Breeding has always been a part of the human-animal relationship and although we are in a “rescue crisis” in South Africa (and worldwide) due to the overpopulation and irresponsible breeding of companion animals, it is even more important to talk about the ethics of breeding and what responsible breeding looks like. It is also our responsibility as the public, to educate ourselves on what is ethical breeding and how we can ensure that we only support ethical breeders.

Crucial to ethical breeding is ensuring only healthy specimens are used for breeding. Health should always take preference over aesthetic traits. Further, it is the responsibility of the breeder to screen potential buyers to ensure that the pets will be well-cared for and that the pets are a match for the lifestyle of the puppy buyer. This practice along with their responsibility for the puppy until its natural death, will minimize the risk of pets ending up in shelters or in the hands of owners who do not understand the needs of the breed.

Often pet owners complain about the cost of a pedigree dog or cat. But have you ever considered what goes into being a reputable and ethical breeder?

Let’s break down the cost of breeding:

1 To register as a KUSA member, is R727 per year. There will be a once-off joining fee of R411. *

2 To register a puppy with KUSA is around R450 per puppy and the cost will go down if the breeder registers more than 6 puppies in one litter. The first transfer to an owner is free with only postage payable. When a “breeder” tells you it’s your choice whether you want your puppy registered or not and if you decide not, they will give you a discount, see that as a RED FLAG. If you are buying from a KUSA-registered breeder, insist on having your puppy registered and the certificate sent to you. This is another way that you can be assured that the minimum health tests have been done for the sire and dam. Regardless if the puppy is breed standard or pet quality, they should be registered.

3 Hips and elbow X- Rays at Onderstepoort, depending on breed size is around R2800 for large breeds. Some vets can do them as well and then the cost could be higher. The X-Rays must be done in a specific way and certified by a veterinary radiologist to confirm the grade of the hips and elbows.

4 Genetic tests are around R550 per test depending on the breed, but let's say on average 4 genetic tests per breed. This will vary depending on the specific breed requirements and some breeds require up to 9 tests, while others only have 1.

5 KUSA also requires that all dogs have a DNA profile submitted. The DNA profile cost is around R250.

6 Vet visits, sonar and wellness checks for mum - again that will be dependant on the vet and the breed and whether the female is healthy, which she should be if it’s an ethical breeder.

7 A whelping box or frame is a once-off cost. That cost varies depending on what the breeder decides to use.

8 Old towels, blankets and soft bedding - FREE

9 Puppies are dewormed from 2 weeks old - the breeders do that themselves - cost is negligible.

10 Healthy puppies should have their first vet visit around 6-7 weeks. The vet will do a complete health check, vaccinate, and microchip. Some breeders like to wait until 8-12 weeks to chip. This fine, as long as it's done. A follow-up vaccination is at 9 weeks. On average the cost for 2 vaccinations and a microchip is R1200** per puppy. Of course, it depends if the vet visits the litter at home or if the pups are brought in to the vet surgery.

11 Toys for the puppies. At the discretion of the breeder.

12 Blankets and other gifts for the pups when they go home – cost is dependent on where you buy and the quality.

13 The cost of the puppy food will vary, but it is recommended to use good quality puppy food for the pups and the dam. Some breeders now raise their pups on raw food, which is fantastic.

14. Of course stud fees are also part of the breeding cost which is usually equal the cost of a breed-standard puppy.

Some breeders import semen or dogs from overseas. This is expensive and can hit costs of up to R60 000 and more. Litter sizes from frozen semen are generally smaller.

Semen collection is dependent on breed but the cost is about R5000 depending on how many times the male’s semen has to be frozen. Storage of that semen is about R8 per straw per year. Multiple straws with a male’s semen will be stored.

Artificial insemination must be done by a fertility specialist and is expensive. This could be done from warm semen, where the sire is present. Seed is taken and the female is inseminated immediately. The alternative is frozen semen, where the male does not have to be present.

Complications can arise from pregnancy and birth and in some cases, an emergency caesarian needs to be performed. This is expensive and usually not covered by pet insurance. For that matter, any costs related to breeding will not be covered by pet insurance policies.

A litter of puppies might get sick or get the Parvo virus. It is always encouraged that a puppy buyer must be able to visit puppies during their time with the breeder, but you need to understand that your presence has serious health consequences for the puppies in that litter. Make sure you follow the health protocols of the breeder should you visit. Parvo is devastating for the breeder and very expensive to treat.

A breeder might also raise a puppy until the age that hips and elbows should be done, only to receive the results back that the dog has failed the test and cannot be bred according to the breed guidelines. That investment is lost and the dog should be sterilised. It is recommended that a dog not be x-rayed until at least 12 months of age, and in large breeds it could even be older. That dog must now be cared for until they pass and the breeder must start the whole process over again.

The time and effort the breeder puts into raising the puppies - PRICELESS!

A breeder that is committed to raising healthy, well-socialised puppies will spend a lot of time with the puppies to ensure they are socialised, healthy, well-adjusted dogs. It is therefore crucial that you as the puppy buyer have close communication with the breeder and understand how your puppy is raised. The puppies go through various phases and the breeder will be hands-on during each phase, getting very little sleep during those 8-12 weeks, all to ensure the comfort of the dam as well as making sure all the puppies’ needs are met. Once pups start walking and interacting with their environment, it brings a different level of involvement, and the environment should be stimulating and safe.

An ethical breeder will have a contract with their puppy buyer, which should state that they, the breeder, will be responsible for the rescue and rehoming of their puppies, should the puppy buyer for whatever reason be unable to care for the dog any longer. Any breeder worth their salt will commit to every puppy they breed, to ensure that the puppy is safe and does not end up in a shelter, regardless of age.

Breeders will also know their breed inside out and will be the first point of call for general advice on behaviour, nutrition and health. These are skills learned from years of experience and also being passionate about their chosen breed.

As you can see, breeding and raising well-adjusted puppies are not easy, cheap, or for the fainthearted and there are many risks that the breeder will have to carry. Making decisions on the correct breeding pair after meticulously studying bloodlines and knowing what is behind the lines is another skill that is just not quantifiable. Many new breeders will seek out the mentorship of well-established ethical breeders. These are all costs that are not worked into the price of a puppy.

The breeder described above is someone who loves their dogs as their own family pets. Once the dogs no longer produce litters (it is advised no more than 4 litters per breeding female), the pets are sterilised and live their lives with their owner being spoilt, loved and cherished.

It is very difficult to bring together rescue and breeding and there are strong sentiments from the rescue community towards any breeders, regardless of the breeder being ethical. Many touting “Ban all breeding.” What we should be striving for is responsible pet ownership. That means that you and I, need to do our homework on where we get our pets from. We should sterilise our pets at the appropriate age as we have no right to have unwanted litters. Should your female dog come into season before being sterilised, owners have to be 100% vigilant on how to manage that female to prevent an unwanted litter. (Read the Blog 10 Tips to Manage a Bitch in Season).

If you are not prepared to spend 8-12 weeks raising puppies and then be responsible for their rescue and rehoming when they come into distress, then you have no business having a litter of puppies or kittens.

Do keep in mind that health testing is done once per breeding dog. The records should be sent to KUSA from the testing body and should appear on the pedigree of the sire and dam, on their updated pedigree certificate.

*Fees according to the KUSA website: www.kusa.co.za on 15 Jan 2024

**Vet fees are dependent on the vet you choose to use.