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WHY DO PUPPIES COST SO MUCH?

EXCELLENT QUESTION!
I never asked myself this question when I first bought Mississippi and Texas. I wanted the best genetically healthy puppy I could find, and I couldn't put a price tag on my dog's health.....but I never put any thought into why it costs so much for a puppy until now.

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Purchasing a dog is an Investment

A dog is a part of your family, he's your friend, he's your partner.
Think about some of the things you invest in during your life. A home, truck, utv, snowmobile, ETC.
How much is the price tag? How much are your monthly payments? What is the cost of maintenance?
While still not comparable to a living being, there are costs, with just about anything in life.
If you look at the average dog and price, you're looking at about $1,500 over the course of 10 years.
That's about $12.50 a month
Not bad for that investment in your new family member who will be your loyal devoted companion for years to comes

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​Just a few facts of what goes into a healthy Labrador litter.
(NOT PUPPY MILLED)

The average time spent on a litter is 900 hours sometimes even 1200 hours.
 That's anywhere from 112 hours to 140 hours a week!
All of our dogs that we have purchased cost an average of $3,000 per dog
(Our pups are sold at about half the price of  just one parent)
All of our dogs are extensively health tested
​All pups are guaranteed
​100% Breeder Support

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 The Cost of Raising 2 Dogs (Parents) for 16 Months 
Parents- $3,000 (Genetically cleared from all 190 common Labrador diseases) It's about quality not quantity for me. 2 dogs = $6, 000
Training-$750 per month with a minimum of 6 months per dog = $9,000  (Sit....Sit......Siiiit....I SAID SIT!!!)
Training Collars- Because I only need to say sit ONCE and I can make them sit a mile away $600 
Hunting Equipment- Dog blinds, decoys (training), vests =$800
AKC Registration- $160 
Embark and OFA ~ $1,160
Vet Bills- $3,600 out of pocket (Foam Balls are Highly Toxic, and turn to glue after digested, and then hardens before it can get out)
Pet Insurance- $130 per month for 2 dogs = $2,080 
NuVet- Vitamins to keep our dogs healthy and avoid any allergies and skin/coat issues $400
Dog Food- at a lower end price per bag of $35 (28lbs) it comes to $1500
Chewy.com- Toys, treats, grooming, collars, leashes = $3,200 (Chewy Loves Me, The Delivery Guy....NOT SO MUCH)
Kennels- Small crates, large crates, gates and anything else you can think of to keep them in a contained space $540 (Fort Knox couldn't keep a lab locked up)
Outdoor Kennel- 4 panels and a concrete pad $1,020
Pet Doors- Why is there a "s" at the end of door? Because they ate the first two...yep $300
Replacement Items- This area ranges from cords, clothes, and shoes, $200 baseball cleats, baseball glove, safe range of $700 most likely triple but we'll be nice here. 
​Amazon- I won't even attempt to add up my Amazon bill for a year and a half of doggy stuff.
$19,105

Keep Going We're Not Done Yet!

​​​​​Puppy Time!
Mom's visits to the vet- Ultra sounds and check ups $450
Whelping Pen- $500
Whelping Pads- $300
Birthing Equipment- Iodine, gloves, towels, thermometers, forceps, bulb suckers etc. $200
Incubators with Oxygen and Nebulizer  $2,000
Mom's special food- Puppy food, cottage cheese, yogurt, salmon oil $300
Mom's brand new A/C unit in her quiet place- she's hot and miserable and loaded with 11 puppies, $350. Her happiness, priceless.
Puppy Vet Bills- Medicine, shots, dew claws. fecal tests, office visits, Mom's care $1,400
Puppy Feeding Stations- $160
Milk Replacer- When mom finally gives up, $25 per can, 11 puppies feeding every 3 hrs for 28 days = $25 a day for 4 weeks $700
Puppy Food- The entire course of Puppy-hood (9 weeks) for 11 puppies- Puppy Smash, Puppy Mush, Wet, Dry = $300
Wet steam pressure washer ~ $3,000
Cleaning Supplies- Sanitizers, Bleach, Rolls of Paper toweling, alfalfa pellets, trays, laundry sanitizer, laundry soap, $630
Puppy Demands- Toys, slow feed bowls, chew toys, feeders, water dishes, = $350
Puppy Packages- This is what goes home with puppy= $30 x 11 = $330
Puppy Grooming- $385
Hours spent taking care of puppies runs an average of 900-1200, below is an example of 872 hours at only $15 an hour
 Puppy feedings 9-12 hrs per day $15 per hr = $135 per day for 4 weeks = $3,780
 Cleaning kennels and pens 5 hrs per day at $15 per hr = $70 per day for 10 weeks = $4,900
 Laundry duty, rides to vet, buying supplies, taking care of Mom, folding blankets, sanitizing toys, picking up poop before it gets smeared before the next cleaning, washing feeding equipment, temperatures, weigh-ins, baths, 3 hrs per day $15 per hour = $45 per day for 10 weeks = $3,150
Taking care of a sick puppy, $15 per hour (almost around the clock), 21 hrs per day for 4 days = $1,260 
I could go on and on about electric, water, heat the little things can add up so fast it's crazy but most of it's the time. Months of blood, sweat, tears, and giving everything you got to make sure your puppies are safe and healthy.
$24,365

Roughly $44,730
(give or take a large Amazon bill)
In about 16 months, to grow high quality, beautiful, healthy, genetically safe puppies. 
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The Cost Of a Jungle Lake Labrador Lodge Puppy = $1,450-$1,850
The Kisses of a Genetically Safe Jungle Lake Labrador Lodge Puppy For the Rest of His Long Doggie Years =
​ $ PRICELESS

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