Mini Goldendoodle Price: What they cost in 2024

The mini Goldendoodle is a fun loving, bundle of joy, so it’s no surprise that so many people are looking to add a mini Goldendoodle to their family. If you are one of them, you might be wondering about price of a Mini Goldendoodle.

After all, that is an important first step in buying a dog. Not only should you know how much it costs to buy a mini Golden doodle, you should also learn what it cost to takes to care of one.

But, finding the answer to how much a Mini Goldendoodle cost in 2023 is not that easy. Breeder’s pricing is hard to find and the Mini Goldendoodle’s price can vary based on the breeder, age and training.

To find the answer to this question we looked at over 100 Goldendoodle breeders throughout the USA. Since the cost of a mini Goldendoodle can vary based on external factors we also took into consideration items like:

• State they were located in
• Goldendoodle size
• If health testing was performed (this should be standard practice, but it’s not)
• Training
• How the dogs were sold – direct from the breeder vs a puppy broker

Keep reading to learn what our analysis exposed, and just how much you can expect to pay for a mini Goldendoodle.

Plus, we will look at:

• What you can expect based on the price you pay
• Why are mini Goldendoodles so expensive?
• How you can get a discount on a mini Goldendoodle
• How you can get a free mini Goldendoodle
• The ongoing cost of a mini Goldendoodle

Keep reading to find out what you can expect at different price points for the Mini Goldendoodle.

What you get for the cost of Mini Goldendoodle in 2024

Mini Goldendoodle price range: $500-$2,500

In this price range you will find two types of breeders; the backyard breeder and large-scale commercial breeders.

The Backyard Breeder

The term backyard breeder refers to a person who does not understand what it takes to breed healthy dogs. Often, they have a popular dog that is a pet and they decide they want to make a little money on the side by selling puppies.

Although they may treat their dogs better than a commercial breeder, their lack of knowledge results in unhealthy offspring and a high mortality rate for the puppies.

I have personally known people who have bought from backyard breeders. The dogs grew up to have various health issues including skin allergies.

You will find backyard breeders trying to sell their puppies on Facebook (even though Facebook has tried to put a stop to puppy selling on their site) and on-line puppy for sale websites.

Here are a few signs of a backyard breeder:

• They have very little knowledge about the breed
• Don’t have a contract
• Does not provide a health guarantee
• Does not ask questions
• They don’t do health testing on parent dogs
• Cannot produce health records for puppies or parent dogs
• They don’t know the parent’s linage
• Don’t require a spay/neuter contract

These are just a few signs of a backyard breeder. Make sure you do your homework before you buy.

Large Scale Commercial Breeders

Large scale commercial breeders may live on farms and believe that dogs can be raised like other types of farm livestock. These types of breeders produce large quantities of dogs with little regard to the health and well-being of the breeding dogs or the puppies.

Large scale commercial breeders are not illegal. They may be following the laws that allow them to operate, but it is not the right environment for a dog to be bred in.

Many are considered to be puppy mills. In these cases, they will house dogs in unimaginable living conditions and just throw them away when they are no longer able to produce puppies. Since they strictly deal in quantity instead of quality they can offer low prices for their puppies.

When you buy from a puppy mill you get:

• A dog without proper health testing
• A non-socialized puppy that will be difficult to train
• A puppy that might be sick
• Possibly a puppy without proper vaccinations – they often say they are up to date with vaccines but there is no way to know for sure

Because of the public’s general negative view of puppy mills, they try to conceal who they are. They do this by selling their puppies to dog stores and selling them online.

Before you buy from an on-line broker make sure to check them out at the Better Business Bureau for complaints. Also, make sure to education yourself about puppy mills at Stop the Online Puppy Mills.

How to tell if a breeder is actually a puppy mill

• They sell on massive puppy selling websites, Craig’s list, eBay and puppy stores.
• Have multiple breeds for sale
• Won’t share specific information on puppy’s parents
• They hide where they live or were the puppies are raised
• Don’t ask you any questions
• Can’t answer specific questions about the puppy
• Don’t have health records for puppies or parents
• Can’t provide proof of health testing
• They always have puppies available

Mini Goldendoodle price range: $2,000-$4,000

In this price range you will find two types of breeders; the Hobby Breeder and the Small-Scale Commercial Breeder.

The Hobby Breeder

A hobby breeder is someone that wants to get into breeding on a small scale. They may have one or two breeding dogs that are also part of their family.

A good hobby breeder will educate themselves by taking training classes on breeding, going to seminars and will look for a mentor.

They understand the importance of health testing to ensure they are not breeding in disease and genetic conditions that will cause pain and suffering to the offspring. They care for their dogs and put the dog’s health ahead of profit.

Signs of a hobby breeder

• Only have a few litters a year depending on how many female dogs they have
• Does health testing on parent dogs and can prove it
• Is knowledgeable about the breed
• Limits the total number of litters each female can have
• Provides a contract with a health guarantee
• Requires a spay/neuter contract

Small Scale Commercial Breeder

Small-scale commercial breeders are what we commonly view as a quality breeder. Although breeding is a business for them, they do it in a humane way that cares for the dogs and puppies.

They take pride in the dogs they help to produce. They strive to make the breed healthier by carefully selecting the best mating pairs possible and test all their breeding dogs.

Many small-scale commercial breeders now use Guardian Homes to care for their dogs when they are not breeding. This allows the dogs to live in a loving, family environment throughout their life.

Signs of a quality breeder

• Uses Guardian homes
• Does health testing on parent dogs and can prove it
• Is knowledgeable about the breed
• Strives to meet the Goldendoodle Standard as outlined by GANA
• Limits the total number of litters each female has
• Provides a contract with a health guarantee
• Requires a spay/neuter contract
• Is open to questions
• Requires that you return the dog to them if you are unable to care for it

Both the hobby breeder and quality breeder will belong to belong to clubs and associations like the Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA) to ensure they are up-to-date on the latest information regarding Goldendoodles.

They will also stride to earn a blue ribbon from the GANA Ribbon Reward Program and to meet all of the membership requirements.

If you are looking for a mini Goldendoodle breeder, the Goldendoodle Association of North America (GANA) maintains a list of breeders and their ribbon status. You can find that list here.

Mini Goldendoodle price range: $5,000 and up

What you typically get for $5,000 or more is a trained Goldendoodle. Trained Goldendoodles will be older than the typical 8-week-old puppy. The more trained you want your puppy to be, the older they will be and the cost will also go up.

Getting a trained puppy is a good idea for someone who has never trained a puppy before and has the money to spend. Though, you can train a puppy for much less yourself, if you don’t have the time or will, it might be worth it.

Just remember getting a trained puppy is only half the equation. You also need to be trained on how to handle a puppy. Otherwise all the training you just paid for will be lost.

How size affects the cost of a Mini Goldendoodle

In our survey we found that mini and petite Goldendoodles were priced higher than a standard Goldendoodle. This may be caused by lower demand for the larger sized doodles or because it takes multiple generations to consistently breed a smaller Goldendoodle.

We also discovered in our survey that there were less standard sized Goldendoodle litters available for purchase. Again, this is most likely a reflection of lower demand for the large dogs. Instead, we found most breeders preferred to breed either medium or mini sized Goldendoodles.

If are wondering what these size categories mean, we have included the Goldendoodle Association of North America Breed Standard for sizes below. Just remember, this is a guideline of sizes. Your actual experience with a mini-Goldendoodle may be different.

GANA Goldendoodle Size Chart

Size Range	Height Range	Typical Weight Range
Petite	Below 14 inches	25 lbs. or less
Miniature	Over 14 but under 17 inches at wither	26-35 lbs.
Medium	Over 17 but under 21 inches at wither	36-50 lbs.
Standard	Over 21 inches at wither	51 or more lbs.

Need a name for your Goldendoodle? Check out our post with 275 Goldendoodle Names.

Why are Mini Goldendoodles so Expensive?

Most people think that Mini Goldendoodles are expensive to buy simply because they are popular dogs that can command a higher price tag. But in reality, doodles cost more to care for and breed. Especially if you are looking for a mini that is healthy and does not shed.

Here are just a few of the costs associated with breeding a mini Goldendoodle:

• Puppy with breeding rights – $10,000 to $15,000+
• Stud fees – $3,000
• Health testing breeding dogs – $1,000 to $1,500 per dog
• Genetic testing for shedding, color, size etc.- $500 to $1,000
• Veterinarian care for mom and puppies – $1000 and up
• Whelping box and supplies – $600 and up
• Extra food and vitamins for mom – $300 and up
• Food, medicines, toys and general supplies for puppies $300
• Grooming costs per year- $800 and up
• Guardian homes for future breeding -$5,000

In addition, female dogs cannot safely produce litter after litter. Most breeding guideline suggest that female dogs should not produce more than 4 litters in their life and the litters should be spaced apart to allow the dog a chance to recover.

This means a breeder needs to raise and health test a new female puppy every couple of years.

Plus, not all dogs that are raised to be a breeder end up breeding after they go through testing. When this happens, all the money to test and the cost of the dog is lost.

The list above is just some of the larger costs associated with breeding a Goldendoodle. There are many other smaller costs associated with the breeding process, plus the cost to run the business, like accounting or traveling to find new breeding dogs.

Where can you get a discount on a Mini Goldendoodle?

Believe it or not you may be able to get a Mini Goldendoodle for a discounted price. Here are a few ways you may be able to find a discount.

1. If you need to find a less expensive dog, there are some breeders that offer discounts. Discount are most often offered to:

• Veterans
• Active members of the U.S. Armed Forces
• Police officers
• EMT’s,
• Fire fighters

2. You can also Look for a breeder with older puppies. While doing research for this article I found a few breeders that overestimated the demand and had puppies that were past 6 weeks old. Some breeders will reduce the cost of an older puppy to quickly find them a home.

3. As popular as these dogs are they still sometimes end up needing a new home. Here is a list of Goldendoodle rescue groups to help you look. The cost to adopt is almost always less expensive than buying. You may even be able to get a puppy this way.

4. You can also choose to be a guardian home. Some breeders will offer a discount on a puppy to maintain the breeding rights of the dog. Keep reading to learn more about guardian homes.

5. Local shelters – While finding a mini Goldendoodle at a local shelter may be rare, it does still happen. Keep an eye on your local shelters’ website and Facebook page if they have one. We found our doodle through a local shelter.

How can you get a free Mini Goldendoodle?

Free Goldendoodles are rare but you can find them. Here are the two most common ways to get a free Goldendoodle:

1. There are some breeders that will donate a puppy to a person in need of a service dog that can’t afford one.

2. Becoming a guardian home is another way to get a free Mini Goldendoodle. While some breeders offer discounts to guardian homes, others will place a puppy in a guardian home for free. But there are strict requirements to be a guardian home. Plus, you don’t completely own the dog until they have fulfilled the contract.

Guardian Homes – a brief overview

A Guardian Home is when a person agrees to raise and take care of the dog as a pet, but allows the breeder to maintain full breeding rights for the dog.

This process is beneficial to breeders because they don’t need to keep a large number of breeding dogs at their home. It also allows breeding dogs to live a normal, happy life with a family that loves and cares for them.

Although the terms of a Guardian Home Program will vary by breeder the basic idea of the program is generally the same.

General Guardian Home Program Overview:

• You must live within a predetermined distance from the breeder.
• The breeder retains the breeding rights of the dog for the length of the contract.
• Your puppy is picked from the litter by the breeder. You generally get the best pick of the litter.
• You are responsible for routine care and veterinary services for the dog as determined by the breeder.
• You may need to take the dog for health testing that is related to breeding
• You may be required to feed a certain type of food or keep their hair short.
• Based on the contract, your dog will be required to stay at the breeder’s home different times of the year. This could be when your dog is in heat and when they give birth, but there may be other times too.
• Dogs are bred for a specified number of times and years before they are released from the program.
• You cannot spay or neuter your dog until after the contract ends.

Not sure if the Goldendoodle is right for you? Check out our post on Goldendoodle vs Labradoodle to see which one might be a better fit.

The Annual Costs of a Mini Goldendoodle

Like with any dog, there are ongoing annual expenses that are required to care for a mini Goldendoodle. These include but are not limited to:

• High quality food – $800 -$2000 annually but this price could be higher depending on the brand that you feed them. Pre-packaged human grade fresh food could easily cost over $1,800 for a 30-pound dog.
• Grooming costs – $600 to $1,000 annually for professional grooming every 6 to 8 weeks
• Veterinarian Costs for annual check-ups and vaccines – $300 and up. First year is the most expensive due to puppy vaccines, but elder dog care can also be expensive.

First year costs of a mini Goldendoodle – These are items you will need to buy for your Goldendoodle in the first year. Some items may need to be replaced over time.  

• Training Classes $ 200 to $500 per sessions

• Puppy supplies – leash, collar, harness, toys, dog beds, (we have one upstairs and another one downstairs), crate, coat, etc.   $300 to $1,000

Of course, there are many ways you can spend money on your doodle, including vacations, boarding, dog houses, dog doors, special dog baths, etc. The list goes on.

But with careful planning and time you can also keep your cost down to a more reasonable amount.

Is a mini Goldendoodle worth their price?

If you are looking for an active, family-oriented dog that can be hypoallergenic, then a mini Goldendoodle is a great choice. In addition to being a fun-loving dog that is ready for adventure, they are also easy to train making them a good choice for first-time dog parents.

Just keep in mind that no dog is perfect. First generation Goldendoodles are more likely to shed, thus less likely to be hypoallergenic. Plus, mini Goldendoodles require a fair amount of exercise, especially when they are young. You will also need to factor in their expensive grooming requirements.

Is the Goldendoodle the right dog for you? Join us to find out why the Goldendoodle is not for everyone. 

Bringing Home a Mini Goldendoodle

Once you decide you want a Mini Goldendoodle, you should start thinking about what you need for when you bring your puppy home. Puppies require many things, like a leash and collar, food bowls and toys.

One of the things you might not think about is where your puppy will go to the bathroom. Having an established place to train your puppy to go outside will make potty training easier. To learn more, check out our posts on Potty Training a Puppy: Made Easy and Outdoor Dog Potty Area Guide.

Tell us the cost of your Mini Goldendoodle

Are you looking for a Hypoallergenic Dog?

Here are some resources to help you with your search

• Mini Doodle Dogs: Top 9 Miniature Poodle Crossbreeds
• Mini Goldendoodle: Your Up-To-Date Guide for 2022
• F1 Mini Goldendoodle: What You Need to Know
• F1B Mini Goldendoodle: Updated Info for 2023
• Black Goldendoodle: What You Need to Know