02/20/2026
How much is that doggie in the window?
When looking to add a new puppy to your family one of your first questions is probably… How much? (Which is fair! Just make sure it’s not the first & only question you text to a breeder, trust me)
I know puppy prices might seem to be going up.. because the cost of everything else has also gone up. But that makes it even more important to know what all goes into a breeder choosing their price point, let’s learn about it!
The expenses start long before a breeding ever takes place..
• Health testing: hips, elbows, eyes, genetic panels (and more depending on your breeds CHIC requirements)
• Showing and titling
• Entry fees, travel, hotels, grooming, and conditioning for said showing and titling.
• Training classes
Then comes the breeding itself:
• Progesterone testing (anywhere from 3 to way more than 3 tests)
• Brucellosis testing
• Stud fee
• Travel to the stud dog (why’s the nicest one always across the country?!)
• Collection and shipping fees
• AI or surgical procedures when needed
And unfortunately none of that guarantees pregnancy.
If pregnancy is confirmed, more expenses follow:
• Ultrasound
• X-rays
• Supplements
• Upgraded nutrition
• Routine vet monitoring
• An emergency fund in case a C-section or other emergency care becomes necessary
And then once the puppies are born, the investment still continues:
• Whelping supplies and setup
• Fresh linens, disinfectants, scales
• 24/7 monitoring
• Deworming protocols
• Vaccines
• Microchips
• Veterinary exams
• AKC registration
• ASCA litter registration
• Socialization and structured enrichment
• Eight weeks of constant care (at what .25 cents an hour lol)
And all that assumes everything goes mostly smoothly.
Yes, if a litter goes well, a breeder may “turn a profit” in that moment (if we don’t think about the money that was already spent to get to that point). But that money then goes right back into the dogs. It buys the next pallet of food or funds the next round of health testing. It covers entry fees and travel for the next up and coming dog being shown or it goes right into the next planned breeding. Nobody doing it right is out here making money.
I have had people say showing is “a hobby” and shouldn’t factor into puppy pricing. But in the same breath, we question breeders who don’t show and prove their stock?? (Make it make sense)
And here’s the frustrating part
Most BYBers are charging the same IF NOT MORE than ethical breeders yet cutting so many corners it’s 80% profit? And you know how they’re getting people to pay it… the advertising we talked about in my last post. They’re really good at that.
So when you ask “How much?” the better question might be:
What am I actually paying for?
