Being a dog parent is a feeling only pet owners can understand. Having a four-legged companion by your side can be a wonderful part of life, and brings with it its own health and emotional perks too.
However, as the cost of living continues to get steeper, not everyone might be able to afford to become a dog owner. Owning a pet can be expensive, from the extremely high price to buy a puppy, to the cost of raising one as it continues to grow — it can be an expensive affair.
New generational loan broker, Sambla, has revealed the list of most expensive dogs in the UK based on their cost to buy, annual food costs, annual insurance costs, initial puppy vaccination course and annual booster, and annual grooming costs.
Sambla said: “It’s important to remember that a dog is for life and with that comes a financial commitment. As our study has shown, essential costs like food, grooming and insurance can all add up to a substantial yearly cost.
“Our study also shows the differences between breeds, so it is important you do all the necessary research into the breed you want. Just because a particular breed is cheaper to buy, doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll be cheaper to care for.”
Top five most expensive dog breeds to buy in the UK 2023
These are the most expensive dog breeds in terms of upfront buying costs.
1. Italian Greyhound £3,500
2. Samoyed £3,000
3. Bernese Mountain Dog £2,688
4. Chow Chow £2,663
5. Irish Wolfhound £2,500
Top 20 most expensive dog breeds to own in the UK 2023
The cost of a puppy is not the only cost one has to spend while raising a dog. It also consists of food costs, insurance costs, puppy vaccination costs and annual booster, plus grooming fees. According to the study by Sambla, the top 20 most expensive dog breeds to own in the UK in 2023 along with the costs of ownership throughout their life are:
1. Tibetan Mastiff - £31,530
2. Newfoundland - £28,332
3. Mastiff - £27,028
4. Boerboel - £23,619
5. Cane Corso - £23,619
6. Poodle - £23,289
7. Chow Chow - £22,611
8. American Bulldog - £20,368
9. Goldendoodle - £19,874
10. Great Dane - £19,436
11. Samoyed - £19,387
12. Shar Pei - £18957
13. Pomsky - £18,855
14. Akita - £18,723
15. German Shephard - £18,105
16. Dogue De Bordeaux - £18,033
17. Golden Retriever - £17,279
18. English Springer Spaniel - £17,190
19. Rhodesian Ridgeback - £16,474
20. Presa Canaraio - £16,402