Why Are the Prices So High?

The price of QUALITY purebred dogs is a bit high these days. Many people want to know why.

For the reputable breeders who care about the breed they are breeding and are working hard to provide quality dogs, both physically and mentally, that will be an asset to the breed, there is a LOT that the breeder puts into their program before a puppy is even born!! The puppy costs themselves are minimal, unless a c-section was needed (add $600 to $1500 for that).

Showing to Strive for Quality

I believe showing dogs is important for the very reason the shows were invented in the first place: to find the best possible specimens for breeding. I show my dogs to make sure I know what the top dogs are, what their qualities are, and to strive to meet or exceed those standards. There are fads that come and go in the show ring and I am not talking about that, and I am very against breeding to dogs that win ONLY because they win. A good breeding program still must have the knowledge of correct canine structure and locomotion (movement), what correct "type" is for that breed, a thorough understanding of the breed standard for that breed, etc. However, I feel it is very hard to breed outstanding dogs of a certain breed without measuring your dogs against others -- it is simply too easy to become isolated and out of touch with what is important for that breed.

But I Only Want Pet Quality

Pet quality puppies from "show lines" are usually a better cut above ones who aren't simply because they are bred with the goal in mind of creating the highest quality possible. Breeders who only breed "for pets" have their goals set much lower.

Costs of a Good Breeding Program

Here are some of the things that go into creating and maintaining a breeding program of lovely dogs that are great representatives of their breed, are healthy and have good temperaments:

	Go to shows, meet breeders, show commitment to breed (join clubs, attend meetings, read books and articles) COST: $200 to $500 per year plus many days and hours!
	Purchase show quality dog to show (NOTE: the above step must be done first or it is very hard to acquire a show dog of any worth!!) COST: $1500 to $2500
	Maintain dog (food, vet bills, de-worming, etc.). COST: about $500 per year per dog
	Show dog to Championship to prove its worthiness and value to the breed. COST: on the conservative side, about $1800 (this is ridiculously conservative as only gas money, entry fees and grooming products were included and not lodging!)
	Assuming success thus far, purchase another show dog of opposite sex whose pedigree and physical characteristics (genotype and phenotype) will compliment your first one. If not successful, start over anyway! COST: add up totals above once if first one worked out, twice if not.
	When above has been repeated (and paid out) enough to have acquired and shown two lovely dogs, one male and one female, who compliment each other, you can now prepare to breed them by doing the necessary genetic screening tests for that breed. In Papillons that's eyes, knees, and heart. Permanent identification is required previous to the tests. So for Microchip, CERF, Patella and Cardiology screening and certification PER dog, COST: currently about $147.50 per dog if you save money at screening clinics.
	IF ANY DOG DOESN'T PASS ALL THE TESTS, STOP, and START ALL OVER!!!
	If your male and female pass the genetic screening to make sure no awful stuff will be passed to the puppies, perform a Brucellosis test on at least the female. COST: $60
	If no one has scary diseases, you may breed them. Now we have Ultrasound and Xray exams for the hopefully pregnant female. COST: $120 to $300
	IF YOU CANNOT GET FEMALE PREGNANT, STOP, and START ALL OVER with new female, male, or BOTH!!
	If you are Blessed with a litter of 2 to 4 puppies (average for Papillons), you will now need to feed them when they start eating mama's food, give them at least 3 sets of shots and de-worm them. You also may need dewclaws removed. COST: $30 or so as a low estimate PER puppy.
	HeartDreams puppies also get microchipped, spayed or neutered, and their rabies shots. COST: $275 PER PUPPY
	IF A C-SECTION WAS NEEDED, add $600 to $1500 to litter cost.

TOTALS

WITHOUT a C-section, a conservative estimate assuming only 2 show dogs were purchased and turned out (HIGHLY UNLIKELY), a litter of 3 puppies costs the breeder: $8,340.00 (with spay/neuter, microchip and Rabies).

THIS IS $2,780 PER PUPPY!!

To be quite honest, HeartDreams and most breeders have actually paid a LOT more (most of us would much rather NOT look at the actual figures!). The cost of the hotels or RV were not added to the show costs, several dogs purchased did not turn out good enough quality to breed, etc.

And so now you know, Why the Prices Are So High :-).