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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:
ineedtogwtoutbeforeitatoohot · 03/08/2024 09:17

Thank god you saw sense and rescued instead. Why encourage more greedy breeders. Only reason people breed their dogs is for money. That is it. It's horrible. The mums have horrible lives. They are often made to have too many litters. If you love your dog why would you put it through that ? So many dogs in kennels waiting for a family. They should all be found homes and stop the breeding. The most rewarding thing to do is giving a dog in need a home. You will love that dog just as much as any designer puppy even more ❤️

ineedtogwtoutbeforeitatoohot · 03/08/2024 09:19

ChannelyourinnerElsa · 01/08/2024 22:50

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.

What's the point of doing it then ? Do we need more dogs ? No dont there are thousands needing homes.

ineedtogwtoutbeforeitatoohot · 03/08/2024 09:22

ZebraD · 02/08/2024 01:01

It’s hard work and expensive looking after puppies!

Maybe they shouldn't do it then. Just stop.

PurpleDiva22 · 03/08/2024 09:24

Where I'm from it is virtually impossible to get a rescue dog. The list of requirements is long and ridiculous (unless you are an influencer then you get handed 4 despite not being around to look after them but that's a different story). I have no choice but to buy from a breeder unfortunately.

isthesolution · 03/08/2024 09:26

There are so many children in care and yet people don't adopt, they have their own.

It's because you have no idea the issues caused in the pregnancy / early days of life (in both children and animals). People want the brand new baby/puppy stage as well.

There shouldn't be as much money in breeding puppies though, I agree with that - it should be better regulated but how that can be done I'm not sure.

AdaAva · 03/08/2024 12:08

isthesolution · 03/08/2024 09:26

There are so many children in care and yet people don't adopt, they have their own.

It's because you have no idea the issues caused in the pregnancy / early days of life (in both children and animals). People want the brand new baby/puppy stage as well.

There shouldn't be as much money in breeding puppies though, I agree with that - it should be better regulated but how that can be done I'm not sure.

...are you actually comparing adopting a child with adopting a dog?

Wow.

WiddlinDiddlin · 03/08/2024 14:26

If decent breeders stop breeding, then the ONLY dogs available will be from the corner cutting dodgy ones... and it is they who supply rescues, on the whole.

So we'd only have the option of poorly bred dogs, health problems, dogs who've had bad experiences in their past etc.

Thats not great for anyone.

ZebraD · 03/08/2024 18:10

ineedtogwtoutbeforeitatoohot · 03/08/2024 09:22

Maybe they shouldn't do it then. Just stop.

Show quote history

Or perhaps you should be recompensed for the work and costs you have! The OP questioned it and that was my answer!

Papyrophile · 03/08/2024 21:22

Noodge · 02/08/2024 16:12

I agree. It's so unethical in this climate.

Show quote history

You are, very politely, deranged. Deciding to have a litter of pups, You don't know how many or the sex distribution of the litter. Bitches are easier to sell and train, so they sell for more.

sophiasnail · 03/08/2024 22:01

I have many pets, all of which have been rescues... except the dog (our previous 3 were rescues). He is a very well bred toy poodle. He competes in obedience and and hoopers and so getting a puppy was important so that we could start training early, but mostly I just wanted to the experience the puppy stage for once. He is 9 years old, so we bought him before this explosion in puppy prices.

Acornsplop · 03/08/2024 23:18

ineedtogwtoutbeforeitatoohot · 03/08/2024 09:17

Thank god you saw sense and rescued instead. Why encourage more greedy breeders. Only reason people breed their dogs is for money. That is it. It's horrible. The mums have horrible lives. They are often made to have too many litters. If you love your dog why would you put it through that ? So many dogs in kennels waiting for a family. They should all be found homes and stop the breeding. The most rewarding thing to do is giving a dog in need a home. You will love that dog just as much as any designer puppy even more ❤️

But rescuing is also, indirectly, encouraging breeders. It makes space for more rescue animals. And also I don't think people should always have to rescue ( other people 's) animals to be considered ethical.

BabySnarkDoDoo · 03/08/2024 23:51

It's such an unregulated and problematic industry. I was talking about it recently with the head vet nurse at my local practice who is a registered KC breeder. There's the issue that 'fashionable' breeds come with associated health problems eg GSDs being bred to have incredibly sloped backs. Also anyone can breed dogs and sell them on pets4homes etc. A half sister of a school friend of mine had dogs seized from her 10 years ago due to neglect (I know because another friend worked for the rescue at the time). She's now breeding dogs and whilst there's obviously not a huge profit in responsible breeding, it's easy to see how someone of the mindset of it's ok to neglect animals may see it as as an easy way to make money.

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