DT,
Here is my .02 cents. The first thing you need to get done are the health clearances on the dog. A minimum of hips, elbows, eyes, and EIC. The dog will need to be microchipped before you can have them cleared, if she isn't already. If you get passing grades on everything, then you need to look to potential costs for the litter. Talk to your vet about the cost of emergency c sections, puppy vaccinations, dew claw removal, etc. also look at the cost of weening puppies, and taking care of them if you don't find a home for all the puppies you had planned on selling.
One other question you had was is it worth it to breed your dog to a NFC? That all depends on who your wanting to sell the dogs to, and what your breeding them for. An NFC stud is going to cost a lot more to breed to, than your average house dog. It also is going to attract a different group of buyers. A lot of people who want a house dog, are turned off at the price of a nicely pedigreed working dog. They don't understand the titles, and don't often care. They just know they can get a dog for half the price if they check the Sunday newspaper. There is nothing wrong with that either, titles don't automatically make a better dog. However, titles do increase the price of a litter, they do curry favor towards a good working dog, and they do attract a different buyer. That buyer is usually someone who understands titles, understands the breed better, and is looking for a certain bloodline, certain breeding pair, color, drive, pedigree, health clearances, etc. That buyer is usually much more educated and picky. They often want to titles on both sire and dam, and want to look back at their grandparents and so forth. They may want to see the dog hunt or run in a field trial or hunt test. I would encourage you to get your ducks in a row, look at the pedigree of both dogs, get the health clearances done, and start putting feelers out to see how well you could sell the litter if your dog had one.
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Originally Posted by marsh chicken
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