| Does this sound about right? A few places in NoVA are charging $5k, and one in Maine wants $6,500. DH thinks that seems high, but it’s been 15 years since we’ve been in the market. I see a few in TN and SC for $3,500. All these are AKC with the genetic testing/ health info etc. |
| OP again.. meant to add, just pet prices. They’re all selling with the “limited” AKC papers and a neuter contract. |
| That’s crazy. Is there a reason you’re looking at AKC? |
By definition a golden retriever will have AKC papers |
| Try Golden Rock Farms. Our golden is beautiful and was $1600 last year. I think the English cream goldens were a little more. |
I didn’t know that. |
| Doesn't seem out of line to me. Pick the breeder you like and enjoy your puppy. |
| IF you're getting a well bred dog, then that price is worth it, because you're more likely to have a healthy, long-lived, well tempered companion. If you're getting a BYB dog, then not so much. |
There is literally no guarantee of a long life. A Golden now has a very very small chance of surviving beyond even 8 years. Why? The rampant ovebreeding and multiple mutations for just about everything. |
| That’s crazy. We paid $1800 each for our and I thought we were being ripped off. They are the loves of my life. In retrospect, I would have paid 10x because where else are you going to get a beautiful, furry infinite love machine? |
Literally everyone..I got my beautiful, furry love machines from rescues. Not bashing breeders but, my dogs are all that and not AKC. |
meant everywhere |
| We paid $2500 2 years ago to breeder in VA. |
No guarantees, but you can improve your odds considerably. It is true that GRs have shorter lifespan than one would expect. In a disease prone breed especially, I wouldn't pay that kind of money unless there is significant health testing up and down (and sideways) in the pedigree, which essentially only rules in good breeders. A friend just lost hers yesterday. Wonderful dog. The first in his litter of 8 to die, at the age of 12. |
Do you have a citation for that stat? |