Whatever you think owning a dog will cost, you’re probably wrong!
The average cost of owning a labradoodle is between $2250 and $3550 every year. But if you don’t mind doing a bit of work yourself, there’s quite a lot to save each year.
A recent report from People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals showed that owning a dog is actually 7 times more expensive than what the average dog-owner expected!
Let’s look into what affects the final cost.
Getting a Labradoodle
If you look at the total cost of owning a Labradoodle, actually purchasing it will end up being one of the smallest expenses.
And average labradoodle has a life expectancy of around 12 years, so those expenses which are only a few hundred dollars a month will end up costing far more than actually acquiring the dog.
Depending on things like the size, color and so on, a Labradoodle will cost you anywhere from $1200 to $3000.
It isn’t cheap, but this is also where you shouldn’t try and save a few dollars by getting a dog from a puppy factory or something similar.
If you want a dog from a well-established breeder, you can expect to pay up to $3000 for it. But then you will usually also be sure that the dog comes from a loving and caring home where they know what they are doing.
Just be glad that you’re not in the market for a Tibetan Mastiff.
If you want to be sure that you find the right breeder, ALAA has a list of breeders in most of the world. So finding one near your home should be possible.
General Equipment
When you bring your labradoodle home, there are quite a few things that you will need to purchase beforehand.
You will need a bed, bowls for food and water, a harness/collar, a leash, toys and so on.
It’s hard to give a specific price on these things combined, but a good estimate is around $200.
Some of these are items that you might never have to purchase again, but items like toys are something that can end up taking quite a beating from your dog, so expect to spend some money on new stuff once in a while.
And it’s always a great joy to give your dog some new toys anyway!
Food and Treats
When looking at the cost of owning a labradoodle, food is without a doubt one of the most expensive expenditures when owning a dog.
Of course, there’s a big difference in the cost depending on the size of your labradoodle, and what brand you’re purchasing.
A mini-doodle, of course, eats less than a bigger sized labradoodle and is, therefore, quite a bit cheaper in this area.
For the calculations here, I will look at a medium labradoodle which is about the same size as a regular Labrador Retriever.
A Danish study showed that on average a Labrador sized dog would cost around $2 a day if you’re using a brand name which equates to $730 a year.
If you buy a cheaper brand from your local supermarket you could probably do it for around half that, so it could probably be done for around $350 a year.
But do make sure that the food you’re buying as all the essentials needed for your dog, or else you will probably end up with some bills from the veterinary which far exceeds the cost of some proper food!
Making Your Own Food?
Some people also prefer to make their own dog food, but it is doubtful that this will be cheaper in the long run.
Considering you have to spend a lot of time preparing it, and you have to be sure that your dog gets all the nutrients and vitamins it needs it might end up costing more than buying a quality brand.
If you decide to make your own food, I would advise that you intensely study what is required and also have a talk with a vet to make sure you’re not missing any important details.
When it comes to your dogs’ health, only looking for advice online is probably not the best way to go. Always speak with a professional.
Buying a higher quality brand: $730 a year.
Buying a local supermarket brand: $350 a year.
Making your own dog food: $??? but probably the same as a good brand.
Grooming
Grooming is another area that can end up costing quite a bit each year. If you use a professional groomer.
If we take a look at the average-sized full-grown Labradoodle, they usually end up weighing about 50-65 pounds.
The recommendation most groomers would give is that you take your labradoodle every two months.
And the average cost of each trip to the groomer is around $45 to $75 dollars.
So if we are to follow the advice of going every 8 weeks, that would end up at $270 to $450 every year.
Do It Yourself!
Luckily there is also a far cheaper solution to the grooming issue. Doing it yourself!
I’ve previously written about how you can groom your labradoodle yourself, and if you follow that, you’re looking at spending perhaps $300 during the dogs’ entire lifetime, and not several thousand.
Those $300 dollars include the cost of a good brush, a nail clipper, a hair trimmer, some good shampoo and finally the treats you feed your dog when it’s being a good boy/girl.
Most of those items will probably last for as long as your labradoodle does, so they will be one-time purchases.
Using a groomer:$270 to $450 each year.
Doing it yourself: $300 in your dogs’ entire lifetime.
Veterinarian
This is one of those areas of owning a dog that we all hope we won’t have to spend too much on but if you and your labradoodle are unlucky, can end up costing thousands of dollars.
It is recommended that you take your dog to the vet at least once a year for a general check-up. The typical price of such a visit is around $50.
Vaccine boosters are recommended to be given 2-4 times a year, and they have a price of around $20 each time.
Testing for heartworm is something that is also recommended to do once a year. And your vet will typically charge $50 for that test.
Finally a fecal test once a year is also recommended by vets and that typically costs around $35.
So just by going to a regular check-up and getting the recommended tests, we end up at $155 every year for visiting the vet.
Unexpected Labradoodle Costs
Now lets’ take a look at some other possible costs you might end up having at a vet.
If the vet suspects your dog has allergies they may order a blood test or a skin test. These range from $200 to $300 each.
Dental cleaning is also something that is quite common to expect once in a while.
Even if you regularly feed your dog carrots or something specifically recommended for keeping your Labradoodles teeth like a KONG Dental Toy, you can still expect that it will be necessary for a cleaning at the vet.
The price of a dental cleaning at a vet can cost anywhere from $100 to $400, depending on how severe a case it could be.
Geriatric Screening is something that older dogs must undergo, usually after they turn 7, and it is an exam that typically includes blood work, urine analysis, x-ray and others. The price for this is around $100.
Surgery and unexpected treatments. Ahh yes, the icing on the cake and the big unknown.
If you’re lucky, like I’ve been with my previous 3 dogs, you will never have to spend a single penny on this.
But if you’re unlucky, you could end up looking at several thousands of dollars depending on your Labradoodles specific issue.
To avoid the risk of having to spend obscene amounts of money, we casually continue on to the next topic.
Insurance
Valuepenguin has a study where they looked at the average price of insurance for your dog and found the monthly cost to be $42.45 on average between 11 different insurers. That’s a yearly total of $510.
That can easily end up being money well-spent if you happen to get a dog that is injury-prone.
It’s is recommended that you do get the insurance in some form or another, and if you shop around a little, you can probably get a good price and still be covered with the most necessary insurances.
Training
If you want to go to training courses with your dog is of course entirely optional, but if this is your first dog, or you’re just looking to improve your own methods, joining a puppy training school could be a good idea.
Not only will you and your labradoodle learn different fun exercises and commands, but your puppy will also be able to socialize with other dogs, which is highly recommended you do as much as possible.
Most puppy training schools offer a class that lasts from 4 to 8 weeks and the average cost is around $170 totally according to RSPCA.
Training it yourself is, of course, a very cheap method, and you can find several videos on YouTube for a grand total of $0.
But perhaps you would also like to challenge your dog with training and exercises you haven’t thought of yourself, dog-expert Adrienne Farricelli has created a course she calls Brain Training for Dogs, which is getting lots of recommendations.
Miscellaneous
This is always a hard area to give an estimate on the price. It could include everything from membership of the local dog club, to injuries or damages caused by the dog.
Just make sure that you set aside just a bit of cash each month to be ready to cover anything that might fall under this category.
The Cost of Owning a Labradoodle
Adding all these numbers together we’re getting an estimated Labradoodle price of anywhere from $2250 to $3550 annually.
And if we expect the annual Labradoodle price to be somewhere around $2250 and $3550, and a Labradoodle has a life expectancy of around 12 years, you’re looking at a total cost of $27.000 to $42.600.
Suddenly it doesn’t seem worth it to try and save a few hundred dollars when purchasing the dog instead of finding the right breeder with the best recommendations.
And if you follow my advice of grooming the dog yourself, there’s a nice sum of money to be saved in that area alone.
But hey, according to the Department of Agriculture, raising a child from 0-18 is expected to cost up to $233.000, so in the grand scheme of things, $42.600 ain’t that bad for all those years of great fun and love you have with a labradoodle.
Some of My Favorite Products For Dog Owners
I hope this article has helped you just a bit in everyday life as a dog owner. Being a dog owner for more than 25 years, I’ve tried many different products with varying success, but these products below are some that I can highly recommend to every dog and their owner without hesitation!
These links are affiliate links, so if you do end up using the links, I will earn a commission. But it’s products that I use daily myself, and I have the utmost praise for.
Dog Food: Every dog needs to eat correctly, and finding the best food for your dog can be challenging, as the market is absolutely flooded with products. But since 2015 when the company was founded, I’ve been using Ollie Petfood. With their product being tailor-made to suit every dog’s specific needs, and as my dogs love the product, I’m pretty sure I’ve found a product I will continue to use for many years more. If you use my link you can get 50% off your first order.
Dog Training: If you’ve ever owned a puppy, you know that it requires a lot of training to grow into a well-behaved adult. Brain Training for Dogs has helped me immensely with the mental training part of raising a dog, and it’s something I strongly recommend you consider.
Grooming: If you have a dog in your home, you’re going to need a brush, and for this, I recommend a Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush. For that price, you simply can’t beat this brush for everyday grooming.
If you’re looking for the most up-to-date recommendations, check out my recommended products section that I’ve created to help every dog owner!
