How to Start a Dog Breeding Business

Part 1 - How to start a Dog Breeding business - Background

Many dog lovers are very enthusiastic about a particular breed of dog. A dog breeding business lets dog lovers who like a specific breed pick out a puppy of that breed. Most businesses focus on raising one breed of dog and, thus, serve people who love that breed.

Our guide is in 3 parts:

• Part 1 - How to start a Dog Breeding business - Background
• Part 2 - Our planner tool to see if this idea is the right fit for you
• Part 3 - Action plan to get started

What are the costs involved in opening a dog breeding business?

The startup costs for a dog breeding business can be substantial, although they’re controllable. Business owners must have a facility for their dogs, purchase female dogs, buy a male dog or pay a stud fee, have food for their dogs and pay for their puppies’ shots and tests. Most dog breeding businesses are located in rural areas, in order to keep facility costs minimal.

Additionally, a dog breeding business should be registered with the AKC, and each litter ought to be registered with the club. Registering a business is $100, and litter registrations are $25 plus $2 per puppy. Here is a full list of the AKC’s fee schedule.

Other startup costs include licensing and insurance fees.

Business owners who want to keep their costs as low as possible can begin by breeding just one female dog. Starting out with just one dog keeps feeding costs, veterinary costs for puppies and AKC litter registration fees minimal. A single dog can also usually be housed in a home without building any special facilities. As puppies are sold, the proceeds can be reinvested in the business to grow it.

What are the ongoing expenses for a dog breeding business?

The ongoing expenses for a dog breeding business include purchasing food for dogs, veterinary costs for puppies and mothers, and AKC registration fees. Each litter must be tested by a veterinarian and should be registered with the AKC.

Who is the target market?

A dog breeding business makes money by selling the puppies they birth and raise.

How does a dog breeding business make money?

Dog breeding businesses have two ideal customers. Dog lovers who are enthusiastic about a specific breed and have discretionary income are often willing (and able) to pay a premium for a well-bred dog in their favorite breed.

Pet stores can provide a more stable revenue stream, even though they may not pay as much as an individual. Many pet stores, however, prefer to work with rescue agencies and offer adoptions, and are moving away from reselling puppies purchased from breeders.

How much can you charge customers?

A dog breeding business may charge anywhere from $500 to $3,000 for each puppy. Where a puppy falls within this price range usually depends on the pedigree of the puppy’s parents and how much care the breeder puts into breeding their dogs. Responsible breeders, for instance, won’t breed dogs who have behavioral problems or genetic health issues. Breeders must be able to cover the potential costs of having such a dog.

How much profit can a dog breeding business make?

How much a dog breeding business can make depends on the quality of its dogs and how many litters it breeds in a year. A high-end breeder may have just four litters a year, but sell their dogs for $2,500 each. If each litter had six dogs, the business would have an annual revenue of $60,000. A low-budget breeder who doesn’t have the same quality of dogs may only sell theirs for $800 each. To make the same amount, they’d need more than 12 litters of six dogs each.

How can you make your business more profitable?

A dog breeding business can increase its revenue by entering dogs in shows and winning. This not only adds prestige to the business, but it also lets the business breed award-winning dogs that will have puppies with better pedigrees.

Day-to-Day and Growth

What happens during a typical day at a dog breeding business?

A dog breeding business involves caring for all dogs, including both adult dogs that are bred together and puppies. This typically involves feeding, exercising and playing with dogs, as well as picking up after them. A business owner also puts male and female dogs together when a female is in heat and births puppies. Some business owners offer to deliver puppies to customers.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful dog breeding business?

A dog breeder needs to be familiar with the breeding process, and they have to be able to choose two dogs that are suited for each other. Additionally, they should be comfortable birthing dogs, as taking a female to a veterinarian for each birth is expensive.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has courses on genetics, breeding systems, pedigree and other topics. These courses can either be taken for free, or breeders can pay a nominal fee for an official certificate. The AKC also has a recommended reading list. PetMD has a short, but informative, slideshow on the birthing process.

Dog breeders need to know what shots and tests new puppies need. The AKC maintains a list of health testing requirements by breed.

Breeders should also become intimately familiar with the breed they’re specializing in. Reading books on the breed and joining organizations that work with the breed are ways to learn about it.

What is the growth potential for a dog breeding business?

While dog breeding businesses usually have only one location where dogs are bred, a business can sell dogs locally, regionally or nationally. A business may breed just one or two litters a year and sell them to nearby dog lovers, or they might breed hundreds (possibly thousands) of puppies and sell them throughout the country.

How and when to build a team

A dog breeding business can be run as a single-person operation, although some large breeders hire employees to help with all the dogs. Most breeders hire part-time help that assists on an as-needed basis, even if they only have a few puppies. A part-time helper can assist with births, and they can care for dogs for short periods of time so that the breeder can take occasional vacations.

Part 2 - Is a Dog Breeding business the right fit for you?

Part 3 - Action plan to launch your Dog Breeding business in 90 days