The poodle is a regal purebred dog, being easily one of the most recognisable breeds out there. Highly trainable, loyal and keen, poodles are a popular choice when finding your new furry friend.
Due to their popularity, poodle prices can range anywhere from free to over $4000, all depending on several different (and surprising!) factors. In this article, we explore how much a poodle costs, to give you the knowledge and confidence to find the perfect poodle for you!
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So, How Much Does A Poodle Cost?
Poodle costs, whether it be a purebred, miniature, or teacup poodle, are dependent on where you purchase the dog from, the quality of the dog, the size of the dog, and even the color of the dog! But as a rule of thumb, a standard poodle will cost between $700-1,500. However, purebred, teacup and miniature poodles will have a different price range!
How Much Does a Purebred Poodle Cost?
Most prospective poodle owners want purebred poodles, meaning mutts and mixes won’t cut it. The orchestration of finding compatible parents, coordinating the breeding and ensuring healthy pups is a big and expensive feat, but worth the cost if you desire the absolute best! ‘Show’ quality purebred poodles tend to be the most expensive, with ‘pet’ quality purebred poodles costing anywhere from $1500 upwards.
Elegant, intelligent, and loyal, purebred poodles are a popular choice among many. Typically bred from purebred breeders, these poodles are bred for either ‘show’ quality or ‘pet’ quality. Whether their purpose is winning trophies at a dog show or becoming a loyal lifelong companion, these poodles are raised with the best resources and come at a high price.
For a purebred poodle breeder, their main priority is the longevity and welfare of the poodle, meaning purchasing from them will ensure a poodle of the highest quality. Purebred puppies are fed high-quality food, are well socialized, and receive up to date veterinary care, upping their price. Even The poodle’s parents and the color of their coat can play a role in deciding the cost of one, with certain colors being more popular than others!
The size of your purebred poodle also affects its cost. Standard poodles tend to be less expensive, as their litters can produce up to 6 puppies. This is double the amount of teacup or miniature poodles, where litters only produce between 2 or 3 puppies.
How Much Does a Teacup Poodle Cost?
The teacup poodle is the smallest sized poodle, first being bred to fulfil the desire of those who wanted a stunning and adorable dog that was also tiny! These dogs have now increased in popularity for those who want to enjoy a poodle with less hassle.
Teacup poodles weigh up to 6 pounds, with a maximum height of 9 inches, making them an adorable miniature companion. Although they may lack in size they do not lack in personality, having the same temperament and keen persona as their standard and miniature poodle counterparts.
Their popularity means they tend to be more expensive than other types of poodles, generally costing between $1,000-$5,000 from a breeder, well worth it if you are searching for a pocket-sized poodle without missing out on any of their striking personality characteristics!
How Much Does a Miniature Poodle Cost?
Miniature poodles are the second smallest type of poodle, averaging at 15 inches tall. They are loyal and intelligent dogs, popular for their quick learning as well as their keenness to learn, making them popular among owners who want a well-behaved trustworthy pet.
Miniature poodles weigh an average of 15-18 pounds. Due to their smaller stature, they have an impressive lifespan of 10-18 years, making them a true lifelong companion! Their average cost is similar to the teacup poodle, averaging between $1,000-2,000. Remember, this cost is also dependent on where you get the dog from and whether you are looking for particular physical attributes or not.
Puppy vs Older Dog
The question of how much a poodle costs is also dependent on the age of the dog. Generally, a puppy will long term be more expensive than an older dog, as you need to pay for the initial vaccinations and healthcare, as well as an overall greater cost of maintenance as you will have a puppy for longer than an older dog. Older dogs, however, may cost more due to healthcare risks associated with end of life care.
Below we have outlined some pros and cons of older dogs vs puppies.
Most often, purchasing/adopting a puppy ensures that you know the history of the animal, like the puppy’s parents, vaccine history and whether the puppy is a purebred or mixed. Older dogs are generally rescued or adopted, thus coming with the risk of maybe not knowing their history! Its up to you to determine whether you are set on a purebred dog, or are open to a bit of adventure and mystery…
Illness is an important factor. Puppies do not have a fully developed immune system, meaning they are more vulnerable to catching an illness. This means you have to be extra cautious with your puppy until it receives all of its require vaccinations and its immune system develops, a sick puppy is not fun for anyone! Older dogs on the other hand have a developed immune system, so this caution is not necessary. However, older dogs may have more healthcare associated costs, especially if they have never received any vaccines.
Size is also an important factor to consider! Puppies (at least in the beginning) are smaller, and therefore easier to handle when training. This also leads to the point of trainability. Puppies generally are more adaptable and trainable than older dogs, who may require more time and patience, especially if they have never experienced training before. Puppies are a blank slate, making training and bonding an easier feat than with an older dog. However, those who are willing to put in the time and patience with an older dog are sure to reap the benefits.
Generally, a puppy will long term be more expensive than an older dog, as you need to pay for the initial vaccinations and healthcare, as well as an overall greater cost of maintenance as you will have a puppy for longer than an older dog. Older dogs, however, may cost more due to healthcare risks associated with the end of life care.
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What Are the Standard Costs?
When purchasing a poodle, the question is not just ‘how much does it cost to buy a poodle?’, but also how much are the standard costs of maintaining and caring for a poodle? Monthly costs can be dependent on several different factors like: the type of poodle, the age and health of the poodle.
Initial Costs:
When you first purchase a poodle, there will be lots of initial costs like bedding, toys, a leash, food and drinking bowls and care products like shampoo and dog combs. Some may choose to purchase an at home puppy crate, and if you drive it is recommended to purchase a puppy travel crate too. This initial cost can be between $200-$400, depending on the quality of the products you buy.
Recurring Costs:
Food:
The average cost of food for your poodle is around $25 per month. This changes depending on the quality of the food and the size of your poodle, with larger poodles requiring more food than smaller poodles like miniatures and teacups.
Pet Insurance and Treatments:
Pet insurance and healthcare are vital expenditures. generally speaking you’re going to spend around $30-$90 on insurance per month, depending on the age of your poodle. Worming treatments cost around $10-$15 yet only need to be done once every 3 months, with flea treatments costing around $5 per month.
Vaccinations:
The average price for your first round of puppy vaccinations is $100, yet annual booster vaccinations will cost considerably less than this. Puppies are required to have three ‘core’ vaccines, inoculating them against Canine Parvovirus, Canine Distemper and Infectious Canine Hepatitis (Canine Adenovirus-1). Non-core vaccinations are not as important as core vaccinations, but your puppy may still need them depending on certain circumstances. These will be let known to you by your vet, so you have nothing to worry about.
Micro-Chipping:
Luckily, microchipping is not awfully expensive, costing around $45 to add your canine friend to the dog microchip base. Spay/neutering is not required but recommended, costing on average between $35-$400. The larger your dog, the more expensive it can be. And obviously you’re better off paying for a more skilled vet.
Grooming:
Due to poodle’s curly dense hair, they need to be groomed professionally every 4-6 weeks, on top of being groomed at home regularly! Grooming prices vary per type of poodle but cost around $50-$70 a session.
Training:
Poodles are highly intelligent dogs, requiring good training to channel their energy and focus. Although prices vary dramatically, average training prices are around the $15 per session mark, usually coming in a package deal.
Potential Health Costs:
Sadly, like all dog breeds, poodles come with a risk of developing certain diseases and health problems.
Addison Disease is a disease most reported. This is when the dogs adrenal glands stop working properly and steroid levels drop dangerously low. Although the disease is incurable, if caught early it can be treated with lifelong medication, with the poodle living a relatively normal life.
Patella luxation is a malformation of the knee joint which allows the top of the shin bone to slip in and out of position, causing lameness. This is a problem for smaller breeds of dogs, including teacup poodles. There are different degrees of patella luxation, with severe cases requiring surgery costing around $800.
Poodles, like humans, are also prone to thyroid problems. Although they may not be life threatening, they can be uncomfortable and painful for your puppy. Luckily, treatment is easy and inexpensive, with your puppy required to take oral medication for the rest of its life.
Why You Shouldn’t Buy From Puppy Mills
Mistreatment of Puppies:
Unlike purebred dog breeders, puppy mill breeders are only in it for one thing- the money, and do not care about the dogs overall wellbeing. This means they are generally kept in unsuitable living conditions and are fed cheap and unreliable food products.
Health of Animals:
Puppy mill breeders do not supply an up-to-date veterinary record or vaccinate their puppies! This means you could unknowingly purchase a dog with no vaccinations and potential health risks that were hidden from you, causing suffering for the animal and potential high health costs later in the animal’s life.
Inbreeding:
Because breeders do not usually introduce new dogs, puppies can become horribly inbred. This increases the risk of genetic diseases, health issues and physical deformities in puppies.
Mistreatment of Parents:
Unlike legitimate breeders, puppy mill breeders do not care about the quality of life of the parent dog. Rather than having another purpose or being a loved member of the family, puppy mill mother dogs tend to only be valued for their reproduction abilities, often being forced to produce multiple litters a year.
What to Look for in a Poodle Breeder
In most countries, there are no laws restricting or regulating dog breeding. That means that in every country there are good dog breeders and there are bad dog breeders. A good dog breeder will provide the following things when you purchase your poodle:
Guarantee of health, medical records, and vaccination records.
Proof of pedigree and registration, as well as information regarding the breed and type of poodle you have.
Knowledge on the poodles breed like dietary, exercise and training needs of poodle.
A chance to meet the dog’s mother/ information on the dogs mother.
A guarantee that they will take the poodle back if it does not work out.
The breeder has knowledge on the lineage and pedigree of the puppy and be able to provide examples.
Overall, good poodle breeders should be transparent and have extensive knowledge on poodles, as well as extensive knowledge on the pedigree of your potential puppy. They should be able to provide evidence of the puppy’s medical records, vaccination records, pedigree and registration. A good poodle breeder will also have a comfortable relationship with the mother dog and puppies, and the puppies will be comfortable and curious to meet you.
It may seem obvious, but look out for happy, healthy pups! A good poodle breeder’s main priority will be the health and wellbeing of the puppies, they are not in it solely for the money like puppy mill breeders.
Differences in Expensive vs Cheap Poodles
What are the differences between cheap and expensive poodles?
In general, expensive poodles have been bred from a wide or advantageous lineage, producing a high-quality poodle with great genetics. Expensive poodles from purebred breeders have been fed high-quality food and have had a high standard of veterinary care.
Unfortunately, cheap poodles tend to come from irresponsible breeders, who do not care as much about the quality and welfare of the animal, as they do about the profit involved in selling poodles. Poor breeding or lack of knowledge on the poodle’s lineage increases the chances of your poodle having long term health risks and birth defects, with potential high costs in the future.
Although not all cheap poodles come from irresponsible breeders, with expensive poodles you are paying for the transparency and certainty of your poodles’ pedigree, with the certainty of knowing your poodle was bred ethically.
Want To Train Your Poodle With Peace Of Mind?
If you haven’t trained your poodle properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether it’s barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
With Brain Training For Dogs you’ll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog won’t listen, you’ll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, that’s given proven results. Not to mention the fact, you’ll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.
So instead of worrying about whether they’re going to be well-behaved or not, you’ll only have to worry about how much fun you’ll have with them!
And in most cases it’s still going to be:
Cheaper than hiring a professional.
Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.
Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your poodle completely and never worry whether they’ll be naughty or not. Instead, you’ll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them, will always be there, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT.
And the best part is it also has a 60-day money-back guarantee! So there’s no reason not to give Brain Training For Dogs a try!
So if you’re tired of your dog’s bad behavior, or how they react around other people and pooches, then give it a try! You’ll be amazed by the results!
(You can also check out a full review here, to learn exactly what the course has to offer!)
Overall, How Much Does It Cost to Buy a Poodle?
In this article we have explored how the price of a poodle is dependent on where you buy the poodle and what type of poodle you are looking for. Buying a poodle from a purebred breeder is the most expensive yet ensures the quality and pedigree of the dog. Further, buying a puppy could end up being more expensive than an older dog, and the choice of which would suit you best is another thing to have to decide when buying a poodle.
Regardless of how much a poodle costs, making sure your future dog is purchased from a responsible breeder is the most important thing, not only making reducing the risk of future health costs, but also ensuring the best care was given to your future furry friend.
We hope this article has helped you in your quest to find the perfect poodle for you, and good luck!
