Most expensive dogs to own
Ranked by highest estimated lifetime cost. The top pick is the Pyrenean Mastiff.
Chart: the six top-ranked dogs by lifetime cost — taller bars rank higher on this metric.
What this ranking shows
Across 272 dogs, lifetime cost ranges from $17,600 to $55,200 — a 3.1× spread, with a median around $32,550. The Pyrenean Mastiff leads at $55,200, while the Japanese Chin sits at the far end. Rounding out the top three are the Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog ($52,900) and the Spanish Mastiff ($52,000). Most of the gap comes down to three things: body size (which sets how much a dog eats and its medication doses), breed health risk (which sets insurance premiums and likely vet bills), and lifespan (which multiplies every recurring annual cost). Use the sorter below to re-rank by your own budget, home size and grooming tolerance.
| # | Breed | Size | Lifetime cost | Lifetime cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pyrenean Mastiff | Giant | $55,200 | $55,200 |
| 2 | Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog | Giant | $52,900 | $52,900 |
| 3 | Spanish Mastiff | Giant | $52,000 | $52,000 |
| 4 | Rafeiro do Alentejo | Giant | $51,600 | $51,600 |
| 5 | Akita | Giant | $49,200 | $49,200 |
| 6 | Anatolian Shepherd Dog | Giant | $49,100 | $49,100 |
| 7 | Caucasian Shepherd Dog | Giant | $48,600 | $48,600 |
| 8 | Giant Schnauzer | Large | $48,400 | $48,400 |
| 9 | Komondor | Giant | $48,300 | $48,300 |
| 10 | Tosa | Giant | $48,300 | $48,300 |
| 11 | Estrela Mountain Dog | Giant | $47,900 | $47,900 |
| 12 | Black Russian Terrier | Giant | $47,700 | $47,700 |
| 13 | Hamiltonstovare | Large | $47,500 | $47,500 |
| 14 | Poodle (Standard) | Large | $47,400 | $47,400 |
| 15 | Belgian Malinois | Large | $47,100 | $47,100 |
| 16 | German Wirehaired Pointer | Large | $47,100 | $47,100 |
| 17 | Boerboel | Giant | $46,400 | $46,400 |
| 18 | Tornjak | Large | $46,300 | $46,300 |
| 19 | Afghan Hound | Large | $46,200 | $46,200 |
| 20 | Dogo Argentino | Giant | $46,200 | $46,200 |
| 21 | Bouvier des Flandres | Giant | $46,100 | $46,100 |
| 22 | Tibetan Mastiff | Giant | $46,100 | $46,100 |
| 23 | Pointer | Large | $45,600 | $45,600 |
| 24 | Otterhound | Giant | $45,300 | $45,300 |
| 25 | Bergamasco Sheepdog | Large | $45,100 | $45,100 |
| 26 | Eurasier | Large | $45,000 | $45,000 |
| 27 | Irish Setter | Large | $45,000 | $45,000 |
| 28 | Briard | Large | $44,300 | $44,300 |
| 29 | Chinook | Large | $44,100 | $44,100 |
| 30 | Bearded Collie | Large | $43,900 | $43,900 |
| 31 | Beauceron | Giant | $43,900 | $43,900 |
| 32 | Bloodhound | Giant | $43,200 | $43,200 |
| 33 | Pudelpointer | Large | $43,200 | $43,200 |
| 34 | Collie | Large | $43,100 | $43,100 |
| 35 | Great Pyrenees | Giant | $42,900 | $42,900 |
| 36 | Kuvasz | Giant | $42,900 | $42,900 |
| 37 | American Staffordshire Terrier | Large | $42,800 | $42,800 |
| 38 | Belgian Sheepdog | Large | $42,700 | $42,700 |
| 39 | Belgian Tervuren | Large | $42,700 | $42,700 |
| 40 | Appenzeller Sennenhund | Large | $42,500 | $42,500 |
| 41 | American Leopard Hound | Large | $42,300 | $42,300 |
| 42 | Redbone Coonhound | Large | $42,300 | $42,300 |
| 43 | Alaskan Malamute | Large | $42,200 | $42,200 |
| 44 | Stabyhoun | Large | $42,000 | $42,000 |
| 45 | Hokkaido | Large | $41,900 | $41,900 |
| 46 | German Longhaired Pointer | Large | $41,700 | $41,700 |
| 47 | Leonberger | Giant | $41,700 | $41,700 |
| 48 | Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer | Large | $41,700 | $41,700 |
| 49 | Harrier | Large | $41,500 | $41,500 |
| 50 | Wirehaired Pointing Griffon | Large | $41,500 | $41,500 |
| 51 | Hanoverian Scenthound | Large | $41,400 | $41,400 |
| 52 | Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound | Large | $41,300 | $41,300 |
| 53 | Catahoula Leopard Dog | Large | $41,300 | $41,300 |
| 54 | Norwegian Elkhound | Large | $41,300 | $41,300 |
| 55 | Samoyed | Large | $41,300 | $41,300 |
| 56 | Airedale Terrier | Large | $41,200 | $41,200 |
| 57 | Slovensky Cuvac | Large | $41,100 | $41,100 |
| 58 | Saluki | Large | $41,000 | $41,000 |
| 59 | Wetterhoun | Large | $41,000 | $41,000 |
| 60 | Saint Bernard | Giant | $40,500 | $40,500 |
| 61 | Newfoundland | Giant | $40,400 | $40,400 |
| 62 | Basset Hound | Large | $40,100 | $40,100 |
| 63 | English Setter | Large | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| 64 | Gordon Setter | Large | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| 65 | Hovawart | Large | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| 66 | Vizsla | Large | $40,000 | $40,000 |
| 67 | Wirehaired Vizsla | Large | $39,900 | $39,900 |
| 68 | Drentsche Patrijshond | Large | $39,800 | $39,800 |
| 69 | Barbet | Large | $39,700 | $39,700 |
| 70 | Bull Terrier | Large | $39,700 | $39,700 |
| 71 | Pharaoh Hound | Large | $39,700 | $39,700 |
| 72 | Borzoi | Large | $39,500 | $39,500 |
| 73 | Dutch Shepherd | Large | $39,500 | $39,500 |
| 74 | Lapponian Herder | Large | $39,500 | $39,500 |
| 75 | Bracco Italiano | Large | $39,300 | $39,300 |
| 76 | Greater Swiss Mountain Dog | Giant | $39,300 | $39,300 |
| 77 | Perro de Presa Canario | Giant | $39,300 | $39,300 |
| 78 | Berger Picard | Large | $39,200 | $39,200 |
| 79 | Irish Water Spaniel | Large | $39,200 | $39,200 |
| 80 | Plott Hound | Large | $39,200 | $39,200 |
| 81 | Small Munsterlander Pointer | Large | $39,200 | $39,200 |
| 82 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | Large | $39,200 | $39,200 |
| 83 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | Large | $39,100 | $39,100 |
| 84 | Porcelaine | Large | $39,000 | $39,000 |
| 85 | Old English Sheepdog | Large | $38,900 | $38,900 |
| 86 | Thai Ridgeback | Large | $38,500 | $38,500 |
| 87 | American Foxhound | Large | $38,400 | $38,400 |
| 88 | Black and Tan Coonhound | Large | $38,400 | $38,400 |
| 89 | Czechoslovakian Vlcak | Large | $38,300 | $38,300 |
| 90 | Weimaraner | Large | $38,300 | $38,300 |
| 91 | Dalmatian | Large | $37,900 | $37,900 |
| 92 | Golden Retriever | Large | $37,800 | $37,800 |
| 93 | Broholmer | Giant | $37,700 | $37,700 |
| 94 | Mastiff | Giant | $37,700 | $37,700 |
| 95 | Great Dane | Giant | $37,500 | $37,500 |
| 96 | Transylvanian Hound | Large | $37,500 | $37,500 |
| 97 | American Bulldog | Large | $37,200 | $37,200 |
| 98 | Doberman Pinscher | Large | $37,200 | $37,200 |
| 99 | English Foxhound | Large | $37,200 | $37,200 |
| 100 | Spanish Water Dog | Medium | $37,200 | $37,200 |
| 101 | Bluetick Coonhound | Large | $37,100 | $37,100 |
| 102 | Scottish Deerhound | Giant | $37,100 | $37,100 |
| 103 | Siberian Husky | Large | $37,100 | $37,100 |
| 104 | Curly-Coated Retriever | Large | $36,900 | $36,900 |
| 105 | Greyhound | Large | $36,900 | $36,900 |
| 106 | Segugio Italiano | Large | $36,900 | $36,900 |
| 107 | Entlebucher Mountain Dog | Large | $36,700 | $36,700 |
| 108 | Clumber Spaniel | Large | $36,500 | $36,500 |
| 109 | Rottweiler | Large | $36,500 | $36,500 |
| 110 | French Spaniel | Large | $36,000 | $36,000 |
| 111 | Labrador Retriever | Large | $35,700 | $35,700 |
| 112 | American English Coonhound | Large | $35,600 | $35,600 |
| 113 | Australian Shepherd | Medium | $35,400 | $35,400 |
| 114 | Boxer | Large | $35,400 | $35,400 |
| 115 | Standard Schnauzer | Medium | $35,400 | $35,400 |
| 116 | Belgian Laekenois | Large | $35,300 | $35,300 |
| 117 | Bernese Mountain Dog | Giant | $34,900 | $34,900 |
| 118 | Neapolitan Mastiff | Giant | $34,900 | $34,900 |
| 119 | Polish Lowland Sheepdog | Medium | $34,600 | $34,600 |
| 120 | Skye Terrier | Medium | $34,600 | $34,600 |
| 121 | Puli | Medium | $34,300 | $34,300 |
| 122 | Sussex Spaniel | Medium | $34,300 | $34,300 |
| 123 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | Large | $34,200 | $34,200 |
| 124 | Lagotto Romagnolo | Medium | $34,100 | $34,100 |
| 125 | Portuguese Podengo | Large | $34,100 | $34,100 |
| 126 | Border Collie | Medium | $33,700 | $33,700 |
| 127 | Drever | Medium | $33,700 | $33,700 |
| 128 | Xoloitzcuintli | Medium | $33,700 | $33,700 |
| 129 | Bullmastiff | Giant | $33,500 | $33,500 |
| 130 | Chow Chow | Large | $33,200 | $33,200 |
| 131 | Portuguese Pointer | Medium | $33,200 | $33,200 |
| 132 | Portuguese Water Dog | Medium | $33,200 | $33,200 |
| 133 | Keeshond | Medium | $33,100 | $33,100 |
| 134 | Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen | Medium | $33,000 | $33,000 |
| 135 | Norrbottenspets | Medium | $32,800 | $32,800 |
| 136 | Jindo | Medium | $32,600 | $32,600 |
| 137 | Kerry Blue Terrier | Medium | $32,500 | $32,500 |
| 138 | Australian Cattle Dog | Medium | $32,400 | $32,400 |
| 139 | Bohemian Shepherd | Medium | $32,300 | $32,300 |
| 140 | Canaan Dog | Medium | $32,300 | $32,300 |
| 141 | Welsh Springer Spaniel | Medium | $32,300 | $32,300 |
| 142 | Azawakh | Medium | $32,200 | $32,200 |
| 143 | Coton de Tulear | Small | $32,000 | $32,000 |
| 144 | Finnish Lapphund | Medium | $32,000 | $32,000 |
| 145 | Kromfohrlander | Medium | $32,000 | $32,000 |
| 146 | Miniature American Shepherd | Medium | $31,800 | $31,800 |
| 147 | Deutscher Wachtelhund | Medium | $31,600 | $31,600 |
| 148 | German Spitz | Medium | $31,600 | $31,600 |
| 149 | Irish Red and White Setter | Medium | $31,600 | $31,600 |
| 150 | Schapendoes | Medium | $31,600 | $31,600 |
| 151 | Working Kelpie | Medium | $31,600 | $31,600 |
| 152 | Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog | Medium | $31,300 | $31,300 |
| 153 | Bichon Frise | Small | $31,300 | $31,300 |
| 154 | Brittany | Medium | $31,200 | $31,200 |
| 155 | English Springer Spaniel | Medium | $31,200 | $31,200 |
| 156 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | Medium | $31,200 | $31,200 |
| 157 | Chinese Shar-Pei | Large | $31,100 | $31,100 |
| 158 | German Shorthaired Pointer | Large | $31,100 | $31,100 |
| 159 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | Medium | $30,800 | $30,800 |
| 160 | Portuguese Sheepdog | Medium | $30,600 | $30,600 |
| 161 | Croatian Sheepdog | Medium | $30,400 | $30,400 |
| 162 | English Cocker Spaniel | Medium | $30,400 | $30,400 |
| 163 | Glen of Imaal Terrier | Medium | $30,300 | $30,300 |
| 164 | Norwegian Buhund | Medium | $30,300 | $30,300 |
| 165 | Finnish Spitz | Medium | $30,200 | $30,200 |
| 166 | German Shepherd | Large | $30,200 | $30,200 |
| 167 | Shih Tzu | Small | $30,200 | $30,200 |
| 168 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | Medium | $30,100 | $30,100 |
| 169 | Ibizan Hound | Medium | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| 170 | Swedish Lapphund | Medium | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| 171 | Flat-Coated Retriever | Large | $29,900 | $29,900 |
| 172 | Cocker Spaniel | Medium | $29,800 | $29,800 |
| 173 | Irish Wolfhound | Giant | $29,800 | $29,800 |
| 174 | Boykin Spaniel | Medium | $29,700 | $29,700 |
| 175 | Field Spaniel | Medium | $29,700 | $29,700 |
| 176 | Sloughi | Medium | $29,700 | $29,700 |
| 177 | Whippet | Medium | $29,700 | $29,700 |
| 178 | Irish Terrier | Medium | $29,500 | $29,500 |
| 179 | Miniature Schnauzer | Small | $29,500 | $29,500 |
| 180 | Kai Ken | Medium | $29,300 | $29,300 |
| 181 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Small | $29,200 | $29,200 |
| 182 | Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen | Medium | $29,200 | $29,200 |
| 183 | Tibetan Terrier | Small | $29,200 | $29,200 |
| 184 | German Pinscher | Medium | $29,100 | $29,100 |
| 185 | American Water Spaniel | Medium | $29,000 | $29,000 |
| 186 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Medium | $29,000 | $29,000 |
| 187 | Nederlandse Kooikerhondje | Medium | $28,900 | $28,900 |
| 188 | Norwegian Lundehund | Medium | $28,900 | $28,900 |
| 189 | German Shepherd Dog | Large | $28,800 | $28,800 |
| 190 | Karelian Bear Dog | Medium | $28,800 | $28,800 |
| 191 | Swedish Vallhund | Medium | $28,800 | $28,800 |
| 192 | Slovensky Kopov | Medium | $28,600 | $28,600 |
| 193 | Kishu Ken | Medium | $28,500 | $28,500 |
| 194 | Peruvian Inca Orchid | Medium | $28,500 | $28,500 |
| 195 | Icelandic Sheepdog | Medium | $28,400 | $28,400 |
| 196 | West Highland White Terrier | Small | $28,100 | $28,100 |
| 197 | Dandie Dinmont Terrier | Small | $27,900 | $27,900 |
| 198 | Poodle (Toy) | Small | $27,900 | $27,900 |
| 199 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Medium | $27,600 | $27,600 |
| 200 | Mountain Cur | Medium | $27,500 | $27,500 |
| 201 | Dogue de Bordeaux | Giant | $27,100 | $27,100 |
| 202 | Yakutian Laika | Medium | $27,100 | $27,100 |
| 203 | Basset Fauve de Bretagne | Medium | $26,900 | $26,900 |
| 204 | French Bulldog | Small | $26,800 | $26,800 |
| 205 | Shikoku | Medium | $26,800 | $26,800 |
| 206 | Dachshund | Small | $26,500 | $26,500 |
| 207 | Manchester Terrier (Standard) | Small | $26,500 | $26,500 |
| 208 | Pumi | Medium | $26,500 | $26,500 |
| 209 | Braque du Bourbonnais | Medium | $26,200 | $26,200 |
| 210 | Treeing Tennessee Brindle | Medium | $26,200 | $26,200 |
| 211 | American Hairless Terrier | Small | $26,100 | $26,100 |
| 212 | Bulldog (English) | Medium | $26,000 | $26,000 |
| 213 | Yorkshire Terrier | Small | $26,000 | $26,000 |
| 214 | Pomeranian | Small | $25,700 | $25,700 |
| 215 | Maltipoo | Small | $25,600 | $25,600 |
| 216 | Biewer Terrier | Small | $25,500 | $25,500 |
| 217 | Manchester Terrier (Toy) | Small | $25,200 | $25,200 |
| 218 | Taiwan Dog | Medium | $25,200 | $25,200 |
| 219 | Havanese | Small | $25,100 | $25,100 |
| 220 | Rat Terrier | Small | $25,100 | $25,100 |
| 221 | Bedlington Terrier | Small | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| 222 | Welsh Terrier | Small | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| 223 | Shiba Inu | Small | $24,900 | $24,900 |
| 224 | Teddy Roosevelt Terrier | Small | $24,900 | $24,900 |
| 225 | Maltese | Small | $24,800 | $24,800 |
| 226 | Sealyham Terrier | Small | $24,800 | $24,800 |
| 227 | American Eskimo Dog | Small | $24,200 | $24,200 |
| 228 | Poodle (Miniature) | Small | $24,200 | $24,200 |
| 229 | Shetland Sheepdog | Small | $24,100 | $24,100 |
| 230 | Lhasa Apso | Small | $24,000 | $24,000 |
| 231 | Beagle | Small | $23,600 | $23,600 |
| 232 | Silky Terrier | Small | $23,600 | $23,600 |
| 233 | Basenji | Small | $23,400 | $23,400 |
| 234 | Chinese Crested | Small | $23,400 | $23,400 |
| 235 | Löwchen | Small | $23,300 | $23,300 |
| 236 | Pug | Small | $23,300 | $23,300 |
| 237 | Cesky Terrier | Small | $23,200 | $23,200 |
| 238 | Parson Russell Terrier | Small | $23,100 | $23,100 |
| 239 | Pekingese | Small | $23,000 | $23,000 |
| 240 | Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka | Small | $23,000 | $23,000 |
| 241 | Lakeland Terrier | Small | $22,800 | $22,800 |
| 242 | Cairn Terrier | Small | $22,700 | $22,700 |
| 243 | Mudi | Small | $22,700 | $22,700 |
| 244 | Brussels Griffon | Small | $22,600 | $22,600 |
| 245 | Papillon | Small | $22,600 | $22,600 |
| 246 | Smooth Fox Terrier | Small | $22,600 | $22,600 |
| 247 | Wire Fox Terrier | Small | $22,600 | $22,600 |
| 248 | Affenpinscher | Small | $22,500 | $22,500 |
| 249 | Scottish Terrier | Small | $22,500 | $22,500 |
| 250 | Cirneco dell’Etna | Small | $22,300 | $22,300 |
| 251 | Norfolk Terrier | Small | $22,300 | $22,300 |
| 252 | Italian Greyhound | Small | $22,200 | $22,200 |
| 253 | Australian Terrier | Small | $22,100 | $22,100 |
| 254 | Japanese Spitz | Small | $22,100 | $22,100 |
| 255 | Border Terrier | Small | $21,900 | $21,900 |
| 256 | Norwich Terrier | Small | $21,700 | $21,700 |
| 257 | Tibetan Spaniel | Small | $21,700 | $21,700 |
| 258 | Portuguese Podengo Pequeno | Small | $21,500 | $21,500 |
| 259 | Bolognese | Small | $21,400 | $21,400 |
| 260 | Lancashire Heeler | Small | $21,400 | $21,400 |
| 261 | Chihuahua | Small | $21,200 | $21,200 |
| 262 | Schipperke | Small | $21,200 | $21,200 |
| 263 | Miniature Bull Terrier | Small | $21,100 | $21,100 |
| 264 | Miniature Pinscher | Small | $21,100 | $21,100 |
| 265 | Russell Terrier | Small | $21,000 | $21,000 |
| 266 | Boston Terrier | Small | $20,800 | $20,800 |
| 267 | Jagdterrier | Small | $20,700 | $20,700 |
| 268 | Toy Fox Terrier | Small | $20,600 | $20,600 |
| 269 | Danish-Swedish Farmdog | Small | $20,100 | $20,100 |
| 270 | Russian Toy | Small | $19,600 | $19,600 |
| 271 | English Toy Spaniel | Small | $19,300 | $19,300 |
| 272 | Japanese Chin | Small | $17,600 | $17,600 |
Ranked from our sortable database. Food = vet RER/MER calorie formula; insurance = NAPHIA US average × breed health-risk tier; lifespan from breed standards. US planning estimates.
Compiled by the PawCosts data team from breed standards, NAPHIA averages and AAFCO/vet nutrition formulas.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most expensive dog to own?
Larger breeds with chronic health risks cost the most — more food, higher insurance and vet bills.
How is this ranking calculated?
From our sortable cost database: food via the vet RER/MER calorie formula, insurance from NAPHIA US averages by breed health-risk tier, and lifespan from published breed standards.
What is the typical lifetime cost for dogs?
The median across 272 breeds is about $32,550.
Are these exact prices?
No — they are modelled US planning estimates; your real cost varies by region, provider and the individual animal.