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The true lifetime cost of owning a dog in the UK, by breed

We modelled what it really costs to own a dog across its whole life — food, insurance, routine vet care, grooming and set-up — for 435 of the UK’s most popular breeds. The figures are estimates built from published UK averages (see method below).

Most expensive
£24,410
Standard Poodle
Least expensive
£12,050
Miniature Pinscher
Average lifetime cost
£18,365
across all breeds

The surprise: bigger isn’t always pricier over a lifetime. Smaller breeds live longer, so the years add up — a Shih Tzu works out at about £20,560 across roughly 14 years, rivalling far larger dogs that live shorter lives.

Most expensive breeds to own (lifetime)

Standard Poodle
£24,410
Samoyed
£24,410
Afghan Hound
£24,410
Briard
£24,410
Old English Sheepdog
£24,410
Labradoodle
£23,090
Airedale Terrier
£23,090
Alaskan Malamute
£23,090
Giant Schnauzer
£23,090
Goldendoodle
£23,090
Bouvier des Flandres
£23,090
Gordon Setter
£23,090

Full breakdown

BreedSizeTypical lifespanPer yearLifetime
Standard Poodlelarge11 yrs£2,160£24,410
Samoyedlarge11 yrs£2,160£24,410
Afghan Houndlarge11 yrs£2,160£24,410
Briardlarge11 yrs£2,160£24,410
Old English Sheepdoglarge11 yrs£2,160£24,410
Labradoodlelarge11 yrs£2,040£23,090
Airedale Terrierlarge11 yrs£2,040£23,090
Alaskan Malamutelarge11 yrs£2,040£23,090
Giant Schnauzerlarge11 yrs£2,040£23,090
Goldendoodlelarge11 yrs£2,040£23,090
Bouvier des Flandreslarge11 yrs£2,040£23,090
Gordon Setterlarge11 yrs£2,040£23,090
Irish Water Spaniellarge11 yrs£2,040£23,090
Rough Collielarge11 yrs£2,040£23,090
Slovak Cuvaclarge11 yrs£2,040£23,090
Sheepadoodlelarge11 yrs£2,040£23,090
Bernedoodlelarge11 yrs£2,040£23,090
Double Doodlelarge11 yrs£2,040£23,090
Irish Doodlelarge11 yrs£2,040£23,090
South Russian Ovcharkagiant8 yrs£2,650£22,000
Golden Retrieverlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
German Shepherdlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Clumber Spaniellarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Akitalarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Irish Setterlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
English Setterlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Flat-Coated Retrieverlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Bergamasco Shepherdlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Canadian Eskimo Doglarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Český fouseklarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
East Siberian Laikalarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
French Spaniellarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
German Longhaired Pointerlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Grand Griffon Vendéenlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Greenland Doglarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Hovawartlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Irish Red and White Setterlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Jämthundlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Karst Shepherdlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Large Münsterländerlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Otterhoundlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Romanian Raven Shepherd Doglarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Saarloos Wolfdoglarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Slovak Rough-haired Pointerlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Spinone Italianolarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
German Roughhaired Pointerlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
White Swiss Shepherd Doglarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Wirehaired Pointing Griffonlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Huskadorlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Labskylarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Goberianlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Golden Shepherdlarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Dalmadoodlelarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Rottlelarge11 yrs£1,920£21,770
Bearded Colliemedium12 yrs£1,740£21,380
Polish Lowland Sheepdogmedium12 yrs£1,740£21,380
Pulimedium12 yrs£1,740£21,380
Bernese Mountain Doggiant8 yrs£2,530£21,040
Tibetan Mastiffgiant8 yrs£2,530£21,040
Newfoundlandgiant8 yrs£2,530£21,040
Caucasian Shepherdgiant8 yrs£2,530£21,040
Pyrenean Mountain Doggiant8 yrs£2,530£21,040
Black Russian Terriergiant8 yrs£2,530£21,040
Komondorgiant8 yrs£2,530£21,040
Leonbergergiant8 yrs£2,530£21,040
Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Doggiant8 yrs£2,530£21,040
Newfypoogiant8 yrs£2,530£21,040
Saint Berdoodlegiant8 yrs£2,530£21,040
Pyredoodlegiant8 yrs£2,530£21,040
Shih Tzusmall14 yrs£1,440£20,560
Bichon Frisesmall14 yrs£1,440£20,560
Lhasa Apsosmall14 yrs£1,440£20,560
American Cocker Spanielsmall14 yrs£1,440£20,560
Labrador Retrieverlarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Bloodhoundlarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Dalmatianlarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Salukilarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Beauceronlarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Ca de Bestiarlarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Castro Laboreiro Doglarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Chesapeake Bay Retrieverlarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Curly-coated Retrieverlarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Czechoslovakian Wolfdoglarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
German Wirehaired Pointerlarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Hamiltonstövarelarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Pudelpointerlarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Smooth Collielarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Wirehaired Vizslalarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Springadorlarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Lurcherlarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Bullboxerlarge11 yrs£1,800£20,450
Saint Bernardgiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Borzoigiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Bucovina Shepherd Doggiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Carpathian Shepherd Doggiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Central Asian Shepherd Doggiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Estrela Mountain Doggiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Kuvaszgiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Landseergiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Macedonian Shepherd Doggiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Maremmano-Abruzzese Sheepdoggiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Pyrenean Mastiffgiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Šarplaninacgiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Spanish Mastiffgiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Tatra Shepherd Doggiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Tornjakgiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Saint Weilergiant8 yrs£2,410£20,080
Cocker Spanielmedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Chow Chowmedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Portuguese Water Dogmedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Lagotto Romagnolomedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Barbetmedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Keeshondmedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Kerry Blue Terriermedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Schapendoesmedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Soft-coated Wheaten Terriermedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Standard Schnauzermedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Tibetan Terriermedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Aussiedoodlemedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Bordoodlemedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Australian Labradoodlemedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Golden Cocker Retrievermedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Whoodlemedium12 yrs£1,620£19,940
Maltesetoy15 yrs£1,260£19,250
Pekingesetoy15 yrs£1,260£19,250
Greyhoundlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Boxerlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Rottweilerlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Dobermannlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Hungarian Vizslalarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Cane Corsolarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Rhodesian Ridgebacklarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Weimaranerlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
German Shorthaired Pointerlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
English Pointerlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Bullmastifflarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
American Foxhoundlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Ariège Pointerlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Azawakhlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Billylarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Black and Tan Coonhoundlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Bracco Italianolarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Braque d'Auvergnelarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Braque Françaislarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Braque Saint-Germainlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Burgos Pointerlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Ca de Boularge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Chien Français Blanc et Noirlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Chien Français Blanc et Orangelarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Chien Français Tricolorelarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Cimarrón Uruguayolarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Dogo Argentinolarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
English Foxhoundlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Galgo Españollarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Gascon Saintongeoislarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Noirlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Grand Anglo-Français Blanc et Orangelarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Grand Anglo-Français Tricolorelarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Grand Bleu de Gascognelarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Hanover Houndlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Ibizan Houndlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Kazakh Tazylarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Magyar Agárlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Poitevinlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Polish Greyhoundlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Polish Houndlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Rastreador Brasileirolarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Saint Miguel Cattle Doglarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Sloughilarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Transylvanian Houndlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Boxadorlarge11 yrs£1,680£19,130
Irish Wolfhoundgiant8 yrs£2,290£19,120
Broholmergiant8 yrs£2,290£19,120
Cão de Gado Transmontanogiant8 yrs£2,290£19,120
Greater Swiss Mountain Doggiant8 yrs£2,290£19,120
Kangal Shepherd Doggiant8 yrs£2,290£19,120
Neapolitan Mastiffgiant8 yrs£2,290£19,120
Rafeiro do Alentejogiant8 yrs£2,290£19,120
Scottish Deerhoundgiant8 yrs£2,290£19,120
Miniature Schnauzersmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Cockapoosmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Shetland Sheepdogsmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Bedlington Terriersmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Cavapoosmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Cavapoochonsmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Scottish Terriersmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Lakeland Terriersmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Welsh Terriersmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Cesky Terriersmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
German Spitzsmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Löwchensmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Sealyham Terriersmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Skye Terriersmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Wire Fox Terriersmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Schnoodlesmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Pomskysmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Poochonsmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Lhasapoosmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Scoodlesmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Cairnoodlesmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Sheltidoodlesmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Mini Cockapoosmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Mini Labradoodlesmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Mini Goldendoodlesmall14 yrs£1,320£18,880
Border Colliemedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
English Springer Spanielmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Siberian Huskymedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Australian Shepherdmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Sprocker Spanielmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
American Water Spanielmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Black Norwegian Elkhoundmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Blue Picardy Spanielmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Bohemian Shepherdmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Briquet Griffon Vendéenmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Brittany Spanielmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Catalan Sheepdogmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Eurasiermedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Field Spanielmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Finnish Lapphundmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
German Spanielmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Grand Basset Griffon Vendéenmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Griffon Bleu de Gascognemedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Griffon Fauve de Bretagnemedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Icelandic Sheepdogmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Irish Terriermedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Kintamanimedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Korean Jindomedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Norwegian Buhundmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Norwegian Elkhoundmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievermedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Picardy Spanielmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Pont-Audemer Spanielmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Portuguese Sheepdogmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Pumimedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Shikoku dogmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Small Münsterländermedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Spanish Water Dogmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Stabyhounmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Swedish Lapphundmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Thai Bangkaew Dogmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Welsh Springer Spanielmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
West Siberian Laikamedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Wetterhounmedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Yakutian Laikamedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Cockadormedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Cavadormedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
English Boodlemedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Siberpoomedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Spanadormedium12 yrs£1,500£18,500
Great Danegiant8 yrs£2,170£18,160
English Mastiffgiant8 yrs£2,170£18,160
Dogue de Bordeauxgiant8 yrs£2,170£18,160
Fila Brasileirogiant8 yrs£2,170£18,160
Presa Canariogiant8 yrs£2,170£18,160
Tosagiant8 yrs£2,170£18,160
Yorkshire Terriertoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Pomeraniantoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Maltipootoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Yorkipootoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Shih-Pootoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Australian Silky Terriertoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Bolognesetoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Coton de Tuleartoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Havanesetoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Morkietoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Havapootoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Pomapootoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Shorkietoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Yorktesetoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Weeraniantoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Mini Cavapootoy15 yrs£1,140£17,450
Cavalier King Charles Spanielsmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
West Highland White Terriersmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Cairn Terriersmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Norfolk Terriersmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Fox Terriersmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Dandie Dinmont Terriersmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Glen of Imaal Terriersmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Japanese Spitzsmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Kooikerhondjesmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Kromfohrländersmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Miniature American Shepherdsmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Norwegian Lundehundsmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Norwich Terriersmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Pembroke Welsh Corgismall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéensmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Pyrenean Sheepdogsmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Sussex Spanielsmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Tibetan Spanielsmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Volpino Italianosmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Cavachonsmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Jackapoosmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Corgipoosmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Westiepoosmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Pugapoosmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Boshihsmall14 yrs£1,200£17,200
Bulldogmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Belgian Malinoismedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Basset Houndmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Shar Peimedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Aidimedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Appenzeller Sennenhundmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Australian Cattle Dogmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Australian Kelpiemedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dogmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Barak houndmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Berger Picardmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Bouvier des Ardennesmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Canaan Dogmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Croatian Sheepdogmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Drentse Patrijshondmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Dutch Shepherdmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Entlebucher Mountain Dogmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Finnish Spitzmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Griffon Nivernaismedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Istrian Coarse-haired Houndmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Kai Kenmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Karelian Bear Dogmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Kishumedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Lapponian Herdermedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Montenegrin Mountain Houndmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Mudimedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Peruvian Hairless Dogmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Portuguese Podengomedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Russo-European Laikamedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Segugio dell'Appenninomedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Segugio Italiano a Pelo Fortemedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Segugio Italiano a Pelo Rasomedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Segugio Maremmanomedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Serbian Houndmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Serbian Tricolour Houndmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Slovenský kopovmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Smaland Houndmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Styrian Coarse-haired Houndmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Tyrolean Houndmedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Corgidormedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Bullpeimedium12 yrs£1,380£17,060
Papillontoy15 yrs£1,020£15,650
Affenpinschertoy15 yrs£1,020£15,650
Chinese Crested Dogtoy15 yrs£1,020£15,650
Griffon Bruxelloistoy15 yrs£1,020£15,650
Japanese Chintoy15 yrs£1,020£15,650
King Charles Spanieltoy15 yrs£1,020£15,650
Chorkietoy15 yrs£1,020£15,650
Pomchitoy15 yrs£1,020£15,650
Pugshiretoy15 yrs£1,020£15,650
Yorkillontoy15 yrs£1,020£15,650
Staffordshire Bull Terriermedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Beaglemedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Whippetmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Bull Terriermedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
American Staffordshire Terriermedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Anglo-Français de Petite Véneriemedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Ariégeoismedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Artois Houndmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Austrian Black and Tan Houndmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Bavarian Mountain Houndmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Beagle-Harriermedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Braque du Bourbonnaismedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Campeiro Bulldogmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Colombian Fino Houndmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Continental Bulldogmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Dunkermedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Estonian Houndmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Finnish Houndmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
German Pinschermedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Gończy Polskimedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Greek Harehoundmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Halden Houndmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Harriermedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Hygen Houndmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Istrian Shorthaired Houndmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Old Danish Pointermedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Petit Bleu de Gascognemedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Pharaoh Houndmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Podenco Canariomedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Porcelainemedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Portuguese Pointermedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Posavac Houndmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Sabueso Españolmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Sarail Houndmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Schillerstövaremedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Schweizer Laufhundmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Tatranský duričmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Thai Ridgebackmedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Xoloitzcuintlemedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Bulladormedium12 yrs£1,260£15,620
Border Terriersmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Dachshundsmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Pugsmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Shiba Inusmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Patterdale Terriersmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Alpine Dachsbrackesmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Australian Terriersmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Basset Artésien Normandsmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Basset Bleu de Gascognesmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Basset Fauve de Bretagnesmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Lancashire Heelersmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Norrbottenspetssmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Parson Russell Terriersmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Schipperkesmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Smooth Fox Terriersmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Swedish Vallhundsmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Cavajacksmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Pugglesmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Jugsmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Frenchtonsmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Dorgismall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Beagliersmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Frenchie Pugsmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Bulljacksmall14 yrs£1,080£15,520
Chihuahuatoy15 yrs£900£13,850
Pražský Krysaříktoy15 yrs£900£13,850
Russian Toytoy15 yrs£900£13,850
Chiweenietoy15 yrs£900£13,850
French Bulldogsmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Jack Russell Terriersmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Basenjismall14 yrs£960£13,840
Andalusian Terriersmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Boston Terriersmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Brazilian Terriersmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Cirneco dell'Etnasmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Danish–Swedish Farmdogsmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Dreversmall14 yrs£960£13,840
German Houndsmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Ratonero Valencianosmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Jagdterriersmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Japanese Terriersmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Manchester Terriersmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Miniature Bull Terriersmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Schweizerischer Niederlaufhundsmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Westphalian Dachsbrackesmall14 yrs£960£13,840
Italian Greyhoundtoy15 yrs£780£12,050
English Toy Terrier (Black & Tan)toy15 yrs£780£12,050
Miniature Pinschertoy15 yrs£780£12,050

How we worked this out

Lifetime cost = one-off set-up (neutering, microchip, initial vaccinations and core kit — excluding the purchase or adoption price) plus the annual running cost × the breed’s typical lifespan. Annual cost combines food, pet insurance, routine/preventive vet care, grooming and everyday extras. Costs are banded by dog size, and the grooming figure is scaled by each breed’s grooming-upkeep needs.

These are estimates from published UK averages, for illustration — real costs vary widely by dog, region, vet and lifestyle, and insurance rises with age. Sources:

  • PDSA — Cost of owning a dog
  • Association of British Insurers (ABI) — pet insurance premium & claim data
  • Mainstream UK pet-cost guides & insurers (food, preventive care, grooming, set-up)
  • UK vet/welfare guidance on typical lifespan by dog size

Journalists: you’re welcome to cite this study with a link to this page. For the full dataset, a breed-by-breed breakdown or a regional cut, get in touch.

Work out your own numbers with the Puppy Cost Calculator and Pet Food Cost Calculator, or compare dog breeds. More studies on our research hub.