why are puppies so expensive

11 Causes of Pricey Puppies (Breed, Gender + Other Facts)

When you look for your dream puppy, you may get a shock at the prices some breeders expect for a puppy – a high upfront cost before adding on all the other expenses involved in bringing a puppy into your life.

You can pay the equivalent price of a family car for a rare championship breed, although many pedigree and designer puppies are more affordable.

11 Reasons Why Puppies Are Expensive

There are practical and economic factors that mean buying a puppy is expensive. These include:

#1 Breeding Costs

Despite the high charges, the best breeders barely break even on their puppies.

Surprised?

Preparing a female dog for a healthy pregnancy involves tests and examinations adding up to around $1,000. Once you know your potential momma dog is healthy, you need to find a suitable partner and pay a stud fee.

The stud fee doesn’t guarantee pregnancy, and you have a limited season of opportunity. The stud fee depends on the quality of the father’s genetics, and the owner of the father dog may contract for the pick of the litter as part of the fee.

A successful pregnancy will rack up vets’ bills for scans and treatment. A breeder can expect to pay up to $500 for routine care.

If the momma dog requires additional intervention during delivery, you can pay between $600 and $1,500.

Getting to the point where the puppies arrive can cost over $3,000, and there are no guarantees if you will get one or more healthy puppies.

On top of these costs, there are further equipment costs (whelping boxes and heat lamps), feeding costs (special formulations), vets bills, and an enormous amount of time.

If you see a cheap puppy for sale, it is probably produced in unsuitable conditions with poor welfare for the mother and pups.

The price a breeder charges reflects the investment in having a healthy puppy.

#2 Pedigree Matters

Prize-winning parents with a wall full of rosettes and a mile-long family tree registered with the Kennel Club add a premium uplift to the price of a puppy.

Why are puppies born to one or two championship parents overpriced?

If you want your puppy to strut its stuff on the showground and have a chance of winning, you need a puppy that matches the breed standards.

Buying a puppy with an award-winning parent means you start with the right genetics to produce a future show champion.

If you want a puppy to chase a ball on the beach and enjoy walks in the rain, and you never want to enter the show ring, it will be easier on your pocket to opt for a puppy from a less illustrious background.

#3 Better by Design

The designer dog breed phenomenon takes two pedigree breeds and crosses them to produce a desirable crossbreed combining the best of both.

For most recognized designer dogs, a poodle forms half the equation. Poodles have fewer allergens and shed less hair on the carpet than other breeds.

If there is a ‘doodle’ or a ‘poo’ in the name, you know one of the puppy’s parents is a poodle.

The breeder needs access to two different pedigree dogs, and it is primarily a matter of luck if the resulting cross is cute enough to blow up your Instagram feed.

Designer dogs are in high demand and have limited supply, constantly pushing the price up.

#4 Rare Breeds

The rare breeds tend to be dog breeds that no longer have a working purpose.

The otterhound, for example, was work-specific, and now that otter hunting is illegal, it has no functional purpose.

There are limited breeders and fewer puppies available, and keeping a breed alive means the offspring command a premium price.

Typically, a rare breed dog has less than 3,000 in current existence, and some, like the Azawakh, are in the low hundreds. Regional specialties like the Mudi or the Skye Terrier have a few breeders in a geographical area.

Getting your hands on a puppy means joining a waiting list and paying a substantial purchase price.

A championship Mudi puppy may cost up to $8,000, although you can pick up a puppy for between $1,500 and $2,500 from some breeders.

#5 Bang on Trend

A celebrity walking a cute puppy can boost the breed’s desirability and cause available puppies to find new owners in record time.

A scarcity of a desirable puppy pushes up the price.

Perhaps the additional coverage a breed gets from a celebrity walker reminds people that these puppies are cute and desirable. Or, maybe the puppy acquires extra appeal from being the fur baby of a famous name.

Whatever the reason, a puppy with current star appeal is likely to wear a higher price tag along with its Gucci collar.

#6 Clean Bill of Health

Some breeds are prone to congenital conditions and potential genetic weakness.

For example, white boxers are prone to deafness, and Labradors have hip issues.

A responsible breeder will produce certification, including genetic testing and appropriate scanning results, to reassure you that you get a reasonably healthy puppy, or you can prepare for potential medical bills in the future.

The Kennel Clubs provide a list of recommended scanning and tests for puppy breeds to identify known issues.

If your breeder does not offer these tests, you can have your puppy prechecked before buying.

The tests contribute to the expense of purchasing a puppy, but they save you from future heartbreak.

#7 Global Pandemic

During the recent Covid-19 outbreak, many people chose to buy a puppy.

The reasons include the need for companionship during a lockdown and the opportunity to devote time to a puppy. Working from home means a new puppy can have frequent bathroom breaks, meals, and activities.

Suddenly people whose work schedule meant they couldn’t meet a puppy’s needs had an opportunity to bring a puppy into their lives.

Higher demand for puppies meant high prices, scams advertising fictional puppies for sale, and puppy theft.

Because breeders cannot produce puppies to order, an unexpected increase in demand contributes to overpriced puppies.

#8 Closing Puppy Mills

Puppy mills are an appalling example of human greed and willingness to exploit and abuse animals.

Many states and countries act to remove the evil of puppy mills from their territories using legislation to force puppy mills to close.

The other side of the equation is that puppy mills kept puppy prices down. Although these puppies may be unhealthy, the availability of many puppies lowers the potential asking price.

Part of the high price of puppies today is better welfare for puppies and their moms.

#9 Start-Up Costs

A puppy comes to you with nothing, but you need to supply its needs for potty training, feeding, safety, and entertainment.

Until your puppy learns to go outside for bathroom breaks, you need to provide a protected indoor area to catch and clean up pee and poop. Typically, this means investing in packs of puppy training pads.

Your pup needs a collar with a tag, leash, bowls for water and food, a place to sleep and feel safe, and toys to amuse and train.

You may want a crate, gate, and other equipment to make life easier, all of which contribute to making your puppy an expensive purchase.

Finally, you need to feed your growing pup a diet that meets its nutritional needs.

The price of puppy food varies, but some high-end brands will significantly impact your weekly food bill, and that is before you add yummy training treats to the list.

#10 Health Care

A responsible puppy owner ensures that their puppy is microchipped and vaccinated. It is an ongoing commitment to keep your puppy’s shots boosted and current.

Plus, most puppy parents commit to preventative parasite treatment to avoid worms, mites, fleas, and ticks.

Like children, puppies can get into accidents and may need additional unplanned treatment for bumps and scrapes or more serious health concerns.

The initial health care costs for a young puppy in its first year increase the expense of owning a puppy.

#11 Classes

Yes, you can teach your puppy everything it needs to know about obedience with the aid of books and videos with a DIY approach. But socializing your puppy with other dogs is best done with an experienced professional in puppy classes.

If this is your first puppy, you may opt for obedience classes and puppy socializing.

If your canine companion enters the showroom, you need training for you and your puppy in show ring etiquette.

Perhaps you and your puppy enjoy outdoor activities, and you want to go to agility classes, or you may want your puppy to train as a pet therapy or rescue dog.

Specialism classes can cost $50 to $150 an hour.

Why Breed matters in Puppy Costs

You can pay a little or a lot in all areas for a house, car, coffee maker, or puppy.

Why does one puppy breed cost more than another?

Is it logical or emotional?

The difference in base cost of different puppy breeds arrive from a mixture of practical and emotional reasons. People pay more for some breeds than others, and it’s not all down to trends and fashion.

Fewer Puppies Mean Higher Prices

If a puppy breed is rare or one of the parents is a champion, then the availability of puppies is a factor in driving up puppy prices.

As a breeder whose puppies sell before conception (you can be on a long waiting list), you can charge a premium price.

However, you may find a breeder willing to sell their puppies at a similar price to other breeds because they are on a mission to encourage the breeding and enjoyment of a rare breed.

Puppies from a champion tend to be overpriced compared with other puppies in that breed because the expectation is that you are buying a puppy with championship potential rather than a pet.

Breed Size

Although a small breed puppy like the Lowchen (two appearances in the Guinness book of records, once for being the most expensive and once for the rarest) can cost more than a Great Dane puppy, you can typically expect to pay more for your larger puppy breeds.

The initial cost may be comparable to a more miniature breed puppy, but you need to budget for:

  • More food and specialist diets to support healthy bone growth.
  • Dog crates, baskets, and other equipment are larger and cost more.
  • Vets’ bills depend on puppy size, and you need more medication to treat parasites and other conditions.
  • Boarding costs depend on dog size.

Paperwork

Registration of a puppy with the Kennel Club is proof that the puppy breed is correct.

A pedigree puppy will cost less if you agree not to breed or show the puppy.

Buying a puppy with full rights for showing and breeding from an excellent lineage will attract a premium of a couple of thousand dollars.

A puppy without paperwork is much cheaper, but you will not be able to register the dog for showing or breeding pedigree dogs. Without the paperwork, you cannot guarantee a pure-bred pedigree dog.

Popular Breeds

Popular breeds like the Labrador tend to cost less because puppy availability is high.

You can expect to pay between $800 and $1,200 for an excellent Labrador. But you can spend more than $2,500 for a championship-worthy puppy or a rare silver-coated Labrador.

The more popular the breed, the more likely a local breeder is offering puppies for sale.

Color and Pattern

Some puppy colors and patterns are more desirable than others.

However, the appreciation of puppy coat colors is a fashion that ebbs and flows.

The rarity of the color depends on the dog breed; some examples include:

  • Wild boar Dachshund – this color only appears with wire-haired Dachshunds.
  • Piebald German Shepherd – looks like a panda.
  • Apricot poodles – color is difficult to obtain as an actual apricot.
  • Solid black Chihuahuas.
  • Black bulldogs.

If you set your heart on owning a puppy with a rare color combination, you can expect to pay a premium price.

What Can You Expect to Pay for a Rare Breed?

The price of a rare breed puppy depends on the breeder, location, and other factors discussed above.

As a guide price for the top rare breeds, you can expect:

  • Biewer Terrier – a German dog under 8ibs when fully grown. You can expect to pay between $3,000 and $5,000 for a puppy no bigger than a ball of yarn.
  • Lowchen – looks like a small lion but supplanted in popularity with the aristocracy by pugs and King Charles Terriers. You pay between $2,500 and $4,000 for a Lowchen puppy from a reputable breeder.
  • Bedlington Terrier – UK hunting dog with a sheep-like appearance. This rare breed is more affordable, with prices starting at $800 and rising to $2,700 for a potential champion.
  • Cesky Terrier – Czechoslovakian burrow hunter. These cute puppies cost between $1,300 and $2,600.
  • Dandie Dinmont Terrier – ancient hunting breed. Although classing as a rare dog will cost you under $1,500 from most breeders.
  • Telomian – unique to Malaysia. A tiny number of these puppies are available for export, so prices vary.
  • Mudi – Hungarian shepherd dog, will cost between $2,000 and $2,500.
  • Norwegian Lundehund – hunts puffins on cliff edges, and a puppy (if you can find a breeder) will cost over $2,000.
  • New Guinea Singing Dog – a close relative of the dingo and mainly feral. This breed is super rare, and the price depends on finding a breeder and negotiating.
  • Finnish Spitz – hunting dog from Finland. These puppies start with black fur before their adult foxy red coat comes in; a puppy costs up to $2,000.
  • Swedish Vallhund – similar in shape to a corgi, and you can pay up to $2,500.
  • Lagotto Romagnolo – ancient Italian truffle hunter. You get a wide variation in puppy prices from $1,800 to $5,000, so budget $3,000 if you want a truffle hunting dog from this ancient line.
  • Kai Ken – versatile hunting dog. Another hard-to-source puppy but relatively modestly priced around $1,500.
  • Blue Lacy – the official symbol of Texas. Although rare because of geographical restrictions, the puppy cost is modest at under $600.
  • Sloughi – ancient North African greyhound with puppies costing under $2,000.
  • Xoloitzcuintli – ancient dog breed from Mexico with and without hair. If you want a puppy, you need to sign up with a reputable breeder, and depending on the pedigree, you can expect to pay up to $4,500. You can get a puppy for as little as $700 from some breeders, and these make excellent pets but not for the show ring.
  • Schapendoes – a Dutch shepherd dog. If you can find a puppy, you will pay a modest $1,500.
  • Azawakh – another African greyhound. These puppies cost $2-3,000.
  • Stabyhoun – similar in appearance to a collie. The American Stabyhoun Association controls prices so that you won’t pay more than $3,200 or less than $2,000.
  • Xiasi – a regional Chinese hunting dog currently unavailable outside this region.
  • Thai Ridgeback – a national breed in Thailand and has a modest average price of $1,000.
  • Chinook – sled dog bred for extreme cold. You may be on a waiting list for six months or more, but the puppies will cost under $1,500.
  • Hovawart – a German dog similar to a golden retriever but rarer. You can expect to pay $3,500 or more for an exceptional puppy.
  • Catahoula Leopard – the official symbol of Louisiana. The rarity comes from the geographical restriction, and the puppies are under $850.
  • Northern Innuit Dog – not officially recognized, similar in appearance to a wolf, and a puppy will cost under $1,000.
  • Otterhound – a UK dog bred for hunting otters, and typically there is an exceptionally long waiting list. A puppy will cost up to $3,000.
  • Irish Wolfhound – one of the biggest dog breeds, and you can expect to pay between $1,000 and $2,500 for a puppy.
  • Estrela Mountain – a mountain shepherd dog, and this unique puppy will cost up to $1,200.
  • Tibetan Mastiff – temple guard dog that holds the world record for expense at $2 million. Cheaper puppies are available, but you need serious cash to afford one.
  • Boerboel – like a Great Dane in appearance, you can expect to pay up to $2,000.

What Can You Expect to Pay for a Popular Breed?

The top ten dog breeds vary every year, but consistently popular breeds and puppy prices are:

  • Boxers – $800 to $1,200.
  • Rottweiler – around $1,500.
  • Poodles – $200 to $3,200 depending on size and pedigree.
  • Yorkshire terriers – up to $2,000.
  • French Bulldog – wide variation costs under $2,000, but you can pay over $10,000 for an Ayana French Bulldog puppy and over $2,500 for one with blue eyes.
  • Beagles – $500 to $6,000.
  • Bulldogs – $1,500 to $4,000.
  • Golden retrievers – $500 to $3,000.
  • German Shepherds – $1,000 to $4,000.
  • Labrador retrievers – $100 to $2,500.
  • Labradors – $800 to $1,200.
  • English Springer Spaniel – $300 to $1,900.
  • West Highland Terrier– $600 to $1,000.
  • King Charles Spaniel – $1,500 to $6,000.
  • Pembroke Welsh Corgi – $1,000 to $2,200.
  • Miniature Dachshund – under $1,000.
  • Shih Tzu – $500-$1,600.
  • Jack Russel Terrier – $800 to $2,500.
  • Cocker Spaniel – $420 to $1,450.

Some popular puppies have a wide price range because there are plenty of puppies but only a few from a highly regarded lineage.

What Can You Expect to Pay for a Designer Breed Puppy?

All breeds are designer breeds, as selective breeding for desirable characteristics gave rise to all today’s domestic dog breeds.

When you think about a designer dog breed, you usually expect a puppy from parents from two different pedigree dog breeds.

Some of the most popular designer dog breeds and their prices are:

  • Goldendoodle – cross between a golden retriever and a poodle. This popular cross can cost up to $4,000.
  • Labradoodle – cross between a Labrador retriever and a poodle. You can pay up to $4,000.
  • Cavachon – Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with a Bichon Frise. Expect to pay between $800 and $6,300 depending on pedigree lines.
  • Maltipoo – a Maltese terrier with a poodle. You can expect an average price of $800 to $1,000, but some sell for around $2,500.
  • Mal-Shi – a Maltese Terrier with a Shih Tzu. You can expect to pay under $1,000.
  • Schnoodle – Schnauzer with poodle will cost under $1,000 in most cases.
  • Cockapoo – Cocker spaniel plus poodle. This popular cross can cost anywhere from $900 to $2,500.
  • Yorkipoo – Yorkshire terrier and poodle cross will cost between $400 and $1,000.
  • Puggle – a pug cross with a beagle, will cost up to $1,000.
  • Goldador – a golden retriever and a Labrador retriever. This designer puppy is one of the most affordable, with a puppy price between $400 and $600. However, you may end up with a golden retriever instead of a cross.
  • Peekapoo – a Pekinese with a poodle. Depending on the breeder, these cute puppies can cost as much as $1,400 or as little as $400.
  • Lhasapoo – Lhasa Apso with a poodle. You get a wide variety of coat colors, and you can pay as little as $400 or as much as $1,400.
  • Pomsky – Pomeranian with Siberian Husky. A slightly more expensive designer breed with puppies starting at $2,000 and desirable puppies can sell for up to $6,000.
  • Pitsky – a Pitbull and a Siberian Husky cross can cost between $500 and $2,000.
  • Chorkie – Chihuahua and a Yorkshire terrier. These tiny puppies are affordable, with prices ranging around $500.
  • Chiweenie – Chihuahua and Dachshund. The lowest price is $500, but you can pay up to $2,500 from some breeders.
  • Chug Dog – Chihuahua and a pug. You can pay up to $3,800 for one of these independent puppies.
  • Pomapoo – a Pomeranian and a poodle. The price range for these puppies is broad, with prices starting at $400 and reaching $1,800 for the most attractive.
  • Terripoo – Australian Terrier and poodle. This cross is quite rare, so the price depends on the occasional breeder who offers these puppies for sale.
  • Pugapoo – pug and poodle mix is affordable at under $800.
  • Sheepadoodle – Old English Sheepdog and a Poodle will cost around $2,500.
  • Frenchie Pug – a mixture of French Bulldog and a pug. Depending on the color and markings, you can pay as little as $400 or up to $2,500.
  • Doxiepoo – Dachshund with a poodle. Another designer puppy with a vast price ranges from $200 to $2,000 depending on which parental characteristics dominate.
  • Shihpoo – Shih Tzu and poodle. The average price for these cute puppies with attitude is $2,500.
  • Poochin – poodle and Japanese Chin mixture produce affordable puppies costing $300 to $700.

Which Puppies Cost More Than $10,000?

A puppy with a superb pedigree may cost an exceptional fee, but there are some puppy breeds whose puppies routinely cost $10,000 or more:

  • Rottweiler ($10,000)
  • Chow Chow ($10,000)
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel ($12,000)
  • Samoyed ($14,000)
  • American Bully ($15,000)
  • Canadian Eskimo Dog ($16,000)
  • Tibetan Mastiff ($20,000)

You can shop around and purchase a puppy from one of the more expensive breeds for less (or considerably more), depending on how much your puppy’s pedigree matters.

Which Are the Cheapest Dog Breeds?

If you want to spend a maximum of $500 on your pedigree puppy, consider some of these breeds:

  • Beagle – energetic and low maintenance.
  • Border collie – intelligent and agile.
  • Australian silky terrier – cute and trainable.
  • Field Spaniel – often overlooked and very affordable.
  • Dachshund – loyal and healthy.
  • Papillion – affordable and gorgeous.
  • Pug – inexpensive and well-loved.
  • Miniature Pinscher – plenty of personality.
  • Plott hound – the child-friendly family pet.
  • Rat Terrier – similar in appearance to a Jack Russell.
  • Black and Tan Coonhound – as adorable as a Labrador puppy.
  • English Setter – the lesser-known setter.
  • Harrier – a popular hunting companion and an excellent family pet.

Why Gender Matters

When you buy a puppy from a champion line or a noted lineage, the gender difference means you can (if you buy the rights) use a female dog to produce a litter for sale and a male dog for stud fees.

A pedigree female dog from an award-winning line will cost more than the male puppies because of the potential competition with the breeder’s business.

There are other reasons why a female puppy may attract a premium price.

Traditionally most owners believe that female puppies are easier to train and less aggressive.

Female puppies are more expensive in breeds with small litter sizes than breeds with larger litter sizes. If you expect only one or two puppies in a litter that breed produces fewer puppies in a season, the scarcity increases the price.

For general pet use, neutering a female puppy is more expensive than fixing a male. Otherwise, there is little difference in price because of gender.

If you buy a pedigree dog, read the small print.

Breeders often put in a clause about breeding rights that may make it impossible for you to have a litter with your female puppy.

Why Are Puppies More Expensive than Dogs?

Typically, when you buy an adult dog, you are adopting from a shelter, and the cost of a dog in need of a second home is far less than a puppy fresh from the litter.

People buy puppies because they want the whole life experience of bringing up a baby animal.

The price differential is like the preference for families to adopt a baby rather than a teenager.

Psychologically people feel that a younger puppy or baby will adapt better to the family than an older individual with potentially bad habits.

Plus, dogs have relatively short lifespans, and taking on an older dog means the sadness of the dog’s eventual death comes sooner than with a puppy.

However, there are circumstances when a dog will cost more than an equivalent puppy:

  • Proven champions – if you buy an older puppy or young dog with a cluster of rosettes to its name, you pay a premium compared with an untried puppy.
  • Specialist training – a working dog with specialist training costs more than a puppy. For example, a German Shepherd with protection training will cost around $16,000 compared with under $4,000 for a puppy. A surprising number of puppies from breeds and crosses receive specialist training, making them highly valuable as dogs rather than puppies.

The puppy’s age can be desirable (higher priced) or less desirable.

Most trainers prefer to start with an older puppy and potentially a young dog for a potential working dog. Suitable dogs may be more valuable when they are older and trained.

When choosing a family pet, puppies with adorable, cute ways are more expensive than dogs with potential bad habits.

Are Puppies More Expensive than Kittens?

Comparing puppies with kittens is like thinking of apples and oranges. You either want an apple or an orange, and sometimes the price of one is higher than the other.

Typically, you will pay more to keep a dog than a cat over its whole life because of the difference in feeding, entertaining and other expenses.

Kittens are more plentiful, and you can pick up a kitten for free (a surprise litter of kittens needing a new home) or for a few dollars.

A fertile female cat produces more kittens than a female dog and is more likely to have unplanned pregnancies. Hence many kittens need a home.

The exception to the rule of kittens being cheaper than puppies is the pedigree cat market with desirable and rare breeds carefully bred to meet the standard.

However, most pedigree kittens tend to cost less than $1,000, whereas expensive puppy breeds cost much more.

The exceptions are a recent development – the Allerca Hypoallergenic cat (you can pay up to $50,000) and the Ashera Cat (up to $125,000) because it looks like a leopard.

The other most expensive pedigree kittens’ cost:

  • Norwegian Forest Cat – $600.
  • Egyptian Mau – $500 to $3,500.
  • British Shorthair – $500 to $1,500.
  • Scottish Fold – $800 to $2,000.
  • Sphynx – $2,000 to $3,000.
  • Russian Blue – up to $3,000.
  • Peterbald – $1,000.
  • Bengal – $1,500 to $3,000.

In the end, your choice of puppy or kitten depends on your preference for feline or canine companionship.

How Do You Get an Affordable Puppy?

The cheapest puppies are mixed breeds (sometimes unkindly called mutts or mongrels) with no pedigrees, but if you want a specific breed, your options for reducing the cost are:

  • Rescue shelter – pedigree puppies do end up in shelters, and you can adopt and register these puppies with the kennel club if you have a genetic test or papers.
  • Breeder returns – most breeders have an option to return an unwanted puppy, and these resell for a lower price. If you don’t mind taking on an older pup, you can save several hundred dollars on the asking cost.
  • Specialist rescue centers – enthusiasts dedicate themselves to a single breed and become the center for rehoming that specific breed. If you have a breed preference, approach a specialist dog center for plenty of help, advice, and a puppy with a discount.
  • Shop around – different breeders offer puppies at different prices, but you may need to travel.
  • Be patient – if you don’t need a puppy right now, track the breeders because sometimes there are many puppies, and the price goes down.
  • Choose an affordable breed – you could start the next trend with your cute and affordable Plott Hound.
  • Avoid the illustrious lineage – if you want a family pet rather than a show ring star, avoid the breeders with the champion lines.
  • Opt for a look-a-like – many of the expensive breeds look like one of the less costly breeds. The expensive Stabyhoun looks like the inexpensive border collie, so why not buy a collie?

A puppy’s temperament and behavior are more important than the price tag for most people. If you want an affordable puppy, plenty are available in most years.

Beware of taking on a puppy from an unknown source that is too cheap.

Most puppy mills are shut down, but occasionally another one pops up offering desirable puppies at a too low price.

Future Trends

Anything that is highly desirable and in short supply increases in price.

Breeds become more and less desirable because of changes in fashion and usefulness.

What will impact future puppy prices?

  • Desirability – if a breed of puppy gets plenty of exposure, breed price may rise.
  • More champion lines – now the pandemic is beginning to ebb, the dog shows will start up and create more champions.
  • Working patterns – if more people return to the office, there may be less demand for puppies and more dogs looking for new homes.
  • More work for dogs – more working roles for dogs (cancer detection, protection, support) mean higher prices for puppies as the working market takes more of them out of the pet market.
  • High cost of living – when people’s income is under pressure, they buy less luxury items like puppies, and the price goes down. Plus, it’s more expensive for breeders, reducing the number of litters.

It is hard to predict how future puppy prices will go because unexpected events change people’s feelings.

Small dogs rise in popularity when people live in small apartments rather than large houses. But if more people prefer to spend time outdoors, puppies from breeds that can keep up will increase in desirability.

Conclusion

Some puppies are expensive to buy, but others are more expensive to own because of high healthcare costs.

When you think about having a puppy in your life, the price is one of the factors, but it is more important to look for a healthy puppy that matches your lifestyle.

When you identify the characteristics of your ideal puppy, it is relatively easy to find an affordable puppy meeting those parameters if you are flexible about the breed and research your options.

You don’t have to overspend to end up with a cute, charming canine companion.