The Price of an Australian Labradoodle

The price reflects a responsibly managed breeding program

The price of an Australian Labradoodle is high, but it reflects all the costs involved: health testing; buying and importing healthy, high-quality breeding lines; caring for pregnant dogs; feeding not only the puppies but their parents throughout their lives; investing in knowledge, socialization equipment and veterinary equipment; examinations, mating fees, association membership and grooming. There is also the time spent educating future families, welcoming home visits — mainly on weekends, which means giving up family weekends — delivering puppies to their new homes, and providing support and mentoring afterward. That time is impossible to price. Behavior consultations cost around PLN 150–300 an hour, and behavior professionals do not normally work at 3 a.m. or sometimes for 24 hours straight. Raising puppies is a 24/7 commitment: there is no room for time away, vacations or a school-break trip with the children during that period. It is beautiful work, but it carries many responsibilities, stress and sacrifices.

A low price deserves a closer look

Price differences should always prompt a warning light and careful investigation of their causes. Unfortunately, not all breeding lines are equal, and a number of genetic diseases have already appeared in some Australian Labradoodle lines.

It took me a year and a half to find a good, healthy Labradoodle line to import in order to diversify the gene pool — and I have been involved with Australian Labradoodles for 18 years.

Health examinations and DNA tests have real costs

Another factor is the breed association. There are several, and many were established in pursuit of large, quick profits. We have seen a similar situation in Poland following changes to the Animal Protection Act.

A reputable association requires breeders to carry out extensive health testing on the puppies' parents and DNA testing on the puppies. Unfortunately, all of this is expensive.

If an association is committed to developing and researching the breed, further testing costs arise, such as Improper Coat testing, which breeders pay for.

The price also includes expertise and work with each puppy

What about socialization? Can anyone do it? Of course. The question is: with what results?

Understanding brain development and critical developmental periods is essential when socializing puppies. Every experience we introduce must be balanced and appropriate to that particular stage of development. Every puppy is different.

A dedicated breeder continually develops their knowledge by attending seminars and conferences. We live at a time when understanding of animal behavior is expanding, and high-quality training can cost more than PLN 10,000.

New findings emerge all the time, and even leading ethologists and behavior professionals can have different views, opinions and hypotheses. That is a good thing: it is how progress happens.

Veterinary care in Poland has never been as expensive as it is now. Every pregnant breeding dog undergoes a series of examinations and regular veterinary visits. We keep pregnancy records and arrange regular blood tests, ultrasound scans and other examinations. Even when everything goes well, managing one pregnancy costs several thousand złoty. If a C-section is needed, the cost can reach well over ten thousand.

All of these expenses, and others, are reflected in the price. I cannot imagine cutting costs on my dogs, puppies or education. Each element matters, and together they determine the standard of the breeding program.

Continue exploring

Health Testing — Health examinations, genetics and well-being within the breeding program.

The Coefficient of Inbreeding — Why genetic diversity matters.

Breed Associations — The organizations and standards behind the breed.