One of the most common questions I receive is: “How much are your puppies?”
Sometimes the question arrives as a single-line email. Sometimes it is a Facebook message. Occasionally, after hearing the price, the response is:
“I can buy one cheaper elsewhere.”
My answer is always the same.
You absolutely can.
However, what you are buying may be very different from what I spend my life breeding.
As a preservation breeder of Pomeranians for more than 50 years, I believe it is important for puppy buyers to understand what goes into producing a healthy, well-bred purebred puppy.
Many people see an eight-week-old puppy and assume they are paying for eight weeks of food and care.
The reality is very different.
A responsibly bred puppy represents decades of experience, years of planning, countless hours of work, and a substantial financial investment long before the puppy is even conceived.
Breeding Starts Long Before Puppies Are Born
At Dochlaggie Pomeranians, every breeding is carefully planned.
I do not simply put two dogs together and hope for the best.
The sire and dam are selected based on their health, temperament, structure, pedigree, and how they complement one another. My goal is always to preserve and improve the Pomeranian breed while producing healthy, sound puppies that conform to the breed standard.
Many of my dogs have championship titles. They have been evaluated by specialist judges and proven in the show ring. Showing dogs is not about collecting ribbons. It is about having independent experts assess breeding stock and confirm they possess the qualities we want to preserve for future generations.
I have also imported dogs from overseas at enormous expense because I believe genetic diversity is important. Importing quality breeding stock from countries such as Lithuania, Japan, Russia, and other parts of Europe helps reduce reliance on closely related bloodlines and strengthens the future of the breed in Australia.
These imports can cost tens of thousands of dollars before they ever produce a single puppy.
The Rising Cost of Veterinary Care
The cost of breeding responsibly has increased dramatically in recent years.
Since Covid, veterinary costs have risen significantly across Australia.
There is also a shortage of veterinarians, particularly those experienced in canine reproduction. Finding a veterinarian who understands breeding dogs, fertility issues, pregnancy management, and neonatal puppy care has become increasingly difficult.
Breeders often travel long distances to access specialist reproductive services.
Pregnancy ultrasounds, progesterone testing, semen collection, fertility assessments, artificial insemination procedures, emergency treatment, and caesarean sections all add significantly to the cost of producing a litter.
A middle-of-the-night emergency caesarean section can cost thousands of dollars.
Sometimes despite every precaution, things still go wrong.
Responsible breeders accept these costs because the welfare of their dogs always comes first.
Health Testing and DNA Profiling
Today’s ethical breeders do far more health testing than breeders did decades ago.
At Dochlaggie Pomeranians, DNA profiling has become an important part of our breeding program. Puppies are DNA profiled before leaving for their new homes, and parentage can be verified.
Health testing, veterinary examinations, vaccinations, microchipping, worming programs, registration fees, and health certificates all contribute to the overall cost of producing a puppy.
These procedures are not optional extras.
They are part of responsible breeding.
Raising Puppies Is a Full-Time Commitment
The work begins long before the puppies arrive and continues long after they leave.
When a litter is expected, sleep often becomes a luxury.
Breeders spend countless nights monitoring pregnant mothers, watching for signs of labour, and ensuring everything proceeds safely.
When puppies are born, the real work begins.
Newborn puppies require constant supervision. Some mothers need assistance. Some puppies require supplementary feeding. Occasionally puppies must be bottle-fed every few hours around the clock.
There are no days off.
No weekends.
No public holidays.
Puppies need feeding, cleaning, socialisation, monitoring, and handling every single day.
Bedding must be washed repeatedly.
Puppy pens cleaned and disinfected.
Food prepared.
Weights monitored.
Development tracked.
Potential problems identified before they become serious.
Visitors often see a cute puppy photograph.
They rarely see the hours of work that occur behind the scenes.
The Importance of Early Socialisation
Responsible breeders do much more than keep puppies alive.
We actively prepare them for life as family companions.
Puppies are exposed to household sounds, different surfaces, people, handling, grooming routines, and age-appropriate experiences that help build confidence.
These early experiences have a profound effect on a puppy’s future temperament.
A well-socialised puppy is more likely to become a confident, adaptable adult dog.
This process takes time, patience, and experience.
Registration Papers Matter
Occasionally I hear someone say:
“I don’t need papers because I only want a pet.”
What many people don’t realise is that registration papers are not simply pieces of paper.
A pedigree documents generations of ancestry.
It records bloodlines and allows breeders to research inherited traits, health concerns, and family history.
Registration helps preserve the integrity of the breed.
It is part of responsible dog breeding.
Dogs Victoria registration provides evidence that your puppy comes from documented purebred ancestry and has been bred according to established rules and regulations.
Even if you never intend to show or breed your puppy, those papers still matter.
Puppies Are Never “Just Pets”
This is perhaps the most important point of all.
No puppy is ever “just a pet.”
That puppy may become a child’s best friend.
A teenager’s confidant.
An elderly person’s daily companion.
A source of comfort during difficult times.
A beloved family member for the next fifteen years or more.
When I breed a litter, I know those puppies will become part of someone’s life story.
That responsibility is something I never take lightly.
Choosing the Right Home
Many people are surprised to learn that responsible breeders do not sell puppies to just anyone.
I spend considerable time speaking with prospective owners because I want my puppies placed in homes where they will be loved, valued, and cared for throughout their lives.
The right home is far more important than the quickest sale.
Sometimes this means saying no.
Sometimes it means recommending that a family wait for a future litter.
Sometimes it means suggesting a different puppy may be a better fit.
My responsibility is not simply to sell puppies.
My responsibility is to make good matches between puppies and people.
A Lifetime Commitment
One thing that distinguishes reputable breeders from commercial puppy sellers is lifelong support.
When a Dochlaggie puppy leaves my home, that relationship does not end.
I remain available to answer questions, provide guidance, and support owners whenever needed.
If circumstances change and an owner can no longer keep one of my dogs, I will always help.
Every puppy I breed remains part of the Dochlaggie family.
So, How Much for a Puppy?
When you purchase a puppy from a reputable preservation breeder, you are not simply paying for a dog.
You are investing in generations of careful breeding decisions.
You are investing in health testing, DNA profiling, veterinary care, socialisation, and responsible husbandry.
You are investing in decades of knowledge and experience.
Most importantly, you are investing in a breeder who has dedicated their life to preserving and protecting the breed they love.
Ethical breeding has never been more expensive, more challenging, or more time-consuming than it is today.
Yet responsible breeders continue because we care deeply about our dogs and the future of our breed.
At Dochlaggie Pomeranians, every puppy represents more than fifty years of dedication to the Pomeranian.
That is something no bargain puppy can ever offer.
— Denise Leo
Dochlaggie Pomeranians
Preservation Breeder Since 1975
Dogs Victoria Member 3000160330
Copyright Denise Leo. All Rights Reserved
