How Much Do Goldendoodles Cost? 2024 Price Guide

Goldendoodles are among the most popular dog breeds right now, despite being a mixed breed that isn’t recognized by any dog club. As a “designer” dog breed, Goldendoodles can be expensive to buy, especially if they have desirable traits.

Generally, Goldendoodles cost between $2,000 and $4,000 for a puppy from a decent breeder. If you want a miniature Goldendoodle, the price averages about $2,200. Another option is to adopt a Goldendoodle from a rescue or shelter, which is generally cheaper.

 

Bringing Home a New Goldendoodle: One-Time Costs

When you’re bringing home a Goldendoodle, you must consider the cost of the puppy, as well as any additional fees and taxes. The costs can vary widely, depending on where you get your pup, your location, and its breeding

Free

Goldendoodles may be a “designer” breed, but that doesn’t stop some accidental breeding. Though rare, considering how popular these dogs are, you may get lucky with a “free to good home” listing for an accidental litter of Goldendoodles or owners rehoming a juvenile or adult Goldendoodle.

Adoption

If you find a Goldendoodle at a shelter or rescue, you usually only have to pay the adoption fee, which includes vaccinations, spaying or neutering, deworming, and other veterinary care. Shelters have different adoption fees, but it’s generally cheaper than buying a puppy from a breeder. You also have a lot of the dog’s initial veterinary costs covered with that fee.

Breeder

Breeders know that Goldendoodles are popular right now, so they charge for them accordingly. These puppies typically go for $2,000 to $4,000 dollars, but you could pay more or less. Puppy mills, which often produce low-quality puppies with health problems and behavioral problems, look to unload dogs quickly and price them to move. Reputable breeders that conduct health checks on their dogs and select appropriately for good temperaments and health will often charge more and may even include some of the puppy’s initial veterinary care in the price.

Initial Setup and Supplies

Once you adopt or buy your Goldendoodle, you will have costs for supplies like a collar and leash, food and water bowls, a crate, dog beds and blankets, toys, and veterinary care.

List of Goldendoodle Care Supplies and Costs

How Much Does a Goldendoodle Cost Per Month?

Your monthly costs for a Goldendoodle include ongoing veterinary care, food, medications, and pet insurance if you choose to insure your pet. Grooming is another aspect of maintaining your Goldendoodle’s health, but you can choose to groom your dog yourself or pay a professional.

Health Care

Health care is the most important factor in your pup living a long and healthy life. Along with veterinary care, you will need to provide high-quality food and regular grooming (either yourself or professional grooming). You may also wish to get pet insurance for your pup, which can help you prepare for unexpected expenses or major health conditions.

Food

Goldendoodles need high-quality food to stay healthy. Depending on the size, you may need a lot of food each month to feed your Goldendoodle, which can add up. A puppy will need to be on puppy food for at least a year before transitioning onto an adult maintenance diet.

Grooming

Goldendoodles are purportedly “hypoallergenic.” This doesn’t mean they can’t trigger allergies, but the term is often used to describe dogs that shed minimally and have low-maintenance grooming requirements. They do have a double coat that needs brushing at least once a week. They’ll also need baths every few months and regular nail trimming and ear cleaning. If you groom your dog at home, rather than relying on a professional, you can expect to spend about $30 on grooming supplies that will last a while. Professional grooming is more expensive and can cost $50 to $75 per month.

Medications and Vet Visits

During the first year of the puppy’s life, it’s important to take it to the vet for bi-annual wellness exams, vaccinations, deworming, spay or neuter, bloodwork, and preventative care. Goldendoodles are prone to several health conditions, including skin conditions, Addison’s disease, cataracts, and heart conditions. These can be expensive to treat, so keeping up with regular exams to catch problems early can prevent bigger expenses in the future.

Below are examples of subheadings to cover. Focus on common monthly charges rather than annual. Feel free to add/subtract subheadings that you find relevant to the pet you’re covering.

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is a great way to budget for your veterinary expenses and prepare for emergencies, which can be costly. The monthly premiums can vary by the insurance company you choose and your plan. Preventative coverage or specialty coverage will increase your premium, so be sure to review your plan options carefully.

Environment Maintenance

In terms of regular upkeep, dogs are fairly low maintenance. You will need poop bags to keep up with your dog on walks. If you have a yard, you can get a poop scoop for about $10 to make cleanup easier and more convenient. You may also want deodorizing spray, especially with a puppy that’s more likely to have accidents, to discourage marking and keep your home smelling fresh.

Entertainment

Your dog will need entertainment and enrichment in the form of toys or playtime throughout its life, not just as a pup. You will need more toys for your dog during its puppy years, particularly for chewing and teething. As your dog ages, you may want to get more challenging toys for mental stimulation, such as interactive toys, robust chew toys, treat-dispensing toys, and more, all of which keep your dog entertained and well-adjusted.

If you need professional services like dog walking, pet sitting, boarding, or training, your monthly costs will go up. Puppy obedience classes are recommended for your Goldendoodle puppy, but you can continue training into adulthood to teach your dog skills like advanced obedience, agility, or rally.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Goldendoodle

As you can see, your costs can vary significantly depending on the extra supplies and services you choose. The most important aspect of your pet budget is health care, including high-quality food.

Additional Costs to Factor In

There are a lot of additional expenses that may come up throughout your dog’s life, including emergency vet visits that can cost thousands of dollars. You may also need to treat a chronic health condition, which can add hundreds of dollars each month to your expenses.

Other expenses may vary according to your lifestyle and schedule. Even if you don’t require daycare or a dog walker regularly, you may need these services when you’re going away for work or vacation. Dog training is another possible expense if your dog develops behavioral problems that require professional help. You should also consider security deposits if you rent an apartment or home.

As your dog ages, some of your expenses may change. Your dog may require special prescription diets, more frequent vet visits, and extra supplies like diapers, potty pads, or mobility aids like ramps. You should also consider end-of-life care, including euthanasia and cremation, which can cost between $400 and $1,000.

Owning a Goldendoodle on a Budget

Owning a dog isn’t cheap, but there are ways that you can reduce your monthly expenses without compromising your dog’s care. Optional expenses like pet boarding, daycare, and grooming are just a few of the expenses you can cut back on to make your dog’s costs more manageable.

Veterinary care and high-quality food are expenses that you shouldn’t compromise on. Preventative care is one of the best ways to avoid major expenses in the future. You can cut back on other areas, such as making your own toys instead of buying expensive toys and relying on friends or family to walk your dog during the day rather than a professional walker.

Saving Money on Goldendoodle Care

One of the best ways to manage your dog’s expenses is with pet insurance. You can get pet insurance that covers major medical expenses for a low monthly premium, sometimes as low as $30 per month. Some pet insurance companies offer special coverage for preventative care, alternative treatments, pet boarding, behavioral training, and more. It’s important to consider your options to determine what works best for your budget.

 

Conclusion

Goldendoodles are a highly desirable dog breed, but they can be expensive. In addition to $2,000 to $4,000 to buy a Goldendoodle puppy, you will need to invest in supplies, veterinary care, food, and grooming to keep your pup healthy. There are many optional expenses, such as pet sitting or boarding, training, and pet insurance, to consider before bringing your pup home.

• See Also: F1 vs F1B Goldendoodle: Key Differences (With Pictures)

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Featured Image Credit: Jennifer McCallum, Shutterstock