How Much Does A Labradoodle Cost? Guide to Prices and Ongoing Costs

If you’ve got your heart set on the adorable Labradoodle, you’re likely wondering – how much does a Labradoodle cost? In this guide, we’ll discuss the average Labradoodle price in the US, what determines the Labradoodle price, and the ongoing costs that any dog owner should be prepared to cover during a Labradoodles’s lifetime. Let’s get started!

Table of Contents

• How Much Does A Labradoodle Cost?
• Factors That Determine Labradoodle Price
• Different Types Of Labradoodle Breeders And How Price Varies
• Costs Of Labradoodle Ownership
• Where Can You Buy Labradoodles?
• How Much Does A Labradoodle Cost: FAQ
• How Much Does A Labradoodle Cost: Final Thoughts

How Much Does A Labradoodle Cost?

The Labrador Retriever-Poodle mix has become one of the most sought-after hybrid breeds in the last two decades. Labradoodles are fun-loving, affectionate, and intelligent dogs who enjoy human company above all else. And let’s not forget, their low-shedding coats make them the perfect option for people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to adopt a Labrador Retriever. 

But how much does a Labradoodle cost? Due to their growing popularity, you can expect to pay around $2000 to $4000 for a Labradoodle puppy. As you can tell, the Labradoodle price can vary quite a bit. In addition to that, you’ll also have to pay for your Labradoodle’s ongoing costs for their food, vet bills, training, and more.

But first, let’s discuss what factors influence the Labradoodle cost…

Factors That Determine Labradoodle Price

Genetic Guarantees

Health and genetic testing is one of the most important aspects that determines the Labradoodle puppy price. It’s crucial that a breeder carefully screens all of their breeding dogs to minimize the risk of puppies inheriting any genetic conditions and hereditary illnesses.

That being said, ethical breeders who do extensive health testing on their breeding dogs also provide genetic health guarantees for their puppies. This usually covers any serious genetic conditions that the breeding dogs have been tested for. 

A health guarantee should always come in written format with your puppy adoption documentation. It’s usually something along the lines of:

“The Breeder warrants the dog to be in good health and treated and/or free from parasites as of the time of sale. Breeder warrants that the sire and dam’s hips and/or elbows have been evaluated by either The University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHIP) or the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) in the United States or by the Appropriate Certifying Body in “Country of Origin”. The eyes of all sires and dams have been examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist and certified to be free from inherited eye disorders. In the event of emergence of any genetic disorder during the first two years, that is severe in nature or that will significantly decrease the quality of life or longevity of the dog, as diagnosed by two qualified veterinarians, one of whom is selected by Breeder, the breeder agrees to one of the following: • Replace the dog with one of equivalent quality from the first litter bred by the Breeder; OR • Refund veterinary expenses up to 100% of the original purchase price.” – Sacto Labradoodles

Location

Depending on your geographical location, you can expect to pay more money in certain areas. For instance, the Labradoodle puppy price in major cities and states can be as much as $1000 higher than in smaller, lesser populated areas. Naturally, the Labradoodle price is usually tied to the overall cost of living in that area. 

Of course, you might be tempted to adopt a puppy from a different state. However, you’ll also have to take into account delivery, flight nanny, or travel costs to pick up the puppy. Any of those can add a few hundred dollars to your total Labradoodle price.

Breeder Stock

Another factor that influences the Labradoodle cost is breeding stock. Breeding different generations of Labradoodles requires a certain set of parent dogs. For example, F1 or first-generation Labradoodles are often less expensive than F1b or F1bb Labradoodles. That’s because F1 Labradoodles require a purebred Labrador Retriever and Poodle parent, whereas backcross generations like F1b Labradoodles require another F1 Labradoodle for the breeding stock. 

Demand

Needless to say, the high demand can also hike up the price of Labradoodles, especially in more populated areas like major cities. The best reputable breeders have waiting lists that are filled 6 months in advance, sometimes even up to a year or two. This in turn means that breeders will charge higher rates to keep up with the demand while not overbreeding the mama dogs. 

Size, Color, and Coat Type

Another thing you should keep in mind is that certain sizes, colors, and coat types can cost you some extra money. For instance, some breeders charge more for Mini Labradoodles compared to Standard Labradoodles. 

Likewise, if you’re after non-shedding, curly-coat Labradoodles, you can expect to pay extra for those pups. Usually, the most hypoallergenic Labradoodles are found in F1b, F1bb, F2b, and F2bb generations, which also require more genetic testing to achieve. 

Breeder Reputation

Lastly, reputable breeders also charge premium rates for their Labradoodle puppies. Ethical, reputable breeders put a lot of time, money, and effort into breeding and raising healthy and well-rounded pups. 

Many of them are also affiliated with breed-specific organizations, such as the Australian Labradoodle Association of America (ALAA), Worldwide Australian Labradoodle Association (WALA), Australian Labradoodle Club of America (ALCA). All of this reflects in the Labradoodle price. 

Different Types Of Labradoodle Breeders And How Price Varies

We’ve highlighted a few times how ethical breeders often charge higher rates than breeders who aren’t as experienced or who are only focused on their financial gain. Let’s take a closer look at different types of Labradoodle breeders and discuss why their prices can vary so drastically.

Professional Labradoodle Breeders

If you’ve decided to adopt your Labradoodle puppy from a breeder, we absolutely recommend you opt for a professional, ethical breeder who has years of experience. Professional breeders have learned all about health and genetic testing. They’re also able to provide the parent dogs and puppies a safe and nurturing environment. 

In addition to that, reputable breeders know the importance of early socialization, training, and other enrichment methods. All of which are crucial for a puppy’s development during those early life stages. 

Ethical breeders also follow breeding guidelines set by established organizations we mentioned above. Many of them are also affiliated with the organizations and continuously keep educating themselves on the best breeding practices. 

How much does a Labradoodle cost when adopting a puppy from a professional, ethical breeder? This can set you back the full price of about $2000 to $4000, depending on your location and what size or coat type you’re after. 

Labradoodle Cost In The US From Reputable Breeders: Comparing Ethical Breeders In Different States

For you to get a better idea of what you can pay for a Labradoodle puppy in the US, take a look at this helpful table below. However, this is just the initial cost of adoption and it doesn’t include the ongoing costs of dog ownership. In addition to that, keep in mind that these prices are only for adopting a pet puppy. If you’d like to breed new litters, you’ll likely have to pay a few more thousand dollars and have this clause added to your purchase documents. 

Breeder	State	Cost
Hales Australian Labradoodles	California	$3,500
Coastal Labradoodles	Florida	$3,200
Chestnut Hill Australian Labradoodles	Indiana	$3,500
Cream Puff Labradoodles	New Jersey	$3,000
Big Tex Australian Labradoodles	Texas	$3,200
All Star Breeders of Labradoodles	Michigan	$3,000
Magnolia Australian Labradoodles	Ohio	$3,250
Badger Mountain Labradoodles	Washington State	$3,500
High Mist Mountain Australian Labradoodles	North Carolina	$3,000
Stonegate Labradoodles	New York	$3,000

Backyard Breeders

Then we have backyard breeders who often aren’t as experienced or qualified in producing and raising new litters. Of course, there are many backyard breeders who have the best intentions in mind and only want to share the joy of this adorable crossbreed. 

However, oftentimes, these breeders might not conduct all the necessary health and genetic testing on their breeding dogs. Nor can they provide proper health guarantees for their puppies. Additionally, many backyard breeders do not choose new homes for the puppies as carefully as professional breeders. When a litter is born, they just sell all the puppies on a first come first serve basis. 

How much are Labradoodles when adopting from a backyard breeder? On average, the cost of one puppy usually ranges between $1000 and $1500. 

Puppy Mills

Finally, we have the worst of the bunch – puppy mills. Due to the growing popularity of Labradoodles, we’ve seen a huge influx in unethical breeders and puppy mills. Unfortunately, these breeders only work for their own financial gain. More often than not, they neglect the wellbeing of their breeding dogs and puppies.

Puppy mills usually overbreed their mama dogs and keep them on tight schedules to produce more and more puppies. Meanwhile, the dogs and puppies are kept in unsafe and unclean environments, often in small cages and kennels. As you would expect, the pups don’t receive proper veterinary care, love, or attention in terms of enrichment and socialization. 

Moreover, these pups often come with serious health conditions. Either from poor living conditions or due to hereditary diseases that could’ve been avoided with proper health screening. Although you’ll get a puppy at an extremely low price compared to ethical breeders, you’ll most likely have to pay more money in the long run for all the vet bills. Naturally, these health issues can drastically affect the puppies’ quality of life and even result in untimely death.

“I don’t understand how in a country of animal lovers, puppy mills can be tolerated.” – Dr. Scott Rovner, veterinarian. (Source) We couldn’t agree more with this statement, and we urge you to be extremely cautious when adopting a puppy from any type of breeder. With proper due diligence, you can ensure that you’re getting a healthy and happy puppy from a reputable breeding program that really does put their puppies’ and dogs’ health and wellbeing first. 

How much does a Labradoodle cost when adopting from a puppy mill? To attract more unknowing customers, unethical breeders and puppy mills can charge as low as $500 for a puppy. Above all, we urge you to avoid these breeders at all costs. 

Costs Of Labradoodle Ownership

So, adopting a Labradoodle doesn’t just require the initial payment of adoption. You’ll also have to prepare for the costs of your dog’s ownership throughout its lifetime. Let’s take a closer look at the usual costs of owning a Labradoodle.

Food – $450+ annually

Probably one of the most routine purchases you’ll have to make is buying your Labradoodle nutritious dog food formulas. High quality dog food will cost you around $40 and $60 each month. As a general rule of thumb, larger, Standard Labradoodles require more calories per day compared to smaller, Mini and Medium Labradoodles. In addition to that, you’ll also need some tasty treats to reward your pup. 

In fact, we’ve created a guide on the best dog foods for both Labradoodle puppies and adults. All of them are tried, tested, and recommended by Doodle owners. 

Training – $240+ annually

Training and early socialization both play a key role in raising well-rounded Labradoodles. Although most ethical breeders already introduce the puppies to various forms of enrichment and training, it’s your responsibility to continue with the process. 

We cannot recommend enough the Online Puppy School by Baxter & Bella, which you can follow at your own pace from the comfort of your home. Additionally, you can also opt for in-person training classes, which would usually set you back around $50 to $100. 

Vet Visits – $480+ annually

One of the most expensive parts of owning a dog is taking your pup to regular vet visits and wellness checks. And to be prepared for those unexpected vet visits, we recommend you choose a trustworthy pet insurance company. 

During the first year, you should make sure that your puppy is up to date with all of its vaccinations and preventative care for worms, fleas, ticks, and heartworm. You’ll also want to have your pup spayed or neutered once they reach adolescence and make sure they have a registered microchip in case your pup gets lost. 

During your puppy’s first year, these costs can reach as high as $2000, depending on your location. Later on, you’ll likely have to spend around a few hundred dollars each year for routine vet check-ups. 

Grooming –  $450+ annually

You might already know that Labradoodles are high-maintenance when it comes to grooming and coat care. Regardless of your Dood’s coat type, all Labradoodles need to have their hair cut every 6-8 weeks. Additionally, you’ll also have to brush their hair daily and give them the occasional bathtime. 

If you decide to have your pup’s hair trimmed and washed at a professional grooming salon, it can set you back around $50 to $100 per visit. However, more and more Doodle owners take matters into their own hands, as it’s a great way to save time and money.

Of course, you’ll still have to invest in quality grooming tools, such as brushes, shampoos, dog clippers, and scissors. Our guide on Labradoodle Grooming Hacks At Home has all the necessary information you’ll need to get started. 

Time Investment

Like any other pet, Labradoodles require a lot of time and effort from your part. You’ll have to take your pup for daily walks, stay consistent with training, and provide them plenty of opportunities to socialize and play. And let’s not forget, your Dood needs all the affection and love they can get from you. 

Other Costs –  $300+ annually

In addition to all the Labradoodle costs we mentioned above, there are other everyday items that your dog will need. These include food and water bowls, dog beds, dog crate, a collar and a leash, toys and chew toys, and poop bags. 

Once in a while, you might also have to pay for a dog walker or a pet sitter if you’re away for work or on vacation.  

Where Can You Buy Labradoodles?

So, you know with absolute certainty that the Labradoodle is the right pup for you. But how can you find quality Labradoodle breeders? The first step we recommend you take is reading our full guide on How To Choose A Responsible Breeder. 

As fellow Doodle owners, we know how difficult it can be to find ethical, reputable breeders in your area. For this reason, we’ve created a Labradoodle Breeders Directory that lists many ethical Labradoodle breeders all across the US. 

How Much Does A Labradoodle Cost: FAQ

How Much Does A Labradoodle Cost: Final Thoughts

Adopting a dog is not just a huge emotional commitment, but also requires you to think whether or not your finances allow you to take care of another living being. Like many future dog owners, you’re probably wondering – how much does a Labradoodle cost to adopt and to take care of? Hopefully, this article has managed to answer all of your questions about the Labradoodle cost of adoption and the ongoing costs throughout their lifetime.