
Category: Blog
Budgeting For A Goldendoodle
Families considering a new puppy often wonder how much to budget for adding a dog to their home. Here’s a breakdown of the annual costs associated with owning a goldendoodle:
(Keep in mind that a bigger goldendoodle costs more to own than a smaller goldendoodle.)
Basic Annual Costs of Owning a Goldendoodle:
- Annual Vet Visit: Like all dogs, goldendoodles need to go to the vet once per year for a checkup. This visit will include a fecal check for intestinal worms, a blood check for heart worms and Lymes disease, and any vaccinations that your dog may need. Expect to pay around $200 for this routine visit. The first year of your puppy’s life will cost a bit more in vet bills though, as your puppy will need two trips to the vet for DHPP boosters and a rabies immunization, plus you’ll want to have your pup checked for intestinal worms. With this in mind, some vets offer special plans for puppies. Expect to pay around $375 for a plan that covers 4 office visits, rabies and DHPP x2 shots, several parasite examines, and wormer if needed. Most vets will trim toenails for free as part of your office call.
- Grooming: Since goldendoodles don’t shed their coats, they require regular professional grooming. The frequency and cost can be impacted by the length you keep your dog’s coat and coat maintenance you do at home. Bigger goldendoodles are more expensive to groom than smaller goldendoodles. In general, expect to pay around $55-$100 every 8 weeks for grooming your mini goldendoodle if you live in the Cincinnati area. (Grooming prices can vary drastically by location. In Virginia expect to pay $150-$200 for a visit to the groomer. And it also costs more to groom a larger goldendoodle). Learn more about the cost of grooming a goldendoodle in our Q&A with a professional groomer. You can also learn to groom your own goldendoodle.
- Parasite Prevention: Like all dogs, goldendoodles should be given monthly heart worm preventative. Expect to pay $100-$110 per year for Sentinel or Interceptor Plus for a 25lb dog if purchasing from an online pet pharmacy (heart worm medication costs slightly more for a bigger goldendoodle). Ordering online will definitely save you money, plus it’s easy! Learn how to order heart worm medication online. Depending on where you live, your dog may also need tick prevention. You can order Advantix II or other topical tick preventative from an online pet pharmacy or Amazon for about $125/year (slightly more for a goldendoodle over 55lbs).
- Food: As you’ve probably noticed, ordering items for your goldendoodle online can save you a lot of $$$! Dog food is no exception. A 30lb bag of Royal Canin costs $41 on Amazon and will ship free right to your front door. If you feed your goldendoodle 2 cups of dry food per day, expect a 30lb bag to last a little more than 2 month. That comes to $250/year for Royal Canin dog food. If you choose to feed your dog a grain-free food like Fromm, expect to pay around $410/year. Again, larger goldendoodles cost more to feed than smaller goldendoodles simply because they have bigger appetites.
Totaling Up The Basic Costs:
If you total up the numbers, you’ll find that you should budget around $1000-$1100 per year for owning a 25lb goldendoodle. I assure you that the love, affection, and joy you receive from owning a goldendoodle will far outweigh any associated financial costs!
Other Expenses To Consider:
- Initial Supply Cost: View our puppy shopping list for list of supplies needed for a new puppy. Some of those supplies, such as a crate, you may be able to purchase used while others will need to be purchased brand new. Many supplies will only need to be purchased once during your dog’s lifetime.
- Exercise: If you work long hours, you may find it necessary to utilize a doggie daycare or dog walker a few days a week to help exercise your dog while you’re away. This may be particularly necessary when your dog is young. Expect to pay between $20-$30 per day for doggie daycare. In Cincinnati, Petsmart charges $24 for a full day of doggie day camp and Dogtown charges $27. Many individuals host doggie daycare out of their homes. Finding a local dog walker is another exercise option.
- Training: Like all dogs, goldendoodle puppies should participate in at least one set of training classes. These are highly beneficial for bonding, manners, and socialization. Pups Unleashed Behavior charges $80 for five weeks of puppy pre-school and Pawlished charges $50 for three weeks. Select a training facility that utilizes positive reinforcement, as this happy, upbeat style of training tends to work best for goldendoodles. Baxter & Bella is an online puppy training school that offers a myriad of resources, virtual classes, and video training tips. With the discount code TIMBERIDGE, lifetime access to Baxter & Bella only costs $178, making it an amazing, affordable option for every puppy owner. Learn more about Baxter & Bella here.
- Accidents & Injuries: Every pet owner needs to be prepared for unexpected expenses that could come up. Consider setting funds aside or investing in a pet insurance plan.
- Boarding: When you travel for vacation, your goldendoodle will be more than thrilled to accompany you! But you may find that bringing her along isn’t also feasible or practical. Kennels charge $16+/day with additional fees for walks, grass time or playtime with other dogs. Prices may also vary based on your dog’s weight and whether you are traveling over a holiday. Many individuals are happy to host your dog in their home while you’re away. Expect to pay $20-$35 per day for your furry friend to join someone’s home. A third option for your pup is a luxurious stay in a local pet resort. Red Dog’s prices start at $36/night and Pet Nation Lodge charges $49/night.
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Mixed Breed Dog Shows & Events
Training and competing develops a tremendous bond between a dog and handler. And canine performance events aren’t limited solely to pure bred dogs. Just because the American Kennel Club doesn’t recognize goldendoodles as an official dog “breed” doesn’t mean that there aren’t a variety of options for competing with your furry best friend. From scent training to obedience to agility, every dog is able to compete and proudly add a champion title to its name! It’s not about looking pretty- it’s about getting your game on!
- AKC’s Canine Partners Program allows dogs not of an AKC recognized breed to compete in AKC performance trials (excludes conformation events). The catch is that non-recognized breeds can only compete until 2 years of age unless spayed/neutered. Note: a dog does not have to be registered with AKC in form to earn a Canine Good Citizen title.
- Cynosport offers rally obedience and agility for dogs of all breeds. World Cynosport’s rally obedience is more of a laid-back atmosphere than AKC’s obedience, making it a great option for junior handlers.
- Barn Hunt is a relatively new canine sport that is quickly gaining popularity. Barn Hunt trials utilize your dog’s strongest asset: its nose! If you’re looking for a fun game of scent discrimination, give Barn Hunt a try!
- Canine Performance Events (CPE) gives goldendoodles the opportunity to participate in a variety of agility games. If your goldendoodleloves to run and jump, you both may love participating in these fun athletic events.
- Flyball and Disc Dog competitions can be a blast for athletic goldendoodles with some solid mouth-eye coordination!
- DockDogs offers three fun events for goldendoodles with a passion for retrieving and jumping in the water.
Hybrid and mixed breed dogs of all kinds have the opportunity to show off their talents and skills through these mixed breed canine performance events. It’s your goldendoodle’s time to shine! Which event will you try first?

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Junie’s 2018 Medium English Goldendoodle Puppies
7 weeks

Millie

Cooper

Moses

Oaklee

Dublin

Rooney
6 weeks
5 weeks
The puppies are sure growing up fast! They love bounding around our family room and kitchen, exploring every inch. They play hard and then find a safe place to crawl under for a rejuvenating siesta. While they continue to nurse some, the puppies are now eating meals each day. We fed them in crates for the first time, a skill on which we will continue to work. The puppies are also beginning to go outside more regularly (crazy Ohio weather permitting!). They are a lively, curious, and friendly bunch!



4 weeks
The puppy’s individual personalities are beginning to show through! They enjoy exploring the world around them and playing with the different toys in their pen. They also enjoy playing with each other. While the puppies still spend much time sleeping, they now have longer playful/awake periods. If you sit on the floor, you’re sure to have a lap full of puppies! They continue to nurse but have now started eating food as well.

The puppies continue listening to their habituation soundtrack, and we continue to introduce them to new objects. They have also gotten to explore the great outdoors for the first time!





3 weeks old
The change between two and three weeks is amazing! While still wobbly and unsteady, the puppies use walking rather than crawling as their primary means of getting around. They have started playing with each other. Their playful interactions look like slow motion! The puppies have moved out of our bedroom into the puppy pen, where they will stay the remainder of their time with us. Here, in the center of household activity, they will be exposed to everyday sounds and events. We also give them a new object or toy each day. Our goal is to expose the puppies to as much as we can during their time with us, so we provide them with toys made from a variety of materials and toys that make different sounds. We also provide them with different textures on which to walk. The puppies already amble over to you and climb onto your lap when you sit in the puppy pen!

The puppies have started listening to a habituation soundtrack to familiarize them with a variety of sounds, such as a cat’s meowing, a hair dryer, and knocking. Since our son’s favorite is the airplane track, the puppies get to listen to that one twice every day! Don’t worry, they are exposed to plenty of toddler sounds and the accompanying toy noises as well 🙂

2 weeks old
The second week of life is a week of many firsts! The puppies’ eyes have opened, so they can begin to look at the world around them for the first time. Their vision will continue to sharpen over the next few weeks. The puppies are also beginning to take their first wobbly steps. They still continue to spend the majority of their time eating, sleeping, and growing, but they are now able to make their way around their puppy area at a slightly higher rate of speed. The puppies have also had their nails clipped for the first time.



11 days old
This is a big week for Junie’s babies: in the next few days, their eyes will start to open!

1 week old
Junie’s babies are now 1 week old! They’ve crossed the 1lb mark, almost doubling their birth weight already. They continue concentrating on eating, sleeping, and growing.


Junie’s puppies at 1 week old
happy birthday!

Junie’s puppies at 3 days old Junie welcomed a beautiful litter of 6 English golndedoodle puppies on Sunday, February 18th! There are four boys and two girls. Pink Girl and Green Boy appear to have curly coats. We will be able to tell more about their coats in the upcoming weeks. Puppies are born with their eyes and ears closed, but they still know how to make noise! They grunt and squeal as they feel their way to Junie, looking for a meal. Right now, the puppies spend all their time eating, sleeping, and growing.
The Parents:
Learn more about Junie & Moses by visiting our parent dog page. Want to see pictures of Junie’s 2017 litter? You’ll find those posted in our blog as well as on Junie’s personal page. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for additional pictures of Moses, Junie, past puppies, and this current litter!


Getting Ready For Your Puppy
We’ve created a puppy shopping list to help guide you as you prepare to bring your new pup home!
Paw Print Vs Embark
Paw Print Genetics
Embark
Embark promo code: save $20 on your Embark DNA kit with the code winter20 (expires 4/30/19)
What’s the difference?


Which canine genetics company is best for breeding dogs?
Whether Paw Print Genetics or Embark is the right choice depends on the situation. Embark‘s significantly cheaper price tag certainly makes it an appealing option for breeders. If knowing whether your breeding dogs carry parti or merle is important, you may want to order those tests through Paw Print even if you use Embark for the majority of your testing. If you are relying on genetic testing results to choose a puppy from a litter (i.e. matching an F/F puppy with a family with pet allergies), Paw Print’s 2 week turnaround time will definitely be appreciated over Embark’s lengthy 4-6 week process, but Embark’s time frame is still manageable. For those selling breeding puppies, Paw Print’s $20 “cleared by parentage” designation may appeal to other breeders, as they can have their new pup’s disease carriage verified at a fraction of the cost of ordering a disease panel. On the other hand, if you are considering multiple traits, Paw Print’s $56+ per individual test can add up quickly for a litter of puppies and may quickly surpass Embark’s $179, making Embark the more economical choice. If you are new to breeding and anticipate having questions about genetic testing or test results, Paw Print may be the best choice. Paw Print repeatedly receives excellent reviews for customer service.
Best customer service
Paw Print Genetics continually receives raving reviews about their excellent customer service. Paw Print has received 4.9/5 stars on Facebook, and a quick scroll through reviews shows repeated compliments to their staff support, availability to answer questions, and customer service. Similarly Embark boasts a 4.7/5 star rating on Facebook. Reviews frequently reference satisfaction with discovering a dog’s heritage.
When researching for this post, I contacted both Paw Print and Embark via email. Paw Print promptly responded, answering all of my questions in great detail through email. While Embark responded quickly, the representative refused to answer a number of my questions over email. Instead she instructed me to schedule a 30 minute time slot for her to discuss my questions over the phone. Anyone busy raising puppies knows that scheduling a 30 minute appointment for asking questions is less than ideal. If you are new to canine genetic testing and anticipate having questions, consider choosing Paw Print.
Where do I buy canine genetic testing kits?
Paw Print Genetic’s testing kits can be purchased through their website. Be sure to check “current discounts” under the “pricing tab,” as Paw Print is nearly always offering a sale (anywhere from 30%-50% off). For Paw Print Genetics Canine HealthCheck, kits can be purchased on Amazon as well as on Canine HealthCheck’s own website. Check both to determine which has the best deal of the day.
Embark’s testing kits can be purchased either through their own website or on Amazon. Signing up as a breeder may afford you additional discounts.
Are there other canine genetics companies?
Yes! There actually are a lot of companies that test doggie DNA. Here are a few other popular ones:
Animal Genetics
-
3-5 day turn around
-
Goldendoodle disease panel: DM, GR-PRA1, GR-PRA2, Ich, NEwS, PRA-prcd, vWD1 ($200)
-
Offers curl & furnishing
-
Clear by parentage if both parents checked through Animal genetics
-
$45-$55 for individual tests
-
$40-$50 for coat traits; $130 for color profile
DDC Lab
- 5 day turnaround
- Goldendoodle diseases: DM, vWDI
- Offers curl & furnishings
- $58 for the first test, $20 for additional
University of Missouri partnering with OFA
- Goldendoodle diseases: DM, NEwS
- $65 per test (price includes automatic registration of the results in the OFA database)
- Tests can also be ordered directly through OFA
While the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) partners with the University of Missouri’s , OFA maintains a list of laboratories throughout the country that run canine genetic testing. View OFA’s list to see other options for where you can have your dog’s health testing completed.
References:
Timberidge Goldendoodles is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees via affiliate links. This means that, at no cost to you, we may earn a small commission if you click on a link and make a purchase. Thank you for your support!
10 Perfect Christmas Gifts For Doodle Lovers
Not sure what to buy for the crazy doodle lover on your Christmas list? Here are 10 handmade, personalized gifts that will delight any doodle and doodle pawrent!
A custom doodle portrait
Certain to become the focal point of any room, a hand designed portrait of a beloved fur baby will bring tears to the eyes of any doodle lover. Be sure to select a picture that captures the doodle personality and playfulness (Facebook and Instagram might be great places to snag a picture of a certain doodle relative while still keeping the gift a secret from her pawrants). Stylized yet personalized doodle artwork is sure be a Christmas sensation as well.
A personalized doodle ornament
Nothing says Merry Christmas like having a special ornament for that special furry family member. Crafted wooden ornaments personalized with the year and doodle’s name are sure to be a treasure for any doodle lover.
Doodle parent attire
From a cute “Wine More, Bark Less” tank top to an ugly doodle Christmas sweater to a trendy doodle tee, every doodle parent will be excited to add some new doodle attire to the wardrobe.
A festive collar or necktie
You won’t be able to keep this gift wrapped until Christmas! Doodles need a collar for every occasion, so dazzle your favorite doodle lover with a festive snowflake Christmas collar or reversible holiday bandana. A doodle must be dressed to impress for the annual family Christmas photo!
Dog leash & treat holder
Practical, personalized, and Pottery Barn cute, handmade dog leash & treat holders can be completely customized, making them the perfect gift. Not only do they feature the fur baby’s names, but you can even select the color and size to best match decor.
Doodle doormat
Every doodle lover will be delighted to wipe their paws on a welcoming hand-painted doodle doormat. Pick out the perfect color and surprise your favorite doodle lover with this practical, decorative, personalized gift.
A doodle coffee mug
Doodles & coffee are two things that make this world a better place. A personalized doodle coffee mug combines both into one creative gift!
Doodle car decal
Every doodle pawrant needs a doodle car decal. Pair with a customized doodle key chain for a delightful, inexpensive Christmas gift.
Doggie Christmas cookies
You will undoubtedly be the favorite aunt or uncle as soon as that doodle nose detects a treat jar filled to the brim with delicious doggie Christmas cookies! Chances are, no human will need to assist in the unwrapping of this gift!
A healthy, yummy dog chew
Doodles love a good chew toy. And doodle owners appreciate a quality dog chew that will keep their favorite dood occupied during all of the holiday prep. RidgeRunner antlers are hand-collected off of the forest floor each year after the elk naturally shed them. The antlers are then cut and sized by this small family-owned business to make delicious, lasting dog chews. Read more about elk antlers and other dog chews in our power chewer post.
Don’t forget a doodle stocking stuffer
Who doesn’t need a little stress relief during the busy holiday hustle & bustle? Goldendoodle lovers will enjoy the beautifully designed pages of this newly released doodle coloring book, making it the perfect stocking stuffer this Christmas.
Q&A With A Goldendoodle Groomer
Have you ever wished you could sit down with a professional dog groomer and pour out your copious questions about goldendoodle coat maintenance and grooming? Your dream has come true! We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Allison Camp from You Dirty Dog grooming salon in New Town, Ohio to get the inside scoop about what groomers recommend for goldendoodles. Here’s your chance to glean from her years of experience!
How often do you recommend that goldendoodles go to the groomer?
Allison: It depends on the look you want. Goldendoodles kept in clips with a longer hair length need professional grooming every 6-8 weeks. If you keep your goldendoodle in a shorter clip, you can take her for grooming every 8-10 weeks.
Do you prefer goldendoodle owners to show you a picture or give you a description of how they want their dog clipped?
Allison: I much prefer a picture over a description! I find that often times the description someone gives me doesn’t quite match the picture in their head. A picture is much better for showing me what you actually want.
How much does it cost to groom a goldendoodle?
Allison: In the Cincinnati area, grooming usually costs $50-$80 depending on the size of dog and whether the coat is matted. Goldendoodles often love to swim but chlorine really mats up the coat. If your dog will be swimming regularly in a chlorine pool, keep her in a short clip.
What brushes do you recommend for goldendoodles?
Allison: My two brushes of choice are a slicker brush with a curve at the end and a metal comb. I use these for all goldendoodles, no matter the coat type.
How often do goldendoodles need to be brushed?
Allison: Honestly, it depends on the hair length. A really short clip may not require any brushing until it starts to grow out while a longer clip may require daily brushing. More frequent brushing is needed for a curlier coat. Also be sure to brush the burs out of your dog’s coat after hikes and definitely brush your dog before and after baths.
How frequently should a goldendoodle be bathed?
Allison: You actually don’t need to bathe your goldendoodle between grooming appointments unless she is smelly or dirty. Try to bathe your goldendoodle maybe once a month at most. Bathing too frequently can dry out your dog’s skin, which may cause itching. If you notice that your goldendoodle has a continuous bad smell, check for a yeast infection. If you have cut back on the frequency of bathing and your goldendoodle still seems to be itching, try switching to a chicken-free, corn-free dog food like Fromm.
What shampoo do you recommend for goldendoodles?
Allison: I really like Fresh & Clean because it is an oatmeal based shampoo with a built-in conditioner, which means no additional rinsing. I also like Show Season shampoo.
Besides regular brushing and occasional baths, what other grooming should I be doing with my goldendoodle at home between appointments?
Allison: Check your goldendoodle’s ears regularly, plucking hair out of the ear canal as needed and making sure the ears don’t have a foul smell.
I want to give my goldendoodle a sanitary clip between grooming appointments. What clippers do you recommend?
Allison: Any Andis clippers would be a good choice. If you are just doing a sanitary clip, one or two speed clippers will suffice. If you plan on doing a total groom, consider purchasing more expensive Andis five-speed clippers.
Goldendoodle Puppy Time Lapse
What will my goldendoodle puppy look like as an adult? That’s a question on every puppy owner’s mind as they pick up their new furry friend. Watch a goldendoodle puppy grow up! Here’s a time lapse for a puppy with a beautiful coat of loose, wavy curls. Notice that he has curls on his ears by the six week photo. Be sure to compare his time lapse to that of these other goldendoodle puppies with different coat types.

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Goldendoodle On A Boat
Sometimes people ask me what types of activities goldendoodles enjoy doing. A better question is: what activities don’t goldendoodles enjoy doing? That would be a much shorter list! Truly, goldendoodles love participating in whatever activities their people are doing. Abria had the chance to go to Michigan with our family a few weeks ago. Needless to say, she loved every minute of the trip!

We’ve taken our dogs on canoe trips, but this was Abria’s first time out on a boat with a motor. A casual onlooker would never have guessed it was her first trip though! Abria hopped right on board, never hesitating for even a second. She loved feeling the wind in her face, inhaling in the wonderful scents of the Glen Lakes and Lake Michigan. Additionally, since our toddler is slightly obsessed with work vehicles, Abria had the chance to ride on a John Deere Gator utility vehicle numerous times. She thought it was great fun to ride on our laps as well as in the bed. If someone started driving away without her, Abria would run and jump into the back. Abria also hiked Alligator Hill, joined us for lunch at Cherry Republic, and enjoyed various other activities with our family. Abria may be a mini goldendoodle, but she’s not limited to mini adventures. It’s great to have a dog that is so adaptable and versatile. Goldendoodles are wonderful companions for every life adventure. If you ever find yourself heading to Glen Arbor, I’m confident Abria can fill you in on all the fun places to go and sights worth seeing.




















