How much would it cost to raise a litter of golden retriever puppies?

Question

So I am going to breed my dogs later on in the future going to do my studding and everything. And before I breed them I am going to find owners that would like to buy the puppies. Now, I have a pedigree and ACK for breeding, I own the male and female, both lightish. So how much would it cost pregnancy and litter etc, And can I leave the puppies alone when they are old with their moms or not. No rude comments please, I just want to figure it out, AND I will not breed them if I can't find owners. thanks! And how much could I sell for if they have normal hip elbow etc?

Answer 1

Reputable breeders start out with someone mentoring them.  Find a good Golden breeder who is willing to work with you and teach you what you need to know.  It is a long, educational process and you need an experienced breeder to get you on the right path.

They will help you learn how to breed in order to promote the breed standard and eliminate any known health issues.  You should also realize that this is an expensive business and you are not going to "get rich" breeding dogs.  So if money is an issue, you might want to reconsider.

Anyone who truly loves the breed is only interested in one thing - the preservation and health of the breed.  It can be very rewarding, but is very involved and time-consuming.  Take your time and find you a good mentor.  You need much more information than we can provide in this forum.  Good luck.

Answer 2

http://www.omalmalamutes.com/omal/litter...

That page outlines the basic cost of one litter of puppies. You'll also be spending hundreds, maybe thousands on showing costs, including entry fees, travel costs, on and on...

Remember, reputable breeders rarely turn any profit. Best case scenario, they break even. And yes, 3 of our dogs are children of our oldest girl, Hope, and they're fine with her.

If you do everything a reputable breeder is meant to do, including only breeding to preserve the breed standard and improve the breed, you should sell the puppies for 800-1000 each, or enough to cover litter costs. If you're lucky, you'll break even. If you lose money, that's normal. Good breeders don't breed for the money; we do it to preserve our chosen breed.

Answer 3

First off I suggest you go to some dog shows and maybe find a Golden Retriever breeder who would be willing to mentor you. They have a wealth of knowledge that they can pass on to you! Also make sure to wait until your dogs are at least 2-3 years old.

Now onto the question of price....a lot lol! You will need to first get your 2 dogs checked for any chronic illness like Hip Dysplasia and PRA. Then once your female gets pregnant you must get an ultrasound done so you know exactly how many puppies you're looking at so you can find the appropriate number of homes. You will need to record everything during her pregnancy and be ready when the puppies come to bring her to the vet if you need a c-section or if a puppy gets stuck. Right now you're looking at upwards of 5000 dollars and you haven't even really done anything for the puppies yet. After that it's all food, vet care, shots, microchipping and registering!

Way to do your research first though. Do it responsibly and I wish you the best of luck!