How much does it cost to breed ethically and responsibly?

The costs involved in ethical breeding are huge but a healthy, well bred puppy is priceless. Pups with a good pedigree and all the right health tests may command an small premium but in fact most springers are sold for about £350 to £450. Springer pups without pedigree papers can sell for as little as £150 but these frequently are from puppy farms and backyard breeders.

The calculations below are based on 8 pups with mid range food etc and provided to NESSR by some breeders as an estimate of what you will need to consider spending if breeding responsibly ::

Health testing ::

•    BVA eyes approx £33.70
•    Hips / elbows = £58.50 PLUS vet fees for General Anaesthetic based on weight plus cost of xray/ time (minimum £100.00 in vets fees )
•    Cardiac tests = approx £20.00 if you can attend a group testing session, considerably more for private referral consultation. If abnormalities above grade 2 detected Dopper Ultrasound of the heart indicated prior to consideration for breeding required (£400- 500 conservative estimate)
•    DNA tests (Laboklin ) – Cord – PRA £ 49.99 / PKF £49.99 / Funcosidsis £49.99

Prep for mating ::

•    Swabs and antibiotic cover for mating = minimum £100.00
•    Blood progesterone to determine correct time to mate – approx £50.00 / test ( 2 – 3 test usually needed unless you own an experienced male to give clear indication of ovulation )
•    Stud fee average approx £400 (range £350 to £450). You may need to add Petrol / overnight hotel fees if stud is a long way from home. The best stud always is at the other end of the country or even overseas..............!!
•    Scan or blood test to confirm pregnancy approx £50.00

Whelping Supplies ::

•    Disposable whelping box with rails approx £ 60.00
•    Fleece bedding approx £ 40.00
•    Heat lamp £32.00
•    Dopram V revival drop for sluggish pups £11.75
•    Colostrums paste for pups £ 12.50
•    Obstetric gel (lubrication if you have to help get pups out) £3.04
•    Latex gloves - £6.00
•    Disinfectant eg trigene £15.95
•    Hibiscrub hand wash £4.50
•    Whelpi (milk for mum / feeding pups/ weaning pups etc ) £42.15
•    Puppy pen £57.00
•    Incubator hire (if you loose bitch) £110.00 – £130.00 for 3 weeks
•    Puppy feeders £10.00 each (minimum of 2 needed)
•    Feeding tubes (used for neonatal feeding if you loos e the bitch) £2.99 each
•    Advent newborn feeding bottles (top up or full replacement feeding for older pups) approx £5.00
•    Note: if your bitch has trouble whelping then she may need an out of hours c-section as they rarely stick to veterinary opening hours. The cost of this varies but can be well over £1,000 and is not covered by insurance.

Feed ::

•    Bitch in pregnancy / lactation (based on modest feed at 25.00 / 15kg) approx £80 - £100.00
•    Puppies (based on modest feed at 25.00 / 15kg) £80.00 - £100.00

Wormer ::

•    Bitch pre mating and to be wormed at at same time as pups –approx £ 38.00
•    Pups at 2/ 4/ 6 / 8 wks approx £ 16.45

Documentation ::

•    Docking/dew claws/ microchip/ certification – approx £35 - 45.00 / puppy
•    KC Registration £12.00 / puppy
•    KC pedigree £6.00 / puppy

Advertisements ::

•    KC sales list £ £20.00
•    The gundog Club £16.45 (2 weeks )
•    UK gundogs £25.00 (20 days)

Puppy packs ::

•    Wallets for docs – 50p
•    Photocopy/printing costs for info on feeding, socialisation, early puppy rearing/ training etc
•    Photo of parents
•    Minimum 2kg food / puppy approx £5.99 (based on mid range quality food only)

Personal labour costs ?????? Lifetime breeder support - PRICELESS !!!!!!!!!!!

Conservative total cost estimate based on 8 pups provided the whelping is straightforward and no additional veterinary care is required = £2323 - £2403.87

Breeding is not without risks, you may lose your bitch and all the puppies if there are problems but you would still be left with bills to pay. You need to think very carefully before embarking on breeding.

A great website that provides a good breakdown of costs is depending on breeder type is http://www.dogstuff.info/finances_index.html

Stop Dogs Suffering for Profit: Part 1 - Crisis in rescue

Stop Dogs Suffering for Profit: Part 2 – Costs of responsible breeding

Stop Dogs Suffering for Profit: Part 3 – Puppy Farms