So, you’ve found that a Labrador Retriever has the right temperament and personality to fit comfortably in your home environment. You’ve made a great choice – Labradors are ideal family pets that form strong bonds with their owners and can serve as best friends to children. But have you considered Labrador Retriever prices in Australia?
Labradors are one of the most popular breeds of dogs worldwide, and in Australia, you won’t struggle to find local Labrador breeders. But, given the breed’s immense popularity, you may also find yourself paying over the odds for a Labrador puppy.
So, how much can you expect to pay for a Labrador in Australia?
The price you pay for a Labrador Retriever depends primarily on whether you choose to buy a rescue dog or a Labrador puppy. Not only is opting for a rescue dog the most ethical means of picking up a Labrador, but it’s also the cheapest. For a rescue Lab, you can expect to pay as little as $300.
On the other hand, if you want to pick out a dog from a litter of Labrador puppies, you can expect to pay somewhere between $2,000 and $4,000 for a dog with purebred status. Of course, this is only an estimate, and these parameters can fluctuate depending on several factors.
As we’ve just mentioned, several factors influence the cost of Labrador Retriever puppies in Australia. You should familiarize yourself with these factors before visiting local breeders to ensure that you’re not getting ripped off. These factors include:
If the Labrador puppy litter comes from a purebred bloodline, meaning that the lineage of the puppies is 100% Labrador, then you can expect to pay more. If the Labrador puppy has a mixed lineage, then the price will likely be considerably less.
If the parent pups have been cleared of suffering from all common health concerns common in Labradors, then the price of the puppy will likely be higher. The health of past litter may also be taken into consideration.
For a long time, Black Labrador puppies were all that were sold, and any other colour of Labrador was considered to be of inferior quality. Although this is no longer the case, you may find Chocolate Labrador puppies to be priced cheaper than Black Labradors.
On the other hand, there are several ‘rare’ Labrador colours, including silver, red, and white, that a breeder may charge more for due to their rare status.
When choosing a suitable dog breeder, there are several things you should check for. First and foremost, make sure they’re a registered breeder. Registered and reputable breeders will be approved by the likes of Dogs Australia, the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC), Dogs NSW, the Australian Association of Pet Dog Breeders, or Dogs Victoria.
Secondly, check out the care and living standards that the parents are providing for the parent breeds as well as the litters. Lastly, ensure that the breeders can provide you with pedigree papers. Don’t fall for the first ‘puppies for sale’ sign you see – do your research!
When buying a Labrador puppy, you’ll also need to consider how much it’ll cost you to maintain the dog. Consider the following:
To feed your dog dry kibble for a year, you can expect to pay around $600 to $750 per year.
A standard vet visit would cost you no more than $100, but an operation would, of course, cost you much more. That’s why we’d recommend taking out pet insurance, which will cost you, on average, around $300 per year.
You don’t need to worry about getting Labrador Retrievers professionally groomed. You will have to invest in a good quality dog brush and periodically pay for dog shampoo and conditioner, which won’t cost you a lot overall!
A Labrador is a guaranteed loving pet – there’s a reason they’re one of the most popular breeds in the world! They fit right into the family environment and can serve as everything from guide dogs to therapy dogs. If you’re looking for a four-legged new family member, Labradors are an affordable option and are relatively cheap compared to some designer breeds.
Labradors make great additions to any family home, but, like a lot of dogs, they come with a considerable price tag – both for the upfront cost as well as the maintenance. However, what you pay in cash, you get back in heaps of love from your Labrador.
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