Most of us don’t just love animals medium rare. But what is rare is people taking into account the cost of owning a pet when weighing the pros and cons of pet ownership. What are the most expensive dog breeds to maintain? Knowing about the 11 Most Expensive Dog Breeds to Maintain in the World would just make you understand how much of a commitment that could be and whether the benefit outweighs the hit it would take on the household budget.
More than 65% of all Americans own and nurture one or other species of pet. Certainly most of us enjoy them outside our own homes – either on some comedy show on TV or at a friend’s place or in park (think of Mike Tyson and of his Bengal tigers. The movie The Hangover would not have been the same without the plot twist where the main characters of the movie allegedly steal a TIGER). Pets are like family members; they stay with us and help us in maintaining a positive atmosphere in our homes. But the benefits are outside the home as well. Dogs, the oldest known friend of humans, are good companions in every sense. A dog can protect the owner, and the owner’s children. Dogs have helped hunters in bringing down big games. Police dogs help in a big way in keeping our cities safe from bigger threats as well. They have rescued their masters from dire situations like fire and flood, even at times having to sacrifices their own lives. It is only humane that we do our bit for these trusted partners. To understand better about how good companions these pets are, you should go through our article on 11 Biggest Friendliest Dogs in the World
Those of us who do own a pet understand that owning a pet does has an opposity side to its benefits; it also means taking care of these pets. Right from the moment you purchase a dog, there are various costs associated with owning a dog. Today the pet care industry has assumed an important role on a global scale. In the USA itself, the pet industry is estimated to be USD $60.59 Billion, according to the American Pet Product Association. To put this into scale, according to the World Bank, the GDP of Sri Lanka was USD 67.21 Billion in 2013. Maintaining your pet is not just about feeding it well and visiting the vet, it’s about raising it like a family member. There are dog spas for those who can afford it. And then there are events organised for best “dressed” dogs.
atiger/Shutterstock.com
People are pampering their canines like never before. Celebrities have further glamorised man’s best friend. Paris Hilton has not only glamorised fashion, but she probably made her Chihuahua a global celebrity. These rich and famous people give every luxury available to their pets from food to grooming. In order to cater to these rich and famous four legged customers, companies are doling out a wide spectrum of products and services.
Such luxury and comfort for the pets requires money. Some dog breeds require more of it than other breeds. There has been a lot of research by enthusiasts and experts alike about the most expensive dog breeds to maintain. In this article we are giving you a rundown of the highest maintenance dog breeds based on certain criteria. If you’re weighing all the aspects of dog ownership, by the end of this article you’ll be equipped with the necessary information when it’s time to decide your next dog breed. If you are going to select any breed from this list, well, that means you’re rich my friend.
The costs associated with owning a dog can be categorised broadly into three categories – food, medical and grooming. They further can be divided into food and supplements, vet costs, vaccines, treats, toys, boarding, etc. By the way, if you are interested in investing a company that will immensely benefit from an increase in medical expenditures on pets, Aratana Therapeutics (NASDAQ:PETX) was recommended by one of our favorite hedge fund managers a couple of years ago (read the details here).
Follow Aratana Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:PETX)
Follow Aratana Therapeutics Inc. (NASDAQ:PETX)
Michael Castor is still very bullish about the stock, boosting his position by 127% during the second quarter. In May he said the following about Aratana in an investor letter:
“Aratana develops medicines for pets. Through a series of in-licensing and strategic acquisitions, Aratana has built a portfolio of more than ten promising drugs in development for pets. Two novel cancer therapies have already received conditional approval from the FDA, and two to three more drugs should get approved in 2016. We forecast probability-adjusted revenues of $300 million by 2022, with earnings power of close to $2.00 per share. There was no news in April behind the stock’s move.”
Medical costs are a large part of keeping a dog. In this article we considered the following costs:
1. Overall Lifetime Cost– This is the cost that you would be spending for your pet over its lifetime. It includes the initial purchase price, the cost of spay/ neuter for the dog, initial training costs and the annual costs to be spend after the first year. Though this alone can be used as the sole criteria for ranking the most expensive dog, in this article we have used a slightly different approach. We are also ranking each breed based on their scores under each of the following parameters.
2. First Year Costs- First Year cost typically includes the cost incurred in first year after purchase. This article considers costs incurred for buying a newborn puppy. The costs incurred while you buy your new puppy includes spay/ neutering, crate costs, licence, training costs, vaccination and accessories like leash, crate, carrying bags (for small dogs). First year costs are higher than the annual expenditure incurred beyond the first year of purchase. As some of the breeds are difficult to train, training costs can be substantial. These costs are considered while ranking the dogs since you end up paying these upfront or within the first few days of buying the puppy, unlike the annual costs which are spread over the whole year after the initial year.
3. Annual Costs- Annual costs are especially important as pet rescue centers have noted owners abandoning their pet after a few years due to high annual costs. The costs you incur for food, grooming, medical and insurance of your dog. Furthermore, since we are talking about most expensive dog breeds, we are also assuming that you would employ a dog walker for 3 days a week and while you go on your business trips, you would trust your pet to a kennel. Food bills are substantial for these breeds. Medical costs for certain breeds are on the higher side due to specific problems like susceptibility to skin allergies and hence these should be looked at while ranking each breed. Grooming costs are another important factor and these are higher especially for the breeds that have long coats.
4. Initial Purchase Price– Though these are included in the earlier costs, however shelling out that kind of money surely is an important decision. The purchase price for properly bred puppies of certain breeds are generally on the higher side due to various costs involved in the process as well as requirement of good lineage.
For the ranking, we researched 42 different breeds. Each of the breeds is scored and ranked individually under each of the parameters. The score acquired by each breed under the respective parameters was then summed up to obtain the total score for that particular breed. The breeds are then ranked based on these total scores.
The formula used for arriving at the total score is as follows:
Ts = 40% x SL + 20% x SF + 30% x SA+ 10% x SP
Where,
Ts = Total Score
SL = Score based on life time costs
SF = Score based on First year costs
SA= Score based on Annual Costs
SP = Score Based on Purchase price
Based on these costs, the following are the most expensive dog breeds to maintain in the world. All the costs are mentioned in US Dollars, whereas the age is mentioned in years.
11. Cesky Terrier
Size Small
Life Cost 51,761
First Year Cost 5,306
Annual Cost 3,246
Age 13
Avg Price for a Puppy 1500
If you have seen this stylish small dog, you might have noticed its characteristic long beard, the silky hair running across the face, the long body and abundant energy. It’s better to have a fenced home, in case you are planning to buy this breed. These dogs love attention and would love to have company than to be left alone. Even with the kind of energy these exhibit, they don’t require much exercise. Its high purchase price, higher first year cost and also higher life time costs, put this dog in this list of the most expensive dogs to maintain in the world.
10. Golden Retriever
Size Large
Life Cost 44264
First Year Cost 5306
Annual Cost 3246
Age 13
Avg Price for a Puppy 1500
A very popular family dog, Golden Retrievers, as the name suggest have been historically used to retrieve game during hunting. This breed is highly intelligent and is tolerant by nature. They require regular exercise and due to the thick coat require regular grooming. Though they are healthy breed, this breed is susceptible to skin problems and can increase your vet costs. Proper nutrition is a major cost for these dogs. Furthermore given the fact that they like to be among people rather than in the backyard, you better have a large space before owning them.
9. Shetland Sheepdog
Size Medium
Life Cost 48881
First Year Cost 4857
Annual Cost 3386
Age 14
Avg Price for a Puppy 900
This graceful breed belongs to the class of herding dogs, which can be trained specifically for this purpose. A thick coat on these dogs makes grooming highly essential at regular intervals. They are easily trainable, making them excellent work dogs. The major costs associated with owning these dogs are the grooming costs due to the thick coat and recurring medical expenses. Since they have herding instincts, they also would need training to keep them away from trouble like chasing down other animals or cars down the road.
8. Sibercaan
Size Medium
Life Cost 50299
First Year Cost 4849
Annual Cost 3246
Age 15
Avg Price for a Puppy 1000
This is a cross breed of Siberian Huskey and Canaan dog. It is large in size and they are playful in nature. Their high grooming needs make them highly expensive dogs with lifetime costs above $50,000. Furthermore the puppy costs around $1000. They have high foods and recurring medical costs. These are difficult to train dogs, and require expert and continued training.
7. Airedale Terrier
Size Large
Life Cost 50299
First Year Cost 4849
Annual Cost 3246
Age 15
Avg Price for a Puppy 1000
This terrier breed is said to have originated in the Aire valley in the United Kingdom. Called King of Terriers, it is the largest of the terrier breeds and is a very good hunting dog. It is a working dog and therefore requires daily exercise. They were extensively used during World War I for carrying messages across the battlefields. Airedales have medium coats and require regular grooming due to hair shedding. Airedales are very courageous and instinctively alert.
Dmitry Kalinovsky/Shutterstock.com
6. Hovawart
Size Large
Life Cost 45546
First Year Cost 5257
Annual Cost 3654
Age 12
Avg Price for a Puppy 1000
This is a very alert and courageous companion and is considered a good working dog. Grooming a hovawart can set you back dearly due to their long hair coat. Hovawarts require intense training and they love outdoor activities. As compared to the overall life time costs, these dogs have high first year costs and their purchase price is also high. It generally requires investing considerable amount of time and energy by the owners to own this dog.
5. Briard
Size Large
Life Cost 45513
First Year Cost 5314
Annual Cost 3654
Age 12
Avg Price for a Puppy 1100
They are characterised by a large frame and the golden locks of hair hiding their face. This intelligent and protective working breed requires an intelligent owner dedicated to the dog. These are primarily house dogs which mean they are happy to follow their owners rather than seek open spaces. These dogs require regular grooming as well and they require to be trained. These dogs don’t shed hair but grooming is specifically required to keep the coat in good shape. The major costs associated with this dog are recurring medical expenses and food. They also have high initial costs.
DragoNika/Shutterstock.com
4. Bearded Collie
Size Medium
Life Cost 49225
First Year Cost 5201
Annual Cost 3386
Age 14
Avg Price for a Puppy 1250
They were once the companions of Scottish shepherds, and now have become very loyal and fun loving pets in the modern households. They are very enthusiastic and have high energy levels. Their long hair means you will need to invest quite a lot in grooming. Further more such long hair also tempts owners to give a nice cut to this dog’s coat. They also incur high medical costs. It should be noted that these dogs don’t like solitude and may cause trouble if left alone for long periods of time. This dog is a good companion in your household if you can keep up with its enthusiasm and bouncy nature.
3. Chihuahua
Size Small
Life Cost 58998
First Year Cost 4335
Annual Cost 3215
Age 18
Avg Price for a Puppy 650.00
The smallest dog in the world has one of the highest life time costs. There are two main varieties of Chihuahua. It’s based on the shape of the head, namely apple head and deer head. They are highly pampered toy breeds and are highly temperamental dogs. Because of the ownership that these dogs enjoy, they are generally considered as pets of the rich and famous. Chihuahuas are a delicate breed and require careful handling. They also require training so that they don’t get aggressive against strangers. Though they have low initial cost, the high life time cost comes due to the high grooming and care required by these dogs.
2. Old English Sheepdog
Size Large
Life Cost 45663
First Year Cost 5464
Annual Cost 3654
Age 12
Avg Price for a Puppy 1250
This is a breed raised for herding purposes and is large bodied. Its coat of lots of hair makes it look even larger. This hairy shaggy coat makes them a distinctive breed all over the world. They require very high grooming and the owners may even take the help of a professional groomer. Grooming is required from very early ages. The training costs for these dogs are high too. They love the outdoors and need regular exercise as they are energetic and enthusiastic.
Marcel Jancovic /Shutterstock.com
1. Portuguese Water Dog
Size Medium
Life Cost 48510
First Year Cost 6306
Annual Cost 3246
Age 14
Avg Price for a Puppy 2500
These are highly sought after dogs, especially in the USA. The “first dog”, Bo, owned by current President of United States of America, has further popularised this spirited and athletic dog. It requires regular training. Its high purchase price, equally high first year costs, and high grooming requirement make this dog top the list of the most expensive dog breeds to maintain in the world.
As a closing note, it should be mentioned here that owning a dog is not just about buying your pet all the luxuries; it also involves dedication and effort. They payoff comes when you take into account the feeling of bringing a new member to your family.
