This isn’t surprising. Mankind has always had a special bond with dogs, which is why we call them man’s best friend.
In fact, raising dogs has become somewhat of a business, with some pretty high-priced pooches being sold around the world.
Here’s a list of the 15 most expensive breeds around today.
15. Irish Wolfhound
Starting off this list is the Irish wolfhound. This dog breed is characterized by its shaggy fur coat and extraordinarily large presence. Irish Wolfhounds are some of the biggest dogs in the world, being taller than a human when it stands on its hind legs.
The American Kennel Club describes the breed as such: “Of great size and commanding appearance, the Irish Wolfhound is remarkable in combining power and swiftness with keen sight. The largest and tallest of the galloping hounds, in general type he is a rough-coated, Greyhound-like breed; very muscular, strong though gracefully built; movements easy and active; head and neck carried high, the tail carried with an upward sweep with a slight curve towards the extremity”
The storied breed is one of the oldest in modern history, yet retains a pretty high price tag despite the fact. On average, an Irish wolfhound pup with cost between $1,200 and $2,000, not to mention the average yearly cost of taking care of a dog that big.
14. Saluki
The Saluki is a long, thin dog typically having log, hair-like fur.
It stands between 23-28 inches tall at its peak, and possesses great endurance and strength despite its appearance.
The Saluki is one of the oldest breeds of dog known to man, originating in the Middle East as a sight dog that eventually became recognized as the international dog of travellers.
They are characterized as being intelligent and aloof dogs capable of taking care of themselves, yet showing great affection and trust to one who earns it from them.
And rightfully so, for purchasing a dog like this is no spur-of-the-moment decision. The average Saluki pup goes anywhere from $1,500 all the way up to $3,000. That’s what you get when you deal with ancient breeding lines, not to mention grooming for a mane of fur that fine.
13. Akita
The Akita makes a wonderfully loyal companion to any household. Despite its rather large size (23-25 inches) the Akita is known for its loving nature for those it identifies as family.
They tend to be socially isolated when it comes to other dogs as the historical upbringing of the Akita breed enforced independence.
Owning an Akita is not cheap, though. These dogs are typically adapted to the cold, and there is a history of genetic disease within the breed. To top it off, the average price of a purebred Akita pup is $4,000, and that isn’t including all the medical needs this breed is likely to incur.
12. Bearded Collie
The breed is known for its iconic “fur-over-the-eyes” look and typically shrouded appearance.
The breed originally got its start as a working dog in Scotland, but was eventually bred for cosmetic purposes that resulted in its defining shroud-like fur.
Because of their pampered history, these dogs have become perfectly adapted to being family pets, being loveable, loyal, and easily trained.
However, the breed carries some major financial back-draws. For one, unless you are a professional groomer, taking care of all that fur is going to be expensive, and I’m not just talking about keeping your pooch pretty. Shedding is a major issue with this breed, not to mention general hygiene, as that long fur easily drags along the ground unless constantly taken care of.
And all that is without mentioning the average Kennel Club price of a Bearded Collie pup being $4,500. These expensive purebreds have a unique appearance, and as such carry a unique price.
11. Maltese
The Maltese is a world-famous dog that has found its way into plenty of publicity, whether that be dog-related commercials, celebrity purses, or the many dog shows around the country where this breed is featured in heavily.
The Maltese is a wonderful breed of dogs known for its white fur.
The fur comes in two varieties depending on the breeding: curly, short fur or long, sleek fur. With short fur the Maltese looks much like a Bichon, which also could have made this list. With long hair the Maltese looks like a miniature mound of silky-white hair that can completely cover the dogs form.
Although these breeds make wonderful family dogs, great with children albeit with high energy, becoming a Maltese owner is no small commitment. Even puppies with the most unclear of breeding lines sells for an average of $1,000, with some of the most pure puppies going for as much as $5,000.
10. Pharaoh Hound
Even if you have never heard of the dog, the name of the breed more or less gives it away to anyone who has even heard a little bit about ancient Egypt.
The Pharaoh Hound, like its name suggests, was a dog that was worshipped by ancient Egyptians.
The smooth fur and lithe form hide how powerful and fast this dog is, but its eyes let you know just how intelligent it really is.
Despite all that, the Pharaoh dog is a remarkably wonderful addition to any family. The breed is characterized as being intelligent yet playful, affectionate and sociable, perfect traits for any dog that is going to be around others.
However, the dog of ancient rulers carries the Pharaoh’s price: the average cost of this breed is around $2,000, with some of the most exemplary members of the species going as high as $6,500.
9. Tibetan Mastiff
The Tibetan Mastiff is a huge dog characterized by its huge fur. Not surprising for a breed that grew up in the mountains of Tibet, China and Nepal.
The dog’s fur comes in many different varieties ranging from the black fur/brown nose coloring normally associated with Rottweilers to an all-red coat of fur that blazes like the sun.
The Tibetan Mastiff was bred to be big as it was used to guard the flocks and herds of villages from all sorts of predators, including wolves and leopards.
This big dog, which can weigh up to 180 pounds, also carries with it a huge financial commitment. In addition to the initial price tag associated with the puppy, which can be anywhere from $2,200 to $7,000, large breeds of dog like the Mastiff usually have a host of medical issues that come along with them.
8. Rottweiler
It is featured in movies and TV shows alike, in addition to being the face of many large-breed dog food brands, and rightfully so.
The Rottweiler is a huge dog that is a huge addition to any family.
Many people get a Rottweiler because of its association with toughness. Rottweilers make great guard dogs, and back in the days when such things weren’t frowned upon, made excellent fighting dogs. However, despite the violent history associated with the breed, Rotties make excellent dogs.
They are fiercely loyal dogs extremely loving. Easily excited, these dogs are not for the faint of heart, as the older they get, the larger they get, too. And boy, do these dogs get big.
But in addition to being large in size, Rottweilers are also large in expenses. These dogs fall victim to many of the diseases associated with large breeds, such as hip dysplasia and an increased susceptibility to heart worms. More than that, though, is the average price of a purebred Rott. On average, a Rottie pup will go or $2,000, with the most exemplary members of the breed reaching prices as high as $8,000.
7. Lowchen
The name means “little lion” when translated in German because of the historically appropriate look for the dog.
It was thought that the iconic “mane” that is associated with the dog was to keep fleas away from royals whilst they slept at the same time as keeping them warm with the shaved lower-body look also popular with Lowchen’s at the time.
The Lowchen is an energetic little ball of loveable fluff, similar to a Maltese or Bichon in temperament and disposition, but not necessarily in looks. The Lowchen is a little bit bigger than its toy-breed cousins and sometimes has dark fur.
Despite its little size, the average Lowchen puppy goes for a whopping $5,000 to $8,000. That is more expensive than most people’s cars. This is because of the very specific breeding lines for the dog, in addition to its storied look.
6. Chow Chow
This dog originated in the Arctic as a working dog, as its fur coat will lead you to assume, but today it is a common household companion and show-dog.
The Chow Chow is a medium sized dog with a large sized fur coat. The fur, which was originally developed to resist the sub-zero temperatures of the frozen Tundra, gives the breed its “lion-like” appearance. The Chow Chow is also one of the few dog breeds with a blue or black tongue.
In addition to carrying some big fur around, the Chow Chow is considered a championship show-dog breed, and pups carry with them a championship price. Anyone thinking about owning a Chow Chow better be ready to make a financial commitment, as the price tag for one of these pups, grooming and medical expenses notwithstanding, runs the average person anywhere from $3,000-$8,500.
5. German Shepherd
Typically used as a guard dog, the German Shepherd is a breed of dog that everyone knows you should take seriously but somehow has not accrued the same stereotype for violence that other breeds, like the Pit Bull and Rottweiler, have accrued.
The German Shepherd is a beautiful large-breed dog known for having characterizing brown and black fur. They are fiercely loyal and incredibly intelligent, being trained in a variety of work roles including law enforcement.
However, being able to call a member of this world famous breed yours is not something that comes cheaply. The average price tag for a puppy Shepherd is around $2,000-$8,500.
4. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Originally associated with English aristocracy, this dog was named after King Charles II and is a specific offspring of the Cocker Spaniel.
The breed is typified as being the largest of the toy breeds, standing at a maximum height of 18 inches and weighing in between 10-18 pounds.
This breed is great for children, as it is small enough to pose no serious threat of injury to a youth, but energetic enough to keep up with a child. It is also a friendly dog, despite being one that needs constant attention.
In addition to that, this royal dog has a price to match. On average, you can obtain a member of the King James Spaniels anywhere from $1,000 to $5,000, however the most exemplary members of the Cavalier species of King James Spaniels have gone for as high as $15,000!
3. English Bulldog
This is, perhaps, the most famous species of dog in the world.
In addition to possessing an ancient history as a work dog, the modern Bulldog has features that make it stand out among the rest.
Bulldogs are known for being wonderful additions to families. They are great with kids, aren’t all that hard to manage, and really only require love. They aren’t exactly the smartest dogs, but they are some of the greatest show dogs around.
However, the Bulldog has lots of financial issues associated with it. This breed, more than any others, suffers from serious genetic illnesses. Pretty much every Bulldog has breathing problems, weight problems and will develop hip dysplasia at some point along the road.
However, the reason the Bulldog is on the list is because the average cost for a Bulldog pup is $3,000, going as high as $9,000!
2. Keeshond
Keeshonds originated in the Netherlands and Germany, and just like the German Shepherd, which originated from the same area, they display an incredible level of intelligence.
The Keeshond is another breed of dog known for its fur. The puffy nature of the fur makes the Keeshond look far larger than it actually is, yet also gives it a regal bearing. This goes hand-in-hand with the extreme intelligence exhibited by Keeshonds, who are among the smartest dogs known to man.
However, Keeshonds are somewhat rare. They do not do well in the heat, and so are rarely seen outside of cold climates. In addition to that, the average Keeshond pup sells for about $5,000, with the best of the breed going easily for twice that amount.
1. Samoyed
A Samoyed can grow up to 23 inches tall and weigh up to 60 pounds.
Although it might first look like an intimidating dog, the Samoyed is anything but.
Originating from Siberia, the Samoyed is known for its docile nature and friendly demeanor. Seriously, this dog will be friendly to everyone, including an intruder in your house. Despite its appearance, a Samoyed is all about the love.
Which it would have to be, because to buy a Samoyed pup takes all kinds of love to get you over its price tag. The Samoyed is a regal looking dog, and as such carries a whopping $11,000 price!
These dogs are highly valued as show dogs for their beautiful appearance and easy ability to train. Not to mention that these dogs can smile. One the most defining features about a Samoyed is their ability to smile, known as the Samoyed Smile.