05/28/2025
I wish I could say I wrote this, but the friend that did nailed it PERFECTLY!
A Thought on the True Cost of a Well-Bred Puppy
It’s easy to find inexpensive puppies, but those low prices often reflect the minimal time, care, and investment that went into raising them. When little is spent on things like health testing, high-quality nutrition, proper socialization, or even the breeder’s time (which is rarely accounted for), every dollar made is considered profit. The overhead is low, and the effort, frankly, is minimal.
But ethical, responsible breeding is a very different path.
When you’re doing it right, it starts long before a litter is ever born. It begins with carefully selecting and raising healthy parent dogs, sometimes over the course of several years. We invest in extensive health testing to ensure we’re bringing only the healthiest puppies into the world. We wait (sometimes for months or even years) for just the right timing to pair dogs who complement each other in health, temperament, and structure.
When a breeding finally takes place, our commitment deepens. The mother dog needs a calm, clean, supportive environment throughout pregnancy and beyond. Once the puppies arrive, we’re hands-on around the clock, supporting their physical, mental, and emotional development for at least 8 weeks (and often longer). During this time, life doesn’t pause. Our families, other animals, and daily responsibilities still need us, too. It’s a full-time commitment (one we gladly embrace) but it is not without sacrifice.
Breeding the right way is a lot like parenting: deeply fulfilling, but often under appreciated. And unfortunately, many don’t see the difference between a thoughtfully raised puppy and one produced with little more than profit in mind. It can feel disheartening to be compared to breeders who cut corners or operate in ways we never would.
Good breeders aren’t trying to take advantage of anyone. We’re simply asking to be compensated fairly for the tremendous amount of time, care, and expertise we pour into each puppy. Shopping by price alone may seem practical (and I understand, we all have budgets), but please consider the full picture. Ask yourself what values matter most to you and how those values show up in the way a puppy is bred and raised.
It’s easy to ask little when little was given. But when a breeder pours everything into raising healthy, confident, well-started puppies, it’s not unreasonable to expect a little more in return.
Thank you for considering not just the cost, but the care behind the cost.
