A Goldendoodle dog is a mixed breed between a Golden Retriever and a Poodle. It usually has the color of the Golden Retriever with the fur of the poodle. No wonder Goldendoodle dogs have been popular with many pet owners.
If you are considering owning this canine, you would understandably need to know “how much does a Goldendoodle cost?”.
Average Cost of Goldendoodle
The average price for a standard Goldendoodle is about $1,000 to $2,300. On the other hand, the price of a mini Goldendoodle ranges from $1,600 to $3,000 or more.
Both these price ranges can go up depending on several factors. These can include the quality, color combination, breeder, and geographic location. These will be discussed in the succeeding part of the article.
A couple of breeders selling Goldendoodles from the US and Canada are presented below:
Golden Acres Puppies in Columbia, KY:
- F1 Goldendoodle – $1,800 ($2,300 effective January 2021)
- Small Mini F1b Goldendoodles – $3,000
- Mini Goldendoodle – $3,000
Goldendoodles of Niagra in Ontario, Canada:
- Medium Goldendoodle (40-50 lbs) – CAD$3,000 or around US$2,300
- Mini Goldendoodle (15-40 lbs) – CAD$3,500 or around US$2700
If you feel that these prices are too much for your budget, there’s a cheaper option. There’s a good chance that older Goldendoodle dogs end up in shelters. If you do not mind adopting one, you can acquire a Goldendoodle that needs a new home for just $150 or less.
Factors Affecting How Much Does A Goldendoodle Cost
Now, let’s discuss briefly the conditions that affect the price of the Goldendoodle. From the sample prices provided above, you can already have an idea about some of the factors. To explain further, examples are also provided:
- Quality
The quality of the Goldendoodle will greatly affect the cost of each Goldendoodle. When you talk about breed quality, besides the overall health conditions, this will also include the size and color.
Mini Goldendoodles are more expensive than the standard Goldendoodles and the abstract Goldendoodles are more expensive than the chocolate brown-colored Goldendoodles. This is because the breeding of mini and abstract Goldendoodles is much more complex, requiring the breeders more time, skills, and money to invest.
At Goldendoodles of Niagra, you will need to add CA$300 or around US$230 for dark red or abstract Goldendoodle and CA$500 or around US$380 for dark red and abstract combined, on top of the standard price.
Another Goldendoodle shop, the Goldendoodles of Bar C Kennels in West Columbia, South Carolina, sells Goldendoodle puppies at different price points, depending on the size when they grow up:
- Standard F1 Goldendoodles (50lbs and up) – $1,000 to $1,500
- Mini-Medium F1 Goldendoodles (30-50 lbs) – $1,250 to $1,800
- Miniature -F1 Goldendoodle (15-30 lbs) – $1,600 to $2,100
- Breeder
The breeder, especially if it’s popular and has already established a reputable image in the Goldendoodle breeding community, will definitely affect the price.
It’s easy to find backyard breeders that sell Goldendoodles at less than $1,000. However, high-quality breeders like OCGoldendoodles in Orange, CA sells an F2b standard Goldendoodle puppy at $4,000, which requires a $700 deposit and will be available by March 2021.
- Inclusions
When buying a Goldendoodle, it usually includes freebies and extra service. For the Goldendoodles of Niagra, for example, a Goldendoodle puppy comes with free wellness check-ups, vaccinations, some vitamins or dog food, a health guarantee, and insurance.
Usually, you get more freebies from reputable breeders, making the purchase more worth it.
- Location
The geographical location should also be considered as another factor due to the cost of living and the cost of doing business, which can affect how breeders put price tags on the puppies.
To illustrate, Twin Flames Farm Goldendoodle Breeders in Florida sells all puppies at $2,800 regardless of the size. On the other hand, a standard Goldendoodle (45 to 65 lbs. grown) is being sold at $3,000 and up at Apple Creek Doodles in Clyde, Michigan.
This is due to the fact that the annual mean wage in Michigan, which is one of the factors in gauging the cost of living in a particular state, is higher than in Florida.
Additional and Optional Costs
If the Goldendoodle is going to be shipped, either through a shipping company or via airfreight, always be ready to spend around $75 to $400. The said amount will include both the fare and the crate to secure the Goldendoodle during transport.
If you buy from reputable breeders, typically, you don’t have the option to choose puppies that will eventually reproduce. Most of the time, these breeders will sell Goldendoodles on a strict spay/neuter agreement.
If you wish to own a female puppy to breed more Goldendoodles – that’s if you are lucky enough to find a breeder that will sell intact dogs, it will definitely cost you more than getting the male ones.
One of the concerns in owning a very hairy dog is allergy. Although Poodles, which is the other half of this mixed breed, is considered hypoallergenic, there is no guarantee that Goldendoodles are automatically hypoallergenic as well. The only way to find out is to do a test.
Some breeders offer “baby blanket testing” wherein they will be exposing a baby blanket to the puppies and send it to you to sniff. This way, you have enough time to decide whether to pursue buying Goldendoodle or opt for another breed that doesn’t trigger your allergy. This service typically costs $100.
Generation or Lineage of Goldendoodle
When buying a Goldendoodle, you might wonder what the letters and numbers F1, F2, F1B, and F2B are for. The letters and numbers signify the exact breed of the parents.
F is for Filial Hybrid, which means the dog came from both parents that are purebred. The number simply stands for the generation – whether 1st, 2nd, etc.
Lastly, the B means Backcross, which means inbreeding the Goldendoodle back with a purebred Poodle once again.
Therefore, an F1 Goldendoodle is the offspring of a Golden Retriever and a Poodle, while the F1B Goldendoodle is the offspring of a Poodle and a Goldendoodle.
On the other hand, an F2 Goldendoodle is the offspring of an F1 and another F1 Goldendoodle, while an F2B Goldendoodle is the offspring of an F1 and an F1B Goldendoodle.
There is also another kind of Goldendoodle breed and it is called the miniature or “mini” Goldendoodle. Mini Goldendoodles are not purebred dogs as they are a crossbreed between the Golden Retriever and the toy or small standard Poodle.
Standard Goldendoodle Versus Miniature Goldendoodle?
Yes, they are both Goldendoodle and they are both adorable. The miniature Goldendoodle is easier to maintain than a standard Goldendoodle, of course, given its size. Both the standard and the miniature Goldendoodle, fortunately, shed minimally and are good for owners who do not want to deal greatly with their dog’s hair.
Both Goldendoodles are easy to train. However, in terms of watchdog ability and adaptability to the environment, the miniature Goldendoodle performs better. Also, both are good with kids as they can grow up becoming great family pets.