Thinking about adopting a Goldendoodle? In this video, I talk about the TRUE cost of adopting and owning a Goldendoodle.
Okay, so I did a ton of research for you guys, and in general, a Goldendoodle from a reputable breeder can cost as low as 950 all the way to 4 or 5K. This all depends on the quality and reputation of the breeder, and how much socialization they are doing before they go home.
Some breeders will even start the potty training process for you, which is awesome, but definitely comes at a price.
Goldendoodle are divided into what is called “Generation Types.” These are the three-generation types:
- An F1 generation Goldendoodle: Purebred Golden Retriever + Purebred Poodle.
- F1B generation Goldendoodle: F1 Goldendoodle + a Poodle of any size (this is where the “mini Goldendoodles” come from)
- F2 generation Goldendoodles:
- A mix of two F1 Goldendoodles or
- An F1 and F1B Goldendoodles
It’s worth mentioning…
There’s also an AWESOME rescue called Bunny’s Buddies that can rescue ANY breed for you from Korea and China. Sadly, a lot of dogs are given up there (just like in the US) BUT there is a LEGAL dog meat trade there, where THEY say the meat tastes better through torturing the dogs. If you CAN rescue from them, I’d highly encourage it… My pup Ziggy is a rescue and I can say rescuing is a very rewarding experience.
Ok. So now you know how much a Goldendoodle costs just to adopt; however, the cost of the dog is a very small percentage of what you will pay over time. Here are some costs you can expect to pay over the dog’s life.
- Grooming costs: Goldendoodles need to be groomed once per month unless you’re REALLY good about brushing.
- Dog food: If you plan on feeding your dog anything nutritious, you will be spending at least 70 bucks per month or more for a bigger dog. I posted a video about why Kibble is the LEAST nutritious food out there and you can check that out here.
- Vet check-ups: Your initial vet visits, shots, and check-ups can rack up as well. Here in Denver, just to SEE the vet is $65, and any test shots etc will cost more from there.
- Spaying and neutering can cost 200-300$. There are, of course, cheaper places to get it done. I am originally from Los Angeles, and we got Ziggy neutered in San Pedro for $60. My newer pup Waffles was about $500 at a reputable vet, here in Denver
- Puppy Class/Training: I recommend spending more $ and time training UP FRONT so you don’t have to spend time and $ on behavior modification later. A puppy class can be $150-200 but there are free socialization classes, use Yelp to do a quick search.
- Dog Walker/Sitter: If you work for 8 hours per day, I would highly recommend a dog walker. That can cost about $20 for a 30-minute walk. You can look at Rover.com for cheaper options for check-ins as well.
- Initial shopping: Crate, toys, bed, leash, harness, treats, etc. Expect to have a budget of $300 for these items on the very low end.
- It’s important to have SOME $ in savings just in case something DOES go wrong.
My pup waffles cracked her tooth – that was 800$ total in vet bills. Luckily I caught it early, but if I waited it could’ve cost even more.
This is not an exhaustive list…there are SO many more things you can buy for your dog – probiotics, pet insurance, prebiotics.
Anything I forgot? Let me know in the comments below!