Cost of owning a dog in Canada

Lifetime and food cost for 272 dogs, localized to CAD.

The cheapest dog to own in Canada is the Japanese Chin (~C$22,165 lifetime). All costs in CAD. Pet insurance is widely available in Canada.

Cheapest dogs to own in Canada (CAD)

Chart: the six cheapest dogs to own in Canada, by total lifetime cost.

#	Breed	Size	Food/yr	Lifetime
1	Japanese Chin	Small	C$280	C$22,165
2	English Toy Spaniel	Small	C$315	C$24,295
3	Russian Toy	Small	C$200	C$24,660
4	Danish-Swedish Farmdog	Small	C$450	C$25,390
5	Toy Fox Terrier	Small	C$175	C$25,970
6	Jagdterrier	Small	C$490	C$26,215
7	Boston Terrier	Small	C$470	C$26,240
8	Russell Terrier	Small	C$340	C$26,505
9	Miniature Bull Terrier	Small	C$555	C$26,630
10	Chihuahua	Small	C$160	C$26,650
11	Miniature Pinscher	Small	C$280	C$26,695
12	Schipperke	Small	C$360	C$26,755
13	Lancashire Heeler	Small	C$360	C$26,975
14	Bolognese	Small	C$225	C$27,010
15	Portuguese Podengo Pequeno	Small	C$315	C$27,065
16	Norwich Terrier	Small	C$340	C$27,415
17	Tibetan Spaniel	Small	C$340	C$27,415
18	Border Terrier	Small	C$360	C$27,675
19	Australian Terrier	Small	C$450	C$27,935
20	Japanese Spitz	Small	C$450	C$27,935
21	Italian Greyhound	Small	C$310	C$28,010
22	Norfolk Terrier	Small	C$330	C$28,140
23	Cirneco dell’Etna	Small	C$530	C$28,270
24	Scottish Terrier	Small	C$495	C$28,410
25	Affenpinscher	Small	C$265	C$28,460
26	Papillon	Small	C$240	C$28,585
27	Brussels Griffon	Small	C$280	C$28,635
28	Smooth Fox Terrier	Small	C$435	C$28,635
29	Wire Fox Terrier	Small	C$435	C$28,635
30	Mudi	Small	C$560	C$28,690
31	Cairn Terrier	Small	C$375	C$28,775
32	Lakeland Terrier	Small	C$445	C$28,810
33	Pekingese	Small	C$380	C$29,025
34	Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka	Small	C$240	C$29,045
35	Parson Russell Terrier	Small	C$400	C$29,135
36	Cesky Terrier	Small	C$485	C$29,330
37	Löwchen	Small	C$350	C$29,460
38	Pug	Small	C$425	C$29,495
39	Chinese Crested	Small	C$295	C$29,540
40	Basenji	Small	C$555	C$29,595
41	Silky Terrier	Small	C$295	C$29,860
42	Beagle	Small	C$595	C$29,955
43	Lhasa Apso	Small	C$400	C$30,290
44	Shetland Sheepdog	Small	C$495	C$30,535
45	Poodle (Miniature)	Small	C$350	C$30,580
46	American Eskimo Dog	Small	C$510	C$30,670
47	Sealyham Terrier	Small	C$560	C$31,375
48	Maltese	Small	C$225	C$31,425
49	Shiba Inu	Small	C$495	C$31,475
50	Teddy Roosevelt Terrier	Small	C$435	C$31,495
51	Bedlington Terrier	Small	C$495	C$31,600
52	Welsh Terrier	Small	C$495	C$31,600
53	Havanese	Small	C$295	C$31,785
54	Rat Terrier	Small	C$450	C$31,785
55	Taiwan Dog	Medium	C$730	C$31,890
56	Manchester Terrier (Toy)	Small	C$340	C$31,950
57	Biewer Terrier	Small	C$200	C$32,160
58	Maltipoo	Small	C$350	C$32,460
59	Pomeranian	Small	C$175	C$32,595
60	Bulldog (English)	Medium	C$915	C$32,840
61	Yorkshire Terrier	Small	C$185	C$32,875
62	American Hairless Terrier	Small	C$380	C$33,045
63	Treeing Tennessee Brindle	Medium	C$840	C$33,095
64	Braque du Bourbonnais	Medium	C$905	C$33,240
65	Pumi	Medium	C$600	C$33,550
66	Manchester Terrier (Standard)	Small	C$445	C$33,605
67	Dachshund	Small	C$575	C$33,615
68	French Bulldog	Small	C$535	C$33,830
69	Shikoku	Medium	C$915	C$33,950
70	Basset Fauve de Bretagne	Medium	C$700	C$34,115
71	Yakutian Laika	Medium	C$955	C$34,375
72	Dogue de Bordeaux	Giant	C$1,730	C$34,395
73	Mountain Cur	Medium	C$915	C$34,755
74	Pembroke Welsh Corgi	Medium	C$660	C$34,925
75	Dandie Dinmont Terrier	Small	C$515	C$35,350
76	Poodle (Toy)	Small	C$175	C$35,375
77	West Highland White Terrier	Small	C$450	C$35,645
78	Icelandic Sheepdog	Medium	C$635	C$35,860
79	Peruvian Inca Orchid	Medium	C$705	C$36,115
80	Kishu Ken	Medium	C$915	C$36,130
81	Slovensky Kopov	Medium	C$820	C$36,300
82	German Shepherd Dog	Large	C$1,280	C$36,380
83	Swedish Vallhund	Medium	C$635	C$36,425
84	Karelian Bear Dog	Medium	C$945	C$36,445
85	Nederlandse Kooikerhondje	Medium	C$595	C$36,600
86	Norwegian Lundehund	Medium	C$595	C$36,600
87	Staffordshire Bull Terrier	Medium	C$700	C$36,700
88	American Water Spaniel	Medium	C$760	C$36,755
89	German Pinscher	Medium	C$760	C$36,870
90	Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	Small	C$415	C$36,880
91	Kai Ken	Medium	C$680	C$37,035
92	Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen	Medium	C$725	C$37,040
93	Tibetan Terrier	Small	C$575	C$37,050
94	Irish Terrier	Medium	C$605	C$37,295
95	Miniature Schnauzer	Small	C$415	C$37,440
96	Whippet	Medium	C$725	C$37,645
97	Boykin Spaniel	Medium	C$725	C$37,670
98	Field Spaniel	Medium	C$880	C$37,670
99	Sloughi	Medium	C$880	C$37,670
100	Flat-Coated Retriever	Large	C$1,215	C$37,740
101	Irish Wolfhound	Giant	C$1,830	C$37,785
102	Cocker Spaniel	Medium	C$595	C$37,840
103	Ibizan Hound	Medium	C$955	C$37,995
104	Swedish Lapphund	Medium	C$800	C$38,045
105	Cardigan Welsh Corgi	Medium	C$705	C$38,080
106	German Shepherd	Large	C$1,280	C$38,150
107	Finnish Spitz	Medium	C$620	C$38,200
108	Glen of Imaal Terrier	Medium	C$775	C$38,315
109	Shih Tzu	Small	C$350	C$38,335
110	Norwegian Buhund	Medium	C$730	C$38,430
111	English Cocker Spaniel	Medium	C$680	C$38,465
112	Croatian Sheepdog	Medium	C$790	C$38,515
113	Portuguese Sheepdog	Medium	C$965	C$38,720
114	Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever	Medium	C$880	C$39,055
115	Chinese Shar-Pei	Large	C$1,035	C$39,225
116	German Shorthaired Pointer	Large	C$1,105	C$39,360
117	Brittany	Medium	C$760	C$39,555
118	English Springer Spaniel	Medium	C$915	C$39,555
119	Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier	Medium	C$760	C$39,555
120	Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog	Medium	C$820	C$39,650
121	Bichon Frise	Small	C$400	C$39,815
122	German Spitz	Medium	C$595	C$40,010
123	Deutscher Wachtelhund	Medium	C$955	C$40,060
124	Irish Red and White Setter	Medium	C$955	C$40,060
125	Schapendoes	Medium	C$855	C$40,085
126	Working Kelpie	Medium	C$905	C$40,085
127	Miniature American Shepherd	Medium	C$680	C$40,335
128	Kromfohrlander	Medium	C$635	C$40,550
129	Coton de Tulear	Small	C$330	C$40,575
130	Finnish Lapphund	Medium	C$890	C$40,610
131	Azawakh	Medium	C$905	C$40,785
132	Canaan Dog	Medium	C$915	C$40,960
133	Welsh Springer Spaniel	Medium	C$915	C$40,960
134	Bohemian Shepherd	Medium	C$975	C$41,045
135	Australian Cattle Dog	Medium	C$880	C$41,095
136	Jindo	Medium	C$840	C$41,275
137	Kerry Blue Terrier	Medium	C$790	C$41,310
138	Norrbottenspets	Medium	C$595	C$41,560
139	Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen	Medium	C$880	C$41,820
140	Chow Chow	Large	C$1,105	C$42,005
141	Keeshond	Medium	C$840	C$42,005
142	Portuguese Pointer	Medium	C$950	C$42,090
143	Portuguese Water Dog	Medium	C$955	C$42,180
144	Bullmastiff	Giant	C$1,860	C$42,475
145	Drever	Medium	C$800	C$42,645
146	Xoloitzcuintli	Medium	C$725	C$42,765
147	Border Collie	Medium	C$880	C$42,785
148	Portuguese Podengo	Large	C$1,000	C$43,020
149	Lagotto Romagnolo	Medium	C$670	C$43,215
150	Rhodesian Ridgeback	Large	C$1,380	C$43,230
151	Sussex Spaniel	Medium	C$840	C$43,445
152	Puli	Medium	C$680	C$43,565
153	Polish Lowland Sheepdog	Medium	C$840	C$43,925
154	Skye Terrier	Medium	C$840	C$43,925
155	Bernese Mountain Dog	Giant	C$1,575	C$44,225
156	Neapolitan Mastiff	Giant	C$2,035	C$44,280
157	Belgian Laekenois	Large	C$1,145	C$44,580
158	Boxer	Large	C$1,215	C$44,795
159	Standard Schnauzer	Medium	C$840	C$44,885
160	Australian Shepherd	Medium	C$1,035	C$44,945
161	American English Coonhound	Large	C$1,065	C$44,970
162	Labrador Retriever	Large	C$1,245	C$45,305
163	French Spaniel	Large	C$1,065	C$45,435
164	Clumber Spaniel	Large	C$1,280	C$46,075
165	Rottweiler	Large	C$1,770	C$46,345
166	Entlebucher Mountain Dog	Large	C$1,035	C$46,385
167	Segugio Italiano	Large	C$995	C$46,540
168	Curly-Coated Retriever	Large	C$1,380	C$46,645
169	Greyhound	Large	C$1,215	C$46,675
170	Bluetick Coonhound	Large	C$1,175	C$46,825
171	American Bulldog	Large	C$1,415	C$47,000
172	Doberman Pinscher	Large	C$1,415	C$47,000
173	Scottish Deerhound	Giant	C$1,575	C$47,010
174	Siberian Husky	Large	C$955	C$47,030
175	English Foxhound	Large	C$1,245	C$47,050
176	Spanish Water Dog	Medium	C$840	C$47,285
177	Transylvanian Hound	Large	C$1,065	C$47,395
178	Great Dane	Giant	C$2,185	C$47,630
179	Broholmer	Giant	C$1,920	C$47,820
180	Golden Retriever	Large	C$1,215	C$47,845
181	Dalmatian	Large	C$1,105	C$47,860
182	Mastiff	Giant	C$2,545	C$47,950
183	Czechoslovakian Vlcak	Large	C$1,000	C$48,420
184	Weimaraner	Large	C$1,320	C$48,460
185	American Foxhound	Large	C$1,215	C$48,555
186	Thai Ridgeback	Large	C$1,065	C$48,580
187	Black and Tan Coonhound	Large	C$1,510	C$48,635
188	Porcelaine	Large	C$1,120	C$49,225
189	Old English Sheepdog	Large	C$1,415	C$49,270
190	Chesapeake Bay Retriever	Large	C$1,245	C$49,425
191	Plott Hound	Large	C$995	C$49,465
192	Small Munsterlander Pointer	Large	C$995	C$49,465
193	Berger Picard	Large	C$1,145	C$49,550
194	Irish Water Spaniel	Large	C$1,090	C$49,550
195	Treeing Walker Coonhound	Large	C$1,145	C$49,550
196	Bracco Italiano	Large	C$1,320	C$49,795
197	Perro de Presa Canario	Giant	C$1,635	C$49,860
198	Dutch Shepherd	Large	C$1,120	C$49,870
199	Greater Swiss Mountain Dog	Giant	C$1,830	C$49,895
200	Borzoi	Large	C$1,445	C$49,945
201	Lapponian Herder	Large	C$1,280	C$49,950
202	Barbet	Large	C$995	C$50,135
203	Pharaoh Hound	Large	C$995	C$50,135
204	Bull Terrier	Large	C$1,145	C$50,195
205	Drentsche Patrijshond	Large	C$1,150	C$50,275
206	Wirehaired Vizsla	Large	C$1,065	C$50,385
207	Vizsla	Large	C$1,025	C$50,555
208	English Setter	Large	C$1,175	C$50,570
209	Hovawart	Large	C$1,380	C$50,570
210	Gordon Setter	Large	C$1,175	C$50,600
211	Basset Hound	Large	C$1,035	C$50,760
212	Newfoundland	Giant	C$1,975	C$51,305
213	Saint Bernard	Giant	C$2,265	C$51,425
214	Saluki	Large	C$1,035	C$51,755
215	Wetterhoun	Large	C$1,175	C$51,815
216	Slovensky Cuvac	Large	C$1,445	C$51,970
217	Airedale Terrier	Large	C$1,145	C$52,135
218	Samoyed	Large	C$995	C$52,150
219	Catahoula Leopard Dog	Large	C$1,320	C$52,280
220	Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound	Large	C$1,020	C$52,280
221	Norwegian Elkhound	Large	C$1,020	C$52,280
222	Hanoverian Scenthound	Large	C$1,530	C$52,355
223	Harrier	Large	C$1,035	C$52,455
224	Wirehaired Pointing Griffon	Large	C$1,035	C$52,455
225	Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer	Large	C$1,105	C$52,715
226	German Longhaired Pointer	Large	C$1,245	C$52,740
227	Hokkaido	Large	C$1,065	C$52,890
228	Stabyhoun	Large	C$995	C$53,005
229	Leonberger	Giant	C$2,035	C$53,055
230	American Leopard Hound	Large	C$1,105	C$53,415
231	Redbone Coonhound	Large	C$1,105	C$53,415
232	Alaskan Malamute	Large	C$1,415	C$53,440
233	Appenzeller Sennenhund	Large	C$1,125	C$53,675
234	American Staffordshire Terrier	Large	C$1,065	C$54,000
235	Belgian Sheepdog	Large	C$1,145	C$54,080
236	Belgian Tervuren	Large	C$1,145	C$54,080
237	Great Pyrenees	Giant	C$1,575	C$54,390
238	Kuvasz	Giant	C$1,575	C$54,390
239	Collie	Large	C$1,175	C$54,500
240	Pudelpointer	Large	C$1,105	C$54,540
241	Bloodhound	Giant	C$1,610	C$54,745
242	Bearded Collie	Large	C$995	C$55,510
243	Beauceron	Giant	C$1,545	C$55,740
244	Chinook	Large	C$1,280	C$55,770
245	Briard	Large	C$1,380	C$56,155
246	Eurasier	Large	C$1,065	C$56,895
247	Irish Setter	Large	C$1,215	C$56,990
248	Bergamasco Sheepdog	Large	C$1,285	C$57,075
249	Otterhound	Giant	C$1,640	C$57,425
250	Pointer	Large	C$1,145	C$57,680
251	Afghan Hound	Large	C$1,065	C$58,470
252	Tibetan Mastiff	Giant	C$1,795	C$58,510
253	Bouvier des Flandres	Giant	C$1,545	C$58,580
254	Dogo Argentino	Giant	C$1,595	C$58,595
255	Tornjak	Large	C$1,490	C$58,615
256	Boerboel	Giant	C$2,545	C$58,970
257	Belgian Malinois	Large	C$1,145	C$59,550
258	German Wirehaired Pointer	Large	C$1,145	C$59,550
259	Hamiltonstovare	Large	C$1,105	C$60,020
260	Poodle (Standard)	Large	C$1,105	C$60,285
261	Black Russian Terrier	Giant	C$1,740	C$60,715
262	Estrela Mountain Dog	Giant	C$1,730	C$60,840
263	Giant Schnauzer	Large	C$1,280	C$61,350
264	Komondor	Giant	C$1,545	C$61,425
265	Tosa	Giant	C$2,265	C$61,425
266	Caucasian Shepherd Dog	Giant	C$2,095	C$61,780
267	Anatolian Shepherd Dog	Giant	C$1,860	C$62,390
268	Akita	Giant	C$1,675	C$62,555
269	Rafeiro do Alentejo	Giant	C$1,730	C$65,590
270	Spanish Mastiff	Giant	C$2,495	C$66,185
271	Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog	Giant	C$1,860	C$67,270
272	Pyrenean Mastiff	Giant	C$2,605	C$70,280

What a dog really costs in Canada

Across 272 dogs, lifetime cost in Canada ranges from about C$22,165 for the Japanese Chin up to C$70,280 for the Pyrenean Mastiff — roughly a 3.2× spread. That gap is driven by body size (which sets how much a dog eats and its medication doses), breed health risk (which sets insurance premiums and likely vet bills) and lifespan (which multiplies every recurring annual cost). Local prices matter just as much: Canada sits at a food price index of 0.95 and a services index of 0.95 against the US baseline of 1.00, so the same breed can cost noticeably more or less here than abroad. Every figure on this page is in CAD. Pet insurance is widely available in Canada.

Food & vet localized via Canada's price-level index; converted to CAD. US base from the RER/MER food formula and NAPHIA insurance averages. Modelled estimates — verify locally.

Compiled by the PawCosts data team from World Bank price-level data, NAPHIA averages and AAFCO/vet nutrition formulas.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest dog to own in Canada?

The Japanese Chin — about C$22,165 over its lifetime in CAD.

What is the most expensive dog to own in Canada?

The Pyrenean Mastiff — around C$70,280 lifetime.

Is pet insurance available in Canada?

Pet insurance is widely available in Canada.

How are Canada dog costs calculated?

US base costs (food via the vet RER/MER calorie formula, NAPHIA insurance averages) scaled by Canada's price-level indices — food 0.95, services 0.95 — and converted to CAD.

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