Do Designer dogs actually cost more than other dogs?

All dog lovers will agree that dogs of all types, whether purebred, mixed breed or hybrid, are wonderful to own and love. I will be the first person to admit I've never met an "ugly" dog. The canine has a wonderful ability to love humans no matter how imperfect they are. The humans, that is.

Since I began creating Goldendoodles as a private, professional, hobby breeder, I continually run into articles or blogs or posted comments by the designer naysayers claiming breeders are

charging excessive fees for designer dogs whom in their eyes, are nothing but mutts. Their reasoning seems to be that shelter dogs only cost around $50-$90 to adopt. Let's get real!

First of all, shelter dogs come from off the street and if the truth be told, many shelters are raking in the dough off the backs of breeders. In many instances, the shelters have raided a breeder's kennel and have turned around reaping profits from the confiscated dogs. This isn't an assumption. This is a fact.

Let's do a reality check. This is 2009, not 1997. I find it difficult to understand why some people assume that a mixed breed dog should cost less than that of a purebred if the dog comes from a breeder and not a shelter. How is caring for a purebred dog any cheaper for the breeder if the dog is mixed or a hybrid? The answer? There is no difference. A breeder will have the same expenses and the dogs will need the same amount of care no matter what type of canine it is. In today's economy, everything costs more and yet, in today's world, some people are still living back in yesterday's world.



The prices a breeder charges for one of their Goldendoodle dogs has a lot to do with the area in which they reside and perhaps what the market is calling for. How many of you reading this article assume the breeder gets a paycheck for providing you a loving, healthy, quality, terrific Goldendoodle? If you raised your hand, stay right there so I can come over and slap you in the head. Breeders do not get paid for all their long hours. They do not even get paid over time.

Let me back up a bit. Commercial breeders are making a killing off of selling dogs and so are show breeders. The average private breeder does not ever see a paycheck. Plenty of money leaves the breeder's hands regarding expenses. Every day, veterinarians are increasing their prices; advertising costs have gone up and most definitely food, toys and other amenities have increased over the years. All of these expenses must come out of the price of the dog.

Let's take for example that I advertise my Goldendoodles for $1500. This is an average price for quality dogs. While you may be familiar with adopting a shelter dog from your local humane society for a mere $50-$90 dollars, you have to remember the shelter has provided no shots to the dogs they have taken in. They've not provided anything except basic care for a few days. They haven't spent any money on the dogs they take in accept for the bare minimum. Shelters also obtain thousands of dollars in donations and they are paid by state funds. Every single employee of a shelter gets a paycheck. They more than likely get a pension and a 401K. Breeders do not have that luxury. Even if a breeder needed a band-aide, it would have to come out of the breeder's pocket. Shelters receive donated food. A breeder has to purchase their dog food from the same retail store as anyone else.

My veterinarian isn't cheap. Just the other day I obtained a packet of six pills of "comfortis". This is a once a month flea preventative. I was lucky that the box I obtained would take care of six dogs approx. the same size! For me, the box lasts for one application for six dogs. For someone who owns a single dog, this box would last for six months and I guess at that point, it wouldn't be so bad having to pay nearly $90. For me, using one box for six dogs to prevent flea infestations, it costs me $90 for six dogs. Veterinarian expenses will vary per area. Some people are fortunate enough to get a break from their vet. We are given a tiny discount even though if our available Goldendoodles are old enough, each and every one of them are taken to my vet for spaying or neutering. We literally bring them business all year long. As do many breeders.

Between veterinarian costs, care, upkeep, water bills and electric bills and advertising, not to mention many other essentials necessary for a breeder to do his or her job, the price of $1500 is a great price when it includes over $300 of vet care and all the other necessary costs have been figured in to help the breeder recoup some of their lost expenses.

If you are a potential buyer, you should not be looking solely at the price tag. You should be "checking under the hood" if you know what I mean. If you go pay a breeder $200-400 for a Goldendoodle, what kind of quality are you buying in your dog? What kind of research has the breeder conducted regarding its breeding dogs' pedigrees? My guess is they haven't spent nearly what they should if they are only asking $200-400 each. What kind of breeder are they is they are not asking you to fill out a canine application and requiring you to spay or neuter? A responsible breeder will want to know where their dog will be residing, so they will ask you to complete a canine registration. There is a tremendous reason for obtaining a Goldendoodle that has distant champion ancestors. This means that more than likely those champion dogs have been tested for genetic health issues and are less likely to pass on bad genes to their offspring.


Whether you are looking at designer dogs, mixed breed dogs or purebred dogs, every breeder will vary on price. Do not assume the breeder is sitting back raking in the dollars like a cash cow!

I know from experience that this isn't what good breeders do. It would be nice and I'd love to retire and be able to buy an all expenses paid trip to the Caribbeans simply by selling dogs...but that's never going to happen!




*About the author: Dee Gerrish, of Goldendoodle World, has been writing about the Goldendoodle since 1999. Dee is one of the original founders for the Goldendoodle dog in the southern region of the United States. Dee was the first breeder to register the Goldendoodle dog with a legitimate kennel club. More information can be obtained by visiting http://www.goldendoodleworld.com/