Monthly Golden Retriever Cost
The most obvious regular cost for a Golden Retriever is the food.
Dog food prices vary quite a bit. I dont think you need to spend a gold coin to feed your dog. On the other hand, I dont think you should go in and buy the cheapest food on the shelf either.
You can find some dry dog foods that cost you $30 to $40 a month.
So, that brings the food budget to around $500 each year.
Golden Retriever Mixes: Small To Medium Dogs
There is a growing trend for cross-breeding Goldens with other breeds of dog. A trend that can have both benefits and disadvantages.
You cant achieve the same consistency of appearance and temperament with a mixed breed Golden. But there are sometimes health benefits to a more diverse genetic make-up. Not all mixed breed dogs are healthy though, so check out our reviews for an honest appraisal.
If a purebred dog is your aim then you be fairly sure that your Golden Retriever will have many of the following characteristics
How Much Does A Golden Retriever Cost Without Papers
Golden retriever puppies without health papers and certification can cost up to $900 each.
Keep in mind, though, that buying a puppy without papers is always a gamble because you cant know for sure whether its parents are healthy or have been screened for common genetic issues within the breed.
Also, most puppies without papers havent been checked out or cleared by a vet, so you may end up paying a lot more than you expected for a sick puppy.
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Dog Health Insurance Cost
According to labradortraininghq.com, the average cost of pet insurance in the US is around $492 per year. This rate may vary depending on these factors:
- The type of pet
- The rates of the insurance company
- The state you live in
- The age of your dog
- The amount you will pay before the insurance company begins to cover the cost of your pets medical bills
- The type of insurance policy
To be on the optimistic side, you will only need to pay a few hundred dollars for medical checkups and common health issues if your dog does not have serious health problems.
Heres an overview of what basic Golden Retriever medical costs might look like:
- A full physical exam
- Heartworm test
Avoiding Questionable Sources For Puppies
So how do you avoid irresponsible sources of purebred golden retrievers? Doing plenty of research before you purchase your puppy is the best course of action. You can also ask any seller for the proper paperwork, which should include health and medical tests for any health issues that the puppy may have.
It is also important to visit any rescue shelters and reputable breeders that your local community trusts. The great news is that not all responsible breeders will empty your bank account. You will be able to save money and still find a healthy puppy. In such cases, rescuing a dog is also a really great option.
If you arent looking for a golden retriever puppy, then adopting a dog from a shelter will not only be easier on your pocket, but it will also give a dog a second chance at finding a loving home.
Of course, if you have your heart set on a purebred golden retriever puppy, you have a better chance of finding one through a breeder.
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The Cost Of Feeding A Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are active, larger dogs that love their food. You can say theyre part of the clean plate club because they most likely wont leave a crumb to spare.
Given the Goldens affinity for food, you should definitely take note of how much this will cost you before bringing a dog home.
As with any dog, it is recommended that you serve them high-quality food. Heres how to tell if youre buying the good stuff.
How much a Golden Retriever eats depends on their gender, size and activity level. It generally ranges anywhere from 2 1/2 cups to 4 1/2 cups per day for an adult. Check with your vet to determine your dogs specific need.
On average, quality dog food is about $2-$3 per pound. Say you get a 30-pound bag for $55. Thats approximately 120 cups of dog food. If an adult Golden eats say 3 cups per day, that means the 30-pound bag would provide 40 days of food. So thats about a 30-pound bag for a little over a month at $55 each.
And you cant forget about treats. Giving a Golden a treat is great for training and for rewarding good behavior. Expect to budget an extra $10 a month for this.
What Is The Average Cost To A Vet Visit For A Golden Retriever Dog
The average puppy vet costs can be around $30 to $500. Vitamins, dental care are usually around $100 per year, and preventative medication for fleas and heart worms are each around $30 per month. Those price does not included some other emergency treatments your pet may require. Price may varied according to your location .
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Problems With Buying From A Puppy Mill
With the growing number of options for buying puppies, the rise of puppy mills must be on your horizons as well. These are sad, dark warehouses where dogs are bred in mass quantities and are not properly loved, exercised, or given healthcare.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals provides some sobering details on puppy mills:
Undersized Cages
Breeders in puppy mills use extremely tight living conditions, often in the unprotected outdoors or filthy indoor cages, to maximize their space. Animals are kept in here all their lives and can develop sores, lesions, and other issues from standing on the wire floors.
The cage is the only life they ever know, as they sleep, eat, use the bathroom, and give birth in these cruel conditions.
Bad Healthcare
Cruel breeding facilities such as these do not have proper veterinarian care for animals. Animals in puppy mills can only suffer as they ensure serious problems or injuries without care. In these packed conditions, any diseases spread quickly and can be deadly to puppy immune systems that are not protected.
Forced, Frequent Breeding
Female dogs should not be forced to breed often however, puppy mills are driven by money, so dogs are bred whenever possible. Dog parent health is compromised, which can predispose their puppies to health problems or defects.
Even worse, when dogs cannot produce offspring any longer, they are sometimes killed or abandoned by their masters.
Are Golden Retrievers Smart
Golden Retrievers are intelligent dogs. They have been put to a lot of important roles in society.
From guide dogs to drug dogs, search and rescue to bomb detection. The Golden Retrievers inclination to please and responsiveness to food motivations means he is an excellent working and living companion.
They also do very well in agility and obedience competitions. And excel when trained using modern positive reinforcement methodologies due to their eagerness to please and love of treats!
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Things To Look For In A Golden Retriever Breeder
Before you purchase a Golden Retriever puppy online, make sure that you conduct your own research to ensure that you are getting your puppy from a breeder that has a good reputation and cares deeply for their puppies. Some critical things to look out for:
1) When online searching, look for a breeder that has multiple pictures and videos of every dog they have.
2) Thorough paperwork that clearly states the health checks the breeder has undergone as well as their associations with important breeder organizations, such as the American Kennel Club.
3) Breeders who encourage you to personally visit their location to meet and play with their puppies. Usually, one of the parent dogs should be there for you to be able to meet also.
4) Breeders who are smaller families and ones who will socialize, exercise, and play with their puppies every day to make sure they are happy.
5) Proper assurances and guarantees of health. Good breeders will take responsibility for genetic defects instead of leaving the liability and cost to you.
What Are Goldendoodles And How Much Do They Cost
If youre interested in something a little different, then consider the amazing and adorable goldendoodle! These loveable doggies are an increasingly popular crossbreed between a golden retriever and a poodle. Its no wonder why people are going crazy over them goldendoodles are friendly, social, easy to train, and very healthy. But wait, it gets even better, because the majority of poodles are considered hypoallergenic, most goldendoodles have a low-to-non-shedding coat which minimizes allergic reactions.
Generally, you can find goldendoodles ranging from $1,000 to $2,400.
The goldendoodle price you can expect to pay will depend on the type of goldendoodle you choose to purchase. The F1 goldendoodle is going to be a less expensive option. This is due to the fact that they often look very similar to a golden retriever but with wavy hair and a moderate amount of shedding.
On the other hand, F1b goldendoodles usually come at a higher price because their hair sheds less and is more hypoallergenic.
Nowadays, with so many options to buy your new dog, theres a growing problem you need to be wary of: the rise of puppy mills.
Puppy mills are dark and depressing warehouses where dogs are grown without love, exercise, and health care. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals , heres a summary of what you can expect from these awful places:
Please dont support animal cruelty.
Here are some critical points to watch for:
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Microchipped Golden Retriever Prices
Some Golden Retriever puppies come implanted with microchips from their breeders. A microchip is a very tiny electronic chip that is injected under a puppy`s skin. A puppy`s microchip contains information about the puppy`s owner.
If a microchipped dog gets lost, the people that find the dog can retrieve the dog`s owner`s information by scanning the dog`s microchip for the dog owner`s information. It will be easier to find a lost dog that has a microchip than a lost dog without a microchip.
We recommend that you buy a dog with a microchip or that you microchip your dog if your dog does not come with a microchip. This might save you headaches and heartaches in the future.
The average price of a Golden Retriever puppy that is microchipped is $2060, while the average price of a Golden Retriever puppy that is not microchipped is $1840.
We obtained this information from our detailed review of 302 microchipped Golden Retriever puppies that were listed for sale and 2366 Golden Retriever puppies that were not microchipped that were listed for sale.
If you want to buy a Golden Retriever puppy that is microchipped, expect to pay an extra $220 more compared to a puppy that is not microchipped.
However, do not just pay extra for a puppy just because it is microchipped. This is because you can get a free or a very cheap microchip for your Golden Retriever puppy from dog charity organizations like letssnipit.org.
The Cost For Purebred Golden Retriever Puppies
Purebred golden retriever puppies can definitely be pricey, especially when you choose to purchase from a reputable breeder. On average, you can find golden retriever companions for as low as $500. However, going for low-cost puppies could mean future health problems down the road. If you want a high-quality, purebred golden retriever from a top-notch breeder, you may spend upwards of a few thousand dollars. Pups with champion bloodlines cost even more.
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What Is A Red Golden Retriever
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If you are looking for a golden retriever as a new pet, you are not alone. They are the fourth most popular dog breed in the United States .
Perhaps in your search for the perfect pup to adopt, you have come across the red golden retriever.
Often just called a red retriever, these are a natural variation within the golden retriever family, but with a striking dark red coat.
There are a few other things that set a red retriever dog apart from a more traditional golden retriever, such as size and coat, but when it comes to finding an intelligent, trainable, loyal, and friendly pet, a red-haired golden retriever is just as wonderful as the lighter golden retriever pups that you are probably more familiar with.
Read on for everything you need to know about these dark red golden retrievers.
How Much Does It Cost To Raise A Golden Retriever
When purchasing a dog like a Golden Retriever, it is also a good idea to consider the costs involved with supplying a large breed dog. Caring for a dog properly involves much more than just food and water.
Consider some common yearly costs:
- Taking your dog for their annual vet visit can cost $100 to $300 depending on where you go and the services they need. Your dogs vet bills will cost about $1,000 to $3,600.
- You can expect to spend about $250 to $750 on food per year. In your dogs life, that can add up to $2,500 to $9,000.
- A license can be free or up to $20, depending on your city. Licensing your dog will cost nothing, or it might cost $240 for their entire life.
- You can pay anywhere from $0 to $100 each year on toys and maybe more when your dog is a puppy. Dog toys can run you up to $1,200 or more overall.
The annual cost of owning a Golden Retriever comes to about $350 to $1,070. And with the average lifespan being 10 to 12 years, you may have to spend $3,500 to $12,840. But keep in mind that those numbers dont include paying for emergency surgeries, dog sitters, and other less frequent costs.
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What Does It Cost To Rescue A Golden Retriever
Adopting your Golden Retriever is an easy way to cut costs. Going through a shelter, you could spend anywhere from $50-550. Even on the high end, a rescue Golden is only a fraction of the typical breeders price.
Rescuing your pup comes with other benefits, as well.
Adopted dogs have often already been altered and had their first round of vaccines, saving you the hassle of handling that yourself. Some are microchipped, too!
Youll also have the option of bringing home a puppy, adult, or senior Golden.
Canine adoption may not be for every owner, though.
Adoption centers rarely have a dogs complete medical and behavioral history. Furthermore, theres no guarantee that a rescue Golden is a purebred Golden. You could have a Golden Retriever-Labrador mix on your hands and not even know it!
This might be great news for the pack leader who likes surprises or wants a designer dog without the designer price. But if your heart is set on a purebred, a breeder may give you more peace of mind.
Should I Get A Male Or Female Golden Retriever Puppy
A golden retriever is not a very hyperactive breed. So, there is no preference for which one you should get, other than if you have personal reasons, although females tend to be a little calmer and are less hyper than male golden retrievers.
Females are more affectionate but independent at the same time while males demand love round the clock and are clingy, but whos complaining? Females are a tad bit smaller in size and dont even hump to your legs a lot, so thats a win-win situation.
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Cost Of Veterinary Expenses
You can expect to pay for the vet each year so that your dog can remain up to date with their shots. An annual visit can also make sure your dog is healthy, but you may want to take your dog in more often if they get sick or have other problems.
A routine vet visit costs about $100 for a simple visit, but getting vaccinations and other treatments can increase the cost to $300 or so. The average cost for shots for your dog is $15 to $28, and a fecal exam costs $25 to $45.
Flea treatment can cost $16 to $30 for a flea comb and flea shampoo. You can also get a combination medication to treat fleas and ticks for $50 every three months. A three-month supply of heartworm medication costs about $45 to $60, while six months of medication costs $60 to $120. You can get pet insurance to help cover the cost of these vet expenses.
Onetime Costs In The First Year
The first year when you raise Golden will cost you about $600 to buy the necessary supplies. The most important things are stables, pantries, bowls, daily toiletries. Vaccination and health check are the responsibility of the seller, you do not need to worry about these costs.
If you have enough money, you should buy pet insurance, especially in the first year, when your puppy is young and new to the environment, it is easy for his or her to get sick. Insurance usually costs several hundred dollars a year depending on the type, but you will not have to worry about the cost of medical treatment for the puppy when something bad happens.
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Should You Buy A Puppy Or An Older Dog
If you think Golden Retriever puppies and adults cost the same, think again.
Younger Goldens almost always come with a heftier initial price. This tends to be the case whether you adopt or go through a breeder.
In addition to being cheaper upfront, older Golden Retrievers tend to cost less than puppies over their lifetime.
Your Golden Retriever puppys first year with you will cost somewhere between $2100-3000. An adult Golden, on the other hand, will run you $1500-2500 over the same time period.
Why the difference? Puppies require obedience classes, frequent vet visits, and a seemingly endless stream of puppy pads and teething toys. With older Golden Retrievers, much of that simply isnt a concern.
Price aside, there are other pros and cons to consider.
Adult dogs not only save you money upfront, they dont always require as much in the way of basic obedience and housetraining. Any bad habits they do have, however, could be deeply ingrained and much harder to train out.
Conversely, you can mold a puppys behavior to suit your family and lifestyle. Youll just need to pay extra for the privilege. If you go with a Golden Retriever puppy, use these tips to help guide your decision: