Did this litter actually make money? The breeder's cost tally

Most breeders do not know their real cost per litter, and most would be surprised if they ran the numbers. Here is the honest way to find out.

One sheet per litter, started before the mating

Open a single expense sheet the moment you decide on the breeding, not after the puppies go home. Every litter gets its own. Columns are simple: date, category, amount, notes. A running total column keeps you honest in real time, because seeing the figure climb each week is the whole point.

The categories breeders forget

• Health testing done before the breeding
• Stud fee, or semen transport and collection costs
• Progesterone testing and ultrasounds
• Whelping supplies and equipment
• The dam's extra food through pregnancy and nursing
• Vet bills, the biggest line on almost every litter
• Microchips and registration fees
• Advertising and listing fees

Log each expense as it happens. Tallying from memory at the end misses a third of the spend. Receipts in a shoebox are better than nothing; entries in the sheet on the day are best.

Read the number without flinching

When the last puppy goes home, total both sides. You may include your own time at zero if you like, but do not pretend the litter cost nothing because you enjoyed it. Knowing your real cost per litter is what lets you set puppy prices fairly and decide whether the next breeding makes financial sense. Breeders who track this consistently make better decisions; breeders who do not are guessing. Run the numbers once and you will never go back to guessing.

Prefer paper? The Breeder Records Pack has printable litter sheets, weight logs and checklists for $17.

This guide is for informational and record-keeping purposes only, not financial advice. Every breeding programme's costs and circumstances differ.