So you have decided you want to have a golden retriever as a pet and you are now wondering how much does a golden retriever cost?
The best way to approach this critical question is to not only thing of how much you will spend buying or adopting the dog, but also including the cost of keeping it to maturity.
NOTE: If you are planning to adopt a Golden Retriever, then just GO FOR IT.
They are the best, adorable, cute, lovely, and … dog and frankly saying, I don’t have any words to explain how much I love Golden Retriever. Of course, I do love all animals but Golden Retriever is my first love 🙂
1. Adoption/Purchasing Fees
The first cost anyone does think of before getting a pet is the cost of purchasing a golden retriever. This may range from free of charge to well above $3,000.
You may even have to only pay a nominal fee of something like $1 depending on where you are getting your golden retriever from.
If your friend or neighbor just had a litter of new pups, you may get one for free. However, not everyone can be that lucky. You might have to shop around for a puppy from other sources. There are many services online that will help you find a golden retriever.
However, it is not advisable for you to use brokers. This is because they usually do not conduct any background checks or medical tests on the retrievers on offer. You may end up with a sick pet or one with genetic defects.
One of the best places to begin your search is at animal shelters. Not only do shelters provide a wide variety of retrievers you can adopt, they also make detailed background checks and provide medication for the rescued animals.
They also offer more affordable prices and you can get a retriever for as little as $200 though the average price ranges from $300 to $600.
Commercial breeders have been criticized for their breeding methods. They are large-scale providers of puppies for sale to pet stores.
Due to these condemned practices, many pet clubs refuse admission to anyone who purchases their golden retriever from a pet store or from a commercial breeder. Their prices range between $300 and $1,000 depending on breeding and location.
Professional breeders are most favored though their retrievers come at a significantly higher cost. They use the best breeding and training practices, use the best medication and health care for their pups, and use healthy feeds.
These kinds of breeders range from those who offer basic services to those who offer high-end champion-class dogs. It is from the latter that you will find pups with many champions in their ancestry. It is also from them that you will find a price-tag of $3,000.
2. Licensing Fees
You will need to license your retriever once you have purchased him. This will cost you up to $50 and the fee varies depending on your country/state/province.
You may want to enroll in your local or national kennel club or a golden retriever club. This will involve paying a few more registration and subscription fees.
3. Food, Grooming, and Housing
Feeding your golden retriever will cost you around $40 – $80 per month. You will need to provide housing as part of the cost of a golden retriever and the housing will need to be renewed every year or two.
You will most likely be doing the grooming yourself so that will add up your costs. Your dog may need some training and O.B classes which may set you back an extra $20 per month.
If you are a busy person, you may have to pay a dog-walker or a dog-sitter for those times you may be away.
4. Insurance and Medical Care
When considering the cost of a golden retriever, factor in the required annual immunizations to guard against some common diseases. These typically cost around $70 per year.
The retriever will also need an annual heartworm test and worming. This will cost between $50 and $200 depending on your vet.
If your pup falls ill or gets injured you will incur additional costs at the vet and these depend on how often he gets ill and how serious the illnesses or injuries are plus the vet’s charges.
Professional breeders require all their customers to purchase insurance for their golden retrievers. This makes sense especially when you have just forked out $2,000 or more on a pup whom you expect to live for at least the next 15 years.
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