Below is a summary of the costs associated with raising a litter of puppies responsibly.
| Pre-Puppy Expenses | |||
| Expense Description | Minimum | Maximum | Average |
| Show dog at AKC events to ascertain quality (avg. cost to attain championship) | $3,000.00 | $8,000.00 | $5,500.00 |
| Travel to meet and compare various stud dogs (if not own stud) | $0.00 | $1,000.00 | $500.00 |
| OFA and CERF certifications of health for Mom | $382.00 | $480.00 | $431.00 |
| 2-4 Progesterone tests to pinpoint accuracy of timing @75/every 2 days | $276.00 | $512.00 | $394.00 |
| Brucellous test & health check for bitch | $80.00 | $175.00 | $127.50 |
| Stud Fee to Stud Owner | $1,000.00 | $1,500.00 | $1,250.00 |
| Lost wages (time off work to travel to stud dog or vet for breeding) | $400.00 | $1,200.00 | $800.00 |
| Travel to Stud dog (gas, tolls, meals) (local vs. out of state | $500.00 | $0.00 | $250.00 |
| 4 nights at mid-priced dog-friendly lodging @$80/night (not counting hours on phone finding it) + pet deposit | $0.00 | $400.00 | $200.00 |
| OR Airline fare and boarding to fly bitch to dog | $0.00 | $400.00 | $200.00 |
| Semen Collection of Stud (if needed) | $0.00 | $500.00 | $250.00 |
| Implantation (surgery) or 2 Transcervical insemination of collected sperm into bitch | $0.00 | $1,000.00 | $500.00 |
| Ultrasound to check on status of breeding – did it take? | $0.00 | $150.00 | $75.00 |
| Pre-puppy Total: NO PUPPIES YET, just preliminaries (double if breeding doesn’t take) | $5,638.00 | $15,317.00 | $10,477.50 |
| Puppy Expenses | |||
| Accumulate needed birthing supplies (clamps, heat lamp, heat mat, siphon bulb, replacement milk, etc.) assuming already have some things from previous litters | $50.00 | $250.00 | $150.00 |
| Update website & get puppycam ready (hosting) | $50.00 | $200.00 | $125.00 |
| Extra food in anticipation of pregnancy | $100.00 | $200.00 | $150.00 |
| Prenatal vitamins for bitch | $0.00 | $50.00 | $25.00 |
| X-ray to confirm pregnancy | $0.00 | $150.00 | $75.00 |
| Miss work to deliver puppies (sick time or lost wages) | $400.00 | $1,200.00 | $800.00 |
| Birth Expenses – Natural (have oxytocin, other drugs on hand for complications) | $0.00 | $200.00 | $100.00 |
| Birth Expenses – C-section/Complications | $0.00 | $3,000.00 | $1,500.00 |
| Emergency visit cost (weekend, after hours or fading puppy vet visit) | $0.00 | $200.00 | $100.00 |
| AKC litter registration $25 + $2 per puppy | $41.00 | $45.00 | $43.00 |
| More premium food for nursing mom & puppies (once weaned) | $300.00 | $300.00 | $300.00 |
| Nursing Mom refuses eat premium food, demands steak and cottage cheese instead | $0.00 | $100.00 | $50.00 |
| Vet Emergency that always happens (stepped on puppy, Mastitis in mom) | $0.00 | $500.00 | $250.00 |
| Start puppies on solid food (hamburger, cottage cheese, premium Puppy food varies by breeder) | $200.00 | $500.00 | $350.00 |
| Worm puppies 3 times (assuming 4-10 puppies) – stool sample $35 each & meds | $140.00 | $350.00 | $245.00 |
| First Parvo/Distemper shots for 4-12 puppies (1 shots each) & Vet checkup | $400.00 | $400.00 | $400.00 |
| New & replacement puppy toys, towels, baby gates, other misc. necessities | $50.00 | $100.00 | $75.00 |
| Home Destruction (replace chewed woodwork, cords, repair furniture & rugs etc.) | $0.00 | $300.00 | $150.00 |
| 24/7 job of supervising new mom, making sure puppies are safe & fed, laundress, playmate and poop picker upper | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Assemble puppy “going home” packets (copying, food samples, collar, toys, poop bags, etc.) | $75.00 | $250.00 | $162.50 |
| Photos/developing, communication w/puppy buyers (digital/film – email/cell phone minutes) | $100.00 | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| Added utility bills and laundry costs for washing puppy blankets and heating for puppies when they are first born. | $200.00 | $200.00 | $200.00 |
| Eventual Sleep and a Healthy Mom & Puppies – Puppy breath and cuddles | PRICELESS | PRICELESS | PRICELESS |
| Total Cost of Whelping/Raising Litter | $2,106.00 | $8,595.00 | $5,350.50 |
| TOTAL COST TO BREED A LITTER OF RESPONSIBLY-BRED PUPPIES | $7,744.00 | $23,912.00 | $15,828.00 |
OMG, he is adorable and there’s notnihg at all boring about puppy posts. It would be fun to see him with his new boys. Bet there is quite a bit of action in that department. Don’t stop posting about him please. judy
HELLO.. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME THE BREED AND SIZE LITTER THIS IS REFERRING TO…I HAVE 13 JAPANESE AKITAS AND I FEEL MY COST IS GOING TO BE MUCH MUCH MORE. CAN YOU PLEASE CONFIRM ASAP. MY FRIEND IS HELPING ME DO A GO FUND ME PAGE. THANK YOU… OUR LOVING LITTLE AKITA FAMILY!
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Thanks for pointing out that ultrasound would cost $75 on average and $150 at the most. I will keep that in mind because I will have a pet dog soon when my sister gives me one of their puppies. Good thing that I am able to save up extra money in the past years, so I am prepared for any veterinarian fees that I might need for the health of the pup.
This was very helpful!