The Real Costs of a Puppy
Costs to a Breeder:
Elbow & Hip x-rays $150 - $450
CERF (eye test) $35
Heart test $40 - $300
von Willebrand's test $99
DNA profiling $40
Championship $500 - $3000
Cost per litter $1500 - $5000+
Planning a breeding includes many other costs, in time and emotional efforts. Puppies kept for potential breeding that didn't measure up to that breeder's standards. For conscientious breeders, money is not made on puppies. They do it to try to produce better and healthier Berner puppies.
Costs of Genetic Diseases:*
Hip Dysplasia (one hip) $1000-$4000 for diagnosis and surgery
Elbow Dysplasia(one elbow) $1000-$4000 for diagnosis and surgery
Entropion $1000-$2000 for surgery to correct eyelid problem (can lead to blindness if left uncorrected, sometimes takes multiple surgeries)
Sub-aortic Stenosis $800 for diagnosis
$3500 or more for heart surgery
von Willebrand's $65 for blood test prior to surgery,
$100 for transfusion if vWD positive
*(which reputable breeders work to minimize - ask us how!)
Total: Purchase price + $1260 to $11,855 for a healthy wellbred pup for just the first year. As much as an additional $14,465 for all of the genetic based problems. (It would be very unusual to have all of these problems, one or two do occur in one dog with some frequency).
Normal First Year Costs
Food $200 - $1200
Veterinary care:
Checkups and vaccines $150 - 250
Fleas, heartworm preventives $80
Neuter $80 - $250
Oh no, he's limping! $25 - $800
Egad, he ate my panty hose! $25 - $2500
He's scratching! $25 - $500
License, AKC, local, microchip $50
Obedience class $75
Supplies: $150 - $500
Dog bowls, leash, collars, unused dog bed, baby gate, etc
Toys (trust me) $50 - $500
Replacement for chewed rug/chair/etc $?
New vacuum $150 - ?
Better air conditioning/more servicing $?
Fencing $200-$5000
New car for big dogs $?
New house with bigger yard $?
The Real Costs of a Puppy
Bernese Mountain Dog Info Pages