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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not realise how much money is in selling puppies?

162 replies

Purplebiscuitwithsprinkles · 01/08/2024 22:31

We've been on the look out for a puppy. We've decided to go for a rescue dog. Got chatting to a neighbour and they told us a neighbour around the corner is selling puppies at £1500 each x6. As far as we know all is above board and they are registered etc.

We were tempted to go for it as the dogs are on our list but something was niggling away at me so decided to stick with our original plan and go for a rescue dog. This is booked for a visit to a rescue centre tomorrow.

I suppose my AIBU is should people not be allowed to breed puppies and those wanting to get one should just get rescue/abandoned dogs instead? There's so many dogs in shelters but they seem to be so many being bred still.

I don't know the full ins and outs but £9,000 tax free is a lot of money from what I understand the neighbours have bred puppies before and made £10,000 so £19,000 in the space of two years with no tax to pay? Should breeders have to pay a tax and only be allowed to breed so many dogs a year?

Apologies if I have this completely wrong and they do have to pay a tax etc.

OP posts:
ChubSeedsYorkie · 01/08/2024 22:44

I age my BIL breeds cats and dogs because “you can make £10k from one litter” just makes me so angry they’re in it purely for the money.

Worst bit is they’re constantly going away on holiday or weekends away for their hobby and MIL and FIL in their 70s get dragged into looking after a house full of kittens and puppies.

katmarie · 01/08/2024 22:39

It's not tax free, it should be declared as income to hmrc on a tax return, and as income it will be taxed. Plus that's not all profit, if done properly, breeding puppies can be an expensive game. Vets bills, food, space to contain the mum and the pups when they are first born. Health checks, vet care for mum, breed registration, insurance, stud fees. It all adds up. Our vet also advised us that we should consider having the cost of an emergency c section stashed away, in case it was needed, as most pet insurance won't cover it. The overall cost was one reason we decided not to breed our dog in the end, plus the time commitment and the risk to our dog. It just didn't seem worth it in the end.

Original poster
Purplebiscuitwithsprinkles · 01/08/2024 22:38

Yes I think that's what I'm trying to say too that it does need to be more regulated.

I'm just surprised as we've seen so many adverts for dogs sale but not much about the conditions they have been in...we've had a home check done, and an employer check to ensure we can afford it. I've read quite a few horror stories about breeders. That's why I'm surprised the prices and who can sell aren't regulated.

OP posts:
SalemsPot · 01/08/2024 22:38

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

TheHeadOfTheHouse · 01/08/2024 22:37

I don’t know if they pay tax on it but I do know that there’re hidden costs with dog breeding like…

  • health checks before breeding
  • Male dog owner costs
  • vet checks for the puppies
  • worming, fleeing and chips for the puppies
  • food for them all
  • KC registration
  • first lot of jabs
JudgeBurrito · 01/08/2024 22:36

You don't seem to know much about puppies/dogs, OP. Perhaps some more research is in order before you commit.

Our dog was bred as her parents were working lines, and the breeder kept one of her sisters to work. Anyone breeding daftypoos is unlikely to have good motivations.

SalemsPot · 01/08/2024 22:36

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This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Ineffable23 · 01/08/2024 22:34

Well it's income so surely they would have to pay tax? I can't see how it wouldn't be taxable unless there's a special exception, but if there is I didn't get taught about it when I did my exams. There are plenty of esoteric tax laws though so I may be misinformed.

I would guess plenty of people don't declare the income but that's a different issue.

Zanatdy · 01/08/2024 22:34

They are supposed to register aswell now, but there’s probably some way around it. 100% shouldn’t be tax free income in my opinion

Zanatdy · 01/08/2024 22:33

Please ensure the parents have been health tested. Genuine breeders pay out money for that, hobby breeders do not. Mistake I made and my poor dog has heriditary glaucoma, something that could have been avoided. They made a fortune with a few litters that I knew of, probably much more. Never replied to another message after I handed the money over. My son meanwhile bought a dog from a top breeder, and the difference is huge. Lifetime support and guidance. There’s a lot of money in it and shame it’s not more regulated

Priggishsausagebore · 01/08/2024 22:33

Well it's income so they should declare it on a tax return but I would imagine most of them don't.