Why Do Puppies Cost So Much?
The initial exchange between a potential buyer and a breeder some times goes like this:
Online Buyer: “Awe, the puppies are so cute! How much are they?”
Seller: “$1800 plus 6% MD state tax =$1908. Includes health guarantee, microchip, AKC litter registry, 1st vaccinations, Early Neurologic Stimulation (ENS), Puppy Culture training and a puppy pack: includes a blanket that smells like his mom & siblings, leash, collar, poo bag holder, weeks worth of Purina Pro puppy food, toys, and more.”
Online Buyer Response: <SOUND OF CRICKETS CHIRPING>
With a breeder’s first litter, the expenses accumulated will far exceed the money received from the sale of the puppies. There’s the cost of educational courses and reference books, a whelping box, washable pads, disposable gloves, cleaning supplies, emergency medical supplies, feeding supplies, including baby bottles, goat’s milk, puppy formula, mother’s pudding for supporting mother’s milk supply, fresh frozen plasma (FFP) for fading puppies, veterinarian fees for health checks, genetic testing, AKC litter registration fees, local jurisdiction fees, larger pens as the puppies grow, puppy food, puppy food, puppy food, and more puppy food to give new parents a starter supply.
We don’t have sires on site with our breeding females, and that requires an agreement with the stud owner for either a fee, or the pick of the litter. A caring breeder may put together a package of supplies, chews, toys, etc. to go home with the pup. With subsequent litters, there is a cost saving with reusable items, like the whelping box and pen, but a lot of materials are one time use.
Oh, did we forget to account for the breeder’s time? From mating through whelping it is a part time job. Once the puppies are born, it ranges from a full time job to a 24/7 commitment. Cleaning up after the puppies, replacing pee pads, washing pee pads, washing rugs when they miss the pee pads, washing surfaces, washing puppies, walking puppies, training puppies, playing with puppies, exposing puppies to new surroundings and different kinds of people and dogs, desensitizing puppies to the sound of thunder, trucks, crying babies, etc.
In addition to caring for the mom and the puppies, there’s the business end of breeding; Marketing, social media, buyers contracts, new parent applications, tax filing, photography, and responding to potential buyers questions are juggled while caring for the pups.
The expenses add up quickly. The price of the puppies is capped by local market more than by a tally of expenses. Profit margins are slim, if there is a profit at all. For a “small batch breeder” like us, financial gain may not even be the goal. In our particular case, we’re not breeding for profit. This is definitely not a big money making venture. We are breeding to educate people about tail docking and improving the breed by eliminating debilitating and devastating diseases. We want to share the joy that a corgi can bring to your life, with a healthy, happy, well adjusted puppy as an addition to your home. You can trust that goal is more important than making money to Pembroke Tails and your new family addition will be worth every penny.