My Tripod Page

This list includes VERY conservative figures. Your actual cost may be slightly higher or lower. These are average figures. This is intended to be educational. Many people just do not realize the cost and tremendous dedication of time it takes to breed a litter of toy puppies. Nobody should enter breeding thinking it will be fun and easy. Noone should attempt to breed a dog without first having full knowledge of the costs and the many, many things that can go wrong. If you do not believe that you are not risking your dog's life EVERY time you breed her, then take the link to Kissami Pomeranians listed below and see just a few of the many many things that can go wrong.

So you want to purchase a female poodle and breed her? OK this is approximately what that will cost you to do so.

Cost of purchasing a breeding quality (NOT the same as show quality) female from decent bloodlines. $1,000 minimum.

Cost of registering, microchipping and puppy vaccinations for your breeding female. $100 approx.

Minimum testing that needs to be done before breeding including
general overall health exam $25
fecal test $10
thryoid test $80
Optigen & eye exam by registered veterinarian opthamologist $340
brucellosis test $50

OK so you are ready to breed her. You search long and hard for a male with the qualities and attributes that will compliment your female. We will assume that the male is easily within driving distance and your breeding does NOT require shipping costs, motel stays or any other expenses.
Average stud fee $300 (or cost of upkeeping your own male, which is NOT recommended)

Cost of ultrasound to determine pregnancy and check for possible problems with fetuses $80

Extra food and supplements for mother during pregnancy and lactation (remember a nursing female will eat 2-3 times the normal amount of food) $50 minimum

Puppies are coming !!
Now remember that toy breed females very often need c-sections due to the mother's small size. Let's assume that this is an UNcomplicated c-section and NOT on a holiday or after hours this will cost you anywhere from $ 300 to $1000 depending on where you live etc.. Yikes huh??

AKC Litter application for average toy size litter of 2 puppies. $29

6 weeks old- first checkup and vaccination $ 40
fecal test and worming $ 25
8-9 weeks old- second vaccination and starting heartworm preventative $ 40

Of course you will also need to purchase a puppy playpen to contain the little ones. Central Metal 3 ft x 3 ft playpens are excellent for this. Cost $300 including shipping.

As you can see if you add these figures up, the cost of producing an average toy litter of 2 puppies can run around $2500,which is much more than purchasing a nice pet puppy from an experienced breeder. That is not including the much needed $1,000 c-section. Remember this is assuming that absolutely NOTHING goes wrong and both puppies are completely healthy. Remember this also does not consider things such as a breeders cost of a kennel building, heat and air condition, cost of grooming equipment, licensing fees, dna testing fees etc....

As far as your time and work are concerned... well you must just consider that a 24 hr a day, 365 day a year labor of love!! For that is what breeding must be about, a labor of LOVE and desire to produce a gorgeous healthy fabulous puppy. Never breed thinking it will be a fast easy buck or that it will just be fun. The risks involved are too steep to not be taken seriously. Your female can die in labor, puppies can die or be born stillborn. Sometimes the mothers have no milk or the milk goes bad. Mothers can sometimes reject the puppies. Females can die after breeding from a common complication called pyometra. Don't think it can't happen to you!! Think more than twice before breeding and make sure your reasons are the right ones!!