Hoping to add a mini labradoodle to the family.

[HJensen]

I'm in Southern Utah and I've been looking for a mini labradoodle for a while now. The only breeders I can find charge more than two-thousand dollars a puppy and those are not in my area. That much money just seems like a lot to ask. I've visited shelters on the off chance that I might be able to adopt a labradoodle, but haven't had any luck yet. Does anyone know of a more affordable breeder anywhere in the state of Utah or Nevada?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The Doodle Kisses Guidelines prohibit anyone from recommending a breeder here in the main forum. People can send you a private message or leave a comment on your page.

However, you will not find many doodles from reputable breeders who do health testing on the parents for less than $1500, and most are $2000 and more. That's the going rate for healthy, well-socialized doodle puppies from healthy, well-socialized parents, and the purchase price is just the tip of the iceberg. These are expensive dogs to own. Often, whatever you may save by buying from a questionable breeder will be made up in vet bills for the life of the dog.

It's very important to read What to Look for in a Breeder before you buy a puppy. There are also links in the article to the Owner recommended Breeders group.

Good luck in your search.

[Sue & Lily Grace]

Karen is absolutely right. My beloved Cassie was a Lhasa/poodle mix and a puppy mill dog. She was also my 30k dog and I lost the battle with her health problem when she was just six. You never know what health issues may come up but I am counting on all the testing and breeding knowledge the breeder that I chose has. I am waiting very patiently for my puppy to be born around the 24th. Keep looking and I wish you the best in your search.

[Adina P]

Whether they should cost less or more is definitely debatable.  But the fact is that that's the going price for doodle pups and breeders who charge far less tend to be ones you should not buy from.  Not because they are necessarily evil people...some very nice, kind, friendly people breed their pet poodle to their friend's pet labrador...but they know nothing about breeding and very possibly have dogs that shouldn't be bred even though they seem nice.  Read the link Karen posted..it is an important one.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

I don't think there is such a thing as a less expensive breeder of doodles whose parents have been tested for hips, knees, eyes, thyroid, heart murmurs and bleeding disorders.  What you are paying for with a reputable breeder are the genetics of the lines over generations, the socialization of the puppies, and the expertise of the breeder.  Reputable breeders retire dogs that have produced pups with problems and they know the history of the dogs they are pairing.  Like Karen and Adina mentioned, what to look for in a breeder is an important link to read.  Good luck with your search.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Just found this on a breeder website and thought it was interesting and relevant to the issue at hand.

If you have been searching the internet you will most likely see a HUGE variance in the cost of Labradoodles.

Ranges from $500 - $3000

 

Cost Of Breeding Stock

 

For a breeder to acquire Australian Breeding Stock or a higher generation American Labradoodles, price can range anywhere from $5000 -$10,000 for a non health tested puppy or as high as $20,000   for a health tested proven adult Australian Labradoodle

A breeder who is breeding F1's can buy a quality breeding Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever or Poodle for $800+ to breed 1st generation labradoodles.

The higher the generation  and more health tested the parents are, the more expensive the breeding stock, with the Australian Labradoodle breeding stock being the most expensive.

 

The average cost of stud fees if breeding TO or FROM an Australian labradoodle is $2500 + breeding expenses which can amt to $3500 to  attempt a pregancy

 

We only choose to use breeders studs who have met  our same excellence of health testing and standards of excellence. 

 

Health Testing

Besides investment in breeding stock..this is the next biggest investment we make.

Here is the EXTENSIVE health testing we do

 

1) Pennhip AND OFA Hip testing. We typically do BOTH of theses Hip testing methods 2 TIMES before the age of 2 yrs old.   

2) X-ray of Elbows for Elbow Dysplasia and Patellas (knees) to detect slippage. Typically done twice

 

3) CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation) EVERY YEAR (not just one time) our breeding dogs see a Canine Opthomologist  for their CERF exam to make sure they have not developed any heriditary eye diseases that they could pass on to their puppies

 

4) Annual Blood work which includes (CBC, differentials, and complete FULL thyroid Panel) Again..this is done EVERY year not just once. Autoimmune Hypothyroidsim is the Number 1 undiagnosed health problem in most breeds.

 

5) Annual heart health checkup

 

6) DNA screened for Von Willbrands Disease (common in poodles which is a bleeding disorder like Hemophylia)

 

7) DNA screened for PRA - Progressive Retinal Atropy..causes Blindness (common in poodles and labrador)

 

This can amount to around $1500 -$2000 before the female/male is even deemed suitable for Breeding. The CERF exams and Blood work are a reoccuring annual expense

 

We are willing to show proof of the health testing we do on our Breeding dogs.

 

Cost of Feeding and Nutrition

This is a BIG expense for us, but we are not willing to compromise . Not with any of our dogs, that live with us, or live in guardian homes or ANY of the puppies that are raised here.

 

Our dogs  and puppies eat the best that money can buy long with nutritional supplements.

We feed Grain free kibble called 'Orijen' at $65 for a 40lb bag  along with  Merrick canned food at $2 a can.

We also feed a raw diet which can amt upward to $4 lb.

 

Without a litter our food bill is $450 a month for 4 dogs living with us.

With a litter our monthy food bill is $800 -$900

 

 

Cost of Puppy Spay/Neuter Microchip

 

This amounts to around $350 per puppy which is INCLUDED in the price of our puppy . Keep that in mind when you are price shopping.  

 

2 Yr Health Warranty

We refund up to the purchase price, less any discounts or special offers , a warranty against serious life altering genetic disease  that will greatly shorten the life of the puppy or grealy affect the quality of life.

 

WE do not require you to return your puppy in order to claim reimbursement.  MAKE SURE YOU ASK DETAILs of the HEALTH WARRANTY  for hidden stipulations.

 

BUYER BEWARE of  Online puppy Brokers claiming to give a Lifetime Warranty charging $1200-$1700 for puppies. These puppies typically come from a Puppy Mill and parents are not health tested. Your puppy has to DIE in the 1st 2 yrs in order to get a replacement puppy then from yrs 2 -10 after you have fallen deeply in love with your puppy..no replacements will be given unless your return your beloved pet back to them. I hate to even think what they do with the puppy that get returned with a medical problem! 

 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

But basically your choices are:

Shop around for a cheaper doodle pup (but you might end up with one with serious health issues). Sometimes reputable breeders have older puppies that sell for a bit less - you need to look and ask. F1 generations seem to be a bit less than multigenerational ones. 

Look for one of the reputable doodle rescue organization like DRC or IDOG.  These organizations have rules and guidelines of who they adopt out to - they are picky because they are the dog's advocate rather than yours.

Go to your local shelter and find a wonderful dog who badly needs a home - may or may not be a poodle mix. One of our members who lives in Utah, takes pictures of the dogs needing homes at her local shelter and she just posted a picture of the cutest dog - not a doodle, but just darling. 

http://www.doodlekisses.com/forum/topics/do-you-think-this-cutie-is...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

IDOG and DRC will not adopt to families with kids under 10, and many other private rescues have similar policies.

 

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I echo everyone's response - read the What to Look for link....

 

I know that many of the reputable breeders are very, very expensive, but I can tell you that an unhealthy doodle will cost you much more in the long run (more than likely) than a healthy one.  And even though the best breeders cannot guarantee 100% that your dog will be healthy (who can do that??), they do the appropriate testing and breed parents that have much less of a chance to pass down the bad genetics (like hip problems, etc..)

 

My Peri is only 3, so of course she could run into issues in the future.  However, I would be willing to bet that her upfront cost + cost to keep her healthy throughout her life will be far less than what I might spend by buying a doodle from a backyard breeder for $500....the health costs can skyrocket when you purchase from a bad breeder. 

 

Good luck and welcome to DK!!!!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

My Springer Spaniel was from a back yard breeder (I didn't know any better then) and at 8 1/2 he has cost us more than $9,000 - that is for the big stuff not the little stuff!  And he continues to develop health problems.  We love him dearly and will continue to pay for whatever he needs, but it is more of a strain on our pocketbook than if we had saved up and bought a show dog.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is one game of one-upsmanship I really wish I couldn't play, but if it makes you feel any better (and I know it won't), my adopted, originally- from- a- pet-store doodle's expenses for 2012 alone are going to top $9000.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Besides health probelms, there are other issues you can have with a puppy from a less-then-reputable breeder. Temperament issues, biting issues caused by puppies being taken from their litters too young or being isolated from their siblings and mothers, fear issues with puppies who are not socialized or exposed to anything, etc.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

If I'd known all these things when we got Luna, I would definitely have looked harder for a breeder.  I don't think ours was that bad (somewhere between backyard breeder and reputable), but definitely not the "best" available.  So far we seem to have lucked out with Luna, but I will echo this sentiment of being careful about choosing your breeder!