Buying a new dog is not a decision to be taken lightly. It obviously means taking responsibility of another life and will likely end up costing you a lot of money in the time you have with your new family member.
Even if you get your dog from a rescue shelter, at little or no cost for adoption, you’ll end up spending an average of about $15,000 on your puppy over the course of their entire life, including medical care, food, boarding and other expenses.
And if you buy one of the dogs on this list, you could be spending thousands before you even get your new pet home! The prices of purebred dogs vary widely, depending on bloodlines and how reputable the breeder is, but we used the average costs of puppies from online sources like Adopt a Pet, Tail and Fur, Go Banking Rates and Breeding Business to figure out the most expensive dog breeds today.
30. Borzoi
Average Puppy Price: $2,950
The borzoi got its unique name from the Russian word for “swift,” according to the American Kennel Club, and that’s an apt description. These slender dogs can reach speeds of 40 miles per hour at full sprint, meaning their natural beauty won’t be the only thing turning heads at the dog park. Borzois were originally bred for use by the Russian aristocracy in the 1600s, and, given their price tag, you still might need to own a palace to afford one from a good line.
29. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Average Puppy Price: $2,950
Chesapeake Bay retrievers are renowned for their ability to help during duck hunts, thanks to their waterproof coat and boundless energy. A purebred puppy can run you up to $5,000 at purchase, but we found the average to be a little less than $3,000. Like many dogs of great intelligence, Chessies will thrive when they have a job and plenty of exercise. You’ll also want to keep them brushed a couple times a week or you might find your house covered in fallen fur.
28. Azawakh
Average Puppy Price: $3,000
People in West Africa have been using the Azawakh as a sighthound and companion for centuries. In fact, the breed’s name comes from a sub-Saharan region where they are popular. These skinny pups require plenty of exercise but almost no maintenance in terms of grooming. They are known for being friendly companions, so if you’re willing to spend that kind of money on a new puppy, you’ll likely be paid back in loyal kindness for 12-15 years, according to the American Kennel Club.
27. Anatolian Shepherd
Average Puppy Price: $3,000
Few dogs have as long a history on the books as the Anatolian shepherd. This breed dates back as far as 1800 B.C., based on Biblical descriptions, and comes from a region that is now in Turkey. These big pups can grow to be 150 pounds and are expert protectors of livestock. If you need a loyal friend to put in some hard work on the farm and can afford to splurge a bit, you could do much worse than one of these.
26. Dalmatian
Average Puppy Price: $3,000
Disney helped make the Dalmatian an iconic breed in the 1960s, and it still enjoys plenty of popularity today. These distinctly spotted doggies originate from the Dalmatia region of Croatia and are renowned as one of the smartest breeds in the world. That intelligence makes them behave coolly toward strangers but receptive to training. Dals are known to be sweet and loyal to the humans they love, according to owners.
25. Dogue de Bordeaux
Average Puppy Price: $3,200
How could you not just love that crinkly, sad-looking mug? The dogue de Bordeaux is a pricey breed but you get a lot of dog for your money, as they will easily weigh more than 100 pounds when fully grown. Unfortunately, as with many large breeds, the dogue de Bordeaux has a relatively short life expectancy of five to eight years, according to the American Kennel Club. But these ancient French pups are known to be affectionate, loyal and brave companions for any family that can afford to get one.
24. Giant Schnauzer
Average Puppy Price: $3,250
The giant schnauzer is nowhere near as popular as its miniature counterpart, but it will cost you more for a purebred puppy. What you’ll get for your money is an imposing pup that stands more than 2 feet tall and can weigh more than 90 pounds. Giant schnauzers are known to be easy to train, but they are definitely not a great choice for anyone who wants a low-maintenance dog. They require daily brushing and need a lot of exercise every day, including long walks or runs, according to the American Kennel Club.
23. English Bulldog
Average Puppy Price: $3,250
It’s pretty much impossible not to be charmed by an English bulldog. These playful pups make ideal companions for anyone who wants a pet that will make them smile. A purebred puppy can set you back as much as $4,000, but lovers of this extremely popular breed will tell you how many health problems they can have, so buying one from an established breeder could be a great investment to avoid some later medical bills.
22. Treeing Walker Coonhound
Average Puppy Price: $3,300
Treeing Walker coonhounds have been American favorites since the mid-1700s, when they were first bred. Despite their name, these hunting companions are known for their speed and make great running partners. You can expect to pay up to $6,000 for a purebred puppy, but the average cost is $3,300, based on our research. They require little effort in terms of grooming and are beloved as a friendly, outgoing breed.
21. Miniature Pinscher
Average Puppy Price: $3,500
According to our research, you’ll have a hard time finding a miniature pinscher puppy for less than $1,000 from a breeder, and you could end up paying as much as $6,000 for your new furry friend. Min pins have a ton of personality packed into a tiny body that typically weighs less than 10 pounds and stands about 10-12 inches tall. This breed originated in Germany and remains a favorite in Europe, where some people even use them as watchdogs.
2o. Weimaraner
Average Puppy Price: $3,750
The Weimaraner is notable as one of smartest dog breeds. These friendly and striking pups need a lot of exercise to burn off their excessive energy. All that activity can build up a huge appetite and Weimaraners are known to be big eaters, so the $3,750 average price tag will probably be dwarfed by your food bill during your pup’s life. But given how friendly these smoky gray beauties are, it might be well worth the cost.
19. Chinese Crested
Average Puppy Price: $3,750
The eye-catching Chinese crested comes in either the hairless (shown here) or “powderpuff” variety. Both are fun, affectionate housemates, but the hairless kind seems to be a bit more expensive, probably because of the lack of shedding and grooming concerns. Of course, if you take your bald friend on a walk outside, you’ll want to either apply sunscreen or put some protective clothing on them because they can be susceptible to sunburn.
18. Portuguese Water Dog
Average Puppy Price: $3,800
You might remember seeing Portuguese water dogs around the White House when the Obamas lived there, as their two pups, Bo and Sunny, are members of this beloved breed. Porties trace their lineage back to the coasts of Portugal, where they were bred to help people chase fish into nets. Their waterproof coat doesn’t shed but requires daily brushing. They also need plenty of exercise, so this is not a breed for anyone looking for a low-maintenance pet.
17. Saluki
Average Puppy Price: $4,000
Nobody is really sure how the Saluki got its name but experts agree that this is one of the oldest breeds in existence. Its roots trace back as far as 7000 B.C., and it was a popular breed among ancient Egyptian pharaohs. Today, roughly 9,000 years later, you can expect to pay a king’s ransom for a Saluki puppy. But if you get one, you’ll end up with a gentle and loyal friend who could literally run circles around you.
16. Perro de Presa Canario
Average Puppy Price: $4,150
This Spanish breed is also known as a Canary mastiff, and we found the average price of puppies going as high as $7,000. They often end up weighing more than 100 pounds and are experts at protecting livestock and scaring off strangers, thanks to their imposing stature. They are known as an overall healthy breed that requires little grooming and moderate exercise. People who live in a rural setting could find a perfect companion with one of these guys.
15. French Bulldog
Average Puppy Price: $4,200
The French bulldog has seen its popularity soar in recent years, becoming one of the most in-demand breeds on the purebred market. The American Kennel Club listed it as the fourth most popular breed in 2018, narrowly surpassing its English cousin. That demand means prices can soar as high as $8,000 for a baby Frenchie, but you’ll end up with a pal who could charm anyone with its personality and playful nature. People who live in cities have especially found French bulldogs to be great pets.
14. Dogo Argentino
Average Puppy Price: $4,800
If you like muscular dogs and are willing to pay a steep price for your pet, the dogo Argentino is a great choice. Their signature coats are typically all white but they’ve been known to do some serious dirty work in their native Argentina. These pups were bred to be gifted hunters and are able to take down animals as fierce as boars and mountain lions. As you can imagine, they need a lot of activity to be happy and healthy.
13. Afghan Hound
Average Puppy Price: $5,000
It costs a lot of money to have a pet that looks this glamorous. Honestly, the Afghan hound probably has the most envious hair in all the canine kingdom, and they are sure to turn every head when out on a walk — or a run, which they enjoy. As a puppy, the Afghan hound has short fur that doesn’t need much grooming, but when those locks grow out, they require a lot of maintenance to look their best. But they’ll reward you by being a friendly and gentle companion for life.
12. Pharaoh Hound
Average Puppy Price: $5,100
This is another breed that’s been around for thousands of years, tracing its roots to ancient Egypt. The American Kennel Club calls them one of the oldest domesticated breeds in existence and attributes their spread from Phoenician traders who took them to customers around the world along their sea routes. Today, it will cost you more than $5,000 on average for a purebred pharaoh hound puppy. They can be tough to train but, if you’ve got a wild rabbit problem, these dogs will take care of it in a hurry.
11. German Shepherd
Average Puppy Price: $5,100
The iconic German shepherd is the most popular breed to appear on this list, showing that their high price tag is no deterrent for many dog lovers. They are beautiful, hardworking and easy to train, thanks to being among the smartest breeds in the world. That quality, along with their bravery and loyalty, has made German shepherds the go-to breed for many police departments around the world when they need a K-9 officer. This photo shows an example of the breed standard, a pup named Rumor who won best in show honors at the 2017 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
10. Collie
Average Puppy Price: $5,400
“Lassie” made collies an iconic breed for generations of dog-lovers, and these gorgeous creatures are still highly sought after in the purebred community. Collie pups — specifically the rough variety, seen here — can sell for as much as $10,000, according to Adopt a Pet. What you get for that price is a natural beauty and one of the best herding dogs in the world, which is how they were utilized in Scotland for centuries. Collies are known as ideal family pets because of their playful nature around children.
9. Yorkshire Terrier
Average Puppy Price: $5,400
Another native of the United Kingdom, the Yorkie has been a beloved lap-dog for centuries. Their signature long coat is actually good for people with allergies because it’s more like human hair than typical dog fur. Purebred Yorkies can fetch a high price, which might seem excessive for a 7-pound dog, but they have very long life spans, capable of giving their families 15 years of friendship with relatively few common health issues.
8. Chow Chow
Average Puppy Price: $5,900
If you want a big ball of fluff with attitude to spare, the chow chow is your best bet. These famously aloof and self-serious pups date back thousands of years in their native China, where they have a name that translates to “puffy-lion dog.” Don’t expect to have an easy time training your chow, or for it to be outgoing with new people, but, unlike many other larger breeds, they adapt well to indoor, city life. The American Kennel Club says owners call them “the cleanest of dogs” and compare their manners to those of a cat.
7. Löwchen
Average Puppy Price: $6,000
Just like the chow chow, the löwchen’s name translates to “lion” in the tongue of its native land, Germany. Of course, this 10-pound dog is a much smaller lion but is even more expensive on average. Part of why the löwchen is so pricey is because of how difficult they are to find. The breed was once ranked by Guinness World Records as the rarest dog in the world, with their global tally dipping below 70 in the wake of World War II. Today, the breed is still pretty rare but no longer in danger of extinction.
6. Rottweiler
Average Puppy Price: $6,300
You might be surprised to see Rottweilers this high on the list, given their immense popularity, but puppies from top breeders can cost as much as $10,000. These renowned working dogs date all the way back to the Roman Empire, where they were believed to be used to herd livestock. Today, they can still do that job, along with being popular choices for police departments and search-and-rescue workers.
5. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Average Puppy Price: $7,300
In case you wondered about the most expensive breed of hand-held dog, you’re looking at it. A cavalier King Charles spaniel can cost you as much as $12,000 from a top breeder, with the average price we found being closer to $7,000. Either way, it’s a lot to spend on a new pet, but fans of this breed love it for its obvious beauty, gentle nature and adaptability to fit virtually any lifestyle. The American Kennel Club — which lists cavaliers as the 18th most popular breed — claims these 15-pound pooches are happy being “upbeat athletes or shameless couch potatoes, depending on an owner’s lifestyle.”
4. Samoyed
Average Puppy Price: $9,750
Many people love Samoyeds because of their natural smile. The reason they have that grin is evolutionary, keeping them from drooling so that icicles wouldn’t form around their mouths in their native Siberia. These powerful medium-sized dogs were born for frigid weather, and their signature all-white coat keeps them warm and hidden in the snow. Sammies need a lot of open space to be happy, as boredom can result in the destruction of their owner’s stuff. You can find puppies for as much as $14,000 but we found the average cost to be closer to $10,000.
3. American Bully
Average Puppy Price: $10,100
The American bully, which is related to but not the same as an American pit bull terrier, is not recognized by the American Kennel Club as an accepted breed but has been recognized by the United Kennel Club since 2013. In recent years, this breed has become a hot commodity, with one top stud reportedly earning his family in Florida $1 million a year for breed-standard puppies. American bullies are known for their compact, muscular stature and for making wonderful, confident companions.
2. Tibetan Mastiff
Average Puppy Price: $10,450
We’ve seen estimates as high as $20,000 for a purebred puppy from this breed of furry giants. The Tibetan mastiff can tip the scales at 150 pounds and will measure more than 26 inches from the ground to their shoulder. They may look like big teddy bears, but the American Kennel Club calls the Tibetan mastiff “the guardian dog supreme,” praising it for being watchful, serious and obviously intimidating. In their native Tibet, it was believed that the souls of monks and nuns lived inside these majestic dogs.
1. Canadian Eskimo Dog
Average Puppy Price: $11,000
The Canadian Eskimo dog is a rugged beauty and an extremely rare dog to find, which is why it can cost so much to add one to your family. For thousands of years, these natural survivors were used as sled dogs in the coldest areas of North America, but the advent of snowmobiles made them mostly obsolete as workers. These dogs were dropped by the American Kennel Club because of extremely low numbers, which tallied close to about 200 worldwide in the 1970s. As recently as 2008, the number of Canadian Eskimo dogs hovered around an estimated 300.
If you’re able to find — and afford — one, give it as much love as you possibly can because their existence is in critical danger.
