Top 10 Cheapest Medium-Sized Puppies in the US

This article is for you if you are looking for a puppy or just curious about puppy prices. I have reviewed over 10,000 ads (for 37 breeds) from the American Kennel Club, PuppyFind, NextDayPets, and breeders websites to establish this ranking of the Top 10 cheapest medium-sized puppies.

We consider a puppy to be medium-sized for this research if the dog’s average adult weight is 26 to 55 lb. The popularity factor for each breed is based on the American Kennel Club’s most popular breeds list. Finally, the price range represents 80% of the ads found (it excludes the cheapest and most expensive 10%).

At the end of this article, we have also added a few tips to find cheaper puppies without buying from unreliable sellers and backyard breeders. Remember that the puppy’s price is a small portion of the expenses when raising a dog. If you want to buy or adopt one, I would advise you to read the related cost article to find all the information about how much owning your furry friend will be (training, food, supplies, grooming, etc.).

Finally, I cannot start without recommending adoption to anyone looking for a dog. It is much cheaper ($50 to $500), usually faster, and easier than buying a breeder’s puppy.

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10 – Standard Poodle

Average Price: $1,000
Price Range: $600 – $2,000
It is very easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 6
Weight: 40 to 70 lb.
Life Expectancy: 10 to 18 years
Breed Personality: Active, Proud, Very Smart

Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own a Standard Poodle or learn How to Find a Poodle Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.

9 – English Springer Spaniel

Average Price: $850
Price Range: $600 – $1,200
It is easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 27
Weight: 40 to 50 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years
Breed Personality: Friendly, Playful, Obedient

Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own an English Springer Spaniel or learn How to Find an English Springer Spaniel Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.

8 – Miniature American Shepherd

Average Price: $800
Price Range: $450 – $1,500
It is very easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 29
Weight: 20 to 40 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 13 years
Breed Personality: Good-Natured, Intelligent, Devoted

Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own a Miniature American Shepherd or learn How to Find a Miniature American Shepherd Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.

7 – Basset Hound

Average Price: $800
Price Range: $450 – $1,400
It is easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 37
Weight: 40 to 65 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 13 years
Breed Personality: Charming, Patient, Low-Key

Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own a Basset Hound or learn How to Find a Basset Hound Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.

6 – Australian Shepherd

Average Price: $800
Price Range: $400 – $1,500
It is very easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 13
Weight: 40 to 65 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Breed Personality: Smart, Work-Oriented, Exuberant

Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own an Australian Shepherd or learn How to Find an Australian Shepherd Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.

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5 – Brittany

Average Price: $750
Price Range: $500 – $1,060
It is hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 26
Weight: 30 to 40 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years
Breed Personality: Bright, Fun-Loving, Upbeat

Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own a Brittany or learn How to Find a Brittany Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.

4 – American Staffordshire Terrier

Average Price: $750
Price Range: $250 – $1,500
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 85
Weight: 40 to 70 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 16 years
Breed Personality: Confident, Smart, Good-Natured

Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own an American Staffordshire Terrier or learn How to Find an American Staffordshire Terrier Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.

3 – Border Collie

Average Price: $700
Price Range: $300 – $1,000
It is easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 33
Weight: 30 to 55 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Breed Personality: Affectionate, Smart, Energetic

Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own a Border Collie or learn How to Find a Border Collie Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.

2 – Siberian Husky

Average Price: $650
Price Range: $400 – $1,200
It is very easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 15
Weight: 35 to 60 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years
Breed Personality: Loyal, Mischievous, Outgoing

Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own a Siberian Husky or learn How to Find a Siberian Husky Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.

1 – Australian Cattle Dog

Average Price: $450
Price Range: $250 – $1,200
It is easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 55
Weight: 35 to 50 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 16 years
Breed Personality: Alert, Curious, Pleasant

Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own an Australian Cattle Dog or learn How to Find an Australian Cattle Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.

All the breeds from this top 10 have a few things in common that drive their price lower. First, they are all common dogs, and puppies are usually easy to find. There are more buying options and therefore more chances to get a fair price. Secondly, they are mostly low-maintenance dogs that are less costly to breed and maintain.

The only breed harder to find is the American Staffordshire Terrier. We have found that the vast majority of the ads available were from unregistered breeders that tend to be more affordable. But a price too low should raise a red flag if you intend to buy one. How reliable and serious is the breeder? How healthy and well-behaved will the dog be? Another factor is that, sadly, American Staffs are a prevalent breed in rescue shelters, which could lower the price also. American Staffordshire Terriers are amazing dogs but resist the temptation to buy from a cheap backyard breeder or a puppy mill. Get one in a rescue shelter or from a reputable breeder.

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.

How to find a cheaper puppy?

Here are five tips that will help you find a cheaper puppy:

  • Adopt. Puppies for adoptions are rare and get rehomed extremely fast, but it is possible to find one if you are willing to invest the time to search and visit shelter websites regularly. Adoption should always be considered first.
  • Buy an older puppy. As they grow older, prices tend to go down as breeders are more in a rush to sell. In fact, most people want to buy very young dogs. Therefore, a 6-month-old pup is likely to be cheaper than an 8-week-old one.
  • Expand your research territory. Breed popularity and prices as well as breeders’ operating costs vary depending on location. Future owners who are willing to drive further away have better chances of finding a good price for their dog.
  • Go for a mixed-breed dog. Purebreds tend to be more expensive, and some mixed-breed puppies will look almost exactly like your favorite breed.
  • Ask around. Just by letting family and friends know that you are looking for a pet, you might be informed that a trustworthy person near you has a pregnant dog and could get one of the puppies.

Everyone wants a healthy dog without behavioral problems. That is why it is always recommended to buy from a responsible breeder that takes good care of his breeding dogs and puppies. Never buy a pet from puppy mills or someone who cannot give you information on the puppy’s parents. Pay a visit to the breeder to see if his business looks legit, and spend a little time with your future dog to make sure it seems healthy.

WHERE CAN I FIND A DOG?
WHAT SUPPLIES DO I NEED?
WHAT SHOULD I ASK THE VET?
WHERE TO FIND THE BEST PRICES ON DOG FOOD?
Please find all the answers to your questions in our Dog Owner Guide. It’s a 5-minute read packed with useful information.

New Dog Owner Guide

If you want to know more about the price of puppies in the US or compare this breed with 150 others, check our puppy prices article based on the analysis of close to 50,000 ads (for 151 different breeds).

Factors affecting the price of puppies and why prices vary for the same breed.

Purebred or mixed. Usually, mixed-breeds are sold at a lower price than purebred dogs.

Bloodline and breeder’s reputation. If the parents are purebred show quality dogs from a reputable breeder, the price will be substantially higher. These breeders also tend to invest more money than others to take care of their breeding dogs and puppies.

Registration papers/pedigree. Some breeders are members of kennel clubs, the most famous being the American Kennel Club (AKC). They can also have their breeding dogs and puppies registered which would also add to their fees.

Health screenings and medical expenses. Serious breeders will have their breeding dogs and/or puppies evaluated/tested for different medical conditions. Moreover, some will take their puppies to the vet for an exam, deworming, vaccines, and/or microchip implantation prior to selling them. This drives the price higher but also reduces the risk to get an unhealthy dog.

Training and socialization. Some breeders sell their dogs after they are trained and socialized. It will increase the puppy’s price but generate savings as you most probably won’t have to invest in more training and also gives a better chance to get a well-behaved dog.

Breed popularity in the buyer’s location. Local supply and demand will have an impact on puppy prices. For example, small dogs tend to be more popular in metropolitan areas where people live in smaller spaces. Some breeds are more in demand in colder climates, others where hunting is popular, etc. It is worth looking for prices in different locations, but it is risky to buy a dog without having seen it before or at least have met with the breeder and visited the kennel.

Age. As most people want to get their puppy as young as possible, prices tend to be lower when the dog gets older. For example, on average a 6-month-old pup is likely to be less expensive than an 8-week-old one.

Coat color and markings. Coat color trends can change quickly. For any breed, some colors are more popular than others, sometimes temporarily. When the interest for a specific coat color grows, puppies get more expensive as an increase in demand leads to a higher market price. Also, for purebred dogs, only specific colors and color combinations are accepted by kennel clubs. Finally, puppies with rare colors can be very expensive as well.

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References and Resources

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 this price when the article is read.

The breeds considered in this research are the following: Afghan Hound, American Eskimo Dog, American Staffordshire Terrier, Australian Cattle Dog, Australian Shepherd, Basset Hound, Bearded Collie, Border Collie, Boykin Spaniel, Brittany, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Chinese Shar-Pei, English Bulldog, English Cocker Spaniel, English Springer Spaniel, German Pinscher, Icelandic Sheepdog, Irish Terrier, Keeshond, Kerry Blue Terrier, Miniature American Shepherd, Norwegian Elkhound, Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, Portuguese Water Dog, Saluki, Samoyed, Schnoodle, Siberian Husky, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Standard Poodle, Standard Schnauzer, Vizsla, Welsh Springer Spaniel, Whippet, Wirehaired Pointing Griffon, Xoloitzcuintli.

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