Five Dog Breeds That Command the Highest Prices

Exploring the Most Expensive Dog Breeds

If you happen to have extra funds and are considering adding a dog to your family, you might be curious about the breeds that come with the highest price tags. I've compiled a list of five such breeds from around the world. Rather than ranking them by exact cost, I've chosen them because their prices fluctuate based on availability and demand. For instance, a German breeder is currently asking 20,000 Euro for a German Shepherd puppy, which could place that breed on a future list. Rottweilers also fetch high prices in Europe, but due to overbreeding in the US and South America, their prices have dropped.

Top Five Priciest Dog Breeds Globally

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
English Bulldog
Chow Chow
Saluki
Tibetan Mastiff

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_These spaniels have been popular with UK royalty for generations.

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_This is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy.

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1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

This small, affectionate dog was bred to have a youthful appearance and a friendly disposition. For centuries, it has been a favorite among English royalty and remains popular in the UK.

In the US, the breed is still relatively rare, which keeps its price high. Additionally, because it suffers from numerous health issues, this trend may continue. Common problems include heart disease, spinal cord disorders, and hip dysplasia. The breed has been selected for brachycephalic traits (a muzzle shorter than it is wide), leading to breathing difficulties.

Despite being a spaniel, it is classified as a toy dog and comes in four color varieties. I particularly like the chestnut and white ones, but they also come in black and tan, ruby (mostly chestnut), and tricolor (black, white, and tan).

English bulldogs are prone to a variety of health issues due to their unique physiology.

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2. English Bulldog

This breed's high cost is justified by its distinctive appearance, but its brachycephalic skull shape brings serious respiratory issues. Furthermore, their abnormal pelvic structure and the large size of puppies' heads often complicate birth. Over 80% of English Bulldogs require cesarean sections. Their average lifespan is about 8–10 years, though a UK survey of owners reported an average of 6.5 years.

Bulldogs are prone to heart disease, cancer, cherry eye, allergies, knee problems (patellar luxation), skin fold infections, and most have hip dysplasia. They tend to become obese without exercise, but because they overheat easily due to their brachycephalic nature, they cannot be exercised on hot days.

Some breeders are working to produce healthier dogs, but the highest prices still go to those with short muzzles and heavy skin folds. If this preference continues, the breed will remain expensive.

Chow chows are known to be protective of their homes and families.

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3. Chow Chow

Apart from being a heavy shedder, the Chow Chow is also one of the priciest breeds. It is among the oldest dog breeds and an ancestor to many modern breeds. Unfortunately, it is susceptible to several conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma, entropion, diabetes, pemphigus, and hip dysplasia. It also faces various cancers including lymphoma, stomach cancer, and skin cancer.

If you decide to purchase a Chow Chow, be prepared for your homeowner's insurance to likely increase. They can make wonderful pets but have a reputation for being aggressive and protective of their homes. However, if you seek a quiet dog, the Chow Chow is a suitable option.

Salukis aren’t as prone to certain health conditions that commonly affect other “pure” breeds.

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4. Saluki

This dog carries itself with the air of desert nobility. The Saluki is one of the oldest breeds, present in Europe since the Crusades and earlier in Egypt and Arabia. They are tall, slender, and elegant, with feathered tails and thighs.

Why are Salukis so costly? They nearly vanished in the UK during World War II but had already been recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1929. They are not a common breed but have maintained their numbers. Generally healthy for a purebred, they have low rates of hip dysplasia and certain heart and skin diseases. However, about a third die from cancer. Perhaps Saluki owners prefer to buy the same breed repeatedly, and with few breeders, prices remain high.

If you desire a beautiful dog and can handle an aloof sighthound that might dash off in pursuit at any moment, the Saluki is an excellent choice.

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_Tibetan Mastiffs may be the most expensive breed in the world.

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_This is an adult Tibetan Mastiff.

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_This Tibetan Mastiff is on guard duty.

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5. Tibetan Mastiff

This is the most expensive dog. A wealthy Chinese industrialist recently bought a red mastiff for 10 million Yuan (1.5 million US dollars). The previous record-holder was another Tibetan Mastiff that sold for $582,000 in 2009. They are excellent guard dogs and look magnificent, but . . . oh well.

In the U.S., this breed is not as expensive. After AKC recognition, overbreeding led to several genetic diseases. Tibetan Mastiffs are generally healthy and long-lived for a large breed, but can be affected by hypothyroidism, skin problems, eyelid issues, cataracts, bite problems, and epilepsy. Health testing could reduce these diseases and limit breeding stock, and since they breed only once a year, prices might rise again—though likely not to Chinese levels.

Now that you've seen these breeds, are you ready to spend a few hundred thousand?