Puppy Prices in the US: Range & Average for 151 Breeds - PetBudget (2024)

I have conducted the most extensive research on puppy prices in the US ever made. Over a few months, my team and I have reviewed over 48,000 puppy ads from various sources, including the American Kennel Club, PuppyFind, NextDayPets, and breeders websites. This article presents the results of this work to establish the prices of 151 breeds of puppies.

On average, a puppy will cost $1,300 in the US. Some can be found as low as $50 and others as high as $85,000, but in general, 80% of puppies fall in the $500 to $2,500 range. Adoption is much cheaper and generally costs $50 to $500.

This article will share our findings regarding puppy prices and a few tips to find a cheaper puppy from a reliable breeder. We have only considered dogs up to 6 months old and exclusively bred in the US.

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As mentioned, the average cost of almost 50,000 puppies reviewed was $1,300. It seems like a reasonable amount as I was expecting something between $1,000 and $1,500.

An interesting fact is that the median cost is $1,000. It means that there were as many puppies for sale under $1,000 that there were over $1,000. It makes sense since there are many more unregistered breeders selling cheaper puppies than registered ones. Sadly, it’s also very well-known that many greedy backyard breeders and puppy mills are operating in the US, selling physically or mentally unhealthy dogs sometimes for a low price.

In fact, according to the Humane Society, there are over 10,000 puppy mills in the US. This is one reason buyers should be cautious about where they buy or (to a lesser extent) adopt their dog.

The other reason explaining the difference between the average and median is that some puppies are very expensive. We found almost 500 ads for puppies over $5,000. These puppies were practically exclusively sold by AKC registered breeders and were purebred show quality dogs from a prestigious bloodline.

Price range

To get a better idea of the actual cost people should expect to pay when buying a puppy, we have established a cost range excluding 10% of the cheapest puppies and 10% of the most expensive ones.

We found that 80% of the ads reviewed were between $500 and $2,500. As described later in this article, this range varies a lot depending on the breed.

For example, 80% of French Bulldogs were priced between $1,800 and $4,500 (from over 3,000 ads), while 80% of Labrador Retrievers were in the $400 to $1,500 range (from over 3,000 ads as well).

Some rare breeds tend to be very expensive because puppies are hard to find. In many cases, the only option is to put your name on a waiting list at a registered breeder and hope to get a puppy when the next litter is ready.

Within the same breed, there can also be a significant price difference between puppies. Many factors can explain this:

• Purebreds are more expensive than mixed-breeds (except for a few designer breeds like Goldendoodles or co*ckapoos, for example).
• A show quality puppy coming from a prestigious bloodline could potentially be 100 times more expensive than the average dog from the same breed. For example, we have found three Yorkshire Terriers listed at $20,000, $80,000, and $85,000 when the average Yorkie sells around $1,200.
• The puppy’s coat color and markings will also have an influence on the price, depending on their popularity.
• Some expenses that a breeder can defray will also reflect in the price: health screening and other medical costs, microchip, training and socialization, registration papers.
• Some breeds are very popular in some areas and less in others. The selling price will reflect that.
• Age is also a factor. A puppy between 2 and 4 months old will be 4% less expensive than a newborn to 2-month old puppy on average. And a puppy between 4 and 6 months old will be 8% cheaper on average. On the other hand, buying an unborn puppy from a coming litter (usually from registered breeders) is likely to cost 28% more!

Finally, there was no direct correlation between a breed’s size and puppy prices.

Puppy prices for 151 breeds in the US

Please find the puppy price information for over 150 breeds in the table below. The price range represents 80% of the ads found. The ads column indicates the number of puppies of each breed found during our research.

Buying a puppy is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to expenses. To know more about the real cost of raising a dog, check our breeds page, and find more information about other costs associated with owning your favorite breed (supplies, food, grooming, training, medical, etc.).

To find more information about a specific breed, go to the All Breeds page of this blog and select your favorite dog.

As with any data set analysis, the breeds with the most ads found will provide the most reliable information. Some breeds being very rare, and the info scarce, we are aware that some of our results could be challenged, but they are a representation of the data found at the time of the research

WONDERING HOW AND WHERE TO FIND A PUPPY TO BUY OR A DOG TO ADOPT? Our Guide will help you find a dog near you. We share the 26 best places to find your perfect pet.

Tips to find a cheaper puppy

The five following tips will help you find a more affordable puppy:

• Adoption. By investing a little time to visit shelter websites regularly, there is a good chance that you will be able to find a puppy to adopt. They are rare and get adopted very fast, but it is a realistic option. Not only is it cheaper, but it is also a great thing to do.
• Older puppies. Most people are willing to buy their dog as young as possible, creating excellent opportunities to find puppies a few months old for a much lower price. A 6-month-old dog will still be adorable and playful and should be cheaper than an 8-week-old one.
• Other locations/states. Some breeds are more expensive in specific locations because of their characteristics and the cost to operate a breeding business there. Looking at prices in different places is a great way to save a lot, providing you are willing to travel to meet the breeder and your future dog.
• Mixed-breed or purebred. Mixed breed dogs tend to be less expensive to buy than purebreds. This is especially true for purebreds with registration papers (pedigree). Most families are just looking for a pet to spend time with and do not need these registration papers.
• Friends and family. Let everyone around you know that you are looking for a dog. You might get a good surprise and learn that someone trustworthy has a pregnant dog and is looking for people to get the pups.

Even on a budget, always make sure to buy from a serious and responsible breeder. You will have a much better chance of getting a healthy dog without behavioral problems. Avoid puppy mills and unreliable backyard breeders. Before buying a puppy, visit the kennel, question the breeder about the breeding process and how he cares for his breeding dogs and puppies, and make sure to see and interact with the puppy to see if it looks healthy.

Adoption should always be considered first. It is cheaper, easier, and faster. It also saves lives. According to the ASPCA, over 3 million dogs enter US animal shelters nationwide every year. Sadly only 50% are adopted, and over half a million are euthanized. Responsible pet ownership starts here!

Related Articles

• Learn more about the cost of owning a dog or look specifically for your favorite dog breed, guard dogs, hypoallergenic dogs, or dogs for an apartment.
• Puppies available in the US for different budgets: Under $500, Under $1,000, Under $1,500, Under $2,000
• Check our Dog Supplies Guide and get tips to choose the right items for you and your dog (bowls, collar, leash, bed, and crate size, etc.). Learn everything about costs, and find the best products available.
• Top 25 Cheapest Puppies in the US
• Top 10 Cheapest / Most Expensive Small Puppies in the US
• Top 10 Cheapest / Most Expensive Medium Sized Puppies in the US
• Top 10 Cheapest / Most Expensive Large Puppies in the US

This article is original content from PetBudget.

This article is based on information we found while researching and does not guarantee that it will be possible to find a puppy at these prices when the article is read.

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