A popular and well-loved breed, the Golden Retriever is a stellar canine and remains in high demand.
It is an affectionate and beloved dog, and even people who don’t fancy dogs will find themselves swept up by the Golden Retriever’s charms, which makes them perfect family dogs.
Because of this popularity, the demand for the Golden Retriever is high. But you shouldn’t think about getting this breed without considering finances.
Buying a Golden Retriever is a cost on its own, taking care of its daily needs can drill a hole in your wallet if you’re not prepared enough.
Below is a guide of what to roughly expect when considering pet parenting a Golden.
Golden Retriever Price: How Much Do Golden Retrievers Cost?
Due to their popularity (currently the third most popular dog in the United States), the Golden Retriever price can be quite high.
The average price of a Golden Retriever puppy falls between $500 to $2,000 from a breeder. If you want a high-quality pup it will get up to $3,000.
The price varies, so you may find that different breeders will state different prices.
Any Golden Retriever puppy that’s less than $500 might seem like a good idea but look at the long run.
Cheap puppies may have health issues that would make you spend even more in the future.
For a popular dog like the Golden Retriever, the chances of this happening are higher. We recommend getting a breed from a reputable breeder, regardless of the price.
If you want to adopt, the price is lower, especially when you’re adopting an adult Golden Retriever.
Shelters charge between $50 and $300 to adopt. For seniors and dogs with special needs, some shelters offer them free.
Adopting a Golden Retriever can be hard because these dogs live in shelters for a few days or weeks after they were brought in.
You might have to make a lot of inquiries before getting one. Alternatively, you can get a Golden Retriever mix, like a Goldendoodle. They can be found in shelters that rescue Goldens.
Golden Retrievers that were trained for services like guiding the blind or therapy are very expensive.
Because these dogs go through special training and get better care than a standard Golden Retriever, they can cost up to $25,000.
We’ll look into details into where you can get Golden Retrievers, but before that, let’s analyze some factors that can affect the price.
Factors That Can Affect A Golden Retriever Puppy Price
1. Location & Time
As with many other goods and services, the location of the breeder influences the price of a Golden Retriever.
A breeder who lives in an expensive neighborhood will charge more.
If you also live in an area with limited Golden Retriever breeders, expect a hike in price due to the higher rate of demand compared to supply.
2. Bloodline
The parents and lineage of the pup will influence its price. If the breeder bred the Golden Retriever from a champion bloodline, he/she will charge more because of the higher costs involved.
Bloodline makes little difference if you’re getting the Golden Retriever solely as a pet.
However, if you intend to register your pooch in competitions, consider one from a winning bloodline.
3. Quality
Besides bloodline, the quality of the puppy will also determine the price. By quality, we mean good health.
Breeders that can provide proofs that their puppies are free of any hereditary illnesses will sell at a higher price.
Behavior should also be taken into account under quality.
4. Age
Breeders often take care of a puppy till it gets to 8 weeks. After that, it is ready to move from the breeder to a home.
Unfortunately for the breeder, this doesn’t always happen as fast as he/she would prefer. The breeder might reduce the price to sell faster.
Some pet parents would want to take this chance and wait, but if you stay in an area with a high demand for this breed, this may not be a good idea.
5. Coat Colors
The standard color for a Golden Retriever is, of course, different shades of gold.
That said, there are some other colors that breeders market as rare, like the Cream Golden Retriever and the Black Golden Retriever.
Because these colors are non-standard and rare, breeders often attach more price to them.
Non-standard rare Golden Retrievers are good as house pets, but not for shows.
Initial Golden Retriever Cost
Dogs remain forever dependent on you for their needs, so you should ensure that you can take up that responsibility.
Buying or adopting a Golden Retriever is the first step, but it won’t be complete without some items.
These would make up your initial cost, and these items should be in place before you bring your Golden Retriever pup (or adult) home.
While buying the initial items for your Golden, consider its age and size. If you have a Golden adult, buy things for the adult.
If you have a puppy, remember that puppies grow. Some items like collars would have to be changed eventually.
Others can be bought in a large size, like a bed. It may look too big for the Golden Retriever at first, but it’ll eventually grow into it.
Here’s a tabular list of the essential items as well as their estimated prices. These prices are not fixed but will give you an idea of what to expect.
| Supplies | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Food and Waterbowl | $15 |
| Food (30 pounds) | $50 |
| Leash | $15 |
| Dog collar | $15 |
| Crate | $75 |
| Bed | $75 |
| Stain and Odor removal spray | $10 |
| Poop Bags | $55 |
| ID Tags | $10 |
| Microchipping | $40 |
| Toys | $60 |
| Treats | $20 |
| Harness | $25 |
| First Aid Kit | $30 |
| Car Restraint | $15 |
| Brush | $15 |
| Nail clippers | $15 |
| Shampoo | $10 |
| Dental kit | $10 |
| Total | $585 |
Overall, you can budget between $550 and $650 for the initial items.
Fences are safety gates that are also necessary for the Golden Retriever, so you can add them to your initial list.
Monthly Expenses of a Golden Retriever
Besides the initial cost, you should also keep in mind the monthly expenses of any service that would be needed to take care of your Golden Retriever.
Many of these expenses can be divided into months, some may cover an expanse of weeks.
Some of these services are:
1. Training
Though Golden Retrievers have a good personality by default, they still need training.
This training also involves proper socialization, and puppy class is a good place to start.
While puppy class isn’t compulsory, it makes socialization easier, especially for those that don’t have the time to do it themselves.
Puppy and group training classes usually cost between $50 to $125 for 8 weeks. If you want to hire an individual trainer, it would cost you around $50 a session.
There’s also the option of dog boot camps if you’d be away for a while and need a good place for your Golden Retriever pup to stay. Payment for these varies.
2. Grooming
Part of what makes a Golden Retriever popular is its golden, lustrous coat. To keep its physical appeal intact, you’d need to groom the coat regularly.
While it isn’t a hard job, some pet parents prefer hiring a professional to get better results. If you have a show dog, professional grooming is not optional.
For those who would want to groom at home, you’d need the basic tools which have been listed above. For a recap, these tools include:
- Brush ($15)
- Nail Clippers ($15)
- Shampoo ($10)
- Dental kit ($10)
Professional grooming can cost you around $70 per session. Professional grooming occurs about 3 to 4 times yearly.
If you’re grooming on your own but would prefer to have a professional take care of nail clipping (which can be delicate), it’ll cost around $10.
3. Food
The Golden Retriever has a large appetite, and you can expect an adult Golden to eat about three cups a day.
In a month, the Golden Retriever can consume an estimated 30 pounds.
30 pounds will cost around $50, and after getting the initial food, you’d need to shop monthly. For a meal of high quality, you can budget around $60 to $70.
The Golden Retriever puppy requires a different diet, and the cost may not be the same as that of adults.
Some Goldens for health reasons may require a specific diet, which means you’ll spend more. Ditto for parents who want to keep their Golden on a raw diet.
Treats are useful for encouragement and as snacks. As we stated above, they cost around $20 each month.
During the first year, puppies should be vaccinated. Usually, this happens in three sessions.
Each session cost around $150, so for all three expect to spend around $450. Some issues require monthly treatment, like fleas and heartworms. These would cost around $10 a month.
Besides these, understand that your Golden Retriever can fall sick at any moment. This breed is predisposed to many illnesses, especially cancer.
Treating cancer in a dog is expensive, getting up to $25,000. Other illnesses like hip dysplasia can also affect Goldens. In general, they can cost between $500 and $13,000.
Medical costs are high, and unfortunately, this is one reason parents opt to abandon their Golden Retriever in rescue shelters.
It is difficult for many families to cover these funds with their income, and that’s why pet insurances are in place.
Because Golden Retrievers are prone to cancer, the insurance price is usually higher.
It depends on which coverage you have in mind, but you can expect to pay around $50 a month. It is better to start up insurance when your Golden is still young.
5. Exercise
As a highly energetic breed, the Golden Retriever should be exercised for at least one hour.
It might look calmer than other types of Retriever breeds, but it requires an active pet parent to take care of its need for activities.
Dog walking is one of the most common forms of exercise, and you’d need a leash that cost around $15 for it.
Some pet parents may find themselves unable to walk their Golden because of work or injury.
If you’re in this situation, you can hire a dog walker. Dog walkers charge around $20 each time.
Where to Find a Golden Retriever For Sale
Golden Retriever puppies can either be bought from a breeder or adopted from a rescue shelter. The choice is yours to make.
If you opt for shopping, avoid buying from backyard breeders.
These folks can easily get AKC registration for their litters, but many don’t know what to consider when breeding dogs.
A reputable breeder would ensure that both parents being mated are certified healthy. A Golden with defects, health issues, or a behavioral problem shouldn’t be bred.
Backyard breeders are only after the profit, so they may not take the time to follow due procedures like a professional would.
With this breed being very popular, you should be more careful.
If you choose to shop for this breed, some good sites to start your search include AKC Marketplace, PuppySpot, and Greenfield Puppies.
Where to Adopt a Golden Retriever
Adopting a Golden Retriever also requires finding a good rescue shelter.
Shelters aren’t profit motivated, so you’re likely to get more accurate information on what to expect from the Golden you want to adopt.
If you decide to adopt this breed, some great sites you can start your search are As Good as Gold, Golden Rescue, and Ragom.
Final Thoughts
Owning a Golden Retriever is expensive, and before you even consider getting one you should be sure you can carry the financial commitment that comes with it.
From the price of the dog itself to the initial and monthly costs, you’re signing up for a long-term responsibility.
Fortunately, it is worth it with this breed.
