Shelters charge between $50 and $300 to adopt. For seniors and dogs with special needs, some shelters offer them free. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adopting a Golden Retriever can be hard because these dogs live in shelters for a few days or weeks after they were brought in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Golden Retrievers that were trained for services like guiding the blind or therapy are very expensive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because these dogs go through special training and get better care than a standard Golden Retriever, they can cost up to $25,000. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Factors That Can Affect A Golden Retriever Puppy Price<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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1. Location & Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As with many other goods and services, the location of the breeder influences the price of a Golden Retriever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A breeder who lives in an expensive neighborhood will charge more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Bloodline<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bloodline makes little difference if you’re getting the Golden Retriever solely as a pet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you intend to register your pooch in competitions, consider one from a winning bloodline. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Besides bloodline, the quality of the puppy will also determine the price. By quality, we mean good health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Breeders that can provide proofs that their puppies are free of any hereditary illnesses will sell at a higher price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behavior should also be taken into account under quality. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Age<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Coat Colors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The standard color for a Golden Retriever is, of course, different shades of gold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, there are some other colors that breeders market as rare, like the Cream Golden Retriever and the Black Golden Retriever. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because these colors are non-standard and rare, breeders often attach more price to them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Non-standard rare Golden Retrievers are good as house pets, but not for shows. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initial Golden Retriever Cost<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Dogs remain forever dependent on you for their needs, so you should ensure that you can take up that responsibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buying or adopting a Golden Retriever is the first step, but it won’t be complete without some items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These would make up your initial cost, and these items should be in place before you bring your Golden Retriever pup (or adult) home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While buying the initial items for your Golden, consider its age and size. If you have a Golden adult, buy things for the adult.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have a puppy, remember that puppies grow. Some items like collars would have to be changed eventually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Supplies<\/th>	Estimated Cost<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Food and Waterbowl <\/a><\/td>	$15<\/td><\/tr>
Food (30 pounds)<\/td>	$50<\/td><\/tr>
Leash<\/td>	$15<\/td><\/tr>
Dog collar<\/td>	$15<\/td><\/tr>
Crate<\/td>	$75<\/td><\/tr>
Bed<\/a><\/td>	$75<\/td><\/tr>
Stain and Odor removal spray<\/td>	$10<\/td><\/tr>
Poop Bags<\/td>	$55<\/td><\/tr>
ID Tags<\/td>	$10<\/td><\/tr>
Microchipping<\/td>	$40<\/td><\/tr>
Toys<\/td>	$60<\/td><\/tr>
Treats<\/td>	$20<\/td><\/tr>
Harness<\/td>	$25<\/td><\/tr>
First Aid Kit<\/td>	$30<\/td><\/tr>
Car Restraint<\/td>	$15<\/td><\/tr>
Brush<\/td>	$15<\/td><\/tr>
Nail clippers<\/td>	$15<\/td><\/tr>
Shampoo<\/td>	$10<\/td><\/tr>
Dental kit <\/td>	$10<\/td><\/tr>
Total<\/strong><\/td>	$585 <\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Overall, you can budget between $550 and $650 <\/strong>for the initial items. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fences are safety gates that are also necessary for the Golden Retriever, so you can add them to your initial list. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Monthly Expenses of a Golden Retriever<\/h2>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many of these expenses can be divided into months, some may cover an expanse of weeks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of these services are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Training<\/h3>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Though Golden Retrievers have a good personality by default, they still need training. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This training also involves proper socialization, and puppy class is a good place to start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While puppy class isn’t compulsory, it makes socialization easier, especially for those that don’t have the time to do it themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Grooming<\/h3>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Brush<\/a> ($15)<\/li> Nail Clippers<\/a> ($15)<\/li> Shampoo<\/a> ($10)<\/li> Dental kit ($10) <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n Professional grooming can cost you around $70 per session. Professional grooming occurs about 3 to 4 times yearly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Food <\/h3>\n\n\n\n The Golden Retriever has a large appetite, and you can expect an adult Golden to eat about three cups a day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In a month, the Golden Retriever can consume an estimated 30 pounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Golden Retriever puppy requires a different diet, and the cost may not be the same as that of adults. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Treats are useful for encouragement and as snacks. As we stated above, they cost around $20 each month. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Insurance and Medical Related Expenses<\/h3>\n\n\n\n During the first year, puppies should be vaccinated. Usually, this happens in three sessions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides these, understand that your Golden Retriever can fall sick at any moment. This breed is predisposed to many illnesses, especially cancer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Medical costs are high, and unfortunately, this is one reason parents opt to abandon their Golden Retriever in rescue shelters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is difficult for many families to cover these funds with their income, and that’s why pet insurances are in place. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because Golden Retrievers are prone to cancer, the insurance price is usually higher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Exercise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n As a highly energetic breed, the Golden Retriever should be exercised for at least one hour. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It might look calmer than other types of Retriever breeds<\/a>, but it requires an active pet parent to take care of its need for activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dog walking is one of the most common forms of exercise, and you’d need a leash that cost around $15 for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some pet parents may find themselves unable to walk their Golden because of work or injury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you’re in this situation, you can hire a dog walker. Dog walkers charge around $20 each time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Where to Find a Golden Retriever For Sale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\n Golden Retriever puppies can either be bought from a breeder or adopted from a rescue shelter. The choice is yours to make. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you opt for shopping, avoid buying from backyard breeders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These folks can easily get AKC registration for their litters, but many don’t know what to consider when breeding dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Backyard breeders are only after the profit, so they may not take the time to follow due procedures like a professional would. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With this breed being very popular, you should be more careful. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you choose to shop for this breed, some good sites to start your search include AKC Marketplace<\/a>, PuppySpot<\/a>, and Greenfield Puppies<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where to Adopt a Golden Retriever<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Adopting a Golden Retriever also requires finding a good rescue shelter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you decide to adopt this breed, some great sites you can start your search are As Good as Gold<\/a>, Golden Rescue<\/a>, and Ragom<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \n