Post by Marc Gray on Jun 2, 2011 14:32:20 GMT -5
There are people out there that will accuse other people of being a "puppy mill" or something like it. If anyone legitimately is, they are truly breeding for money and unlikely to be interested in the improvement of the breed and it's admirable qualities. If people breed about like I do or less, there is very little chance that they make money in squirrel dogs. There is more money to be made in selling trained dogs but I don't do much of that either compared to many people.
That brings me to a similar point, to those that get labeled "dog jockeys". True "dog jockeys" buy and sell dogs solely for profit that most of the time are out of poor quality stock or don't do their intended job that they were bred for without disclosing all faults known. Such people rarely hunt.
So now that y'all have some background on such things...I want to share what expenses someone has when they decide to start a little hunting/breeding program like the one I have. I do have some selfish interest at the heart of what I do. I want my grandkids to be able to hunt the same line of dogs I do. At the same time, I get satisfaction out of other people enjoying this line of dogs. But when it comes down to it, I breed to make squirrel dogs not money.
Most years I breed one to two litters and feist don't have huge litters like hounds or other breeds. Traditionally, prices for squirrel dog pups have been low so the trend is to stay low. I like the fact that I am not gouging people and your reputation could be damaged if someone found out you were selling pups for "designer dog" prices afforded to other canines.
Some expenses that I thought of off the top of my head (hunting, showing and breeding):
Ammunition
Firearms
Vehicle
Dog Box (other transportation)
Clothes
Dog Food
Shots
Worming
Stud fees
Pup/Started Dog Purchase Price(s)
Time
Socialization/Handling
Obedience
Hunting Training (traps, cages, etc)
Gas (competitions and just hunting)
Registration fees (papers, hunt entries)
Organization Dues
Advertizing
Miscellaneous Veterinary Bills
So much for making a profit! I end up spending a lot of the income from my job on my little hobby. ;D
NO PUPPY MILL NOR DOG JOCKEY HERE!
That brings me to a similar point, to those that get labeled "dog jockeys". True "dog jockeys" buy and sell dogs solely for profit that most of the time are out of poor quality stock or don't do their intended job that they were bred for without disclosing all faults known. Such people rarely hunt.
So now that y'all have some background on such things...I want to share what expenses someone has when they decide to start a little hunting/breeding program like the one I have. I do have some selfish interest at the heart of what I do. I want my grandkids to be able to hunt the same line of dogs I do. At the same time, I get satisfaction out of other people enjoying this line of dogs. But when it comes down to it, I breed to make squirrel dogs not money.
Most years I breed one to two litters and feist don't have huge litters like hounds or other breeds. Traditionally, prices for squirrel dog pups have been low so the trend is to stay low. I like the fact that I am not gouging people and your reputation could be damaged if someone found out you were selling pups for "designer dog" prices afforded to other canines.
Some expenses that I thought of off the top of my head (hunting, showing and breeding):
Ammunition
Firearms
Vehicle
Dog Box (other transportation)
Clothes
Dog Food
Shots
Worming
Stud fees
Pup/Started Dog Purchase Price(s)
Time
Socialization/Handling
Obedience
Hunting Training (traps, cages, etc)
Gas (competitions and just hunting)
Registration fees (papers, hunt entries)
Organization Dues
Advertizing
Miscellaneous Veterinary Bills
So much for making a profit! I end up spending a lot of the income from my job on my little hobby. ;D
NO PUPPY MILL NOR DOG JOCKEY HERE!
