--- title: "Hunting Dog Training Cost: What Gun Dog Training Really Runs" description: A great hunting dog is an investment that goes well beyond the price of the puppy. From training and gear to food, vet care and the unexpected expenses that come with owning a working Lab, get a realistic look at what it takes to put a dependable retriever in the field. image: https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/Hunting%20Dog%20Training%20Cost-2.jpg --- [Law Enforcement](https://lawenforcement.mossberg.com/) [Sign In](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/login) / [Sign Up](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/create/) [Firearms](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms.html) [Store](https://www.mossberg.com/store.html) [![Mossberg](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mossberg-theme/images/logo.svg)](https://www.mossberg.com) [Support](https://www.mossberg.com/help/) [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal) [Dealers](https://www.mossberg.com/dealers/) [Cart](https://www.mossberg.com/checkout/cart/) [Sign In](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/login) / [Sign Up](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/create/) [Dealers](https://www.mossberg.com/dealers/) - [Firearms](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms.html) - [Store](https://www.mossberg.com/store.html) - [Support](https://www.mossberg.com/help/) - [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/) [Military/Law Enforcement](https://lawenforcement.mossberg.com/) - [Home](https://www.mossberg.com) - [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal) - Hunting Dog Training Cost: What Gun Dog Training Really Runs [Videos](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/tag/videos) [How-To's](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/tag/how-tos) # Hunting Dog Training Cost: What Gun Dog Training Really Runs 2 Min Read By [Jason Cruise](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/author/jason-cruise) ![Hunting Dog Training Cost: What Gun Dog Training Really Runs](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/Hunting%20Dog%20Training%20Cost-2.jpg) Every hunter eventually wants a dog that can do the work. A Labrador Retriever is one of the best choices you can make for the field, but the sticker price is only the beginning.    Think of this as your roadmap for owning a labrador dog without getting blindsided by the bills. Start with the purchase. A field-bred puppy from a health-tested breeder usually runs between $500 on the very low end to $3,000. Puppies from titled parents sit at the top of that range. Breeders who test their breeding dogs spend real money doing it, and that investment shows up in the price. A cheap puppy often skips that step, and you pay for it later in vet bills. Next, verify the health records. Ask for hip, elbow, eye, and genetic clearances on both parents, then check them yourself. It costs nothing and protects your budget more than almost anything else you will do. Then comes the gear. You need a crate, bowls, a bed, a lead, and an e-collar. Plan on $250 to $390 for a good e-collar if you don't already own one. Most gun dog trainers want one to reinforce commands, so treat it as a necessity, not an extra. Training is where most buyers get surprised. Professional hunting dog training can cost $750 to $1,200 per month, plus birds and sometimes boarding. Before you commit, search for dog training near me and compare what each program includes. Basic obedience might take two to four weeks. Full field proficiency often takes six to twelve months. You can do the work yourself and save cash, but you will spend far more time, and time is also a cost. Food is the steady drain. Expect $45 to $85 a month, or roughly $540 to $1,020 a year, depending on quality. Routine vet care adds $300 to $540 annually, plus flea, tick, and heartworm prevention. Insurance is the expense people skip until they need it. Accident and illness coverage runs about $35 to $90 a month. A TPLO knee surgery can cost $3,500 to $5,000. Run that math before you decide, because one bad injury can wipe out years of savings. Grooming, boarding, and travel for hunting trips finish the picture. Over a ten to twelve year life, total ownership commonly lands between $20,000 and $35,000, depending on your choices and your luck. So here is the plan. Budget for the puppy, the gear, the training, and the care. Choose a breeder who can prove their dogs are healthy. Start training early, and keep your dog healthy so it can keep working with you for years. Check out the full line of **[940® Pro Waterfowl Shotguns](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms/shotguns/940-pro/940-pro-waterfowl.html)** from Mossberg. 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