The love of a good dog is priceless. But how much does it cost to buy and care for that little doggie in the window, the one with the waggly tail?
We’ve herded together a list of the X most expensive dogs to buy in the world.
As a minimum, you can expect to hand over a few thousand dollars for all the pups on our list. But none of them even comes close to the most expensive dog ever sold. That honor goes to a Tibetan Mastiff that was bought in China for a mind-blowing $US1.9 million!
Remember, the cost of purchasing a dog is just the start. Keeping your canine companion healthy and happy takes money. It is important to think about this before you fall in love with that new pup. One of the main reasons why many dogs are handed in to rescue centres is because their owners underestimate how much it would cost to keep them.
On average, Americans spend $1,000 annually on the regular care of their dogs (feeding, grooming, vet check-ups, immunizations etc). And the costs can really escalate if your dog gets injured or develops severe health conditions.
So, what makes the breeds on our list so expensive? There are a few reasons.
Rare dog breeds, purebred and pedigree dogs generally command the highest prices.
As with all things, demand and supply also play a big role. If a breed becomes fashionable or popular, prices can quickly skyrocket. And the demand for particular breeds can quickly shift if posts of particularly photogenic dogs go viral on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
If the demand for a breed grows so quickly that reputable breeders can’t keep up, buyers need to be aware that unscrupulous breeders looking to cash in will almost certainly jump in and start filling the market with poorly bred pups.
So, people may end up paying thousands of dollars for a pup that could end up with significant health issues and cost them many thousands more in vet bills.
If you have the cash and are looking for a quality breed that has value because of its rarity, looks or specific personality traits, you might find your perfect match on our list of the world’s most expensive dog breeds.
But expensive dogs don’t necessarily make them better pets, particularly if they are incompatible with your lifestyle and home.
There are lots of ways of finding your new best friend that don’t cost you thousands of dollars upfront, including giving retired greyhounds a new home, rescuing a pup from a shelter, rehoming senior pets or purchasing pups from a breed that has fallen out of fashion.