What’s the cost of owning a Labrador Retriever in 2023?

If you are looking for the most popular dog breeds in the U.S., then you might be considering adding a Labrador Retriever to your family. Over the years, this breed of dog has consistently ranked in the top five for most popular dog breeds.

In fact, for nearly 31 years, the Labrador Retriever was ranked as the number one most popular dog before getting knocked out of the number one spot this year by the French Bulldog. But just because it is no longer the number one dog in the country, that doesn’t mean we don’t still love these gentle pups.

And with this breed, often referred to as simple the Lab, remaining high on the list for most searched for and most loved dog, we want to know how much it costs to own one. What are the costs associated with these dogs, from actually getting the puppy to feeding them and beyond.

How much does it cost to own a Labrador Retriever?

Let’s start by talking about the cost associated with actually getting a Labrador Retriever. According to Spot Pet Insurance, when getting a dog from a qualified breeder, you are looking at a price between $1000 and $2000, with show dog puppies costing in that upper range of $1800 to $2000. And we should also point out that a Chocolate Lab is going to cost more than a Black Lab or a Yellow Lab since this color of fur is rarer.

At a shelter or rescue, you are looking at adoption fees between $100 to $300 for a Labrador Retriever, often with the coat color not really impacting those costs.

Next, we have to talk about feeding your Lab. Considering the Labrador Retriever is medium to large breed dog (and often on the larger side of things), you are looking at a diet that may cost a bit more. On average, you are looking at a yearly cost of between $840 and $960 for food. And since they will need treats for training (and because we love them), you’ll likely want to add an extra $240 on top of that food bill per year.

As someone who has had a Black Lab before I can confirm that they love their food and they will eat $1000 per year in food easily.

Now we have to talk about those vet visits. You are easily looking at between $700 and $1200 for vet visits, at least in the first year. And then from there, you may be lucky enough to only need to visit the vet once per year, which might get your down to $100 to $300 depending on your vet and what your pup needs. That being said, there are some health concerns that all Labrador Retrievers may face over the course of their lives (our pup was lucky enough to not have to deal with these issues, although he did have to have his eyelids fixed as a puppy) and that can significantly increase their vet bills.

Among the vet bills you may face as a Labrador Retriever owner, there is:

• Eye disease: Looking at potential vet bills up to $1500
• Osteochondritis Dissecans (this is when cartilage and bone separate): The vet bill per joint impacted are often between $2000 and $3000.
• Epilepsy: The vet visits associated with this are yearly and run anywhere from $500 to $1000.

Finally, you will absolutely want to consider grooming when it comes to your Lab as they are another breed that has a double coat. This means that they will need weekly brushings and you are looking at grooming visits of at least $50 each.

Of course, dog toys, beds and other supplies are also a must for your pup, so these are added expenses that should also be considered. However, if you have ever owned a Lab, you know they are absolutely worth the cost.