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 most expensive 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 – Schnoodle

Average Price: $2,000
Price Range: $1,230 – $2,695
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: NA
Weight: 20 to 75 lb.
Life Expectancy: 10 to 15 years
Breed Personality: Smart, Active, Adorable
Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own a Schnoodle or learn How to Find a Schnoodle Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.
9 – Irish Terrier

Average Price: $2,100
Price Range: $900 – $3,500
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 119
Weight: 25 to 27 lb.
Life Expectancy: 13 to 15 years
Breed Personality: Bold, Dashing, Tenderhearted
Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own an Irish Terrier or learn How to Find an Irish Terrier Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.
8 – Portuguese Water Dog

Average Price: $2,200
Price Range: $1,500 – $2,890
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 49
Weight: 35 to 60 lb.
Life Expectancy: 11 to 13 years
Breed Personality: Affectionate, Adventurous, Athletic
Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own a Portuguese Water Dog or learn How to Find a Portuguese Water Dog Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.
7 – Icelandic Sheepdog

Average Price: $2,250
Price Range: $2,000 – $2,500
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 132
Weight: 25 to 30 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years
Breed Personality: Friendly, Playful, Inquisitive
Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own an Icelandic Sheepdog or learn How to Find an Icelandic Sheepdog Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.
6 – Afghan Hound

Average Price: $2,250
Price Range: $2,000 – $2,500
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 111
Weight: 50 to 60 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Breed Personality: Dignified, Profoundly Loyal, Aristocratic
Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own an Afghan Hound or learn How to Find an Afghan Hound Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.
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5 – Saluki

Average Price: $2,400
Price Range: $1,700 – $2,700
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 125
Weight: 40 to 65 lb.
Life Expectancy: 10 to 17 years
Breed Personality: Gentle, Dignified, Independent-Minded
Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own a Saluki or learn How to Find a Saluki Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.
4 – Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever

Average Price: $2,500
Price Range: $1,800 – $3,500
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 86
Weight: 35 to 50 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years
Breed Personality: Affectionate, Intelligent, Outgoing
Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever or learn How to Find a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.
3 – English Bulldog

Average Price: $2,500
Price Range: $1,500 – $4,500
It is very easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 5
Weight: 40 to 50 lb.
Life Expectancy: 8 to 10 years
Breed Personality: Friendly, Courageous, Calm
Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own an English Bulldog or learn How to Find an English Bulldog Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.
2 – Xoloitzcuintli

Average Price: $2,750
Price Range: $800 – $4,000
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 137
Weight: 30 to 55 lb.
Life Expectancy: 13 to 18 years
Breed Personality: Loyal, Alert, Calm
Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own a Xoloitzcuintli or learn How to Find a Xoloitzcuintli Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.
1 – German Pinscher

Average Price: $2,800
Price Range: $2,000 – $3,550
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 123
Weight: 25 to 45 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 14 years
Breed Personality: Courageous, Intelligent, Vivacious
Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own a German Pinscher or learn How to Find a German Pinscher Puppy to Buy or Dog to Adopt.
These breeds tend to be expensive because most are rare and 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. This is not the case for English Bulldogs, which are easy to find, but they remain costly because they are trendy, and expensive to breed on top of that.
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.
Find a cheap puppy
The five following tips will help you find a cheaper 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 good 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 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.
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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Related Articles
- Puppies available in the US for different budgets: Under $500, Under $1,000, Under $1,500, Under $2,000
- Puppy Prices for 151 breeds in the US
- 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 / Most Expensive Puppies in the US
- Top 10 Cheapest / Most Expensive Small Puppies in the US
- Top 10 Cheapest Medium Sized Puppies in the US
- Top 10 Cheapest / Most Expensive Large Puppies in the US
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.