Want a Doodle Puppy and live in Tacoma, WA

[Ricki Peto]

Any one have Doodle Puppies that are not too expensive? 

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

One way to get an "expensive" pup for a lower cost is to be a Guardian family for a pup that will be bred.  It involves some restrictions but after the breeding period (3-4 yrs) the breeder pays for the spay and you have a nice dog.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"Expensive" is a relative term. There is an average price for most things, and if you find something that is priced much lower than the norm, there's a reason for it.

You are not going to get a doodle puppy from a responsible, ethical breeder for less than $1500-2500, and it would be a big mistake to buy any puppy from a breeder who is NOT ethical or responsible.

Please read our DK guidelines on How to Choose a Breeder, and you may learn why price is not the most important thing when buying a puppy:  http://www.doodlekisses.com/notes/What_To_Look_for_In_a_Breeder

 

Even if someone did have a doodle puppy that was "not too expensive" to offer you, they would not be allowed to discuss that here in the open forum. It is against the DK guidelines.

Here are some links to the DK Groups where there are breeders offering puppies for sale:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/goldendoodlepuppiesforsale

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/labradoodlepuppiesforsale

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/australianlabradoodlepuppiesforsale

 

Ican tell you that the purchase price of a doodle is only the tip of the iceberg. It costs at least $1200 per year, and usually a lot more, to properly feed, groom, train, exercise, and vet a standard-sized doodle. You are also better off paying the money upfront for a healthy, well-bred dog than having to pay thousands of dollars to the vet to treat genetic illnesses and diseases.

 

 

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

Karen, Don't let my DH hear you say $1200 per year......Lets see, between vet bills, grooming, daycare, in home training, group training, toys, collars, Fromm, Orijen, antlers, marrow bones, bully sticks, dog walker when I can't make it home for potty breaks during the day, private overnight babysitting when I travel, more toys, more collars, new camera and photography classes cause he is so stinking cute....good lord I have spent five times that on Murphy and baby Wilson doesn't even come home till Sunday!!!!!!   No wonder I am looking for a second job and I walk around looking like a throw away.  I am committed to these boys though and they will never want or need for anything :)  Yes, there is a great deal more money that goes into a doodle than just the initial cost!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I was being conservative, because I know lots of people economize on these things. But I started calculating some of the costs recently, in order to talk to potential adopters about what it realistically costs to adopt a doodle. We get some nice applications where the person mistakenly estimates yearly costs way too low. HW and flea preventatives alone cost $240 a year, and that's if you buy them on-line at a discount. Professional grooming for a non-shedding dog Jack's size in my area would be at least $800 a year if it was done every 6 weeks. A decent quality food would run at least $600/year, not including treats, bones, etc. So now we're at $1640 per year and we haven't even counted any veterinary care, any training, pet insurance, beds, leashes, collars, toys, brushes, daycare or boarding, etc. So easily over $2000 per year would be more realistic. JD runs me over $3000/year, that might make your DH feel better, lol.

One visit to an emergancy vet can easily run several hundred dollars. These are realities that must be considered before taking on the responsiblity for an animal's life.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

LOL. I was thinking of all those things too. I have easily spent $6000-7000 on Sophie Bear in the last 5 months if you include the expensive new camera ($1000) and the photography course i'm taking in the fall ($350) just take good shots of her... well ok, I like taking nature pics so it's more of a hobbie, but still, if it weren't for the doodle I probably wouldn't have done it.

 

Doodels ain't cheap. I have a co-worker who's SIL is selling cocker spaniels for $175. She lowered the price b/c they are three months and haven't sold yet. they are all registered and vet checked. I guess you can find cheaper dogs, but the cost of ownership is usually a lot more than the actual purchase price.

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

worth every penny might I add.

[Jennifer and Jack]

LOL Ronna, our girl comes home tomorrow, well we go get her tomorrow, but we won't be home until Sunday. I am with you, I don't add up how much I spend but right off the bat, it is a few hundred in health insurance for Jack, then add in the food, toys, trainer, daycare, toys, and the rest...

[Camilla and Darwin]

Yeah, I think this is a really important thing for prospective dog owners to know, and it's really easy to forget because those costs kind of sneak up on you. I always get asked how to find a doodle for cheap. The fact is, even if you rescue from your local shelter for 75 dollars it's isn't going to be cheap. Food, crate, grooming, daycare/boarding, food, vet, toys, vaccinations/worming, spay/neuter etc. They all add up. It's very easy to forget.

I myself have been considering a second doodle and I started wondering how I would scrounge up the money for the initial purchase. Then I realized that if I couldn't afford to adopt or buy right now, I DEFINITELY don't have enough money to cover a second dog's expenses. I would definitely say that we spend 1500 or more on Darwin per year.

[Ginny Nightingale]

Doodle Rescue Collective is another alternative--you can rescue a doodle that needs a new home! Many are puppies and all have been fostered in a home with other doodles before going out to a new home. Google it!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

However, a rescue dog has the same expenses per year that any other dog has, and many rescues, the DRC included, are very, very picky about choosing homes for our dogs. Many dogs are given up in the first place because the original owner could not afford to properly take care of them. This must not happen in the adoptive home. And because we typically receive as many as 50 applications for a single available dog, it's not all that easy to adopt, especially for people who have never owned a dog before and have no current vet references. Having grown up with a dog is not the same thing as taking care of your own dog. It is usually much easier to buy a puppy from a breeder than to be chosen as the best adoptive home for a rescue dog.

Nobody should ever consider a rescue dog simply because they cannot afford to buy a puppy from a breeder. Cost might be a good reason to buy a used car instead of a new one, but not a good reason to adopt a dog. And a rescue dog can end up costing a lot more in the long run than a healthy puppy.

[Ricki Peto]

Wow! very impressive how quickly everyone responded. Thanks. Some good advise.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We are not a quiet group here   :)