Goldendoodle Price: Would You Pay Too Much to Get One?  

The amicable Goldendoodles are an expensive breed that averages $2,500 to $5,000, sometimes it reaches $12,000. But you can get lovely adult Goldendoodles from a shelter for an adoption fee of about $500.

Golden doodles are designer dogs that were first bred in the 1990s. North America pioneered crossing Golden Retrievers with Standard Poodles. The goal was to produce guide dogs for allergic people,

The Goldendoodle crossbreed was quite successful, and Australia soon followed suit. This breed is highly-coveted all around the globe. However, the supply rarely matches the demand, and Goldendoodles are among the most expensive dogs almost everywhere. 

Why Are Goldendoodles Pricey?

Having a rich coat that doesn’t shed too much is one of the main reasons for the Goldendoodle's popularity.

The Hypoallergenic Quality

For some time, many people even considered it a hypoallergenic dog. That was not very accurate though.

These dogs are still bred for the precious quality of not shedding heavily, in addition to all the great qualities that they inherit from their parent breeds.

Genetic Characteristics

Legit breeders, like the ones registered with the Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA), go to great lengths to produce Goldendoodles with the right genetic mix.

Added Costs of Care

Choosing the right parents and keeping a lineage pure is certainly a costly matter, but it’s not the only factor that drives the price of Goldendoodles.

There are also the added costs of veterinarian care, giving the dogs good food, providing a healthy place for them to thrive, grooming, and socializing the puppies in a proper manner.

Code of Ethics

Breeders are often bound by a code of ethics for growing and selling their puppies. This ensures that the dogs aren’t forced to breed excessively, or be dispensed with once they get too old for carrying a litter.

Scarcity

The scarcity of the Goldendoodles and the complexity of the breeding process naturally cause the prices to spike like this. A well-trained puppy from a trusted breeder could easily reach the $12,000 mark.

Rescue Goldendoodles Are More Affordable

Some people get a Goldendoodle hoping that it wouldn’t trigger their allergies. Occasionally, this works, but more often than not, it doesn’t.

These dogs usually end up in shelters as rescue dogs. A few puppies would be found there too, but that’s not too common.

Getting a rescue dog is far less expensive than buying a puppy from a registered breeder. The adoption costs range from $200 to $500, which is a fraction of the dogs’ price.

There’s a catch though, most people prefer going home with a puppy from a well-known breeder.

It’s worth mentioning here that there are some benefits that come with adopting a rescue Goldendoodle. For example, you’d see the full size of the dog. Plus, its temperament, personality, and general health.

Less Expensive Goldendoodles Aren’t Always a Catch!

Puppy mills and backyard breeders would always capitalize on the high price tag of certain breeds. The problem is that they don’t pay attention to lineage, dogs’ health, or proper socialization of the puppies.

These faux-breeders would often place ads online to sell Goldendoodle puppies for as little as $500. Some of them offer the little ones for sale at a higher price, to divert the stigma of being a puppy mill.

You should always steer clear from dealing with such traders, as they don’t treat the dogs well. The puppies often have a questionable lineage and serious health issues. They’re also much harder to train.

How to Get a Healthy and Happy Goldendoodle?

Here are some tips to make sure that your Goldendoodle puppy is happy and healthy.

• Search for a reputable breeder, preferably from the Goldendoodle Association of North America’s lists.
• If the puppy ads show only home photos, this isn’t a professional breeder.
• Ask for dog credentials and lineage certificates.
• Request medical records of the puppy and its parents.
• If your puppy or dog is a rescue, take it to the vet and check its temperament.   

The Costs of Owning a Goldendoodle

The running costs of having a Goldendoodle at home are just as expensive as its purchase price.

These dogs need proper grooming, nutritious food, and regular visits to the vet. There are a few other expenses that you should be ready for.

Food

Goldendoodles are energetic muscular dogs, with sizes that average 22-24 inches in height, with weights of around 50-70 pounds.

They need nutritious meals high in protein and vitamins. They often enjoy their treats as well, so that too should go into the food bill.

It should be noted that puppies, unwell dogs, and aging dogs have other requirements. This could add a few hundred dollars to the cost.

The annual expenses for dog food range from $800 -$2,000. You might also want to add some omega-3 supplements and other multivitamins.

Healthcare

Goldendoodles are known to suffer from hip dysplasia. Less commonly, these dogs get sebaceous adenitis, which isn’t too difficult to treat.

They’re also prone to subvalvular aortic stenosis, Addison's disease, cataracts, and glaucoma.

You should take your dog to the vet regularly for routine checking. Early diagnosis is associated with good outcomes.

Veterinary care, medicine, and vaccination cost around $2000 per year. Surgery to fix the dog’s hip dysplasia would cost a lot more. In such cases, getting pet insurance is recommended.

Grooming

Goldendoodles need to get their hair trimmed and detangled on a regular basis. This could be once every 4-8 weeks, depending on how thick and curly their coats are.

The annual cost of grooming ranges from $600 to $1,200. A professional cut along with nail trimming, plus ear and nose cleaning, could reach upward of $200.

Bed, Dog House, and Toys

Goldendoodles are territorial and they enjoy owning ‘stuff’.

You’d need to get them a dog house, crate, and bed. For going out, a harness and leash would be necessary. And for playing, chewable toys are the best. 

The sum of these amounts easily to $1,000.

Training

Goldendoodles are docile easy going dogs. They always want to please and impress their owners.

Also, these dogs are exceptionally smart, which makes training them a breeze.

Initial training costs are about $700, and they rarely need extra training for discipline or obedience.

Dog Sitting and Dog Hotels

Dog boarding costs vary significantly from place to place, but on average, you might have to pay $100 per night.

The important factor is to find a homey dog hotel that wouldn’t make your dog anxious. It should have a large enough area for the Goldendoodle to play.

Also, the dog sitter should take it out on long walks and give it plenty of fresh air.

Calvin L.

Calvin is the co-founder and one of the main contributors to dogtemperament.com. He has been an avid dog lover all his life. He enjoys researching and sharing great ideas on how you can avoid common pitfalls of dog ownership and build the most loving and enjoyable relationship with your dog.