To not realise how much money is in selling puppies?

Add in pet insurance, stud fee for the mating and cost if the bitch needs a c-section. This could be in the hundreds of £.

I don’t know any dog breeders but I have know a couple of cat breeders who do it for the money. One was awful, kept the cats in pretty poor conditions and didn’t do any vet checks/worming/anything. The other was much better but I still find it hard to understand pimping out beloved pets to make money

I know someone who breeds dogs, infact you wouldn't even know they had a dog as the poor dog never ever leaves the house, only goes as far as the back yard to do her mess. the poor dog has never been walked and is just used as a money making breeding machine. The family have never worked and have always been on benefits but obviously make extra money by breeding the dogs. I really wish this wasn't allowed as the poor dog has no life other than producing puppies. RSPCA unwilling to do anything as the dog is adequately feed, watered and has bedding.

Rescue is def the way to go - there are so many beautiful loving dogs in need of their forever homes.

The costs of properly rearing puppies up to the stage where they can be safely adopted should be high though with the vaccinations, proper food, puppy pads, time spent looking after them etc - this is why you must only buy from a reputable breeder who can provide all the paperwork. Some people do it for the money but really, from the experience of a friend, she really didn't make anything from it in the end.

That's not quite fair. Some people are obsessed with shitadoodles and are keen to better the line/breed.

The breeder should pay tax as with any other earnings.

I'm a big believer in rehoming animals, but it's tricky with dogs. We need a very well behaved dog to go into the office with dp, and the chances of getting that with a puppy are greater because then we can train from the beginning.

We have many rescue animals, but we bought our dog from a breeder.

Unfortunately whilst rescues make it difficult to re-home dogs people are always going to buy puppies, therefore people will always breed them.
We got turned down by a local rescue because our garden is raised up, so our fence is 6ft tall (fence +wall it stands on) on one side but only 5ft is measured from the other side - they would not re-home to a house with fences less than 6ft, no matter the size of the dog. It's arbitrary rules like that stop people rescuing and turn to breeders instead.

I am always suspicious if the dog breeder has a big fancy car, designer clothes and flash home, expensive holidays etc etc. They are certainly doing it for the money. Rescue homes, however, could definitely do more to allow more families with children to rescue dogs. It makes no sense that anyone with children can get a puppy dangerous breed but the Westie or Labrador at the Dogs Home can only go to homes with no children.

Sounds about right. Done well the profits are marginal. Cut corners and "breeders" stand to make more ££. If a litter is small and a c section needed it's very easy to make a big loss irrespective of how lax pre breeding health checks/genetic testing etc have been.

I seriously doubt that any rescue centre has done health checks on their dogs. I think you're confusing this as a simple health visit to the vet, but for breeders this is extensive DNA testing, specialist eye and hip testing etc. This is beyond the remit of an average vet and costs a lot.

It is not cheap to breed good puppies. I had a few KC small /medium breed litters and the costs were horrendous. The cost of suitable breeding stock, Health testing, stud and the food and costs for puppies and unexpected costs was horrific. My last litter turned out to be a whopping 9 babies in a 5kg bitch and ended up in a c section (with an established breeding bitch). Two pups weighed just 80-90g each an and required multiple vets trips and intensive round the clock treatment. I'm taking 30 minute interventions for 2 weeks. The mum was 5kg and the puppies and her foood cost an average of £90-110 a week back then and then add in costs for an emergency c section and spay and I didn't even cover costs for that litter AND it wiped out the small money I'd made from the previous litter. It was a miracle that all 9 babies and mum survived.

Breeding any species of animal is a huge gamble and is filled with heartache. I've also kept and bred multiple species of tortures, lizards and snakes and none of out cooked euros issues, heartache and huge vets bills.

No one should be getting dogs nowadays - we are in a climate emergency and they are a luxury the planet cannot afford (with the exception of assistance and working dogs of course).
If people stopped getting dogs the demand for breeders will go down and that would save a lot of harm to dogs.
OP I see you are getting your dog from a rescue which is good.

Plus I home check, reference, contract and visit pups for life.

Hah. There isn't as much money to be made as you think.

Sure I guess if you're just breeding your bitch with absolutely no consideration for her health, stud health, the breed, the puppies etc then yes I suppose you'd make a few grand under the table.

Breeders breeding for profit (anything more than it cost at base level to breed/raise) have to register and pay tax on that income like everyone else.

Stud fees are £££ for a tested, good stud. Health tests for the bitch is ££££. Puppy equipment, time off work (have you got 4 weeks of annual leave just to spend 24/7 with a litter of puppies for their first few weeks, if not the full 8 weeks?)
Vet costs, surgery costs, worming, puppy vaccinations, Microchips, advertising costs... the list goes on and on.
Nevermind when thoroughly vetted puppy owners STILL want to return said puppy for a full refund when it's a rambunctious but totally expected adolescent.

Most breeders I know only breed when they are going to keep one themselves, after doing all the above and more so its not simply a churn them out operation. They also provide lifetime advice and support and it's not uncommon to offer boarding when owners need holiday care, for just the cost of food.

If anyone wants to breed properly and seriously, they also need to spend time and money on becoming licensed with their local authority.

So yes, 'breeders' can make money. But if they are doing it properly, it's not anywhere near enough to make it 'easy' money or something any normal, sleep enjoying person would choose.

A good breeder who cares deeply about their puppies and their health and offers you years of ongoing support is worth every penny of that puppy fee.

I occasionally breed a litter.

my stud fee I pay for the dog sire is usually £1200.

health checks for my bitch are £800-1200 depending on age as i like two heart scans done first really.

it costs me £250 for supplies for a whelping each time- always new vet bed for each litter, puppy safe disinfectants, surgical gloves etc etc etc

my puppies are always checked at approx 2 days old, usually about £100 for this.

then of course the puppies are wormed, vaccinated, chipped and registered about £75 each. so avg litter 6. £450

each pup goes with food as well, £15.- £90

to feed a lactating bitch properly and wean puppies properly is easily £5/6 a day. From 2 weeks to 9 week. £250.

let’s not forget my time off work, my electricity for the washing machine, the heat pads. And then a C section at 2am on a Sunday morning can be £4000x

absolutely, some people make money, and everyone should be declaring income.

if you do it properly, as a dedicated breeder who breeds very occasionally for a specific purpose (and to have a puppy for themselves normally!) then no, it’s not a money maker. My pups sell for £1000/1200 each.

i have only ever made a profit on one litter, of less than £1k.

Anyone who breeds three or more litters and sells at least one puppy in a 12 month period requires a licence

I know someone who bred her 2 dogs and ended up only selling 2 pups and ended up not being able to sell the last 4. They are pointers so big dogs.

Also £1500 is having a laugh.

Rescue is good OP. Well done you.

It's not tax free if you're doing it properly.