How much does a puppy cost?
Before you decide to add a puppy to your family, you’re probably wondering about the costs and financing of a puppy. Provided you don’t choose one of the →most expensive breeds in the world, the purchase price is not the biggest financial burden when it comes to getting a puppy. Many future dog parents ask themselves how much a puppy actually costs and what expenses to expect over its lifetime.
Overview of puppy purchase costs
Costs at a glance
In addition to the → initial equipment, the first expenses for your puppy are those you pay to breeders or animal shelters when buying a puppy. The price varies greatly depending on the breed – while a puppy from a shelter usually costs between €250 and €450, the price range for reputable breeders starts at around €700 and goes up to €2,500–3,000.
However, there’s no guarantee you’ll find a specific breed at the shelter. Also, papers or other information about breeding and origin are rarely available. If you’re looking for a mixed breed puppy, animal shelters and animal welfare organizations are the best places to start.
They’re all small and cute, but they cost money for a lifetime! Make sure to learn about the costs of owning a dog before you lose your heart to a puppy.
The breed makes the difference
Are you wondering how much a Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Pomeranian or Maltese puppy costs? Especially for →popular dog breeds, you can spot pricing patterns emerging. However, reputable breeders don’t jump on “trend trains” and charge exorbitant prices just because a breed is in high demand. Don’t let sellers take advantage of you—take your time to find a good place to get your dog.
You can find more information about the costs, food, and training of puppies of specific breeds in the following articles:
Especially very popular dog breeds like the Australian Shepherd are often sold at higher prices. Simply because they are so popular. However, reputable breeders do not try to profit from trends!
Reputable vs. disreputable breeding: Why the price matters
Why is it important to know how much a specific breed will cost you from breeders in the first place?
Knowing these costs mainly helps you to →identify disreputable breeders ; here, puppies are sold for low prices and without papers are purchased. If you try to save money in the wrong place, you’re not only supporting uncontrolled and unhealthy breeding, but you’ll also usually face higher vet bills. Puppies sold cheaply often come without vaccinations or health checks.
Reputable breeders, on the other hand, charge fair prices – because responsible breeding requires effort. It’s not just the costs for vaccinations, veterinary exams, and food that need to be covered. The appropriate space, training, breeding clubs, and the time that breeding requires also have to be financed. This way, you can be sure your little four-legged friend comes from a controlled breeding background. The same applies if you get a →puppy from a shelter or international animal welfare!
Buy healthy puppies:
Here's what you should watch out for!
How much does a dog cost per year?
Once your puppy is with you and starts literally eating you out of house and home, chewing on your furniture, or the first real →visit to the vet is due, you’ll realize: The breeder’s price is only a fraction of what a dog will cost over its lifetime.
Accessories like cozy beds, plenty of healthy food at home, regular vet visits, and unexpected costs in case of illness, coat and dental care, dog training, etc. all need to be financed—and in a short time, these expenses will definitely exceed the purchase price. In the first year alone, your dog can cost up to €5,300 including the purchase price. This includes food costs (€300–1,200), liability insurance (about €50), optional health insurance (€130–800), and taxes, which can range from €100 to €900 per year depending on the breed.
On average, simply keeping a dog costs about €1,200 per year – that’s the average. If you value high-quality food, this figure increases. Unexpected expenses can also arise at any time.
