Why Are Goldendoodles So Expensive?
It is almost impossible not to fall in love with a Goldendoodle, thanks to its adorable size, affectionate nature, and plush lion-like fur. They make great pets for first-time dog owners. Plus, they are child-friendly and adapt well to living in small spaces.
Why are Goldendoodles So Expensive?
The good things in life are neither free nor cheap, so expect to pay a pretty penny for a designer pet like the Goldendoodle. But it will be worth the price. Having a dog around is a great comfort, especially one that has been bred with the sole purpose of being a good companion to its owner.
Goldendoodle prices vary depending on the quality of the litter and the Poodle used in the breeding process. The average price for a standard or a medium Goldendoodle is approximately $2,300, whereas a miniature Goldendoodle costs approximately $2,600.
These numbers may seem steep, but they pale in comparison to the average price tag of a petite or micro Poodle.
A petite Goldendoodle costs approximately $3,600 (see our article on how much Goldendoodles cost), making it the most expensive Goldendoodle even though it is the smallest. However, these prices will differ from breeder to breeder. [List of Goldendoodle prices]
Additionally, the price of adopting a Goldendoodle ranges between $200 and $300. Proper grooming of your Goldendoodle will probably add another $80 or $90 to that amount. Proper grooming would include nail trimming, ear cleaning, bathing, and haircuts.
Once you do the math, this brings the total for purchasing a Goldendoodle to approximately $3,000. [More in some states like California]
Factors That Influence the Price of the Goldendoodle
If you’ve decided to take the leap, how would you know that you’re getting the best bang for the buck? Here are some things to consider as you compare prices for your new pet.
Time Investment
Producing a Goldendoodle is not as easy as it looks. It takes years for a breeder to have a litter of the so-called perfect Goldendoodle. Only after breeding for multiple years could a breeder produce a consistent number of Goldendoodles that meet the criteria of the average customer.
Take note that a first-generation or F1 Goldendoodle puppy usually costs the least as it is comparatively easier to breed.
Purebred Parents
Breeders look for a purebred parent dog that are the best of the lot, and it can be quite costly to score purebred Poodles and golden retrievers with breeding rights. The goal is to produce a dog with a perfectly curled coat, sheds less, and tends to be hypoallergenic.
Buying these purebreds is not a one-time cost. Over time, breeders will need to purchase more to keep the breeding process going. Keeping that in mind, they will also need to factor in the resources needed to care for both the purebred parents and the resulting pups.
As a pet owner already knows, taking care of just one dog can be pretty expensive, so one could only imagine the cost of taking care of many. A breeder has to ensure that all the DNA tests and certifications are in order. Add in the grooming, food, and medical expenses of so many dogs, and you come up with a pretty hefty bill.
Genetic Guarantees
The first step to producing genetically healthy puppies is ensuring the health of the parents. Breeders constantly conduct medical checkups on the purebred dogs that would be used in the process. As you can imagine, these checkups can be quite expensive.
Genetic testing needs to be done to confirm that the parents have no abnormalities that could be passed on to their crossbred offspring. Depending on what traits the customer prefers, the breeder chooses certain purebreds to attain those traits. To know which ones to use, genetic testing is essential.
Maintenance
To produce healthy Goldendoodle puppies, they must be bred and kept in a clean and hygienic environment. This helps prevent diseases or parasites that could harm the dogs. Proper flooring and lighting are also necessary to make sure that the puppies grow up in a safe environment.
Another key part of the breeding facility is the fencing or walls surrounding the property. Aside from security, these measures prevent pups from running away.
Puppy Care
A breeder’s job is not done once the Goldendoodle is born. While newborn pups are mostly cared for by their mothers, breeders still need to keep a close eye on their charges. They always want to make sure that the puppies are being cared for properly.
Goldendoodle puppies need to be given proper deworming medicines and regular medical checkups. The breeder has to pay for these and show a certificate from the vet as proof of good health to potential customers.
Training
A breeder also invests a lot of time into making sure that the puppies can socialize properly. They make sure that the pups don’t get frightened easily, in case they are bought by people who live in large households or busy cities. The pups have to get accustomed to noises made by vacuum cleaners, TVs, washing machines, etc.
Demand
Depending on the area in which your preferred breeder is located and the demand for Goldendoodles in that area, the price may increase or decrease. In big cities such as Alabama or New York, the demand is much higher for designer breeds.
These pups tend to attract celebrities as well, which often makes demand skyrocket. After all, if your idol has a Goldendoodle, you would probably want one as well.
Size
The size of a Goldendoodle varies depending upon the size of its Poodle parent. Ironically, the smaller the size of the pup, the higher its monetary value. The reason is that a lot more effort, money, and time go into breeding miniature pups compared to the medium or standard-sized ones.
Coat Type
The Poodle is a non-shedding dog that possesses hypoallergenic traits. A Poodle’s coat has tight curls due to which it sheds less. When a Goldendoodle is bred with a coat similar to that of its Poodle parent, its coat too, becomes non-shedding. The price of a Goldendoodle with a Poodle coat that is non-shedding is bound to be much higher.
Fun Facts About Goldendoodles
Both parents of the Goldendoodle rank among the top 5 smartest dogs. A cross between them results in one clever pup. Since they are already so intelligent, a Goldendoodle puppy can be trained easily.
They are mostly hypoallergenic, meaning they don’t cause any allergic reactions to those around them as they shed less. As the Goldendoodle is descended from the Poodle, it has similar fur which is what is the cause for the low shedding.
You will not find two identical Goldendoodle puppies. As they are not purebreds, it is practically impossible to find two Goldendoodles that are exactly the same. They may sometimes look similar, but some of their characteristics will still differ.
Don’t be confused if you hear other names used for referring to this pup. Goldendoodles are also known by cute monikers like golden poos, groodle, and goldie poo.
Being a cross of two pure breeds, the Goldendoodle dog comes from a very healthy genetic pool. In fact, first-generation Goldendoodles have proven to be healthier than their parents, the Poodle and Golden Retriever.
Breeding a Goldendoodle
As you select your fur baby, don’t forget these important details about the different generations that are bred.
F1 Goldendoodle
A first-generation or F1 Goldendoodle is produced by crossing a purebred Golden Retriever and a Poodle. Such puppies are half Poodle, making them at least 50% hypoallergenic like the Poodle.
While they are half Poodle, they aren’t guaranteed non-shedding dogs. A first-generation Poodle is not always born with the expected genetic traits. A designer dog genetics could vary depending on multiple factors.
F1b Goldendoodle
Sometimes, breeders choose to produce a backcross of an F1 Goldendoodle and a Poodle. The resulting pup, called an F1b Goldendoodle, is more Poodle than it is a Golden Retriever. For example, this dog is more likely to have the non-shedding coat of a Poodle. Expect an expensive dog.
F2 Goldendoodle
Then comes the second generation Poodle mix Goldendoodle, produced from crossbreeding two first-generation Goldendoodles. There is no way to predict exactly what traits would be more prominent in the second generation or F2 Goldendoodle.
The backcross of an F1 Goldendoodle and F1b Goldendoodle however, are known to possess more of the Poodle gene. They mostly tend to have a wavy coat and inherit the Poodle’s quality of shedding less hair. They may need more grooming as compared to other Goldendoodles and their price may also be comparatively higher than the rest.
F3 Goldendoodle
That brings us to the last or multi-generation of Goldendoodles. An F3 Goldendoodle can be produced by crossbreeding 2 second-generation Goldendoodles. This particular generation of Goldendoodles is absolutely unpredictable when it comes to their traits and characteristics.
It really would be a gamble to know whether or not a third-generation Goldendoodle is low shedding or not. They could have a wavy coat and be non-shedding pups, but the opposite is also very likely.
Are Goldendoodles Worth the Price Tag?
A designer mixed breed dog such as the Goldendoodle is bound to cost higher than what you would pay for a purebred dog. Considering all the work that goes into breeding and nurturing them, this price is valid. The price may also vary depending on the generation of Goldendoodle that you select.
The Goldendoodle pups are nurtured and cared for by the breeders. The breeders also pay for their deworming medicines and vaccinations. It is only natural for them to want to cover these costs when they sell the Goldendoodle to its new owners.
Apart from that, the Goldendoodle was initially bred with the sole purpose of being good companions. They are fun, active, and smart dogs who would brighten up your day instantly. If that doesn’t make them worth it, I’m not sure what would.
Quality Goldendoodle Breeders and How to Find Them
The sheer cuteness of a Goldendoodle puppy may tempt you into buying them without properly vetting the breeders first. However, to guarantee getting a good quality pup, you must verify that you are dealing with a quality breeder.
Signs of a Quality Goldendoodle Breeder
They will question you to make sure that their Goldendoodle pup perfectly matches what you are looking for.
They won’t hesitate to show you the parent dogs of the Goldendoodle pup that you want to adopt.
A good Doodle breeder will tell you all there is to know about the health care that has been given to your pup in the past as well asadvice on future care needs.
They will be happy to discuss and show you proof of any genetic testing that has been done for the pup as well as itsparents.
They will provide you with proof that the Doodle dog you have selected is certified healthy by a veterinarian.
See our list of the best Goldendoodle breeders in California as a good list of examples if quality Groodle breeders.
Signs of Non-quality Breeders
They would not possess the proper paperwork that breeders are required to have.
They keep the parent breeding dogs used for the breeding process in poor conditions and unhygienic cages.
A backyard breeder will not show proof of any medical tests that were done.
They apply undue pressure on you to quickly purchase the doodle puppy.
At a puppy mill you may see puppies that they have may seem unusually frightened or uncomfortable.
Final Thoughts
Yes, a Goldendoodle is fairly expensive as compared to any other dog breeds. However, it is a designer breed that requires a lot of investment from the breeders’ end as well. Being descended from the Poodles, it is fairly possible that your Goldendoodle may be non-shedding which makes a high price worth it.
More importantly, a dog like the Goldendoodle is one that you would just fall in love with without a second thought. They are beautiful, smart, and energetic little creatures that would complete your family.
