CritterMost Expensive Dog Breeds to Own (2026): Full Cost Ranking
Every dog breed we cover, ranked by assembled lifetime cost to own, most expensive first. Giant breeds (more food, higher-dose vet care, larger insurance loadings) and high-purchase-price breeds lead the table.
| # | Breed | Typical year | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giant Schnauzer | $2,488–$4,255 | $31,476–$68,500 |
| 2 | Leonberger | $3,335–$5,800 | $28,900–$68,975 |
| 3 | Bouvier des Flandres | $2,912–$4,995 | $30,540–$64,115 |
| 4 | Lagotto Romagnolo | $1,918–$3,207 | $31,690–$61,194 |
| 5 | Bernedoodle | $2,355–$4,003 | $27,825–$66,720 |
| 6 | Great Pyrenees | $2,843–$4,996 | $29,850–$63,827 |
| 7 | Bloodhound | $2,860–$5,018 | $29,720–$63,891 |
| 8 | Newfoundland | $3,244–$5,636 | $30,816–$61,035 |
| 9 | Anatolian Shepherd Dog | $2,541–$4,421 | $29,171–$61,148 |
| 10 | Labradoodle | $2,297–$3,887 | $27,187–$62,980 |
| 11 | Goldendoodle | $2,323–$3,939 | $25,650–$64,760 |
| 12 | Old English Sheepdog | $2,502–$4,278 | $26,440–$63,567 |
| 13 | Poodle | $2,271–$3,835 | $28,472–$57,865 |
| 14 | Boerboel | $2,689–$4,808 | $26,121–$59,563 |
| 15 | Alaskan Malamute | $2,353–$3,999 | $25,450–$60,161 |
| 16 | Standard Schnauzer | $1,950–$3,271 | $27,270–$56,511 |
| 17 | Chow Chow | $2,567–$4,390 | $24,723–$60,745 |
| 18 | Greater Swiss Mountain Dog | $2,834–$4,966 | $24,592–$59,801 |
| 19 | Saint Bernard | $3,035–$5,357 | $25,700–$57,745 |
| 20 | Aussiedoodle | $2,271–$3,835 | $24,330–$58,865 |
| 21 | German Wirehaired Pointer | $1,854–$3,169 | $27,176–$53,979 |
| 22 | Akita | $2,264–$3,947 | $24,060–$59,433 |
| 23 | Irish Setter | $2,005–$3,453 | $25,480–$55,970 |
| 24 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | $2,089–$3,529 | $26,488–$53,581 |
| 25 | Golden Retriever | $2,406–$4,091 | $25,480–$54,267 |
| 26 | Samoyed | $2,085–$3,528 | $26,940–$51,039 |
| 27 | Pomsky | $1,900–$3,171 | $24,720–$54,240 |
| 28 | American Staffordshire Terrier | $1,866–$3,281 | $23,512–$56,671 |
| 29 | Keeshond | $1,954–$3,279 | $24,868–$52,860 |
| 30 | Dogo Argentino | $2,251–$3,961 | $24,430–$52,707 |
| 31 | Airedale Terrier | $2,077–$3,512 | $24,167–$52,843 |
| 32 | Coton de Tulear | $1,520–$2,496 | $25,220–$50,603 |
| 33 | English Setter | $1,993–$3,429 | $23,143–$54,610 |
| 34 | Wirehaired Pointing Griffon | $1,894–$3,173 | $24,348–$51,770 |
| 35 | Cavapoo | $1,711–$2,856 | $23,452–$52,371 |
| 36 | Irish Wolfhound | $3,056–$5,387 | $20,256–$58,545 |
| 37 | Flat-Coated Retriever | $2,281–$3,968 | $22,949–$53,291 |
| 38 | Gordon Setter | $1,993–$3,429 | $21,150–$55,310 |
| 39 | English Cocker Spaniel | $1,914–$3,199 | $24,188–$48,261 |
| 40 | Borzoi | $2,063–$3,569 | $22,050–$51,072 |
| 41 | Mastiff | $2,948–$5,291 | $18,908–$57,085 |
| 42 | Portuguese Water Dog | $1,978–$3,327 | $23,678–$47,926 |
| 43 | Great Dane | $2,773–$4,953 | $20,631–$53,705 |
| 44 | Australian Shepherd | $1,789–$3,086 | $22,488–$49,965 |
| 45 | Weimaraner | $1,888–$3,325 | $21,988–$50,225 |
| 46 | Collie | $1,985–$3,413 | $20,870–$51,257 |
| 47 | Bichon Frise | $1,631–$2,706 | $24,454–$44,765 |
| 48 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | $1,761–$3,030 | $23,052–$47,095 |
| 49 | Pointer | $1,745–$3,053 | $21,960–$49,070 |
| 50 | Maltipoo | $1,623–$2,690 | $21,896–$48,715 |
| 51 | Beauceron | $2,063–$3,569 | $22,550–$47,503 |
| 52 | Doberman Pinscher | $2,083–$3,692 | $22,050–$48,479 |
| 53 | Boxer | $2,091–$3,703 | $22,030–$48,111 |
| 54 | Scottish Terrier | $1,727–$2,888 | $22,144–$46,995 |
| 55 | West Highland White Terrier | $1,643–$2,730 | $22,779–$45,125 |
| 56 | Cockapoo | $1,649–$2,742 | $20,908–$48,047 |
| 57 | Labrador Retriever | $1,872–$3,293 | $21,612–$46,484 |
| 58 | Cairn Terrier | $1,631–$2,706 | $22,623–$44,465 |
| 59 | Bull Terrier | $1,850–$3,249 | $19,720–$49,161 |
| 60 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | $1,624–$2,769 | $21,108–$46,210 |
| 61 | Chinese Crested | $1,450–$2,400 | $20,270–$47,375 |
| 62 | Cane Corso | $2,044–$3,627 | $19,816–$48,199 |
| 63 | Dalmatian | $1,838–$3,225 | $21,338–$45,400 |
| 64 | Wire Fox Terrier | $1,639–$2,722 | $21,288–$45,005 |
| 65 | Border Collie | $1,670–$2,861 | $20,860–$45,790 |
| 66 | Siberian Husky | $1,696–$2,913 | $21,372–$43,957 |
| 67 | English Springer Spaniel | $1,688–$2,897 | $21,276–$43,733 |
| 68 | Pekingese | $1,610–$2,699 | $20,740–$44,660 |
| 69 | Miniature Schnauzer | $1,633–$2,710 | $20,716–$44,325 |
| 70 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | $1,823–$3,209 | $19,650–$45,892 |
| 71 | Bernese Mountain Dog | $2,466–$4,325 | $18,482–$47,425 |
| 72 | Bullmastiff | $2,594–$4,606 | $19,578–$45,629 |
| 73 | Lhasa Apso | $1,627–$2,698 | $20,444–$43,645 |
| 74 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | $1,524–$2,617 | $19,708–$43,930 |
| 75 | Rottweiler | $2,135–$3,801 | $20,435–$42,185 |
| 76 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | $1,799–$3,161 | $19,910–$42,607 |
| 77 | Shih Tzu | $1,689–$2,812 | $19,599–$42,843 |
| 78 | Boykin Spaniel | $1,628–$2,777 | $17,700–$45,830 |
| 79 | Miniature American Shepherd | $1,618–$2,757 | $20,636–$40,016 |
| 80 | Shiba Inu | $1,355–$2,304 | $19,435–$41,539 |
| 81 | Biewer Terrier | $1,418–$2,336 | $18,936–$42,051 |
| 82 | Havanese | $1,357–$2,227 | $20,218–$39,307 |
| 83 | Chinese Shar-Pei | $1,949–$3,385 | $16,912–$44,795 |
| 84 | Cocker Spaniel | $1,679–$2,802 | $17,810–$42,703 |
| 85 | Basset Hound | $1,577–$2,779 | $19,944–$39,302 |
| 86 | Basenji | $1,346–$2,333 | $18,072–$42,003 |
| 87 | Pomeranian | $1,410–$2,320 | $18,140–$41,295 |
| 88 | Belgian Malinois | $1,610–$2,801 | $17,220–$42,889 |
| 89 | Brittany | $1,528–$2,591 | $19,256–$39,149 |
| 90 | Dogue de Bordeaux | $2,854–$5,097 | $16,090–$45,051 |
| 91 | German Shepherd | $2,259–$3,929 | $16,733–$42,965 |
| 92 | Norwich Terrier | $1,317–$2,228 | $18,224–$39,595 |
| 93 | Maltese | $1,416–$2,332 | $18,212–$39,155 |
| 94 | German Shorthaired Pointer | $1,737–$3,037 | $18,290–$39,319 |
| 95 | Schipperke | $1,323–$2,240 | $18,319–$39,075 |
| 96 | Miniature Bull Terrier | $1,370–$2,381 | $17,990–$39,509 |
| 97 | Australian Cattle Dog | $1,344–$2,343 | $17,148–$40,663 |
| 98 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | $1,384–$2,409 | $18,028–$37,901 |
| 99 | Pug | $1,308–$2,301 | $18,124–$38,190 |
| 100 | Yorkshire Terrier | $1,416–$2,332 | $16,796–$39,155 |
| 101 | Brussels Griffon | $1,268–$2,170 | $17,136–$38,225 |
| 102 | Bulldog | $1,804–$3,199 | $16,652–$38,165 |
| 103 | Dachshund | $1,253–$2,203 | $16,056–$38,923 |
| 104 | Vizsla | $1,448–$2,537 | $15,600–$38,993 |
| 105 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | $1,379–$2,352 | $17,768–$34,751 |
| 106 | Whippet | $1,276–$2,207 | $16,532–$36,780 |
| 107 | Shetland Sheepdog | $1,355–$2,304 | $17,280–$35,431 |
| 108 | American Hairless Terrier | $1,115–$1,944 | $17,030–$35,279 |
| 109 | Papillon | $1,126–$1,902 | $17,184–$34,607 |
| 110 | Border Terrier | $1,228–$2,062 | $16,656–$34,605 |
| 111 | French Bulldog | $1,364–$2,410 | $15,560–$35,595 |
| 112 | Rat Terrier | $1,008–$1,742 | $13,016–$34,231 |
| 113 | Boston Terrier | $1,199–$2,098 | $14,209–$30,749 |
| 114 | Russell Terrier | $1,075–$1,864 | $14,120–$29,771 |
| 115 | Beagle | $1,133–$1,980 | $12,250–$32,875 |
| 116 | Chihuahua | $870–$1,510 | $13,100–$30,855 |
| 117 | Japanese Chin | $1,130–$1,910 | $12,920–$30,415 |
| 118 | Italian Greyhound | $906–$1,582 | $14,104–$27,905 |
| 119 | Miniature Pinscher | $908–$1,586 | $12,116–$29,051 |
| 120 | Toy Fox Terrier | $884–$1,538 | $12,512–$27,483 |
Ranked by typical lifetime cost from breed_costs (purchase + annual × lifespan + setup). Emergencies excluded. Figures are assembled ranges. Open a breed for its full breakdown and sources.
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Figures assembled July 20, 2026. Baselines: AVMA 2025 · NAPHIA 2024 · AMA 2025. These are assembled estimates, not measured costs. See how we build them.