Dog Breed

No doubt about it, puppies are cute! If you are a dog lover, at one point or another you have


had the urge to get a puppy. Or perhaps your kids are begging to get a puppy. However, If you


are really serious about your dream of becoming a top quality dog breeder and have no interest


in breeding your dog "just once, just for fun", then you need to know a typical scenario describing


a breeder's activities and investments.

Here is a partial list of the kind of expenses that are to be expected if you are a serious breeder


of Great Danes. It really isn't much different with any other breed, though, because each breed


has its own particular health idiosyncrasies. I'm not even going to bring up the expense of


building, equipping, heating and lighting a kennel, nor property and liability insurance costs,


property taxes, zoning approval and depreciation and repairs!

1.) Your Great Dane needs to be registered through OFA-Orthopedic Foundation for Animals.


These x-rays show the hip joints and associated bony components and any deviations from


normal. If your dog doesn't pass, don't breed. This registry can not be done until the Dane is


2 years old (when the growth period is complete), so if you have a puppy, use this time to visit


the show or obedience ring and put some titles on. The OFA procedure requires deep sedation


or light anesthesia to execute properly and may cost you in the neighborhood of $150.00.


Another procedure, called the PENN HIP procedure is also used to evaluate the hips. This is


a fairly new method of showing any laxity of the hips, the dog should score high and well above


the medium.

2.) CERF- this is the registry of eye quality; a Board Certified Veterinary Specialist in Ophthalmology


must examine the eyes for any hereditary defects. Costs approximately $30.00 per year and


does have to be updated. (The specialist will charge you for the exam, too.)

3.) Cardiac- The heart evaluation needs to be run by a Board Certified Cardiologist usually at


a University and needs to be updated yearly also. Costs approximately $100.00

4.) Thyroid Function- This blood test can be done through your local veterinary hospital and is


a one-time evaluation... Costs approximately $50.00 to $80.00.

5.) DNA and Microchip are very important. These need to be registered through AKC (The


American Kennel Club) and are a must if you plan on using Artificial Insemination. DNA profile


and Microchip expenses vary greatly.

6.) Brucellosis- This test needs to be run prior to each breeding. It will show if the male or female


are carriers of this sexually transmitted disease. Costs approximately $40.00 to $80.00.

7.) Finally, take your dog to the veterinarian for any vaccinations and a preventative worming


before your dog is to be bred. Of course, male dogs can't transmit intestinal parasites or viral


diseases to the pups like the dam might. But his health is vitally important nonetheless.