I get this question a lot and the following article does a great job of explaining the costs associated with a breeding.

http://prtproducts.com/the-price-of-a-labrador-puppy-you-get-what-you-pay-for/

883 isnt too bad.

Good article. Thanks for posting. I would also add that some end up in unplanned caesarian which is about $3000. A responsible breeder is willing to pay this if necessary for the health of the dam and her pups.

Precisely, not to mention the amount of hours spent pouring over pedigrees and prospective matches and best possibilities at stud which aren't always right around the corner.

Good article though....

I look at it as, what is the pup worth to me.
I would never ask what a breeder made, or lost off of any given litter.
I'm not the IRS, so it is none of my business.

Why are pups so expensive? Cause they're worth it!

I wouldn't do business with anyone who asked that question. They don't qualify to own a high powered pedigree pup. Nuff said....

High prices are the best way to keep high caliber puppies out of the hands of those who don't have a clue.... These are the same people who don't realize that the price paid for a puppy will actually be the smallest portion of their overall investment.

Amen, Brother!

'Cause money can buy happiness!

duckboogieman beat me to it! I'm always amazed at people that are making the decision on a pup on a price difference of $200. You'll eat that up in dog food in no time. Not to mention vet visits! Get the pup you want and the one you'll be happy with

I think you missed the only expense I thought of. Vet bills & dog food are a non factor in the equation.

disagree. There are alot of people with a lot of money that dont have a clue, and plenty prospective great owners who just cant afford one.

Disagree. Don't take it out of context. He is making a point about the cost for training a puppy.

I have seen a bunch of pup that are not worth 100 dollars with a 700 dollar price tag.

Best dog I've ever had didn't cost me a dime. High prices, low prices it just all depends on what you can make of your dog. I've paid good money for a pup that turned out to be poop rotten. Hard headed as all can be. I look at it a little different, but that's just me. My next pup is gonna be a started dog cause I don't have the time I used to in order to train again.

In horse back trial dogs it's the Stud fee. Pups normally sell for the stud fee cost. Good example is this years Nat. Champion getting $1500 for a stud fee. Pups are being sold for $1500, some charging $1800 for females. And there are a lot of folks with more money than good sense that are willing to pay that. A lot of money for a pup that may or may not pan out.

Couldn't agree more. Thanks for posting!

I've had three HOF bred dogs. I had a littermate to Elhew Swami. I went in on the stud fees for her. My first pup was by Allegheny Sport who had the most finds ever in the at the big dance. I've never paid more than $500 for any of them. No one ever complained.

If you can find a $500 pup out of a National Champion or a HOF gyp or stud "today" get me a couple too. And I'm not talking about a backyard breeder with an unproven mother.

I'm not sure if Snake was a HOF dog. Hanna was nominated just based on her production. But this group of guys got together with $500 each. For this breeding;

This is Levi;

Registered Nbr: 1473006
Owner: THOMAS MITCHELL
Registered Name: TEXAKAN ELHEW LEVI
Callname: LEVI
Breed: English Pointer
Region: GCT
Sex: F
Date Whelped: N\A
Sire: CH ELHEW SNAKEFOOT
Dam: HANNA'S ELHEW LOU

It was a great litter. Bryce wanted to repeat the breeding. I gave him my $500 but Snakefoot had gone sterile so he bred to Ehhew Jefferson. I drove up to pick up my pup. I liked Swami the best but she had a broken foot, so I went home with my second choice. She got run over by a pickup.

I still cry.

Today.

I should have put a disclaimer on my post. I'm a total has been on today's bloodlines and market.

I charge a lot for my dogs just because I want to prohibit anyone NOT serious about investing in their dog from having one of my pups. I've been raising working dogs for 25 years, hunting labs for 10 years now. If I don't know you, I'm at least going to make it harder for you to buy what I believe to be a great gun dog so that I at least know you have some skin in the game. I have also been known to sell a dog for much less to a trainer or outfitter who I know will take excellent care of the dog and make it produce. I love to watch the dogs work and I want to be a full time trainer/breeder/outfitter at some point, so it is VERY important to me to know that my dogs are going to someone who will have a high likelihood of working them and showing them off to others. Even at full price, I don't make money selling pups. My expenses still exceed my income at this point (that's why I'm not doing it full time yet!). You can buy a $500 Labrador just about anywhere these days, but it's not likely to have OFA, CERF, EIC, or CNM clearances and a healthy pedigree. I can't tell you how many buyers I've had that told me they paid $500+ for a dog, worked them, then found out they had a physical ailment that crippled or at least hindered an otherwise awesome dog. How much did that cost them? You do get what you pay for.