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Why do QUALITY purebred puppies cost so much???

That is a valid question, especially for families with tight budgets who are contemplating the addition of a purebred dog to the family.

First off, when it comes to dogs, you must throw out the old adage: "You get what you pay for;" because that is not always true when it comes to purebred dogs. Example: If you look at the "purebred" dogs available at a typical petstore you will see prices ranging anywhere from $500-$1000 and up. In our area, petstore (PUPPYMILL!!) Bostons are priced right at $1000; which, by the way, is about the price of a very good quality, show-prospect male puppy! Does that mean you are getting $1000 worth of quality dog? No!! Most likely it means you are getting a puppy of very questionable pedigree, compromised health, with no early handling by loving people, and little or no veterinary care. These puppies have spent their first weeks of life in wire cages. Most will end up with many medical and behavioral problems as a result of such inhumane treatment. Often, petstore puppies are taken from their mothers before they are even six weeks old, some much earlier, and trucked across the country. Even though it is illegal to ship puppies under eight weeks old, many, many ex-petstore employees report puppies coming into the stores that don't even have teeth yet...which means they are under four-five weeks old!! Be aware: Puppies treated this way do not grow into strong, well-adapted family companions! In truth, these dogs comprise the majority of the purebreds found in animal shelters and rescue groups. Please steer clear of petshop puppies! "Saving" one from a petshop simply clears the cage for another, and sends the message to puppymill breeders that there is a demand for their "goods." IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT WHERE PETSTORE PUPPIES COME FROM, SIMPLY DO A WEBSEARCH ON "PUPPYMILLS." SADLY, YOU WILL LEARN MORE THAN YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW!

"Backyard breeders" typically are people who have decided that breeding dogs is easy money...and they are right...if one breeds dogs the way they do, with no regard for breed improvement, genetics, or proper care! Backyard breeders sell their puppies for much less than petstores and reputable breeders. This is because, for the most part, they are breeding dogs that are substandard when compared to the AKC breed standard for that breed. Usually, a backyard breeder is breeding solely for profit, with no attempt to improve his/her chosen breed. The majority of these breeders happily mate their bitches over and over again, with no recuperation period between litters. Also, most backyard breeders do not bother to have their dogs tested to rule out hereditary or contagious diseases and disorders. Yes, their dogs are cheaper, but buying one is a bit like gambling: You just cannot be certain what you're going to end-up with. In addition, the majority of backyard breeders are quick to distance themselves from the puppies they sell. If one of their sold pups develops any sort of problem, the new owner is typically "left hanging," with phone calls ignored, and a pile of veterinary bills to pay.

Next, you have the serious breeders or "fanciers" of a given breed. These people love their chosen breed!! Their breeding females are only bred a limited number of times, and typically (though not always) are given a year to rest between litters. This type of breeder is breeding dogs to improve upon a specific bloodline; usually because they want new dogs for their personal use (conformation showing, obedience work, agility work, tracking, lure coursing, field trials, therapy work, etc.). These breeders truly care about their dogs and the puppies they produce, and typically go to great lengths to ensure that their dogs are sound, healthy, beautiful examples of their breed...and that each dog produced closely conforms to the written AKC breed standard. Fanciers sell dogs/puppies for several reasons: 1. Because a pup isn't "show quality;" which does not mean a pup is "defective!" It can simply mean that a puppy has incorrect markings, ears that aren't placed high or low enough, a tail that is too long, or teeth that aren't perfectly aligned. 2. To help finance the show careers of the breeder's "top" dogs. 3. To make room for new dogs that may better improve the breeder's bloodline. 4. To place retired show or breeding dogs into family homes where they can be the one and only "star!"

When a true fancier decides to breed a litter of puppies, it is a serious undertaking! Many, many times a fancier is lucky to break even; forget making a profit! At best, a fancier hopes to produce a suitable puppy for his/her own purposes, instead of having to go searching for one to buy.

Here is what it takes for a reputable breeder to breed a typical female Boston Terrier:

Inital purchase price of bitch= $1200 - $2500 and up

Registration & Pedigree= $32

Microchipping (vet + chip registration)= $75

CERF (vet + CERF fees)= $28- $40 per dog per year

OFA (vet + OFA fees)= $50 - $200 every few years

BAER (neurologist + OFA submission fees)= $58 - $125 per dog-one time only

Pre-breeding exam + blood tests= $40 - $100

Stud fee= $350 - $700 or more

Traveling to the stud= Airline $550 and up

Vitamins= $25

Exam and X-ray= $80 - $175

FUNDS SPENT BEFORE A LITTER IS EVEN BORN = $900 - $5,000+ !!! And the breeding does not guarantee that a bitch get's pregnant.

Now, it's time for the litter to be born!

Caeserean section= $550 - $800 or more!

AKC Litter registration= $25 + $2 per puppy

UKC Litter registraion= $28 per dog

If "Dual registered"=$53 per dog

Vet exams, dew claw removal, vaccinations, and de-worming= $120 - $350

Register each puppy + pedigree= $32 per puppy

FUNDS SPENT ONCE PUPPIES ARE BORN= $500 - $1,351+!!

TOTAL SPENT= $1,400 - $5,400+

If a litter has 4 puppies and the breeder decides to keep 1 for him/herself, that leaves 3 puppies to sell; let's say for $1000 each. That brings the breeder a mere $2,600 after having spent up to (or more than!) $5,000.

You can see there is a possible profit here of around $1,000. Nothing is ever certain; however, and Boston Terriers often have only 1, 2 or 3 puppies. They also have a somewhat higher neo-natal mortality rate than other popular breeds. So, depending on the actual costs and number of puppies that survive, a good breeder can easily experience a net loss of $3,000 or more... and if there are no surviving puppies, it is a huge financial catastrophe for the reputable breeder. Worse than the actual monetary loss, it can cause a whole breeding program to screech to a sudden halt, with no puppies with which to carry out much anticipated showing and/or breeding program.

NOTE * Please keep in mind that I didn't figure in all the "regular" costs (annual vet visits, food, toys, etc.) of owning a dog! I only added the costs related to obtaining and breeding one female Boston Terrier. If a fancier is showing, training, or trialing a dog, you can add up to $40 per show, $140 per training class, and $70 per trial to that tally! Plus, fees paid to handlers and trainers, all the equipment and travel costs associated with each activity, and time away from home/work. This doesn't figure in the heartbreak of loosing any puppys. This is just the financial burden of doing a responsible breeding.

Being serious about raising and breeding QUALITY dogs is a huge financial undertaking. As you are searching for a breeder from whom to purchase a puppy, please keep these numbers in mind. Remember that a good breeder isn't necessarily trying to "make out big" by selling puppies at a high price...Usually, he is only trying to recoup a small portion of the money he has already spent in the effort to obtain a litter that he can be proud to put his kennel name on!

If you are presently looking to buy a puppy, please think carefully about how much you can comfortably spend for a dog; it may be that saving for a few months will enable you to purchase a better quality dog. Consider carefully the kind of dog you want to share your life with for the next decade or longer. If you want a better assurance that your dog will live a long, healthy life, don't scrimp now!

Click here to visit the BOSTON TERRIER CLUB OF AMERICA and see the Boston Terrier breed standard. The BTCA website is a great resource for anyone with an interest (or love for!) in Boston Terriers. Click here to visit the AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB website and here to visit the

website for the UNITED KENNEL CLUB.