A lot of dog people are not wealthy, many are quite poor perhaps in part
because they do not value and pursue money, and their value system is such
that their dogs are top on their priority list for the budget, and they have
no desire or intention to make any money on their dogs.


  I'm squarely in the "quite poor" bracket, I'm afraid.  I'm not complaining about health testing cutting into my puppy profits, but breeding even with few tests is an expensive endeavor.  I'm not even really expecting to recoup any sort of costs - I'd be doing obedience, herding, and everything else even if my dog was spayed.  I'd also do the testing - my blind dog, who was spayed at 12 weeks, has a string of titles, a Penn-Hip score, VWD and thyroid test.

  Already three pups are spoken for, and none is going to a place that is going to pay for them.  I'm doing MDR-1 testing, eye screening and CERF registration, microchips and registration, plus the usual stuff like starter kids, vaccines and dewormings.  So far, my price is $800 - minus $100 upon proof of spay for pets; $25 each for OFA hips, elbows, and CEA; and $10 each title.  If the owner does not want or can't keep the dog, I'll buy it back at any time for half the original puppy price.  If the dog becomes afflicted with PRA, bloat, hypothyroid, hip dysplasia or epilepsy, I'll either refund half the puppy price and take back the dog (if the owner does not want to keep it; otherwise it must be spayed/neutered), if the problem is a result of neglectful ownership (as determined by a vet), I *will* take the dog back, no money refunded.  $800 is about what I paid for each of the two dogs I purchased from breeders (my blind dog was from a breeder, but she was free).

  Contract is still a work in progress, btw, but I welcome any comments offlist.



Jana






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