Determining The Price of Our Puppies
Here at Hoekema Homestead Goldens you are buying into a whole program, not just purchasing a puppy.
Here is the break down of everything involved that goes into producing our pups.
***This is NOT the price of our pups***
***all that is included please go directly to our puppies page***
MORE THAN A PUPPY - The Investment Behind Our Program
When you look at the price of a puppy from Hoekema Homestead Goldens, you are not simply looking at the cost of raising
one puppy for eight weeks. You are looking at the investment behind everything that had to happen before that puppy ever existed.
A responsible breeding program is built over years—not weeks.
It begins with carefully researching pedigrees, bloodlines, structure, temperament, health history and genetic diversity. It means making thoughtful decisions about which dogs will become part of the program and, just as importantly, recognizing when a dog should not become part of the program.
Our breeding dogs represent a significant investment. Quality breeding prospects can cost $10,000 or more, and that is only the beginning. Some prospects never make it to breeding because health, structure, temperament, development or other considerations tell us that they are not the right fit. Those expenses don't disappear simply because a dog doesn't ultimately produce a litter.
Then come the health clearances, genetic testing, OFA evaluations, PennHIP testing, reproductive care, veterinary appointments, nutrition, preventative care, equipment and everything required to maintain healthy, well-cared-for adult dogs year after year.
And then there is the part that cannot be measured by a receipt:
The time, effort, lack of vacations or family time, the planning, research, sleepless nights, early mornings,
the emergency trips to the veterinarian, the constant monitoring, endless cleaning and laundry. The puppy evaluations, individual attention, socialization/desensitization/handling, training. The countless decisions made every single day with the puppies' futures in mind.
Our puppies don't simply grow up until they are old enough to leave. They are intentionally raised with passion, care and love.
From the beginning, they are exposed to age-appropriate experiences designed to help them develop into confident,
adaptable companions. That includes Early Neurological Stimulation, different surfaces, sounds, textures, household activity,
grooming, crate introduction, potty training, water exposure, enrichment, problem-solving, environmental changes and individual handling.
We watch, observe, monitor, assess and work with them extremely closely.
You receive a puppy backed by our health practices, our health guarantee, veterinary care, vaccinations, deworming, microchipping,
AKC Limited Registration, preparation for life beyond our home, and continued breeder support. But perhaps most importantly, you become part of something much bigger than a transaction. You become family.
We want to know how your puppy is doing. We want to see the photos. We want to hear about the goofy things they do. We want to be there when you have questions. And we want to continue watching these puppies grow into the dogs we worked so hard to raise.
So, how do we determine the price of our puppies?
We don't determine it by looking only at what it costs to feed and care for a puppy for eight weeks. That would leave out the overwhelming majority of what goes into producing a thoughtfully bred, health-tested, intentionally raised Golden Retriever.
The price reflects the entire investment in the program—the breeding dogs, the health testing, veterinary and reproductive care, nutrition, equipment, facilities, education, research, puppy development, socialization, training, time,
labor and years of building a program with standards we believe in.
It also reflects the reality that not every expense produces a puppy.
Sometimes a dog is raised, tested, evaluated and ultimately doesn't become part of the breeding program.
Sometimes a breeding doesn't take. Sometimes a litter requires unexpected veterinary care. Sometimes a puppy needs additional attention or intervention. We step up to every single one of these situations. Those are all part of responsible breeding, and they are part of the cost of maintaining a program that puts the health and welfare of our dogs and puppies first.
This is why comparing puppy prices based solely on the puppy itself isn't necessarily an apples-to-apples comparison.
Two puppies may both be eight weeks old, both be Golden Retrievers and both go home with registration papers—but the amount of work, health testing, planning, guarantees, experience and care behind them can be dramatically different.
At Hoekema Homestead Goldens, you are not purchasing a puppy from a production line.
You are investing in a carefully built breeding program. You are investing in the dogs who came before your puppy. You are investing in the health testing and decisions that went into creating the litter. You are investing in the countless hours spent raising, evaluating, socializing and preparing your puppy. And you are investing in the knowledge, support and commitment that continue long after your puppy leaves our care. You are not simply paying for a puppy. You are investing in the work, standards, knowledge, time and values behind that puppy.
And that is what your puppy's price represents.
Dog breeding is becoming more and more difficult in today’s times. Food, care items and medical expenses top the list for breeders trying to keep puppies affordable on creating the perfect healthy family pet.
THE "COST" OF RAISING A PUPPY IN TODAY'S ECONOMY IS:
$1,800 to 3,500
(This is NOT the price of our pups, only what the cost of raising them is)
We plan our breeding's out months even years in advance. As much as natural breedings are ideal and easier, it’s not always feasible for many reasons. We are at times forced to breed by technology using Progesterone testing to target the perfect conception date, in some cases FedEx to ship the semen from point A to B, and Ultrasound to determine pregnancy. This all costs money to do it right. Then once the dam is pregnant we wait to 58 days for an xray to see if she will be able to have them naturally or need a C-Section. Once the puppies are here our puppy jobs begin…., sleeping by mama for most often days afterwards, potty and crate training starting at 4 weeks, mass amounts of laundry, no rest for the weary and then socializing, leash training, puppy testing and more laundry. We finally get to have a full night sleep around the 4th week. It is a monumental task to do it right and keep everyone healthy and happy. Then back to the vets to make sure everyone’s heart is beating correctly and review their overall health.
Here at the Hoekema Homestead we believe in:
* Raising puppies with constant attention from us and our children to obtain the best social skills as adults as possible
* Purina Pro Plan Lamb & Rice puppy food and Purina Pro Plan Salmon & Rice Dog Food
* NuVET Daily Vitamins, immune system boosters and Joint and bone supplements
* Early Neurological stimulation
* Potty/Crate Training starting at 4 weeks old
* Socializing with adults, children & Babies, other adult dogs and animals here on our property to obtain good social skills.
* Temperament and conformation testing at 7 weeks.
All our dogs here are used to being right in the mix of helping to raise puppies. This makes it easier for the puppy to go to their new home where he/she might be the 2nd dog coming into a house hold. They learn quickly how to interact with another adult besides there mother.
My hope as a buyer, you can grasp how we arrive at our asking price of our puppies and how difficult our jobs of trying to keep a quality puppy affordable to the average family. There is a difference between good breeders and not so good breeders just like everything else in life.
COSTS OF BREEDING A LITTER
DAMS: The average cost of buying a top quality female from solid lines is $5,500-10,000 +
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BREEDING COSTS:
• Vet Check on Dam Blood Work/test for Infections $200
• Timing/Progesterone Tests $140 per test/3-6 Tests per Breeding $420 to $840
STUD DOG FEE:
• $2,000 to $3,500
SHIPPING SEMEN EXPENSES:
• A. Fresh Chilled Semen (X2)Canine Shipping Box; Semen Extender; Ice ( these charges are if your stud dog owner packages it. More $ if a vet prepares it for shipping) $500
• B. Frozen SemenTank Rental; Preparation Fee; Tank Return $400 to $600
Plus Shipping Fees: FedEx; UPS; Airplane-Counter to Counter; $200-600.00
• SEMEN INSEMINATION: (Pick one: A. B. C. or D. Expenses)
A. Natural breeding, driving to Stud Dogs Location xxx.xx
B. Artificial Insemination (A-I) If performed by a Vet $150 to 600
C. Transervical"Vet Procedure" (usually inseminated twice) $500 to 800.
D. Surgical"Vet Procedure" $1,000 to 1,500
Ultrasound to Confirm Pregnancy $60.00 to 200.
• BREEDING TOTAL: (NO PUPPIES YET) $2,580.- 11,500.00
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CARING FOR DAM & PUPPIES: (Not including cost of whelping box)
• Dam (gestation through whelping) Extra Food and supplements for Dam: $500
• Whelping Natural-Cesarean $0 to 6,500.
• Post Whelping Vet Check $150 to 350
• Whelping Supplies: Bedding, Oxytocin/Vet on call, Extra towels, Pedialyte, Formula for supplemental feedings, Puppy Collars, Heating Source, Disinfectants $800 to 1,200.
• Washing and More Washing. Bedding is washed Daily $200
• Raising Puppies Food, Bedding, potty material, Toys, Pens, Possible Pet Sitter, Worming Supplies $1500 and up
• Vet (when there is no problems) Vaccinations, Microchip, Health Checks $80 x 8 = 640.00
SUB TOTAL: LOW TO HIGH $3,790- 9,040
• No value on the lack of sleep involved with this all
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GRAND TOTAL: LOW TO HIGH $7,270 to 19,755
Divided by just 4 puppies. Cost of 1 puppy $1,817 to $4,939
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Other costs
Housing, yard fencing, ground material, setup, maintenance fees, parasite control, replacement puppy items???
Cost of raising a potential mom of puppies from birth to adulthood???
Time into studying the breed standard, pedigrees, current health issues, genetic concerns, New testing requirements, temperament, training, availability to clients for questions, etc.....
This is just an average cost of raising a small litter of 4 pups.
I do all this with an extreme passion to give back. Give back to the breed and to give back to you. There are an mass amount of trials and tribulations in the business that can arise and that I have gone through over the years. My heart has been broken but has also grown abundantly but because I love what I do. When I see the joy on your face when I am able to place just one fuzzy fur baby in your arms, it’s all worth it in the end.
I HOPE THIS PUTS THE COST VS PRICE WE CHARGE FOR A PUPPY IN PERSPECTIVE.