Breeding is a very costly and difficult thing, IF you are a reputable, ethical breeder who cares deeply about your dogs and their offspring. There are many health tests (as represented in part below) involved for both parents, and some of the tests are repeated each time you do a breeding (Brucellosis, progesterone, semen collection and analysis, semen collection and shipping if applicable, and CERF eye exam, to name a few).
Breeding costs are not to be taken lightly nor to be 'skipped' to save money. Shortcuts are not ethical and they are not fair to the dogs, the puppies or the prospective new owners. Nobody without experience in the breed, or experience with other dogs in general; nobody who has not spent time having their dogs evaluated for quality (in the show ring); nobody who has not mentored with a reputable breeder to learn about breeding, and to watch and help with whelping and raising a litter first, should be taking this on. Mistakes or unforeseen events can cost the mother her life, or the lives of the puppies. No breeder should consider doing this lightly. These are thinking and feeling beings who deserve responsible and experienced care and placement into responsible lifetime homes.
Responsible breeders put their blood, sweat and tears into every litter. It is extremely difficult to place any of the puppies because reputable breeders have bonded with each one and love them as if they were their own children. We cry over the little one that is born dead or that takes a few breaths then dies, or fails to thrive in the first few weeks. We fight for them every minute. We get up around the clock every 2 hours to tube feed the weak ones, or if the mother does not have enough milk. We have done this many times. It's exhausting and we fight tooth and nail to give them every chance we possibly can give them, so they grow up to be happy healthy puppies and dogs. So we do not take their placement lightly.
The price of our puppies does not begin to accurately reflect everything that goes into them, from real expenses to actual work and hours of sleep lost.
Please bear that in mind and look at the costs below, before you decide that you cannot afford a well-bred and well-socialized puppy (or that you only want a 'pet' and therefore those costs aren't important) from a reputable breeder who will be there for you 24/7 for the rest of your new puppy's life. The prices below are a point of reference based upon previous bills, and reflect a wide range of possibilities.
Health tests of both parents: Prelim OFA Hips and Elbows plus OFA submission $336 x 2 = $672
Final OFA Hips and Elbows plus submission another ....................................................$336 x 2 = $672
Knees vet exam and OFA submission: .................................................................................. 100 x 2 = $200
Yearly CERF exams to confirm healthy eyes: .........................................................approx $30 x 2 = $60
Optigen Blood test to confirm PRA gene status................................................................$200 x 2 = $400
Brucellosis test for both....................................................................................................... $100 x 2 = $200
Progesterone testing: ............................................................................................................. $500 or more
Breeding costs for the male and female....Semen evaluation, Semen Collection, AI, approx $800 or more
Surgical breeding, if frozen semen......................................................................................$1500
Frozen Semen collection and transport (international shipping can make this higher)...$1500-$2000 and up
Chilled Semen collection and shipping.................................................................................$600 or more
Stud Fee (if you don't own the right male for your girl--and then there's either chilled of frozen shipping) $1500-$2000
Ultrasound for pregnancy at 30 days...................................................................................$120 approx
X-ray to confirm count and live pups 7 days before whelping .......................................$100 approx
C-section if there are complications .....................................................................................$1500
Dewclaws removal and first vet exam at 2-3 days for litter...........................................$200 avg
Prenatal food and weaning food weeks 4-8............................................................................$100 ish
Vaccinations and vet exam for litter $30 per pup (conservative).........$120 and up dep on litter size
Health Certificate for pups traveling home with new owners,........................................ $30-50 each
Microchips per pup..................................................................................................................$26-30 each pup
--------------------------
So one can see that variables include whether you are using your own male, if he is suitable, or whether you are using an outside male and paying a stud fee, plus chilled semen collection and shipping, or frozen semen collection and shipping, whether there is a surgical breeding (necessary with a frozen semen breeding) or not, and whether there are complications in the whelping of the litter, or not.
The cost of breeding and raising a litter, above, does not take into account the actual time and attention (and cleaning up after) that goes into properly socializing puppies as well. One can accomplish some of these things for less by taking shortcuts, or skipping tests, exams, etc. However shortcuts can create their own set of problems and don't always reflect dedication to quality.
Ethical and responsible breeders do this because of their love of the breed and the desire to produce an improvement on what they have, to move forward in the breed, and usually plan to keep a puppy from the litter if all things turn out. They do not do it just to make a profit. Because doing it right, as illustrated above......will not give you a profit.