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The 10 Most Expensive Dogs in the World

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Updated on February 7, 2024 by
Most Expensive Dogs

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If you’re a dog lover, you most likely understand that buying for the breed can be worth it. Some breeds can cost thousands of dollars to purchase and you might be amazed at just which breeds are the most expensive.

It’s safe to say that the price tag isn’t important when you’re choosing your best companion, your loyal pet. While this list shows the average most expensive dogs in the world, be aware that prices could greatly vary based on where you buy them and the breeder.

There are many various breeds that can be costly from the purchase to the care. Here are the top 10 with some information about each breed.

1. Samoyed

COST: Your Samoyed could potentially cost up to $12,000 to purchase and will require regular grooming costs that can quickly add up. Be prepared for potential medical costs as the Samoyed can be prone to autoimmune disorders that can wrack up vet bills quickly.

The Samoyed is a beautiful white mid-sized dog that originally came from Siberia. These dogs have a thick double coat and originally were bred for herding. These dogs are very friendly and will be loyal for many years.

The Samoyed typically weighs anywhere from 35-60 pounds and they are known to live up to 15 years.

2. Chow Chow

COST: You can purchase a Chow Chow for anywhere from $2,000 – $6,000 but the real costs come after you purchase the dog. They can live up to 12 years and regular extensive grooming is required. The Chow Chow is prone to skin conditions and requires regular vet care.

The Chow Chow is a rare breed that is quite hard to find. They do not cost as much to purchase upfront, but they do typically require extensive vet care and grooming.

The Chow Chow is known for being protective and looking much like a mash-up between lions and teddy bears. They have a thick, gorgeous coat and they are loyal to a fault. They are a medium-sized dog when grown.

3. English Bulldog

COST: English Bulldogs can typically be purchased for $2,000 – $5,000 but the costs after purchase can add up quickly. Health care for English Bulldogs is more expensive than nearly any other dog. You can expect to spend a decent amount for baths and grooming in addition to regular vet care. These dogs are prone to various health concerns that can be quite costly for their overall care.

The English Bulldog is a sturdy small dog with a mid-size weight. They are known for their short legs and abundance of wrinkles as well as their slobbery love.

The English bulldog is the 4th most popular breed of dogs in the US. These dogs are great with families and do not require extensive exercise. They also have a shorter expected life span of about 8 years.

4. Löwchen

COST: The Löwchen costs about $5,000 and requires regular grooming. They are not as prone to ailments as some dog breeds but they can require vet maintenance for ultimate health.

The Löwchen is an incredibly rare toy dog and one of the smallest breeds in the most expensive dogs in the world. There are very few of this breed registered throughout the world and only a small number registered each year.

These dogs are often called little lions. They are extremely smart dogs that love to play and are loyal to family. They have a great life span of about 14 years.

The Löwchen is a small dog that does take a lot of attention. They don’t do well when left home alone for long periods. Pet parents should be home most of the time; otherwise, this is not a good dog breed for anyone who works long hours every day. The dogs can develop separation anxiety.

These small dogs are gentle with humans and other pets; however, they are also very curious. Don’t be surprised if you see one of these adorable dogs sitting on the back of a chair or couch. They love to find a high perch to look out the window and watch what’s going on outside! No visitors will approach your house unannounced. These little dogs let you know when someone’s at the door.

5. Tibetan Mastiff

COST: If you are looking for a Tibetan Mastiff, you can plan on spending up to $7,000 for excellent breeds. However, you can expect to dig deeper for grooming needs as well as medical care due to size, specifically with bone and muscle health.

The Tibetan mastiff is a large dog as the name mastiff might suggest. This dog was bred in Tibet to be a herd protector. The large dog was able to protect from large animals like bears, wolves, and other predators.

The Tibetan mastiff can grow quite large up to 160 pounds for males. They also live up to 15 years with proper care. This breed is known for its strong will and protective nature as well as high intelligence.

6. Rottweiler

COST: Rottweilers are often misperceived but they are truly gentle giants and make great family dogs. They live for about 10 years and can cost up to $5,000. They also suffer from various health risks that can cause vet expenses to pile up quickly.

This is the breed that might surprise you on this list. The Rottweiler is a large breed dog known for being a fearless protector. These dogs are usually fairly large.

The Rottweiler can easily reach up to 130 pounds for the male breed while females may be as light as 75 pounds. They are devoted and loyal to their families but display appropriate restraints as well.

7. Saluki

COST: These dogs can cost up to $5,000 at purchase. They require regular grooming but health-wise typically do not require excessive vet care for common illnesses amongst the breed.

The Saluki is a dog that is commonly bred specifically for dog shows and competitions. They are large dogs in size but not in weight. They tend to be very smart and quiet as well as aloof.

The Saluki can get up to about 60 pounds but stands commonly 25 inches at full height. They are very fast dogs and love to be in the open to run. Saluki often live up to 14 years.

8. Afghan Hound

COST: The Afghan hound breed could cost around $4,000 to purchase. They are elegant dogs that require extensive pampering and grooming which is where your costs will really expand. They are prone to some minor health conditions as they age.

The Afghan Hound is another beautiful breed often used for dog shows. They are known for their long smooth hair and tall beautiful stance.

The Afghan hound is a large breed mostly due to their height of up to 28 inches. They typically weigh between 50 and 75 pounds at full grown. They typically live up to 14 years.

9. Akita

COST: You can expect the Akita to cost between $1,000 – $2,000 to purchase but it’s their care that gets expensive. Expect to have routine grooming to keep reduce shedding. Additionally, these dogs commonly deal with skin diseases and hip and knee ailments.

The Akita is not extremely expensive to purchase but they do require a lot of healthcare for premium health.

The Akita is a large dog that comes from mountainous locations in Japan. They have coarse thick coats that are soft and beautiful. These dogs are calm, protective, and friendly and they make great family pets.

10. Pharaoh Hound

COST: You can expect to pay around $3,000 to purchase this hound. They are short-haired and grooming requirements are fairly minimal. Health issues are typically kept to a minimum so you shouldn’t have to worry about extensive vet care.

The Pharaoh Hound is a Maltese breed that is known for its rabbit hunting skills. It is sleek and fast and they love to play. These dogs are intelligent, affectionate, and very trainable.

You can expect the pharaoh hound to grow up to 25 inches in height and weight anywhere from 40 – 60 pounds. The pharaoh hound has a very individualized look that makes them extremely popular. They live up to 14 years.

Pharaoh Hounds are dogs that are happy to live life to the fullest. They sometimes act as clowns for their families yet can also be somewhat aloof and strong-willed. However, these are gentle dogs that usually get along well with humans and other pets (including other dogs).

If you’d like to know when someone comes to your door, the Pharaoh Hound will alert you right away if anything is suspicious. The dogs are not overly friendly with strangers and make great guard dogs.

Speaking about their bark, these dogs tend to “over” bark. You may hear the Pharaoh Hound barking when he’s left alone for long or when he’s bored. The dogs also have a strong prey instinct and don’t do well with small pets, such as rodents, rabbits, etc.

Additional Breed Information

As you can tell, some dogs become the most expensive breeds because they require extensive health care for issues that are specifically associated with the breed.

If this list were to continue further, it would include a lot of dogs of various terrier breeds. Terriers of any kind can be extremely expensive to both purchase and maintain health care for.

Whether you’re looking for a show breed, a family dog, or simply want the best of the best you should be thoroughly informed on what to expect for the cost of your dog from the purchase to the cost of care.

Summary

As you can see from this list, a dog does not have to fit into a specific category to fall into a specific price range. This list includes a vast array of dog breeds with various features from long-haired dogs to short-haired dogs.

In addition to various dog types, the dogs listed here also portray dogs of various sizes and skills. From the Samoyed to the Pharaoh Hound these dogs have their own unique skills and personalities.

How many dogs here are you already familiar with and which breeds surprise you the most to be found on the list for the most expensive dogs in the world? Did you expect to see any dogs that were not on this list?

Dogs can be expensive whether they made this list or not just because maintenance, pet insurance, grooming, and health care can quickly add up. When you decide to purchase a dog, be familiar with and prepared for the expenses that can be expected throughout their lives.

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