How Much Does a Poodle Cost: 2024 Price Guide

Whether you’re looking to purchase a poodle for the first time or want to bring one into your life, you probably have a specific price tag in mind. Now, if you’re planning on buying a Poodle, it might be a bit confusing on what to budget for.

Plus, that’s not to mention the location you’re based in; for example, the breed’s popularity might influence a price increase. You have to consider the breeder’s reputation and their parents, not forgetting their lineage or health.

But, while there is a large list of reasons that could influence the price of Poodles, there generally tends to be a price range to expect for all five different types. Therefore to know more about their cost and the price of owning one, keep reading.

Expensive vs. Cheap

On average, Poodles may cost around $0-$4,000; it all depends on who you buy them from, as well as the size and its background. The price can range based on buying them from a purebred, backyard, or import breeder. Similarly, you might find them cheaper if you get them from a shelter rescue organization or adopt them.

But if you plan to buy a Poodle, they’re most likely going to be more costly from a reputable breeder. After all, breeders dedicate a lot of time to ensuring their dogs undergo proper genetic testing, health tests, and more. Plus, the breeders have to allocate a lot of money to look after both the Poodle and its parents. On average, breeders spend around 120 hours each month looking after the dogs.

Not always, but the cost can often be a good indicator of the quality of the Poodle you’re getting. Sometimes if a Poodle is higher priced, it might result from the breeder providing it better quality dog food and frequent vet checks. But, you can’t always guarantee this when buying a Poodle. Therefore you should always do your homework first and ask the breeder relevant questions when quoted the Poodles price.

Types of poodle breeders

If you’re planning to buy your Poodle from a breeder, then there are a few breeders you can choose from, which are the following:

Purebred breeder

A Purebred breeder is a dog breeder that carefully mates Poodles to participate in shows. Their appearance to personality tends to be high due to strict breeding processes. Purebred breeders breed Toy, Miniature, and Standard and generally sell Poodles at the higher end of the price range.

Purebred breeders mainly produce two types of dog, falling under the category of a show and pet quality. As the categories suggest, one type performs in athletic, obedience, or other dog competitions. Whereas pet quality Poodles are bred to be put in homes with families that have been interviewed and visited. In these circumstances, most families will have paid a deposit and have been on a waiting list before a Poodle puppy has come available.

Most importantly, purebred dog breeders prioritize the health of the Poodle over the profit. Because of this, they conduct a lot of pre-tests in their breeding dogs to see if there’s any risk of potentially genetic health issues occurring.

Alongside this, the breeders ensure that the parents and puppies are given high-quality dog food and veterinary care and are well socialized. If you plan on buying a Poodle from a purebred breeder, you should also get the following:

• Vaccination record
• A 12-24 month guarantee of their health
• Proof of pedigree and AKC registration
• A new puppy packet
• Ongoing access to the breeder’s knowledge

Backyard Breeder

This breeder does not have a typical registration with the American Kennel Club. These breeders often get into breeding as it’s become a hobby and wanted some extra cash. Many of these breeders tend to operate from a car, selling them at flea markets and even grocery stores.

They’re not breeding to harm dogs; however, they do lack the typical knowledge a Purebred breeder will have. Therefore if you plan on asking questions about genetics, health, and a Poodles temperament, they might not know the full history and health background of the pups.

It’s also likely that they will not have tested their parents for any genetic conditions or traits relating to their temperament. There is also a risk that a backyard breeder does not breed purebred.

After all, you won’t be able to guarantee any proof if you’re buying from a backyard breeder. Because there are so many uncertainties with this breeder, it’s difficult to determine the quality of the Poodle you will purchase.

Puppy mill

If you plan on buying a Poodle, avoid getting them from a puppy mill at all costs. People who run puppy mills are notorious for mistreating dogs and selling them for their profit. In fact, many dogs that come from puppy mills end up in shelters or are killed.

Plus some develop a lot of behavioral and health problems later on in life due to how badly they’ve been treated and bread. In these instances, many dogs are cheaper than what you’d get from a purebred and backyard breeder. Like a backyard breeder, these breeders won’t know about the Poodles’ health or parents and will not provide you with the authentic documentation they need. In fact, they’re more likely to go out of their way to sell you the “purebred poodle” for their gain.

Some common red flags to watch out for are:

• The breeder won’t let you meet the Poodles mother
• The puppies are dirty and not looked after well
• You notice a lack of knowledge in the breeder
• The breeder sells their litter to pet stores
• There are no medical records available to access

Rescue Shelter

One of the more affordable options but the most lengthy one is getting a Poodle from a rescue center. If you choose to adopt, it might take time as there may not always be Poodles available to rescue.

Plus, you will likely get an adult poodle rather than a puppy in these instances. If you plan to adopt a Poodle, you will likely have to pay for its adoption fees, which shouldn’t cost more than $600. Moreover, the money is often reinvested into the organization to help look after the other animals.

How Much Does a Standard Poodle Cost?

Out of the three types of Poodle, Standard Poodles often tend to be the cheapest, costing between $600-$1,500.

Miniature and toy Poodle price

Toy Poodles are a lot more expensive, falling in the range of $1,000-$2,500. They tend to be more expensive because purebred breeders breed these dogs from a strong gene pool, making them more healthy and capable of specific tasks.

Miniature Poodles fall somewhere in the middle, costing between $600-$1,800.

Other monthly costs of owning a poodle

If you plan on buying a Poodle, it’s important to make sure you have enough money in the bank to afford its other costs, such as maintenance and healthcare. For instance, when you first bring a Poodle home, you will want to take it to the vet for a routine check-up and vaccinations. Those costs can range between $80-$300, all depending on the tests needed to be done.

In addition to this, you should aim to budget for the following:

The prices above are just a general idea of what you should budget for when bringing a Poodle home. You may find they could differ based on the country you’re in.

Cost of training a Poodle

In addition to medical and food bills, you should also set money aside for obedience training. Poodles are a highly intelligent breed, so it shouldn’t take long to train them, but you must do this from a young age, so they’re socialized and easy to live with.

Depending on the type of trainer you hire, you could pay something from around $50 per class, but it can go upwards based on the trainer’s qualifications, type of training, duration, and frequency.

Many poodle owners spend around $2,000 a month on initial obedience training.

puppy prices FAQ

Conclusion

Overall, looking at the above article, you might be slightly overwhelmed thinking Poodles are expensive. But to be honest, if you want this dog breed in your life, these costs are nothing compared to the unconditional love and magical memories you experience with them.

If you plan to buy a Poodle, regardless of it being a Standard, Miniature, Moyen, Toy, or Teacup, make sure you have enough money for its other expenses. Ensuring you have money saved aside will allow a Poodle to have a better quality of life. If you can’t afford to buy a Poodle, you should not consider getting one as it’s not fair on them! Also, avoid buying from backyard breeders and puppy mills, as they only breed for selfish purposes to make a profit.

Where did you buy your poodle from? Share your experience about the cost and process with us.