seen her take to anyone as she did with me! I visited often before selecting Cruiser and each time Milly greeted me, ushered me everywhere, and tried to leave with me! She had the most amazing disposition and personality. If they called today, I would go and get her! There was no work involved on either side, we immediately loved each other. Funny when that happens! I like most dogs, I loved Milly.