Dogs are sometimes referred to as man’s best friend and it has been said that every household should own a dog. But has anyone ever told you that you can make a fortune from breeding dogs? If you are one of those undecided about when and how to venture into dog breeding business, then this is the time to start because you are just a few steps away from hitting your goldmine.
While many people have continued to mull over how to feed their families and fulfill certain financial obligations, especially in the current state of the economy, one of the quickest ways to rise above the murky waters of financial backwardness could be dog breeding business.
For N25, 000 or less for a female puppy, one can start the business of breeding dogs and in less than one year, that same puppy would have grown into a full dog that can start producing its own puppies.
If well fed, a female German Shepherd or Rotweiler could give birth to not less than eight puppies at a time. A puppy, according to market survey could sell for as high as N35, 000 or more depending on the breed.
The demand for different kinds of breeds is on the high side and very little is known to the average Nigerian about this trade. But those who have been in the trade professionally will say that it’s surely a very high-earning business.
There are different breeds and types of dogs, all varying in size, body shape and personality. Whatever breed one decides to keep, it is usually a great fun and immensely rewarding. Regardless of the type of dogs one wants to breed for sale, there is surely a market for it.
Buying and selling dogs could be challenging when one considers the stress and attention that it requires, especially when they are less than four weeks old but the gains far outweigh the pains.
“Since you have decided to breed dogs, you should be willing to handle the mating and birthing of your dogs, which can be cumbersome and somewhat irritating,” said Sola Adeoye, a dog consultant.
He added that “The popularity of the breed, its availability, size of the puppy (Caucasians, Rottweiler and Bull Mastiffs), and colour will determine the price of the puppy. All you need is to raise the capital to start. Once you have done that, you can rest assured that there is a market waiting for your puppies out there.”
“With N30,000, one could get a female Caucasian puppy while a Rottweiler puppy is usually sold between N40, 000 to N50,000. What you need to do is to make sure the dogs are well fed and are given proper care. If I can buy a puppy for N35, 000, take care of it till it gets to a point where it would start producing puppies and you are lucky your dog gives birth to eight puppies, you can only imagine how much you would have realised at the end of the day after selling eight puppies at N50, 000 per one. It could even increase, depending on the sex of the dog,” he said.
Steps to consider when starting the business
There are a few steps to consider when starting the business but the number one thing is to have passion for rearing dogs. In fact, if one does not love dogs, the business might seem to be a challenge to you and if perhaps you love dogs so much, then you might also find it difficult to sell your dogs because of the emotional bond between you and the dogs.
Decide what type of dogs you want to breed
Dogs have a wide variety of roles, duties and significance to man. But it will be difficult to satisfy all the niches within the dog business. One can either choose to breed pet dogs or security dogs. But one must bear in mind that the way pet dogs are handled and trained is quite different from the way security dogs are trained. Also, the type of dogs one breeds should be determined by one’s environment and market demand.
Research the market for chosen breed
As a starter, one needs to study the market for that breed. How much is it in the market? Who is purchasing it? How popular and important is it compared to other breeds?. Who are your customers? Who are your competitors? How resistant are your breeds to diseases and climate conditions in one’s area? Can one’s chosen breed be sourced locally or would you have to import them? These are examples of some of the questions one must find answers to.
Create space in your home for your pups
Based on the breed you would be buying, one should be able to create space to accommodate at least two dogs at the beginning and if possible, a space for a puppy nursery. One must also make plans ahead because puppies are definitely going to grow into full-fledged dogs.
The health benefit of breeding dogs
According to Tope Adigun, a vet doctor, apart from breeding dogs to make money, dog owners are less likely to suffer from depression than non-pet owners. Even for those people who do become clinically depressed, having a pet to take care of can help them out of a depressive episode.
Doctor Adigun added that apart from the monetary gains of breeding dogs, keeping them, in some cases, can be more effective than medication.
“Since taking care of a dog requires a routine and forces one to stay at least a little active. The interaction with and love received from a dog an also help people stay positive,” he said.
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