There is no doubt about it…there is nothing more precious than a newborn. Infant puppies are especially adorable, undeniably so. Is there a way to surround yourself with irresistible puppies and profit financially? Well, not exactly.
Breeding animals is a very tedious, emotionally and financially taxing venture. Truly reputable breeders are only interested in breed preservation, NOT making a quick buck. After many visits to the veterinarian for examinations, ultrasounds, emergency cesarean section (if necessary), post-birth care for mother dog and puppies (including vaccinations, tail docking and dewclaw removal for certain breeds, and deworming), what once was thought of as a lucrative undertaking rapidly turns into debt.
Other economically exhausting aspects include but are not limited to: housing, feeding, and cleaning up after multiple dogs for at least 8 weeks (or more, most likely!!!); non-refundable American Kennel Club registration fees for purebred dogs; stud fees or the cost of artificial insemination, if opted; additional vet bills for puppies born with genetic defects or inheritable conditions; and additional vet bills for the mother as having puppies is very grueling physically.
There is also the cost of puppy formula, in the event that the "new parent" is not really cut out for motherhood.
If this happens, the puppies are still in need of a mother, and guess who the lucky candidate is for that job? Most likely the 10-year-old who wanted to experience "the miracle of life" will be nowhere in sight after discovering very small creatures make very big messes. Not to mention those countless hours of fun bottle-feeding 8 screaming puppies, night after night, every 3-4 hours. For the first 2-3 weeks, urination and defecation need to be stimulated with a warm wet cloth, another rewarding chore. There is also the task of socializing the puppies. This needs to be done whether the mother is involved or not. No one will want to buy a puppy that has not been properly socialized by humans.
Breeding dogs is not something to dive into without proper planning. Discuss with your veterinarian what his or her opinion is BEFORE becoming involved in such a large undertaking. Financial and emotional preparation is also key. What if you invest $2,000 into the care of the puppies and they don't survive? This is a sad reality. Puppies have a high morality rate of 10-30%. Do you really want your children to experience such loss? Do you want your beloved pet to go through a potentially life-threatening episode? Statically, 1 out of every 4 animals will end up in a shelter during his or her lifetime. Do you really want to add to the animal overpopulation epidemic? Please ask yourself these questions and do your homework before deciding to breed your dog.
