Dog breeds come in different price tags. However, a cheaper breed of dog does not mean you will get less for your money. We have listed down the 10 cheapest dog breeds that will equally make great family pets.
Cheapest Dog Breed #10: Cavachon
Life expectancy: 10–15 years
What makes the Cavachon a wonderful pet?:
- Low-shedding
- Hypoallergenic
- Ideal for apartment living
Cavachons are small designer dogs who were created through crossing a Bichon Frise and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. The average purchase price of these jolly and fun-loving pooches is around £1,900–£2,500.
The Cavachon is a low-shedding and hypoallergenic breed. Grooming and allergies are the least of your worries when caring for this lovely pooch.
Cavachons are great apartment pets because of their diminutive size. Do not be fooled by their smallness, though. They may not be as active as other dog breeds, but Cavachons are playful and need enough exercise to stay healthy and fit.
Cheapest Dog Breed #9: Bichon Frise
Life expectancy: 9–15 years
What makes the Bichon Frise a wonderful pet?:
- Hypoallergenic
- Rarely barks
- Easy to train
The Bichon Frise has long been considered a wonderful companion dog. He is full of life and has a clownish personality. This can be attributed to the breed’s history of being street performers and circus dogs. These dogs cost around £1,800–£2,500.
Bichon Frise dogs have pristine hypoallergenic white coats. They are a great fit for families who have pet allergies. Before acquiring one, know that maintaining his coat takes a lot of work.
The Bichon Frise may be one of the cheapest dog breeds, but his grooming aspect will entail spending money. To keep his coat near and manageable, he needs to be taken to a professional groomer periodically, which can add to your expenses.
Bichon Frise dogs are small in size and rarely bark. They are very suitable pets for city and apartment dwellers. They go along well with novice dog owners since these pooches are quick to learn and easy to train.
Cheapest Dog Breed #8: Pomeranian
Life expectancy: 10–16 years
What makes the Pomeranian a wonderful pet?:
- Very affectionate
- Alert and confident
- Protective of his family
Feisty and full of confidence, the Pomeranian can be a handful to care for. However, his pretty face and loving personality make it hard not to love him.
Thinking of owning a Pomeranian? As one of the cheapest dog breeds, his price is around £1,500–£2,000.
Even if he is one of the cheapest dog breeds, care should be taken when choosing a Pomeranian puppy. Be warned that due to the dog breed’s popularity, unscrupulous breeding is rampant.
It is common for shady breeders to sell poorly bred puppies at a low price. When buying a Pomeranian puppy, make sure that the breeder is trustworthy and follows proper breeding ethics.
Otherwise, they might give you a sickly Pomeranian pup with behavioural issues. These are huge factors that contribute to expensive vet bills.
Owning a Pom means frequently dealing with heavy shedding. Thus, arm yourself with a doggy hairbrush. Regularly brushing his coat will greatly minimise loose hair from falling everywhere in your house.
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Cheapest Dog Breed #7: Whippet
Life expectancy: 12–15 years
What makes the Whippet a wonderful pet?:
- Minimal grooming needs
- A breed with minimal health problems
- Athletic and active
One of the cheapest dog breeds is the Whippet. He is a swift-footed hunting dog now valued as a deeply affectionate canine companion. Having one typically costs about £1,600– £2,500.
Whippets are generally healthy and not prone to many health issues. Hence, you are less likely to pay expensive vet bills.
Moreover, Whippets are low-maintenance dogs when it comes to grooming. These are contributing factors as to why he is one of the cheapest dog breeds around.
The Whippet is an active pooch. He needs a spacious home with a fenced backyard so that he can run freely and expend his energy.
Extremely people-oriented, the Whippet cannot be left alone for long periods as he may suffer from separation anxiety. The ideal owner for this dog breed is someone that can spend most of their time at home.
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Cheapest Dog Breed #6: Siberian Husky
Life expectancy: 10–13 years
What makes the Siberian Husky a wonderful pet?:
- Possesses a humorous and playful nature
- Easy-going and pet-friendly
- Highly sociable and people-oriented
The free-spirited and popular Siberian Husky is also one of the cheapest dogs a dog lover can obtain. The price tag for the breed typically ranges from £1,200–£2,000.
Siberian Huskies have more complex needs than most dogs. They have high energy levels and must have lots of exercise, or else they will become very destructive family dogs.
Aside from that, Siberian Huskies are crafty enough to escape the yard if left unsupervised. They are also challenging to train because of their innate stubbornness.
Grooming-wise, these Siberian Husky pooches are extremely heavy shedders. As such, a lot of effort should be poured into brushing and vacuuming every day.
Although the Siberian Husky is one of the cheapest dog breeds, he is not the right fit for just any dog lover. He is better suited for dog lovers who are adept at handling the breed.
Cheapest Dog Breed #5: Chihuahua
Life expectancy: 15–20 years
What makes the Chihuahua a wonderful pet?:
- Ideal for apartment living
- Requires less amount of food
- Low grooming maintenance
One of the cheapest dog breeds, the Chihuahua, usually costs around £1,000–£2,000. Much like the Pomeranian, this small dog is often a victim of poor breeding. For this reason, always be vigilant when choosing a Chihuahua breeder.
Like most small breeds, the Chihuahuas do not require big meals of dog food, which reduces their monthly expenses in caring for them. These small dogs also have low grooming costs as their coats are easy to care for.
The Chihuahua may be one of the cheapest dog breeds, but healthwise, he needs careful monitoring. The breed is the smallest of all dogs, meaning his health and body are extremely fragile.
Chihuahuas are prone to certain health issues and extremely at risk of injuries and trauma. We suggest owning this dog only if you are financially prepared to shoulder all of the vet expenses that may come up during the dog’s lifetime.
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Cheapest Dog Breed #4: Manchester Terrier
Life expectancy: 14–16 years
What makes the Manchester Terrier a wonderful pet?:
- Adaptable to various living conditions
- Intelligent and highly trainable
- Suitable for watchdog duty
The sleek and nimble Manchester Terrier is also one of the cheapest dog breeds. A Manchester terrier puppy costs around £800–£2,000. The breed is renowned for its prowess in killing rats.
Note that Manchester Terriers come in 2 variations: Toy and Standard. If you opt to get a Toy Manchester Terrier, he is smaller and fragile compare to his Standard counterpart. Care should be taken when interacting with this diminutive dog to avoid hurting and injuring him.
As hunting dogs, Manchester Terriers naturally have a strong prey drive, high exercise needs, and a strong-willed personality. They need owners who can take on these challenges.
If you think that the Manchester Terrier is too much for you to handle, check our remaining top 3 choices for the cheapest dog breeds.
Cheapest Dog Breed #3: Border Collie
Life expectancy: 12–17 years
What makes the Border Collie a wonderful pet?:
- Extremely smart and easy to train
- Hardworking and tenacious
- Enjoys unlimited amounts of playtime
Border Collies are popular dogs that are prized for their impressive herding skills. More than that, they are well-loved by many dog lovers for being energetic and on-the-go canine companions.
When it comes to price, the Border Collie is one of the cheapest dog breeds. The price range for a Border Collie puppy is around £800–£1,500.
As a herding dog, the Collie breed is athletic and constantly brimming with energy. Without proper exercise, he will end up hyperactive and destructive.
The Border Collies will chase anything that moves or try to herd their human companions. Since they are too intense for novice dog owners, they are better suited for experienced handlers.
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Cheapest Dog Breed #2: Patterdale Terrier
Life expectancy: 11–14 years
What makes the Patterdale Terrier a wonderful pet?:
- Easy to groom
- Highly adaptable
- Loves to bond with his family
Ranking 2nd place on our cheapest dog breeds list is the Patterdale Terrier breed. Potential dog owners who want to bring home this pooch will need to spend about £900–£1,500.
The Patterdale Terrier is a hardworking hunting dog that also fits well as a family companion. Although not considered an official breed by many major kennel clubs, his fun-loving and lively nature has caught the hearts of many dog fanciers.
Similar to most Terriers, the Patterdale Terrier breed is a ball of energy and confidence. He can be fiercely independent and headstrong. Thus, he requires an experienced owner with a firm and consistent training technique.
The Cheapest Dog Breed: Jack Russell Terrier
Life expectancy: 10–15 years
What makes the Jack Russell Terrier a wonderful pet?:
- Greatly loves his human companions
- Sharp and quick on his feet
- Smart and a fast learner
The number one cheapest dog breed on our list is the Jack Russell Terrier. The cost for purchasing a Jack Russell puppy ranges from £700–£1,500.
Jack Russell Terriers are tenacious working dogs and great hunting companions. Even as family pets, they need ample amounts of physical and mental stimulation.
With the right owner, Jack Russell Terriers’ vigour will prove to be a source of great joy and entertainment as these small dogs love playtime. Ideally, these highly active pooches are canine companions for active and athletic dog lovers.
Jack Russell Terriers are vocal and alert dogs. Although diminutive in stature, they will not hesitate to alarm owners when an intruder is around. These skills can be put to good use if they are given proper training and early socialisation.
Jack Russell Terrier is also known to be the toughest—he is a generally healthy dog and less prone to diseases. Because of this reason, this sturdy dog’s cost is one of the lowest for pet insurance.
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Think Before You Commit
Before buying one of these cheapest dog breeds, take time to ponder whether you are ready to raise a dog.
Caring for a budget-friendly pooch can be equally pricey as one of the expensive dog breeds. Many new dog owners were caught off guard by how costly it is to look after a dog.
Did you know the average cost of raising a pooch is around £1,800 per year? Moreover, according to PDSA, the total expenses of owning a dog over his lifetime can run up to £30,000.
For this reason, avoid rushing into becoming a dog owner. Only commit yourself to the responsibility when you are certain that you can provide for your dog’s needs throughout his life.
