How much is too much to spend on a doodle?

[Jodi Edsall]

I spent $1200 for Bailey and she is a great dog. A year later, I spent $186 on Murphy and he is a great dog. Both are loved members of our family. But my husband still reminds me that $1200 was a lot. I just inquired about a goldendoodle that was advertised (acturally there are three of them and they are 17 weeks old). The breeder said that they were originally $2300 but since they are getting older that he has lowered the price to $1800. Does anyone else think that is a lot to spend?

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

The upfront cost is just the tip of the iceberg. Dogs are living beings. You are signing on for lifetime care. If you can afford $1800 it is not too much if the parent dogs are certified for hips, eyes, etc See breeder's group for the whole list. If they parents are not certified and the puppy is not guaranteed free of genetic problems for two years it is too much.

[Jodi Edsall]

I am new to DK and sorry if I offended anyone for bring up a topic that has already been brought up. What I was trying say was that I paid $1800 for my female and $186 for my male and never received a guarantee free of genetic problems for two years or certification from the parents for either one. It is my fault for not expecting this.

I understand that it is important to see that the parents are certified for hip, eyes, ect but again there is no garantee that down the road that these issue will not show up. My parents have two pugs: the one pug my parents researched all different breeders for over a year, traveled to the breeder and spent over $2,000 and the other pug was given to them because the people didn't want him and were not taking care of him (his parents were not certified). The certified expensive pug has so many health problems from allergies, he's on a special diet, skin problems and eye issues (he's even blind in the one eye) and the pug with no background is as healthy as can be (they are both the same age). I understand what everyone is saying and I totally agree that doing your research and checking out your breeder is important but all I am saying is that there is no guarantee that your dog will have no health issues.

[Adina P]

Not a worry Jodi. Totally okay to be discussing this :-)
I agree that there is never a 100% guarantee of health...only increased chances of health from responsible breeding. However, to me, personally, it's more than about complete assurance of health. It's the principle of it all. I personally, don't believe it is responsible of me to give a breeder money to make more puppies UNLESS that breeder is doing everything possible to breed only to the highest standards. Otherwise, there really is no difference between a puppy mill and a crappy family breeder except that the crappy family breeder is 'NICE' and has 'pets'. Sure, the "nice" family doesn't neglect their dogs or keep them in filthy cages (so a benefit for the breeding dogs), but the thought and effort placed upon making a compatible breeding match, the though and effort into doing the best for health, the thought and effort in choosing the right home for each pup (instead of just anyone who will pay), and the thought and effort for what happens AFTER the puppy goes home---well all that is about the same as for a puppy mill usually.

It comes down to this for me: What am I supporting when I buy from a breeder? If I can't say with honesty that I'm supporting something really responsible...there's no use in buying from that breeder.

Doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the doodles others have gotten from lower end breeders, doesn't mean that the doodles that were 'cheaper' are less loveable or valuable as living beings and pets. Like you may see time and time again...there are a number (many!) of members on DK with pups from pet stores, puppy mills (unknown to them at the time), and backyard breeders. Many of them still have great dogs who they love wholeheartedly and wouldn't give up for anything.

So for me it's not that money makes a more valuable dog...it's that it often suggests the type of responsibility that went into the breeding. Only personal research will determine if that's true for any individual breeder.

[Jennifer Tramell]

Don't worry about re-visiting a topic - if it was interesting the first time, it's interesting the 2nd time :-)

I have noticed that doodle cost is a sensitive subject on DK. This is understandable as there are many excellent breeders who invest tons of money into their puppies. My family has always had dogs that didn't have any parental certification and our dogs have been wonderfully healthy. I wonder how many people even know to ask the breeder about parents health certification. My parents are getting a mini goldendoodle next week, they are paying more then they have ever paid for a dog. They were interested in size, color, chance of shedding, conformation, etc. I told them to ask about the health certification of the parents because I had read DK :-)

My Webster is from a local family breeder who's family pet is the mom and another family member's family dog is the dad. I was extremely impressed by the personality of the parents & the care the dogs and puppies recieved. I know that dogs cost $$ over their lifetime and I have a little more availabe to spend on him since I didn't spend as much up front. As my dad always said "An expensive dog can get lost, hit by a car, get cancer, etc, as easily as a free dog".

[Jodi Edsall]

Thank you Jennifer for you reply. I started feeling like I was getting beat up for posting this discussion! LOL I agree with your dad.

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

I personally dont see anyone beating anyone up for their personal choice... and that is how I see this, it is a personal choice. No one can tell you that you are paying to much except for yourself.

[Richard Crowe]

We paid $1,200 for Holly. Add a round trip airfare from San Diego to Dallas, rental car in Texas and motel and food in Texas and the cost would add up to be quite a bit more. However we strongly believe that Holly was worth every cent. When you amortize the cost of a dog over the many years that dog provides love and enjoyment, the daily cost is really peanuts!

We shopped around quite a bit until we found Cheyenne Valley Labradoodles and Goldendoodles north of Dallas, TX. The shopping, however, was to find the very best Goldendoodle we could find. The price was not a great issue with us.

We could not be happier with Holly and her love and great persobality is priceless.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We paid $2500 for our medium ALD. This included neutering, full testing, and health guarantee. I really wanted the "non shedding" reliability and some assurances around size. We have not been disappointed. We've yet to find a dog hair! He's living up to the breeder's estimate that he would be a small/medium. He is loving and very quick to learn. He's been a healthy, happy puppy and worth every dollar we spent for him. With luck he'll live to be at least 10 years old...that amounts to about $250 per year for the pleasure of this wonderful family companion.

[fergie11]

Go to the Food Group and your puppy should live a lot longer than that! Those people know there stuff.

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

I think when most breeders start to lower the price on the puppies they do it for a few reasons...First the left behinds are growing up and they don't want to be stuck with the care of more dogs, vet bills, food, etc. Second the time involved with socialzing them when they can be spending that time on other pets or daily life. It's kinda funny to look at selling puppies this way... but if we didn't buy a puppy when it was exactly 12 to 13 weeks old and the litter was there at 18 weeks old, would they all be discounted? I'm not saying this is right, but have seen this with some litters being sold... I tend to think some breeders feel the left behinds are not as worthy..as the puppies who sold quicker so they discount. I would also ask for names and numbers of other buyers of this litter, see what deal they went home with. Some will tell you ..."oh your getting a deal" when the litter all sold at the same price and you got the same deal as the rest of the litter. It's like buying a car...the fine print. If you go there and you think everything is on the up and up...and you love one of those puppies, it's your choice..same as if you went to a dog pound and brought one home.

[fergie11]

I don't think the breeders believe they are of less quality at 18 wks vs. 12 to 13 wks. I think they just want to get them in their 4-ever homes for the sake of the puppy. That puppy needs to bond with its owner and the sooner they can the better.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I do think $1,800 is a lot for a dog, but you get what you pay for usually and I would spend it on a lifetime companion. I paid $1,500 for Peri (mini goldendoodle) and $50 for Taquito. Wouldn't trade either for anything in the world. The $1,500 has paid off in dividends...Peri has such an awesome temperment and is incredible healthy. We receive great compliments on her disposition (and looks of course!). The combo of two such excellent breeds makes them popular, which is why they can go for so much, especially if genetic testing is completed.