Top 10 Most Expensive 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 most expensive 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 – Tibetan Terrier

Average Price: $2,000
Price Range: $1,300 – $2,500
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 101
Weight: 15 to 30 lb.
Life Expectancy: 15 to 16 years
Breed Personality: Affectionate, Loyal, Sensitive

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

9 – Cockapoo

Average Price: $2,000
Price Range: $1,310 – $3,460
It is hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: NA
Weight: 6 to 20 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Breed Personality: Adorable, Clown, People-oriented

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

8 – Tibetan Spaniel

Average Price: $2,000
Price Range: $800 – $3,500
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 117
Weight: 9 to 15 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Breed Personality: Playful, Bright, Self-Confident

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

7 – Maltipoo

Average Price: $2,000
Price Range: $1,150 – $3,825
It is easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: NA
Weight: 5 to 20 lb.
Life Expectancy: 10 to 13 years
Breed Personality: Fun-loving, Affectionate, Charming

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

6 – Brussels Griffon

Average Price: $2,300
Price Range: $1,500 – $4,000
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 96
Weight: 8 to 10 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Breed Personality: Loyal, Alert, Curious

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

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5 – English Toy Spaniel

Average Price: $2,500
Price Range: $2,000 – $3,000
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 139
Weight: 8 to 14 lb.
Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years
Breed Personality: Gentle, Playful, Intelligent

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

4 – Miniature Bull Terrier

Average Price: $2,500
Price Range: $1,500 – $3,500
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 112
Weight: 18 to 28 lb.
Life Expectancy: 11 to 13 years
Breed Personality: Upbeat, Mischievous, Comical

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

3 – French Bulldog

Average Price: $2,800
Price Range: $1,800 – $4,500
It is very easy to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 4
Weight: 16 to 28 lb.
Life Expectancy: 10 to 12 years
Breed Personality: Adaptable, Playful, Smart

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

2 – Norfolk Terrier

Average Price: $3,250
Price Range: $2,340 – $4,000
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 131
Weight: 11 to 12 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 16 years
Breed Personality: Fearless, Alert, Fun-Loving

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

1 – Norwich Terrier

Average Price: $3,500
Price Range: $2,000 – $4,800
It is very hard to find a puppy
Breed Popularity Ranking: 102
Weight: 10 to 12 lb.
Life Expectancy: 12 to 15 years
Breed Personality: Affectionate, Alert, Curious

Considering this breed? Read our article about The Cost to Own a Norwich Terrier or learn How to Find a Norwich Terrier 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 French Bulldogs, which are easy to find, but they remain costly because they are trendy, and expensive to breed on top of that. The same logic applies to hybrid breeds, like Maltipoos and Cockapoos, which are also very in-demand, driving their price higher.

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

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. 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: 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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