Top 32 Most Expensive Dog Breeds

Key points

• The price of a dog generally depends on its rareness, breeding qualities, pedigree, and the breed itself, but the main factor that determines the price is society.
• The top 5 most expensive dog breeds in the world are Samoyed, Löwchen, Chow Chow, Tibetan Mastiff, and Azawakh.
• A more expensive dog doesn’t necessarily need more care than an average-priced dog or a rescue. These dog breeds simply require more medical care and their grooming sessions are more expensive as well.

Owning a dog is a pleasure that does not always come cheap. But owning some dog breeds can be more expensive than buying a car. The cost of owning a dog depends on the breed and the amount of medical care it needs. Generally, people spend five times more on purebred dogs than on mixed breed dogs. This happens because flat-faced dogs and large breeds have the highest pet insurance rates, while mixed breeds cost less because they are less predisposed to different medical conditions. Every dog breed’s value was formed throughout history and was influenced by the challenges in breeding regulations.

So if you are wondering what dogs breeds to avoid if you don’t have a large pet budget, here are the top most expensive dog breeds:

30. German Shepherd

German Shepherds open our list with the average puppy price of $800. Grooming costs around $40 per session but medical expenses can run up to $20,500 over the dog’s lifespan, which is expected to last 10 to 13 years. The most common health conditions in these dogs are hip dysplasia and perianal fistulas.

29. English Bulldog

This fourth most popular dog breed can cost about $1,250 for a puppy, but the medical expenses can reach up to $4,300 due to their predisposition to ongoing health problems.

28. Saint Bernard

Originally bred as rescue dogs, Saint Bernards cost around $1,500 each. These dogs are prone to dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, which is a heart condition that can definitely increase the bill for medical expenses.

27. Spinone Italiano

These Italian companions cost around $1,500 each, and you’ll pay about $55 per grooming session. Spinone Italianos are considered a healthy breed, but their medical expenses can still be around $3,000, as they are prone to hip dysplasia and gastric dilatation-volvulus.

26. Afghan Hound

These dogs cost around $2,000. You should also be prepared to pay around $65 for each visit to a groomer. With a life expectancy of 10 to 14 years, the medical costs can reach $3,000, as this breed is prone to cataracts and hypothyroidism.

25. Lakeland Terrier

These fluffy companions have originated from the Lake District in England, and puppies potentially cost up to $2,000. These dogs don’t shed as much as other breeds, and they are hypoallergenic.

24. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

The average cost of these gorgeous dogs is around $2,500 to $4,000 each. In addition, the average cost of grooming is around $55 per session, and medical expenses can potentially run up to $1,350 over the dog’s lifespan, which is about 10 to 14 years.

23. Portuguese Water Dog

The price of these dogs is usually around $2,500, and the medical expenses are about $2,700 with a life span of 10 to 14 years. The average cost for a grooming session is $53. Portuguese water dogs are prone to progressive retinal atrophy and minor conditions such as canine hip dysplasia (CHD), Addison’s disease, and distichiasis.

22. Irish Wolfhound

Despite the average price of this dog being somewhere between $2,500 to $3,000 each, its medical expenses can be quite tricky and go as high as $7,700 for a relatively short lifespan of 6 to 10 years. In addition, grooming is about $65 per session.

21. Tibetan Mastiff

The average cost for Tibetan Mastiffs is around $3,000 to $5,000, but adopting them from a shelter can be significantly less expensive. Usually, grooming costs $70 per session, and medical expenses are about $3,000. Tibetan Mastiffs are generally reported to be healthy, but they are still prone to eye abnormalities, hip dysplasia, and hypothyroidism.

20. Black Russian Terrier

These dogs were originally used as working dogs in the 1950s, but now, the average cost for a Black Russian Terrier is around $3,500. They can easily catch different bacterial and viral infections, which can increase medical expenses.

19. Staffordshire Bull Terrier

The price ranges between $2,000 and $3,500, and grooming is about $48 per session. Medical expenses for different health conditions can add up to $3,500, and the average life span is between 12 to 14 years.

18. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog

Each of these dogs costs from $2,500 to $4,000, as they are known to be hard to breed. The medical bill can be expensive due to their tendency to swallow different items, resulting in regular vet visits.

17. Bedlington Terrier

You will need to pay up to $4,000 for this cute British dog. These loving and playful dogs are predisposed to certain health conditions such as infections and eye problems such as distichiasis and retinal dysplasia.

16. Saluki

These dogs with unusual appearance can cost up to $5,500 each, and they usually live about 12 to 14 years. However, due to their long legs, they have a predisposition to hip dysplasia.

15. Newfoundland

The average cost for a Newfoundland dog is about $1,500, and each grooming session is around $65. With an average lifespan of 10 years, the medical costs can be as high as $5,500. These dogs are predisposed to cardiomyopathy and gastric dilatation-volvulus.

14. Dogo Argentino

Dogo Argentino is one of the most expensive dog breeds with an average cost of $8,000. However, these muscular dogs are genetically predisposed to many health conditions, including hip dysplasia, deafness, autoimmune thyroiditis, allergies, or other skin problems. Therefore, it’s essential to buy them only from responsible breeders.

13. Bernese Mountain Dog

The price for these large fluffy dogs is usually between $2,500 and $3,500. In addition, you’ll need to pay an additional $75 for each groomer visit. The life span of these dogs is about 10 years, but because Bernese Mountain Dogs can have elbow and hip dysplasia and aseptic meningitis, their medical bills can reach $6,500 in total.

12. Akita

There are two subtypes of this breed: the Japanese Akita and the American Akita, but each of these dogs normally costs around $6,500. They typically live between 10-12 years.

11. Afghan Hound

Afghan Hounds are easy to identify by their gorgeous long fur. Each dog will cost around $7,000. But the breed’s silky smooth hair needs proper care, therefore, the starting price for a grooming session is $105.

10. The Old English Sheepdog

If you want to buy one of these, be ready to spend about $1,200 for the dog itself and about $88 for each grooming session. The pet’s medical expenses can reach $7,600 per dog with a life span of 10 to 12 years.

9. Alaskan Malamute

Each of these dogs costs between $2,500 to $4,000. You should expect to spend an additional $85 per grooming session. Their medical expenses can be as high as $7,700 because of their predisposition to different health conditions, including diabetes mellitus.

8. French Bulldog

The average cost of this dog is about $4,000 each, with a grooming price of $35 per session. With an average lifespan of 12 years, the medical expenses of these pets can add up to $4,300 because of their predisposition to health disorders such as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, dystocia, patellar luxation, corneal ulceration, and a range of spinal diseases.

7. Canadian Eskimo Dog

This is one of the rarest and most expensive dog breeds that costs around $8,750 per dog. They are now in danger of becoming extinct, which increases the price for these wolf-like companions.

6. Rottweiler

The average price for a Rottweiler lies between $1,500 to $3,000, but the price is also highly dependent on a breeder. They have a pretty long list of health issues and a relatively short lifespan of 8 years.

5. Golden Retriever

These loyal companions cost around $2,000 to $3,000 to buy, but their medical expenses can reach as much as $17,500. Golden Retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds, but unfortunately, they are predisposed to a number of different diseases, including allergies, skin problems, and even cancer.

4. Azawakh

This is one of the most expensive dog breeds due to its stunning appearance and rareness. The average price of this dog is $9,500. Azawakh dogs are expensive to keep, as they are prone to hypothyroidism, seizures, and masticatory myositis.

3. Chow Chow

Chow Chow opens our list of the top 3 most expensive dog breeds. The average cost of a puppy is around $900, but their medical expenses can add up to about $11,000 over the expected lifespan of 8-12 years. However, the price of this breed is quite reasonable because Chow Chows are one of the oldest dog breeds in China, and they are also extremely rare.

2. Löwchen

This is one of the smallest breeds on this list but also one of the most expensive ones. These toy dogs are extremely rare, and the average price of a puppy can be between $2,500 and $4,000. But this dog’s medical expenses can easily reach $12,000.

1. Samoyed

At last, our top candidate for the title of most expensive dog breed is Samoyed. These Siberian dogs cost around $14,000, and they are becoming very rare. Samoyeds are prone to multiple types of heart disease, which definitely contributes to their high medical bills.

Here’s Why These Breeds Are So Expensive

A dog’s price is based on its breed, rarity, breeding quality, and health condition, but humans are still the main factor, as our society determines how valuable each dog breed is. Plus, a dog with a pure pedigree will be more valuable because they are usually more healthy. High-quality breeding is essential, too, as the most expensive breeds are typically brought up by world-class breeders who ensure the puppies’ excellent health condition and pure pedigree.

Why Are Puppies More Expensive?

Puppies are much easier to train, and many people don’t want to lose that opportunity to bond with their pet in its formative years. Plus, since puppies are younger and require more veterinary and grooming sessions, they are more expensive than older dogs.

Caring For Expensive Dogs

Relatively speaking, all dogs need the same amount of care regardless of the breed. More expensive breeds may need extra attention because of their predisposition to different health conditions. Also, a larger dog means higher grooming prices, which automatically makes the pet more expensive to own. But overall, the value of a particular breed is totally shaped by society. However, in the end, all dogs make excellent companions.

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