F.A.Qs
What is a "responsible" breeder?
1- Has a bond with their dogs.
2-Provides exercise and mental stimulation, health care, grooming, a proper diet, clean water, and a comfortable place to sleep.
3- Puppies are socialized in a home setting and are familiar with the environment they are intended to live in.
4- A breeder will provide documentation of any health visits, the parents information, registration, and guidance when needed.
5- Your puppy can be returned to the care of the breeder for any reason and at any time. (This does not mean you entitled to a refund, but that no breeder wants their dogs to end up in a shelter or on the street and they will care about the dog for its lifetime.)
2) Why do poodles cost so much?
A poodle from health tested and titled parents should cost around $2000 -$3500. This will vary with location, titles, and amount of health testing. Pet shops and commercial breeders charge far more than this and have neither health testing nor titles. If you are unprepared for the cost you should consider a dog from rescue, that may cost around $800. Raising proper litters with good food is an expensive undertaking. If that is still too expensive than I suggest you get a goldfish.
3) How do I pick up a puppy from across the U.S.?
It is possible to arrange for a flight nanny or ground transport if you are unable to come in person to pick up your puppy. Always ask as there are several options running from $450 to 1k, depending on mode of transportation. A flight nanny will usually cost far more but get you a puppy within a day of pick up. A van transport may take a week or two to schedule and a few days to arrive after pick up. Consider this when selecting a puppy. Currently we can provide the name of both a flight nanny and a ground transport. Airlines no longer accept unaccompanied puppies due to the liability of missed flights and connections. This may not apply to flight out of the U.S., but I would still suggest a flight nanny to advocate for your dog if there is a plane delay.
4) What is so special about poodles?
Poodles are the most intelligent and in-tune breed I have worked with. I have other singular dogs from other breeds that have these traits, but they are not typical of those breeds overall. I consider poodles the most well-rounded and whole package for a family dog. They are very much a clown and enjoy having fun.
5) Is the grooming difficult?
It's easy to learn but hard to master. If you want a fantastic show groom then go to a groomer that knows poodles. An average person can utilize clippers to shave down their dog every couple months, as I normally do. And when you use a dryer to blow out the hair after a bath it stays nice and fluffy for several weeks. There are numerous online resources on how to groom and you shouldn't be scared of doing a bad job. I promise it grows back. Grooming will likely run $60-$100 depending on where you live, and you would do this every couple months, or more if you like a nice smelling dog. The payback is there won't be hair all over your house and your clothes.
5) What is the best method of training a poodle?
I think this holds true for most dogs, but the answer is positive reinforcement. There are times that withholding a reward (negative reinforcement) is required. I have included some links to get you started in thinking about how to train your dog. I also include a dog training book with each puppy to help you learn the basics if you are not familiar OR its been a while since you had to train a puppy.
HEALTH TESTING
The breed clubs have established the types of health clearances expected of members before a dog is bred. The OFA keeps track of these tests and they are available for the public to view. Aside from genetic testing for disease like PRA, most of these tests are snap shots in time and they only tell you that the dog in question, the parent of your pup, is not suffering from a disorder. They cannot guarantee that offspring will never be affected, but at the time of breeding the dogs were healthy. Health clearances are vital to maintaining dogs, however, they are not absolute. No breeder can claim that their dogs will never suffer from any disease, even a genetic one. We simply do not know enough about genetics. Good breeders do their best to minimize these issues through testing, which runs around $1,500 per dog. A good breeder wants to know about the lifelong health of the dogs they bred, so you should let them know if something occurs no matter how old your puppy is at the time. I also look at the genetic haplotypes of a dog and potential breeding as conducted by UC Davis and archived in BetterBred.
There are many environmental conditions that can cause health problems. Too much exercise at a young age, injury, poor nutrition, over vaccination, and toxins can all cause the development of issues that a dog is not genetically predisposed to such as autoimmune disease, hip displaysia, and cancer. A good place to research minimal vaccine protocols is on Dr. Jean Dodds website. Many veterinarians are seeing the dangers of annual vaccinations, and so if you are at odds with your own vet about how to properly handle vaccines you should interview another one. Find a vet that works for you, since you are paying them. You can google search for homeopathic vets in your area.
Our pups go home with one vaccination and a vet check. We recommend that you wait a few weeks before getting a booster and wait until 6 months until rabies. Never get multiple vaccinations at once. If there is a reaction you will not be able to determine which vaccine caused it AND it will overwhelm the puppy's system as it tries to create antibodies to the introduced disease. Some other vaccinations are not recommended, such as Lepto, unless you have an outbreak in your area. Rabies is the only vaccination required by law and every other vaccination will last several years, if not the entire life of the dog. Kita, for example got one Distemper/parvo as a pup, a second at 16 weeks, and then not again. She is 12 and still have a titer that shows protection. Imagine getting that unnecessary shot annually?
There are many environmental conditions that can cause health problems. Too much exercise at a young age, injury, poor nutrition, over vaccination, and toxins can all cause the development of issues that a dog is not genetically predisposed to such as autoimmune disease, hip displaysia, and cancer. A good place to research minimal vaccine protocols is on Dr. Jean Dodds website. Many veterinarians are seeing the dangers of annual vaccinations, and so if you are at odds with your own vet about how to properly handle vaccines you should interview another one. Find a vet that works for you, since you are paying them. You can google search for homeopathic vets in your area.
Our pups go home with one vaccination and a vet check. We recommend that you wait a few weeks before getting a booster and wait until 6 months until rabies. Never get multiple vaccinations at once. If there is a reaction you will not be able to determine which vaccine caused it AND it will overwhelm the puppy's system as it tries to create antibodies to the introduced disease. Some other vaccinations are not recommended, such as Lepto, unless you have an outbreak in your area. Rabies is the only vaccination required by law and every other vaccination will last several years, if not the entire life of the dog. Kita, for example got one Distemper/parvo as a pup, a second at 16 weeks, and then not again. She is 12 and still have a titer that shows protection. Imagine getting that unnecessary shot annually?
FEEDING
As of January 2023 we went totally raw. After experimenting with a few options, and making my own food wasn't one of them, we settled on Answers Pet Food. We have seen a marked reduction in health issues, no need to brush teeth, and better weight control. Raw feeding can be expensive, but this brand gave us the added benefit of not producing plastic trash to go in a landfill. Others we have tried are BJs raw food and RawFedK9 are delivery frozen brands but they both come in plastic that is not recyclable (they say "recycle" but its just incinerated). Steve's is also a good option with a lower price tag and is readily available.
If I had to pick a dry kibble it would be OpenFarm. First and foremost, for environmental reasons. Through TerraCycle the company pay to have their food bags returned and recycled. There are a few other high end dog food companies that utilize this service. Dog food bags do not count as number 1 or 2 plastics and are burned or placed in landfills. That means that every time you feed your dog you pollute the Earth. OpenFarm takes responsibility for recycling those bags, and on top of that they ethically source all their proteins. In today's world the commercial production on meat for human consumption produces an unbearable amount of waste and causes severe water pollution. While my family no longer eats meat, our dogs need to. It matters where your products are sourced and the impact they have on the environment is minimalized.
Paying the higher price for better food will decrease your vet bills by promoting a healthy immune system. The best food is that one you can afford, just be aware that there is always a trade off. If you have push back from your vet you can tell them that the breeder said the pups must be fed raw by contract. Sometimes finding a vet that is sympathetic or even approving can be difficult. But I can always find you recommendations if needed.
If I had to pick a dry kibble it would be OpenFarm. First and foremost, for environmental reasons. Through TerraCycle the company pay to have their food bags returned and recycled. There are a few other high end dog food companies that utilize this service. Dog food bags do not count as number 1 or 2 plastics and are burned or placed in landfills. That means that every time you feed your dog you pollute the Earth. OpenFarm takes responsibility for recycling those bags, and on top of that they ethically source all their proteins. In today's world the commercial production on meat for human consumption produces an unbearable amount of waste and causes severe water pollution. While my family no longer eats meat, our dogs need to. It matters where your products are sourced and the impact they have on the environment is minimalized.
Paying the higher price for better food will decrease your vet bills by promoting a healthy immune system. The best food is that one you can afford, just be aware that there is always a trade off. If you have push back from your vet you can tell them that the breeder said the pups must be fed raw by contract. Sometimes finding a vet that is sympathetic or even approving can be difficult. But I can always find you recommendations if needed.
Cost
Breeding dogs is expensive. Breeding health tested dogs that have a great temperament and proven background is even more so. In order to maintain diversity and health I must travel to find the best matches. You should expect to pay between $2500-$3500 for such a puppy. You may be shocked to find that even puppy mill dogs in pet stores, without selective health testing or breeding cost MORE. If you want a doodle, which are never health tested but will be at risk for genetic illnesses of BOTH breeds, then its double. Go figure.
Doing some math...An average standard poodle litter is 7, lets say.
Minimally health testing a dog prior to breeding will require a CHIC number issued by OFFA. OFFA has concluded you need to have completed at least 4 of the available health screenings AND have a current CAER (eye exam) which is only valid for a year. Often we add testings that can show dogs that carry a copy of a specific genetic disease but are not effected.
-Hip X-rays $450
- Cardio Echo $375
-DM/PRA/VonW $150
- CAER $60
It would be impossible to calculate the money spent on training and titling, but lets just say by 2 years old you've spent $200 per event and it takes 6 events to get a single title. If you went to one training seminar it was 2k. And I am not including what you paid for a breeding prospect dog in the first place, which is typically MORE than dogs placed in a family or competition home.
Progesterone testing during the heat cycle is $150 a test and you need at least 4-5 in order to narrow down the best date for breeding. Then there is the stud fee, usually the cost of a puppy $2500, and more if you have to collect chilled semen and have it shipped, which is $1000 and then the vet fee to preform the AI which is around $500. Then there is the ultrasound to confirm and an X-ray to predict number of pups. Another $400. Again there is gas and travel.
If nothing goes wrong you have a poodle momma who is eating a lot more, and then 7 little pups eating food. They will need a vet check and round of vaccinations, $100 a puppy. Lets not start on the grooming of 7 poodle puppies... Since I feed raw and the pups get raw and fresh cooked food like goat milk, the grocery cost during pregnancy and whelping is around 2k. Breeders, even if they don't feed raw will give the best available food and supplements to ensure health and recovery of their dogs.
All in I am looking at $12,550 just to breed my dog, minimally health tested with only a single title. This does not include the cost of my dog's food or the puppies' food. Nothing about my time, gas, supplies, or sanity. It doesn't account for emergencies and there is no dog health insurance that covers breeders, so it's all out of pocket in the hopes I will find proper homes for the puppies. Then there is what the tax man will want from any earnings I may have.
If I have 7 puppies, then I could presume to recover around 5k. If I have only 5 puppies then you can see where the margins shrink to nothing. Breeding is far more a labor of love than a business. And I use the word "recover" because in actuality I have paid far more than that to train my dogs. I do more than minimal health testing, and I spend countless hours working out the best matches and talking to potential puppy homes. Sometimes a breeding doesn't take and you just have to move forward and try again. But by then I've already paid $1000 for transport and testing that I cannot recover.
The only way to make puppies a successful business it to forgo the health testing and assume no responsibility for puppies you produce, which is the case in all pet stores, puppy mills, and bark yard breeders. Thus, responsible breeders are not making a good living breeding dogs even if they manage to have a profit. They breed for the love of the dog and the breed. You should expect to pay for the hard work and lifetime support that a good breeder provides. In reality, you make out far better from a responsible breeder than from any other source.
Doing some math...An average standard poodle litter is 7, lets say.
Minimally health testing a dog prior to breeding will require a CHIC number issued by OFFA. OFFA has concluded you need to have completed at least 4 of the available health screenings AND have a current CAER (eye exam) which is only valid for a year. Often we add testings that can show dogs that carry a copy of a specific genetic disease but are not effected.
-Hip X-rays $450
- Cardio Echo $375
-DM/PRA/VonW $150
- CAER $60
It would be impossible to calculate the money spent on training and titling, but lets just say by 2 years old you've spent $200 per event and it takes 6 events to get a single title. If you went to one training seminar it was 2k. And I am not including what you paid for a breeding prospect dog in the first place, which is typically MORE than dogs placed in a family or competition home.
Progesterone testing during the heat cycle is $150 a test and you need at least 4-5 in order to narrow down the best date for breeding. Then there is the stud fee, usually the cost of a puppy $2500, and more if you have to collect chilled semen and have it shipped, which is $1000 and then the vet fee to preform the AI which is around $500. Then there is the ultrasound to confirm and an X-ray to predict number of pups. Another $400. Again there is gas and travel.
If nothing goes wrong you have a poodle momma who is eating a lot more, and then 7 little pups eating food. They will need a vet check and round of vaccinations, $100 a puppy. Lets not start on the grooming of 7 poodle puppies... Since I feed raw and the pups get raw and fresh cooked food like goat milk, the grocery cost during pregnancy and whelping is around 2k. Breeders, even if they don't feed raw will give the best available food and supplements to ensure health and recovery of their dogs.
All in I am looking at $12,550 just to breed my dog, minimally health tested with only a single title. This does not include the cost of my dog's food or the puppies' food. Nothing about my time, gas, supplies, or sanity. It doesn't account for emergencies and there is no dog health insurance that covers breeders, so it's all out of pocket in the hopes I will find proper homes for the puppies. Then there is what the tax man will want from any earnings I may have.
If I have 7 puppies, then I could presume to recover around 5k. If I have only 5 puppies then you can see where the margins shrink to nothing. Breeding is far more a labor of love than a business. And I use the word "recover" because in actuality I have paid far more than that to train my dogs. I do more than minimal health testing, and I spend countless hours working out the best matches and talking to potential puppy homes. Sometimes a breeding doesn't take and you just have to move forward and try again. But by then I've already paid $1000 for transport and testing that I cannot recover.
The only way to make puppies a successful business it to forgo the health testing and assume no responsibility for puppies you produce, which is the case in all pet stores, puppy mills, and bark yard breeders. Thus, responsible breeders are not making a good living breeding dogs even if they manage to have a profit. They breed for the love of the dog and the breed. You should expect to pay for the hard work and lifetime support that a good breeder provides. In reality, you make out far better from a responsible breeder than from any other source.
