10 Most Expensive Dog Breeds

The world’s great love of dogs shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. And people are willing to spend vast sums of money keeping their furry friend pampered and equipped with everything they need for a happy and fulfilling life. But there are also plenty of dog lovers who are willing to spend vast sums of money obtaining their pooch in the first place. So, the natural question follows: what are the most expensive species of dogs? Well, these are what we are going to look at closer in this blog post. And you may or may not be surprised to learn that one of the following breeds of dogs can set you back in the thousands of dollars!

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

As the grand name suggests, these regal dogs are both highly sought after and highly expensive too. In Fact, adopting one of these little pups can cost you anywhere between $1,800 to $3,500! But people love them for their button noses and famous floppy ears. It is the high breeding prices that are passed onto the consumer which make these dogs so pricey. You are highly unlikely to find any that dip in price below $1,000, so treat anything less than this with suspicion. You may find that this is only a down payment, or the breeder is poor, so you are left with a dog that has a myriad of health problems that need taking care of. If you want a classic-looking Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who is more likely to stay fit and healthy throughout their life, always buy from a reputable breeder.

Rottweiler

Commonly associated with being guard dogs and having a tough demeanor, Rottweilers can also rack up quite the bill. However, they are also well-known for being devoted, affectionate, and confident, so they tick all the boxes for many dog lovers. You should expect to pay anywhere between one and four thousand dollars for one of these puppies. On average, you will pay around $1,500 for a healthy puppy from a trusted dealer. This is especially important as Rottweilers are known to suffer from a range of health problems as they get older including heart disease and hyperthyroidism. If the price is too cheap, you are better off looking elsewhere.

English Bulldog

Next on the list, we have the floppy-faced English Bulldogs, who are well-known for their friendly personality and calm demeanor. As they have become so popular over the past few years, their price has skyrocketed. Another reason for their higher than the average price tag is the fact that they have to be c-sectioned, which increases costs for breeders. The pregnancies are often more complicated than other dogs, requiring many trips to the vet, which will inevitably rack up the costs for you too. Therefore, you should be expecting to pay between $1,500 and $4,000.

Tibetan Mastiff

You may have seen videos across your social media of these huge, cuddly giants and been tempted to get one for yourself. Well, you should expect prices of anywhere between $500 and $5,000 depending on the breeder. But you can pay way more if you have the money. In fact, the most expensive dog ever sold was a Tibetan Mastiff. So, if you have a million dollars lying around, you could repeat this feat! As the name suggests, this dog originated in the Tibetan region, and was built to survive the harsh, cold winters over there. They would have been used to protect hunters from predators, which gives you a good idea of how well they could act as a guard dog to you! Their weight can reach up to 160 pounds and they can grow up to 33 inches tall. As there is such a big demand for them, you are likely to need to pay quite a lot for one of your own, no matter where you get it from.

Saluki

Tall and thin and with ears that look uncannily like a human hairdo, Saluki dogs originate from Egypt. You can imagine the Pharaohs having one of their own. Their long legs and deep chest gives them a physique that resembles a Greyhound in many ways. And they also have the same hunting instincts and abilities. While they can grow nearly as tall as a Tibetan Mastiff, they usually weigh less than half of one – coming in at roughly 60 lbs. As for the price, it tends to range between $1,000 and $3,000. They are well-known for their gentle and quiet personality, as well as their high levels of devotion to their owner. In fact, they are thought to be one of the oldest domesticated dog breeds. While you may be able to find prices that dip below a thousand dollars, many people believe that it is worth paying more for quality.

Pharaoh Hound

Keeping with the Egyptian theme, we now have the Pharaoh Hound, which is known for its obedience and intelligence. As the name suggests, it is one of the oldest dog breeds in existence, dating back over 6,000 years! This is known because of hieroglyphics and ancient Egyptian artifacts from the period that depict them. However, you can expect to pay a pretty penny to get your hands on one of these dogs – anywhere between $1,500 and $5,000. Their high expense is due to the fact that they are only bred in a very specific location – the archipelago island of Malta. But there is no doubt that this is a dog that is fit for a king, so you are going to have to get your wallet out if you want to get your hands on one of these pups.

Samoyed

Glorious in their fluffiness, Samoyed dogs get their name from the Samoyedic people of Siberia. Traditionally, these dogs would be used to herd reindeer and pull sleds for the nomadic group of people who used to own them. If you want to get a little Samoyed puppy of your own, it is not going to be cheap – even as much as $10,000. The bare minimum that you can expect to pay is $1,000, but the average comes in somewhere around $1,600. Generally, male puppies will cost you more than the female ones. As a rule of thumb, you should always go to a reliable breeder for a Samoyed dog as they come along with more guarantees that confirm the breed’s purity. While this will be translated to a higher price point, it is important that you get what you pay for.

Lowchen

Petite and long-haired, Lowchens have frequently topped lists of the most expensive dogs on the planet. This is down to their extreme rarity, which inevitably pushes up their price point significantly. Only a few hundred of them are registered every year. In fact, they can reach up to $10,000 in certain parts of the world. However, many people are still willing to part with this much money to have one of these playful and happy dogs as part of their household. In fact, these pooches have been popular since way back in the Renaissance era and were well-known as being highly popular with noblemen.

Akita

Another Asian-originating dog to add to the list, the Akita originated from northern Japan’s mountainous region. Nowadays, there are a couple of different classifications of Akita – the Japanese and the American varieties. Whichever one you choose; they have a short double-coat that is somewhat similar to a Siberian husky. Generally, their price point ranges between $750 and $2,500. However, people have been known to have paid as much as $4,500 to get their hands on their very own ball of fluff. People love them for their high levels of affection and loyalty. As we have mentioned earlier on, you should always be wary of breeders who try to sell an Akita puppy below $500 as there is every chance that they are going to suffer from some long-term health complications in the future.

Chow Chow

The final dog on our list is the giant, fluffy Chow Chow. Actually, the prices can vary wildly, with some people paying $800 and others as much as $5,000. Though they are known as being a stubborn dog, they are also renowned for their loyalty. And you simply won’t be able to get enough pictures of your huge ball of fluff! Their costs have been steadily rising in recent years – largely due to their popularity in China, where a lot of people are finding themselves with more money in their pockets. However, it is worth bearing in mind that these aren’t the smartest dogs in the world!

What Makes a Dog Breed So Expensive?

There are plenty of different factors that dog into pooch pricing. This is a scale that is ever-changing depending on demand and availability. Puppies from rare breeds or those who are known to have small litters tend to come with a bigger price tag. Not only can they set you back more in monetary terms, but you will probably find yourself on a waiting list to get your hands on one. In our list, we have dogs with hundreds of years of history behind them, and for some people this is important. But also, don’t underestimate the impact that social media can have on buying trends. A couple of cute YouTube videos can really drive people to buy a certain type of dog.

Dog breeding is a highly profitable field for many people, which is why people are willing to pay more for the experienced and recognized breeders. One of the main problems with keeping a dog purebred is that they are more likely to suffer from health issues as they don’t have a wide pool of genes. Proper breeders will do all the appropriate genetic health tests to ensure that you are adopting a healthy pup. They should also give them all the necessary vaccines, deworm, and microchip them – along with a whole host of other important services. Take a look at our review of the best dewormers for dogs.

You should always be wary of buying a low-price puppy that doesn’t come from a shelter. You could be getting one from a ‘puppy mill’, which only exist to make a profit by producing more and more puppies. There are thousands of these that exist in the United States alone, and often, they make every effort to save money by breeding their puppies in terrible living conditions. All of this tells you why it is so important that you do your research and buy from a reputable breeder. Don’t be fooled into thinking that price is going to be a sole indicator of whether or not you are buying from a puppy mill, but it often gives you something of an indication. The internet is an invaluable tool in telling you where you are buying from.

Saving for a Puppy

Don’t forget that buying any kind of puppy is going to go far beyond the bottom-line figure. Once you get them home, you have all the food, equipment, healthcare, and other associated costs of owning a dog – and these continue for their entire lifespan. So, before you make the commitment to buy one of these expensive puppies, you should be entirely confident that you can actually afford one. You want to provide a home for life for your new furry friend. Remember that there are plenty of shelters out there who are seeking out people to adopt their dogs, so don’t automatically think getting an expensive purebred is the best option for you.

But if you do have the funds for it, this list gives you a good overview of some of your potential options. And we have so many different choices in the list ranging from the huge, fluffy Tibetan Mastiffs to the smaller, floppier English Bulldogs. Whichever breed you choose, make sure that you do plenty of research into them, so you know the best ways of looking after them properly and giving them the very best home.