The Cost of a Puppy One of the most common questions when folks inquire about a dog is...........................
"How much are your puppies". Often followed by "I was not expecting to spend quite that much" and "I don't care if the puppy is registered".
The "registration" part of raising a litter is the least of my expenses. I am a member in good standing with the CKC and the Canadian Kennel Club REQUIRES that I register ALL my puppies.
We strive to make every litter better than the last one. Top quality in conformation (what the dog looks like) and temperament is what it is all about for us. Generations of healthy, happy puppies speaks for itself.The price of a puppy depends on if you are buying a "show or companion (non-breeding)" puppy.
Companion puppies sold on a spay/neuter contract usually average around.................. $1500.00 (plus PST) in price.
Puppies sold for breeding, exhibiting or performance can be as much as $2000.00 - $3000.00
Quality, in every species, comes with a higher price.What Do You Get For Your Money?
At least a five generation pedigree with several titled Champions (sporting, working, or Conformation titles) in the pedigree
Italian Greyhounds...........ALL puppies registered with Canadian Kennel Club
Italian Greyhounds.........Breeding stock have been OFA Patella's and Cardiac certified normal.
Italian Greyhounds............Breeding stock are thyroid tested for abnormalities.
Italian Greyhounds...........Breeding stocks eyes have been CERFed annually and are free of genetic abnormalities.
Italian Greyhounds............Health certificate, vaccinations appropriate for the puppies age and deworming.
There is MORE........................
A written guarantee that your dog is free from inheritable diseases and conditions, with replacement or refund terms, should something happen.
A place to bring you dog back if you can not keep him or her any longer (applies at ANY age)
Any help you need to help you become a better dog owner. Every breed has it's idiosyncrasies, and everybody needs help sometimes.
Care and grooming information.
Puppies are crate and paper trained.
A booklet on breed information, house training tips, feeding info, training, etc.
We provide a boarding service to puppies of our breeding at a minimal cost.
All dogs are fed top quality food. Presently we use FROMM Four Star at a cost of over $70.00 per bag!
Sample of the currently fed food, generally enough for the first few days, or more.
A good, even temperament, well matched to the family/home s/he is being placed into.
A healthy, well socialized dog who will adjust easily.
A mentor if you are planning to show, work, or breed your new dog.
The benefit of almost thirty years of my knowledge and experience with dogs.
We are here for you and your dog 24/7.
If you really want a healthy, happy, purebred dog, the price is well worth it.
Why Are Breeders So Nosy?
Good breeders ask a million and often personal questions.
Be prepared to answer questions about the people who live with you, what hours you work, what kind of visitors you get, what your yard layout is like, what you are willing to spend, etc. Be prepared for a several page questionnaire. A good breeder who cares (and YES, you do want one like this!) will want to ensure that his or her puppy is going to the best home. Be prepared for nosiness and welcome it!If you call a breeder, and he/she does not ask you questions, find another.
By ensuring you have located a good breeder who cares more about her dogs than making a dollar, you also ensure that your dog is a fine specimen of his breed, has excellent bloodlines and is as free of genetic complaints and hereditary diseases as the modern world can make him. It is worth the extra time and money, as you'll see in the future too. A well bred dog will be healthier and happier than a poorly bred dog. And in the long run, so will you.
Pet Stores vs The Reputable Breeder
We've all seen them, noses pressed to the glass, eyes pleading for somebody to take them home. So cute and cuddly that many a rational person has made the impulsive decision to bring one home, several hundred dollars later. And inevitably, thousands of dollars in veterinary bills later, the poor individual finally realizes that maybe buying that puppy wasn't such a good idea.
Right idea, wrong place, unfortunately.
Every single puppy sold from a pet store came from a puppy mill, or a backyard breeder. How can this be true? Simply because there is not one, single responsible breeder out there who would allow one of his or her dogs to be marketed out like regular merchandise to whomever can lay down the cash.
What Defines a Responsible Breeder
A responsible breeder must know where their puppies are going.
A responsible breeder will interrogate the potential buyer about their home, family, living arrangements, other people that share their house, their past, and their future. Police interrogations have nothing on a breeder trying to find the best possible home for his or her dogs. A responsible breeder will sell with a contract.What kind of contract, you ask?
When you buy from a responsible breeder you will be signing a binding contract stating that if something (anything) happens, to this dog the breeder is the first to be told. This may seem a little extreme, but there is a very legitimate reason behind this. If your new dog develops hip dysplasia four or five years down the road, she'll know to pull the parents from the breeding line.
You sign that if something happens to you, and you can no longer care for your dog, she will be notified, so she may take the dog back into her care or find it a new home.
You agree to spay or neuter your new pet to help prevent unwanted litters if your dog was bought as a companion.
You agree to abide by any other terms and conditions set forth in the contract. If that means getting hips certified at age two, or eyes certified, you do so.
As daunting as this is, if you think this over, you will realize that she has done this to protect the dogs. And most people have no trouble signing these contracts with a clear conscience.
A responsible breeder will take back into her care, any dog at any time that has been bred from her breeding lines. And often even dogs that were not.
A responsible breeder will do her very best to make sure that none of her dogs ever end up in a shelter.
A responsible breeder can guarantee your new dog's freedom from genetic diseases and defects, knowing that she has done the very best to breed best possible parent to the best possible parent and both were free from genetic problems.Can ANY pet store say the same thing?