Top 10 Cheapest Small 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 18,000 ads (for 56 breeds) from the American Kennel Club, PuppyFind, NextDayPets, and breeders websites to establish this ranking of the Top 10 cheapest small puppies.

We consider a puppy to be small for this research if the dog’s average adult weight is 2 to 25 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 – Schipperke

Average Price: $850
Price Range: $700 – $1,100
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 106
Weight: 10 to 16 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years
Breed Personality: Confident, Alert, Curious

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

9 – Boston Terrier

Average Price: $850
Price Range: $550 – $1,400
It is very easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 21
Weight: 12 to 25 lb.
Life Expectancy: 11 to 13 years
Breed Personality: Friendly, Bright, Amusing

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

8 – Shih Tzu

Average Price: $850
Price Range: $500 – $1,600
It is very easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 20
Weight: 9 to 16 lb.
Life Expectancy: 10 to 18 years
Breed Personality: Affectionate, Playful, Outgoing

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

7 – Dachshund

Average Price: $850
Price Range: $450 – $1,500
It is very easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 11
Weight: 16 to 32 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 16 years
Breed Personality: Friendly, Curious, Spunky

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

6 – Toy Fox Terrier

Average Price: $800
Price Range: $500 – $1,500
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 107
Weight: 3 to 7 lb.
Life Expectancy: 13 to 15 years
Breed Personality: Friendly, Alert, Intelligent

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

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5 – Cocker Spaniel

Average Price: $800
Price Range: $500 – $1,500
It is very easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 28
Weight: 20 to 30 lb.
Life Expectancy: 10 to 14 years
Breed Personality: Gentle, Smart, Happy

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

4 – Chihuahua

Average Price: $800
Price Range: $375 – $2,420
It is very easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 35
Weight: 3 to 6 lb.
Life Expectancy: 14 to 16 years
Breed Personality: Charming, Graceful, Sassy

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

3 – Rat Terrier

Average Price: $700
Price Range: $500 – $1,100
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 91
Weight: 10 to 25 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 18 years
Breed Personality: Friendly, Inquisitive, Lovable

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

2 – Miniature Pinscher

Average Price: $700
Price Range: $350 – $1,215
It is hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 74
Weight: 8 to 10 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 16 years
Breed Personality: Fearless, Fun-Loving, Proud

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

1 – Beagle

Average Price: $550
Price Range: $295 – $1,125
It is easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 7
Weight: 20 to 30 lb.
Life Expectancy: 10 to 15 years
Breed Personality: Friendly, Curious, Merry

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

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.

These ten breeds tend to be cheaper because the most popular ones are easy to find, and those who are not are less popular anyway. In both cases, the supply seems to match the demand.

How to find a cheaper puppy?

Here are a few tips to 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. 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 reasonable 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.

Even on a budget, always make sure to buy from a serious and responsible breeder. You will have a much better chance to get 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.

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: American Hairless Terrier, Australian Terrier, Basenji, Beagle, Bichon Frise, Border Terrier, Boston Terrier, Brussels Griffon, Cairn Terrier, Cavalier King Charles, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested, Cockapoo, Cocker Spaniel, Coton de Tulear, Dachshund, English Toy Spaniel, French Bulldog, Havanese, Italian Greyhound, Jack Russell Terrier, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Maltese Shih Tzu, Maltipoo, Manchester Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Schnauzer, Norfolk Terrier, Norwich Terrier, Papillon, Parson Russell Terrier, Peekapoo, Pekingese, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Pomeranian, Pug, Puggle, Rat Terrier, Schipperke, Scottish Terrier, Shetland Sheepdog, Shiba Inu, Shih Tzu, Silky Terrier, Smooth Fox Terrier, Tibetan Spaniel, Tibetan Terrier, Toy Fox Terrier, Welsh Terrier, Westie, Wire Fox Terrier, Yorkipoo, Yorkshire Terrier.

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