Should You Buy Goldendoodles From Pet Shops: Pros And Cons

Goldendoodles were practically made to be the ideal family pet, but is their quality consistent from seller to seller, should you buy Goldendoodles from pet shops?

Well, the answer to the specific question of should you buy Goldendoodles from pet shops is going to be a yes, but only from ones you can trust and who have proven credentials.

Getting marked as a pet shop is incredibly easy nowadays so you’re going to be seeing a lot of variance in quality, which is why it’s worth looking into which of them is actually legit.

On top of that, a goldendoodle doesn’t really have that many strict raising requirements nor is their temperament too hard to work with in terms of trainability, so there’s very little issue coming from the dog itself.

However, places that don’t properly screen the breeders that they obtain their stock from or ask any other relevant questions may end up giving you a lower quality Goldendoodle among other potential issues.

In order to find out whether it really is better to get a Goldendoodle directly from a certified breeder or a pet shop and all the pros and cons of each, be sure to read on.

Should You Buy Goldendoodles From Pet Shops: Before We Begin

While it is true that Goldendoodle aren’t the most demanding dog breed, there are still a few things that you need to keep in mind which can be the deciding factor on whether or not it’s better to get the pup directly from a breeder or a pet shop.

1. The Goldendoodle Is A Hybrid Dog

The first thing to note is that this isn’t a purebred dog, but rather a mixed breed, meaning you’re not getting into any AKC certified conformation shows regardless of where you buy the dog from.

2. Getting Specific Traits Requires Proper Breeding

That said, getting the right traits from a hybrid dog breed can be tough and that’s a job best left to experienced breeders as they’ll often select the best breeding candidates and will carefully pick out the best traits from both parents.

3. The Goldendoodle Requires Affection

Finally, while Goldendoodles don’t require much in terms of physical training, they do require plenty of affection as they’re inherently social animals, thanks to their extremely intelligent and people-friendly parents, the Golden Retriever and the Poodle.

So, How Exactly Does That Affect The Decision?

Well, as I’ve stated above, mixed breeds are handled differently than purebred dogs in the fact that they carry a slightly different challenge to them which is having the pups inherit the positive traits of the parent breeds rather than the negative ones.

Certified breeders of said hybrid will be able to perform and should be able to give you a high quality specimen with little to no issue.

That said, pet shops can provide that too, albeit you should still check whether or not they do screenings for their pet suppliers and whether or not said suppliers are legitimate or just puppy mills looking to earn a quick buck by churning out pups in unethical conditions.

What Sort Of Questions Should I Ask The Pet Shops Regarding The Dogs They Have On Sale?

The list of questions isn’t that massive, but there are a few important ones you need to get over in order to at least establish some idea of the quality of the pups being sold.

The most common ones are as follows and are the same for almost any dog breed, pure or mixed:

Do the puppies come chipped in case they get lost?
Did the puppy get all of his necessary shots, deworming and vet checkups?
Is there a health guarantee, and if so, how long does it last?
What’s the return policy in case you’re unable to take care of the pup?
Are the pups at least 2 months of age?
Has he undergone any initial behavioral training and socialization around other pups or young children?
Do the puppies come from a legitimate breeder and can they be contacted for consultation in regards to the specific care and training methods for the Goldendoodle?

Of course, if you can think of more, don’t hesitate to include those as the health, safety, and happiness of your new pet is just as important as yours.

What Are The Benefits Of Buying A Dog Directly From A Certified Breeder?

I figure it better to start the comparison with the opposing choice as that tends to be the default for many.

First of all, the availability of a Goldendoodle is always known from certified breeders as they’ll often announce new litters and call for reservations a few months prior or on the day of birth so you can have pictures alongside the reservation.

The next benefit is a health guarantee for your pup as the breeders take pride in maintaining a good image and good breed quality, it’s what brings them customers after all.

They’re likely to take care of the necessary vaccinations, the initial deworming treatment and a health checkup prior to the dog being purchased.

The health guarantee is there to help you cover any potential expenses should the puppy have a specific health issue pop up.

These usually last up to the dog’s first birthday, give or take a few months.

Other than health benefits, you’re likely to get a dog with prior behavioral training and proper socialization performed, something that you’ll have to continue once the pup is rehomed, but that’s all par for the course.

You’ll also be informed of the dog’s eating habits and what specific brand of food they’re on right now.

SEE ALSO: Goldendoodle Breeding – 9 Tips For New Breeders

And What Are The Benefits Of Buying A Goldendoodle Puppy From A Pet Shop?

happy goldendoodle puppy looking at camera

While the prospect of a breeder is certainly preferred, pet shops do have a few advantages over them too.

The first one would be the price as pet shop pups tend to be more affordable than ones obtained directly from breeders.

While that benefit isn’t as prominent as it would be in purebred pups due to people seeking champion bloodlines for show dogs, it’s still a relevant benefit.

The other one would be distance.

Most pet shops tend to be closer than breeders would be given their need for a larger space and being out of town for better living conditions for the pups in question.

This, unfortunately, infers transfer costs with a lot of them which feeds into the prior reason of breeders being a lot pricier than the pet shop alternative.

While some breeders will cover it, not all of them do and you’re stuck paying an added premium.

Finally, you may be able to get specific deals with the pet shop if you buy a pet from their store specifically.

These can involve anything from deals on food and treats to other doggy gear.

What Of The Cons?

We’ve listed a few of them already, but the primary problem is the legitimacy of the pups and the services offered, or lack thereof.

A place can be named a pet shop if it makes just over half a dozen puppy sales in a brief period which severely muddles the quality of available shops and doesn’t test whether or not the dogs were obtained through unethical means or otherwise.

The lack of the benefits that a breeder would normally provide are another concern as they’re all done for the safety of the dog and to allow you to breathe a bit easier without having to worry about your dog’s well being.

And, finally, the availability of the specific breed that you’re after. A breeder is specialized in providing supply of a particular breed, a pet shop is meant to have a bit of variance, and isn’t guaranteed to have the one you need in stock.

So, Should You Buy Goldendoodles From Pet Shops Then?

Mini Goldendoodle puppy laying on the grass

While a lot of these facts may sound like fear mongering, the truth is that a good number of pet shops are legitimate, particularly ones that are more well known.

Bigger ones have a bigger selection too and are more likely to have a Goldendoodle in stock, and they’re often sourced from credible sources, but it never hurts to ask.

So, yes, you should buy Goldendoodles from pet shops if there’s no other option nearby and the nearest breeder is too far away for you to justify the transfer costs.