May I ask how much is the going around rate for the 8 week old puppies in the tri-state area? TIA

Anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500 from what I have seen and heard. I have heard higher somewhere in NY, but I'm not sure how much.

I've heard as high as 1800.

Pups from most well bred litters are priced at $1400 to $1800 and upward to $2000. The lowest I have heard of is $1400 as of this date. Most are higher. It does reflect the veterinary and lab costs of progesterone testing, stud fee, shipment and AI, sonograms, exrays and if using a reproductive vet. Thereseems to be less litters available so some have raised their fee due to that. If you are a breeder doing proper clearances and the pups are out of good, healthy stock to be safe $1500 or more would keep you in line with the rest of the breeders in your 3 state area depending on your location in those states. BYB are less, pet shops can be alot more

"Costs" - would you please email me? I'd like to know where you're located.

Alot of us have well bred litters. Just hard to ask that much for a pup. Guess, that is why most of my new litter is heading North. Interesting. And I have sure done all the things listed and more. Just want a great home for the pups.

$1000-$1500.

I don't ask that for a puppy! I thought I was doing great to get the $700. No wonder I have a HUGE waiting list...In Ohio tho.

You didn't ask for PA, but I know we get inquiries from CT, northern Jersey, etc., too.

I would say the norm is typically around $1100 - $1200 in northern PA, but I've heard of 1 breeder in NE PA asking $1800 and $2400.

My pups go out for $1500. All pups are health/temperment gaurenteed in writing, have all proper health clearences on parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents. And are from Champ show stock. I'm in NJ. My pups also all go to my vet for a written health certificate that is given with each pup when they leave. So, yes you sit and add up all the expenses from a litter the 1500 is a good fair price.

We payed $1100 for Bella- her breeder is in PA ... Where I live(Idaho), you can get a well bred pup for about $700+.

"So, yes you sit and add up all the expenses from a litter the 1500 is a good fair price."

Not to mention Cerfing the entire litter at 8 weeks.

$1200 - $1500 in this area.

If you are talking about the east coast...everything is more expensive. I find prices range from 550.00-800.00 in my area of western NY

Plenty of puppy buyers call us in upstate NY from the Long Island and NJ Conn. area to get the same breeding but for $500 less!

""Plenty of puppy buyers call us in upstate NY from the Long Island and NJ Conn. area to get the same breeding but for $500 less! ""

$500 less of what? I am not looking to be rich off breeding, if I have a few extra bucks to invest in my kennel then GREAT, BUT with the costs I would NOT break even if I charged less than $1000 on an average size litter.

PLEASE....do the math!!

I would LOVE that some of you itemize all these so called "expenses". I'd like to see just exactly you're talking about.

$500 less than what the going rate is in LI and Conn..NJ...about 900 here. Jeesh...pretty touchy.

To the person questioning expenses, IMO this includes all expenses related to the hobby. Not just the litter specifically but vet bills, food, etc, etc. for all my dogs. It is all related since feeding and caring for the older dogs is how I got what I am breeding today.

Why do people take flack for what they are charging for puppies out of parents with health clearances when you go to any pet store and labradors are ranging from 1200-1800 and you have no idea what you are getting/ Aren't our puppies at a better odds of not having health problems. Isnt that the whole point of being reputable???? I always get angry when people like 'come on!' pipe up. Why should we be cheaper than the inferior quality puppy !

May I add as a Pet Person...I understand and appreciate that there are expenses in producing quality pups. I have happily purchased two such pups and would do it again in a minute!
My comment is-It would be important try to keep Puppy Prices affordable enough so as not to push buyers to Pet Stores and PMs. I see many pet stores advertising here in CA $399. Many people choose not to know the difference in breeding practices. JMHO

and don't forget those that think going to the Amish mills and paying $300 is a much better deal...

to answer some of the rather sarcastic remarks about costs of raising a litter. Let's add some stuff up

Progesterone Tests $85 x 3 (average) $ 255
AI kits 2 at $50 each 100
FEDX shipping $40 each kit 80
STud Fee 1000
Ultrasound to confirm preg. 200
Xray prior to whelping 150
Various meds to have on hand
during whelping 60
Puppy Food to feed bitch during
7 weeks $38 bag x 2 bags 72
Pupppy Food for puppies 5 weeks 72
Meds to control coccidia, giardia 250
Vet Health check at 7 weeks for litter 150
Worming meds 3,4,5,7,8 weeks 80
Cost for 1st set of shots at 6 weeks 75
Various toys, blankets misc. items
for puppies first 8 weeks 75
Micro Chipping litter of 7 150

So far we are up to about $2,775. let's round up to an even $3,000 and that does NOT include any expenses in case you need a C-Sect, your girl or puppies get sick etc.
litter of 6 puppies, even if they sell for $1200
That's $7,200 less $3,000
WOW that's a WHOOPING $4,200 profit let's break this down even further, and get an hourly wage that we all make on this lucrative hobby :)
we'll start after puppies turn 3 weeks as up to that time Mom does a lot of the work herself.
3 - 8 weeks 7 days for 5 weeks 35 days x 16 hours per day about 560 hours

so for about 560 hours we make $4200 that's $7.50/hr

Wow, are we millionaires yet!

I live in California and saw a purebred lab puppy at the local pet store recently with NO papers for $699!

Well Said!
If it is any solace, I feel there is no price for the wiggles and giggles my 2 give me. I love them dearly and they were worth every darn penny! They are worth their weight in GOLD for the patience and kindness they show the children! I Thank God every day for the great breeder I found!

Don't forget to add to that list the cost of puttiing together those nice puppy packets, running the washing machine and dryer for all the puppy bedding, and the long distance phone charges.

Excellent break down "here are some costs", just to add, BEFORE a litter is even produced, OFA, CERF, PRA, etc...!!!!

Then add too the investment of a safe whelping box, playpens and microchip scanner!

And, if it helps to put things further in perspective...maintaining even a small number of dogs requires ongoing individual medical expenses. Yesterday, my veterinarian's bill for removal of a small mouth tumor and a rotten molar on my 11 year old boy, and a spay on a 2 year old was $1400...with my 20% discount! The spay without the discount is $480. This is in CT.

good point. Think "costs" posts hit the nail on the head along with all the other expenses pointed out. As I said before never have and cant understand why everyone is so concerned about what another breeder is or is not seeling pups for. Be concerned about breeding practices and procedures and doing it correct. Seems to me there are many other things far more important then the price

Just to get started

$2500 - 2 Nice 2nd pic bitches
$4160 - I start obedience and conformation training
at 10 weeks this is for 2 year of train on 2
dogs
$2000 - Entry fees for 2 years on 2 dogs in
Conformation and Obedience
$6000 - gas, motel, food to the shows for 2 years
$1400 - food and treats for 2 years

So far I am at $16,060 and this does not include vet bills for those 2 years. Then you have the expense of clearence and getting pregnan. Taking care of mom and litter. What about the bitch that does does not work out and you have to start over.

So for those of us that do this because we love this breed. We love work and training Labs. We could charge $3000 for a pup and never break even. Because with every dog we keep we put way more into them then they could ever produce in money. But I do not do it for the money I do for the love and bond these dogs give me. Yes, I charge $1100 for my pups but to me they are worth way more. And at that price I can guarantee you I will never break even.

This is an information post ONLY! It is not to say I side with anyone! The reason dogs are more money in those areas stated is because of the cost of living. It's the same reason a car in those areas has to be insured for more money than a car, exactly the same, in say Michigan. The same reason the same house is worth more in NJ than Akron Ohio. Because of location, everything costs more, food and vet bills to name 2. You are always, and have always, going to have people charging more or less, that doesn't make the dogs in NJ any more valuable than the dogs in MIch. If people want to pay 300.00 less for a puppy, let them, hopefully it won't cost them that much to get the puppy home!

Probably should be mentioned too, that just because a breeder lives in an area that the cost of living is assumed to be lower than some other areas, it doesn't mean that that breeder isn't utilizing services outside their home area; i.e, I have to travel a few hours to get to an ACVO unless timing happens to fall at the time of the one eye clinic in June which is the closest all year being one hour away; also, I travel 4 hours one way to go out of state for OFAs not far from DC, so you know that's not inexpensive.

Most of the items/supplies I buy are catalog/mail order or over the net, so I'm not saving anymore than anyone else in that department.

I think it was Gina who mentioned about taxes in PA. She's right. We're rural and for the size of property and type of home we own, and considering the average household income is in this county, I think taxes would be considered pretty high. So no savings there.

Food, gas, utilities are no less expensive just because we're rural.

The only thing I can say that might be less expensive, that would affect me as a breeder, would be veterinary fees. Now this would be comparing to northern NJ, we're at about 1/2 of what you would pay. I paid for a c-section in NJ once at $1500 (not even an ER) a few years ago, here it would be $600-$700.

Thank you!

I would guess that cost of real estate and vet fees would be the bigest differences; but let's not forget too to factor in that usually the occupational salaries are higher in those areas in or within commuting distance of the more metropolitan areas. Around here, there is not much industry, more a service related area... demographically, it's a near retirement age & seniors population... we have alot of nursing homes and hospitals.
I would imagine in those areas I would find a big difference in prices of going out to a nice resturant too, along with there being more of a selection and probably higher scale type clothing stores with more of a selection.... I guess cost of living could be relative to life style at times.
Ahh, but after living outside Philadelphia many years growing up, it's so nice to be back to the slower pace and wider open spaces of this part of PA.

Come on, I can do math, I just wanted to know if it was $500 less of $800 vs $1500. Thought it was an easy clarification, sorry

So here are some examples of costs from my last breeding (this is far from all expenses)

3 progesterone assay $85 x 3
1 LH assay $100
ultrasound (by a specialist) $285
c section $2,000
stud fee $900
AI $100

and that was just some of the costs to get the litter on the ground.

I absolutely agree that our cost of living and our salaries are also high.