Are Poodles Expensive To Own? Discover The Facts
Lovely, loyal, intelligent, friendly, and more– we can never have enough of these words to describe Poodles. Owning a poodle is one of the best decisions you will ever make in life. They are a perfect pet!
Making this decision, however, will not be easy for some. How much does it cost to own a poodle? Will I have enough money to own one? These are just some of the questions that new Poodle owners often ask themselves before owning one.
In this article, we will tackle some of the most frequently asked questions about Poodles including the costs of owning a poodle and ways to save money while spending on your pet.
The initial and monthly costs of owning a Poodle ranges between $600-$2000 and $80-$150 respectively, depending on the type of Poodle and the breeder, age, where you get the dog.
1. Type of Poodle
There are three main types of Poodles;
Toy Poodle
A Toy poodle has a height of up to 10 inches and can weigh as light as 6 pounds. This type of Poodle is relatively expensive compared to the other two types, but it’s because they require less attention than the other two varieties. If you choose to go for this type of Poodle, you can expect to spend around $1,000-$2000.
The monthly costs of toy poodles range is between $80-$150, although more often it is on the lower end considering that they require the least amount of food compared to the other two types of Poodles.
Miniature Poodle
The Miniature poodle stands at a maximum height of 15 inches and weighs about 15-17 pounds. The cost of this dog is similar to that of the Toy Poodle. These types of dogs are friendly and have a lot of patience, making them suitable as family pets.
The monthly costs of owning a miniature poodle range from $100-$150. They may be a little expensive compared to the toy poodles since they require more food than the toy versions.
Standard Poodle
The Standard poodle has an average height of between 22-24 inches and weighs anywhere from 30 to 70 pounds. You can expect to pay around $600-$1500 for this dog depending on the breeder.
About the monthly spend, with Standard poodles expect to spend $150-$190. They are the most expensive of the three types of Poodle to own due to their large size. They require a lot of food compared to those owning other versions of this dog.
As you’ve seen, there are two types of costs; the initial and monthly. The initial cost increases as the size of the dog decrease. In other words, the smaller the dog, the higher it’s more likely going to cost you.
On the other hand, the monthly costs, contrary to what happens with the initial cost, are more likely to decrease as the size of the dog decreases. This is because smaller dogs require less attention and they also eat less food compared to larger breeds.
As you can see, it’s possible to own a Poodle without breaking your bank account (provided that you choose the correct size for your pocket). One thing to keep in mind is that maintenance cost is usually higher than the price of the dog itself.
2. Where You Get The Dog
Another factor that will determine Poodle costs, particularly the initial cost is where you get your dog.
You can choose to adopt a Poodle from a shelter or rescue organization, or a breeder.
Apparently, the cost of buying at a breeder usually costs more than getting one from a shelter but both options have their risks involved.
For instance, if you get a dog from a breeder, there’s no guarantee that a health or behavioral problem isn’t going to pop up in the future. That’s despite paying more than you would have if you had opted for a dog from a shelter.
On the other hand, when you opt to get your dog from a shelter or rescue organization, there’s no guarantee that he has been properly trained and socialized as he could have been mistreated by his former owner. Even so, this option is much cheaper than the other.
3. The Breeder
The first factor that will determine the Poodle costs is the type of dog you choose. Next is the breeder. There are two types of Poodle breeders; the backyard and the professional.
With a backyard breeder, you will get yourself a cheap dog but there’s no way to know if it has been properly trained and socialized. On the other hand, with a professional breeder, you will get the best advice and training on how to raise and take care of your new dog. However, this means higher prices.
When choosing the breeder, ensure that you go for one with a good reputation. After all, you wouldn’t want to pay for a dog only for it to develop behavioral or health problems that could have been prevented through good breeding behavior.
4. The Age
The next factor that’s going to determine how much your part with, whether initial or monthly is the dog’s age.
Here, you have the option of whether to buy a puppy or a fully grown dog. The initial and monthly costs are higher for puppies. Most people would go for an adult dog because their prices can be about half that of a puppy’s price range.
However, it is worth mentioning that having a puppy is more favorable as you don’t have to wait until the dog matures before you train him. This is because puppies are more open to learning and will pick up the new tricks faster.
On the other hand, you can’t expect an adult dog to be perfectly trained or housebroken from day one. You might have to pay extra money to take him through training lessons but this won’t be necessary for a puppy.
In terms of monthly costs, there isn’t much of a difference between the costs of an adult and that of a puppy. This is because some monthly costs are higher in puppies, such as vaccinations while adult dogs get more expensive when it comes to feeding, training, and shelter!
5. Location
Last but not least, the location where you live has a huge impact on your Poodle cost. Different locations have different costs when it comes to buying or adopting a dog as well as taking care of them; for instance, the license fee will vary depending on your location.
Therefore, if you are lucky enough to live in a state that has low or no costs for either licensing and other costs, you’ve just saved yourself quite an amount.
Spaying or Neutering Your Poodle
Before delving into the costs of spaying and neutering your poodle, let’s first look at what these procedures will do. In fact, there are plenty of reasons why you should spay or neuter your poodle, the biggest being to control the pet population.
The procedure will also make it easier for you to train and handle your dog; it is important that a pup gets neutered or spayed before reaching sexual maturity as this prevents aggression issues in dogs.
While there are people who still question the benefits of spaying and neutering their pet poodles, there is no doubt that these procedures are good for you and your dog’s health.
So how much will it cost to neuter or spay your pup? It should be noted that this procedure costs more than the usual grooming session. The cost to spay a Poodle will cost you about $120 when you go for low-cost vets or human societies. If you choose animal hospitals, expect to pay a higher price.
Also, it’s worth noting that male Poodles will cost more to neuter than female Poodles. The reason being that male Poodle’s surgery requires a more complicated process due to the testes’ position which is located inside the abdomen.
The Total Cost?
So, what’s the total cost? Well, it all depends on your preferences and location. You can get a fully grown Poodle from a rescue shelter at a fraction of the original price but if you want to buy one from a breeder, then you’ll have to prepare yourself to pay about $2,000 as the initial cost.
And unless you want to grow your pet population, also consider the costs of spaying and neutering your pet; this will cost about $120. However, like initial cost, spaying cost is a one-time shot.
However, that’s not all. You have to factor in the other monthly costs which include vaccinations, grooming, training, and of course food. The total cost for a year is usually about $2,000 – $3,500.
Poodle Health
As you think about how much it will spend on buying and maintaining your poodle, it’s also important that you keep a close look at the health issues that it may face. Like all other dogs, poodles are prone to getting diseases and infections which means that you’ll have to shell out some more money for their treatment.
Sight-Related Diseases:
Poodles commonly suffer from cataracts, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), glaucoma, and eyelash abnormalities. Therefore, it is important that your Poodle gets a thorough eye examination every year.
Skin Diseases:
Despite being a hypoallergenic dog, poodles are not immune to skin diseases. It is important to check your pup’s skin regularly for signs of infection. Some common problems include demodectic mange, atopic dermatitis (skin allergy), and seborrhea.
Auditory Diseases:
These dogs are also susceptible to auditory diseases such as progressive hearing loss, which basically means that the dog may start losing its hearing as it grows older.
Bone-related Disorders:
Hip dysplasia, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, and patellar luxation are some of the common bone-related ailments that poodles suffer from. Having said that, make sure you buy from a reputable breeder who provides proof of OFA certification for hips and check with the breeder whether your dog has its knees checked for possible luxation.
Other illnesses:
Additionally, the Poodle dog breed is also known to suffer from seizures, allergies, dental problems, panosteitis (a type of bone disease), Von Willebrand’s Disease (a blood disorder), Addison’s Disease (adrenal gland disease), and sebaceous adenitis (a skin condition). Those are just a few of the issues that these dogs are at risk of getting; you should watch out for the others too.
Bottom Line:
So bottom line, are poodles expensive to own? Well, the answer will totally depend on your preferences and financial situation. However, you should consider looking for quality breeders who have their dogs’ health checked before selling it so that you can be sure of getting a healthy puppy/dog in the first place. You don’t want to spend even more money on treating an illness or disease later.
That being said, you should expect to pay about $2,000 for the initial cost and then a few hundred dollars every month for its various needs. In one year’s time, you’ll be spending at least $3,500 on your pet poodle. However, the companion, loyalty, and unconditional love that it gives you is priceless.
