I specifically state on my website that breeding is a hobby for me and not a business.... I state that in a couple of different places. It might appear to look like I make money at it, but as you all know when all of the expenses are added up more often than not, I come out in the red. I just built a small kennel building. I have 4 runs going off the one side of it. It's not finished yet and I already have between $25,000 and $30,000 into it. I recently purchased a 14 month old "Started" Springer from a breeder in Maine.... $3,200 for the dog, another $400 to have her shipped out to me, etc. My dogs are top of the line...... The finest I can find. I haven't paid less than $1,000 for a dog in years. Add in dog food, vet bills, travel expenses, training equipment, kennel maintenance, etc., etc., etc., and it doesn't take long to realize that there is little, if any, money to be made breeding dogs. I have 2 to 4 litters each year......There is no way I can cover my costs with the small number of pups I place. The costs does not take into consideration the time I invest.... Keeping kennels clean, dogs worked, etc. takes up a minimum of 2 hours a day for me....usually more. Try keeping kennel runs free of snow and ice when it's -40 F. with the wind blowing 40 mph as it often does here in Montana!! I do it because I love dogs and I enjoy meeting people. I've made countless friends over the years through my dogs... That's what it's all about........

Brilliant post

__________________
Fairy smiling, smokes cheroot ...
Simply doesn't give a hoot.

Why do people breed? Other than to improve the breed? I'm honestly interested. Raising a litter looks like seriously hard work. Every time I've visited a litter, it looks quite nightmarish! It's always very noisy, mad, demanding. So why do people do it? I don't mean the idiots who breed just for the cash and don't care about the health of the dam/sire or if they're good examples of the breed, I mean people who breed more than one litter and probably follow all the ethical rules.

__________________

Transplanted Geordie
RIP Jake, my best dog. 10.8.10
RIP Boomerang, beautiful horse. 27.5.08

I want to win the lottery too

__________________


RIP all my babies.
Monty LabxGSD 1972-1982
Jody Black Lab1982-1999
KizzyLabx Goldie 1983-1994
Larry Yellow Lab 1985-1993
Charlie Black Lab 1986 -1997
Ben Yellow Lab 1985-1999
Pud Choc Lab 1989-2003
Bridgit Black Lab 1991-2004
Floss Yellow Lab1992-2006
Millie Yellow Lab1994-2010
My boy Ted, my first my last my everything.Golden Retriever 1/8/98-28/6/2011

It is demanding and time consuming... No doubt about that. Why do I do it? Good question. I find it very rewarding to produce quality pups and see the joy they bring to people. I've had families drive across the country to pick up their pup and to see their excitement and anticipation when they get here makes it all worth it. I had one fellow drive here from West Virginia in the middle of winter to pick up his pup (that's over 2,000 miles one way). I've had families drive here from Western Washington, Oregon, etc. many times (a 14 hour drive one way)... I've stayed in contact with many people I've placed pups with and have become good friends with many.

I enjoy the pups...we get a lot of friends and neighbors who stop by with their kids when we have a litter.

Having said all of that, there have been times when I've felt like throwing in the towel.. Losing pups or having a bit*h that has problems whelping is heartbreaking... It's not all fun, but the good times far outweigh the bad (for me).