10/28/2026
A LITTLE REMINDER OF WHAT GOES INTO RESPONSIBLE BREEDING
I have shared the statement below for years, and I think it is important to bring it back to the surface from time to time. There is so much more to responsible breeding than putting two dogs together and selling the puppies. I also think there is a conversation worth having about something we see frequently here in Wyoming.
Living in Wyoming, we are surrounded by ranches, livestock, and working dogs. Even on Facebook, there are countless ranch pages where you will see a variety of ranch dogs, including Corgis and other herding breeds. Many ranchers breed their working dogs with a specific purpose in mind: preserving the grit, drive, instincts, and working ability that make these dogs valuable on the ranch. I absolutely understand the importance of preserving those traits for the next generation of working dogs.
However, there is another side to this that can be frustrating for those of us who dedicate ourselves to purposefully breeding Corgis.
I can speak to this personally through our own experience with Layne, our Auggie (Pembroke Welsh Corgi/Australian Shepherd mix). Layne is an amazing dog, and I love her dearly. We even used her to work our own cattle and pigs here on our ranch, so we have firsthand experience with her working ability and instincts.
However, her sire came from a ranching background, and his working history included taking on bulls head-on. That is a level of grit, intensity, and fearlessness that may be valued in certain working environments, but it also made us take a step back and really consider what we wanted to produce.
We absolutely recognize that Corgis are herding dogs. Herding instinct, confidence, intelligence, and a willingness to work are all important parts of their heritage. We aren’t trying to take those qualities away from the breed. There is, however, a difference between preserving appropriate herding instincts and intentionally producing dogs with the kind of intensity and toughness needed to confront large livestock.
That distinction matters to us.
Ultimately, we made the decision to discontinue Auggies in our breeding program. Not because Layne isn’t an incredible dog, but because we had to look beyond our personal love for her and consider the dogs we could potentially produce, the homes they would be placed in, and whether those homes would truly be prepared for the traits they might inherit.
The average family looking for a companion may not be looking for a dog with that level of drive, grit, or intensity. And it isn’t fair to those families, or to the dogs themselves, to produce puppies with traits that may not be suited to the lives they will be expected to live.
Responsible breeding sometimes means making the difficult decision not to continue a line, even when you love the dog standing right in front of you. It means looking beyond the next litter, the next sale, or even our own attachment to a particular dog. It means considering temperament, genetics, purpose, and the long-term well-being of the puppies we bring into the world.
This is one of the reasons we generally choose not to share our newest litters in ranch-focused groups. It isn’t because we don’t appreciate ranchers or the work their dogs do. It is because our breeding program has a different purpose, and we know that comparing puppies solely by price often means the bigger picture gets lost.
When ranch-bred puppies become available at a considerably lower price than puppies from a dedicated breeding program, buyers often compare the two as though they are the same product. Unfortunately, the lower price can become the deciding factor, and the value of responsible breeding gets overlooked.
The questions that often go unasked are just as important as the price.
What health and genetic testing have been completed? What do we know about the temperaments of both parents? What traits are being intentionally preserved? Is there a documented pedigree? What is known about the generations behind the dogs? Are the parents being evaluated against the breed standard? What kind of thought and planning went into the pairing?
These are the things that separate a purposeful breeding program from simply producing a litter.
A lower-priced puppy is not automatically an unhealthy or poorly bred dog, just as a higher-priced puppy is not automatically a quality dog. There are wonderful ranch dogs, and there are responsible ranchers who care deeply about their animals. This is not about putting one group down to elevate another. It is about understanding that the price of a puppy does not tell the whole story, and the absence of visible problems does not replace health testing, pedigree knowledge, and thoughtful breeding decisions.
When someone sees a responsibly bred puppy and thinks the price is simply too expensive, they may not see everything that went into producing that puppy. They don’t see the cost of acquiring quality breeding dogs, genetic and orthopedic testing, veterinary care, appropriate nutrition, pedigree research, education, and years of carefully selecting which dogs should contribute to future generations. They don’t see the sleepless nights, the emergency vet visits, the time spent raising and socializing puppies, or the responsibility we carry long after a puppy leaves our home.
They also don’t see the generations of work behind a breeding program, the traits we are working to preserve, or the decisions we make to ensure we are not simply producing puppies, but working toward the future of the breed.
I know this will always be part of the dog world, and I don’t expect everyone to agree with our approach. But I do hope more people take the time to understand what responsible breeding actually involves before deciding that a well-bred puppy is simply overpriced.
With that said, I wanted to share the statement below again. A fellow breeder originally shared it, and its message remains relevant. The figures may vary depending on the breed, location, and individual program, but the reality behind the time, expense, knowledge, and commitment involved in responsible breeding has not changed.
There is so much more to breeding than producing puppies.
Please take a moment to read this and remember that when you choose a responsible breeder, you are paying for far more than the puppy itself.
THE REALITY OF BREEDING
POTENTIAL OWNER: How much is the puppy?
BREEDER: $2,000.
POTENTIAL OWNER: What?? It’s way too expensive!!
BREEDER: What do you think would be a good price?
POTENTIAL OWNER: No more than $500. You breeders are so overpriced.
BREEDER: I am sorry you see it this way. Why don’t you try it yourself?
POTENTIAL OWNER: But I’ve never done it!
BREEDER: For FREE, I can teach you how to do it, and in addition, you will have the knowledge to do it again.
POTENTIAL OWNER: Perfect, thank you!
BREEDER: To start, you will need a female (average cost $3,000 and up). Also, a male (average $3,000 and up) or semen (average $1,000 and up). You will need to show them to their championship to demonstrate that they meet the breed standard (a minimum of $2,000 with travel and fees). You will need to do genetic and health testing on them, averaging about $750 per dog. Raise and provide daily care, feeding, and grooming for two years (at a minimum of $150 per month).
POTENTIAL OWNER: But I don’t have that much money…
BREEDER: For $500, you can raise a litter and then keep one of the puppies. Obviously, you will pay the cost of whelping and care.
POTENTIAL OWNER: I can do that.
BREEDER: OK, so I have a female due to whelp in two weeks. You will need to be available 24/7 around the clock for at least eight weeks to help with delivery and care.
POTENTIAL OWNER: Eight weeks?? It’s way too much time for me! I have to work.
BREEDER: You will also need the reproductive vet to do X-rays ($100–$300), possibly progesterone testing ($75–$250), and a C-section ($1,000–$5,000), if necessary, as well as initial veterinary care for the puppies until they are old enough to be placed.
You will need to have on hand a scale, thermometer, latex gloves, sanitizer, absorbent tissues, scissors, hemostats, heating pad, whelping box, blankets, cleaning supplies, appropriate food and supplements for the mother, formula, medications, and hand-feeding supplies in case of an emergency.
POTENTIAL OWNER: But I don’t have all these things!
BREEDER: For $1,000, you can buy them.
POTENTIAL OWNER: Ummm… You know, I think it might be better if I just buy a puppy.
BREEDER: Wise decision.
For us breeders, there are no vacations or holidays. While you go to visit family and friends, we are home at our dogs’ sides, caring for them. It is a no-breaks commitment.
THIS IS THE REALITY.
When you choose a professional, you don’t only pay for the puppy. You also pay for the tools, knowledge, experience, love, time, sacrifices, and commitment that go into producing it.
Responsible breeding isn’t simply about having puppies available for sale. It is about the decisions made before a breeding ever takes place, the care provided throughout a dog’s life, and the responsibility we accept for the generations we help bring into this world.
