Cost of owning a dog in Germany
Lifetime and food cost for 272 dogs, localized to EUR.
The cheapest dog to own in Germany is the Japanese Chin (~€12,290 lifetime). All costs in EUR. Pet insurance is widely available in Germany.
Chart: the six cheapest dogs to own in Germany, by total lifetime cost.
| # | Breed | Size | Food/yr | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japanese Chin | Small | €180 | €12,290 |
| 2 | English Toy Spaniel | Small | €205 | €13,475 |
| 3 | Russian Toy | Small | €130 | €13,565 |
| 4 | Toy Fox Terrier | Small | €110 | €14,245 |
| 5 | Danish-Swedish Farmdog | Small | €290 | €14,260 |
| 6 | Chihuahua | Small | €105 | €14,600 |
| 7 | Jagdterrier | Small | €315 | €14,705 |
| 8 | Boston Terrier | Small | €300 | €14,740 |
| 9 | Russell Terrier | Small | €220 | €14,750 |
| 10 | Miniature Pinscher | Small | €180 | €14,785 |
| 11 | Bolognese | Small | €145 | €14,855 |
| 12 | Schipperke | Small | €230 | €14,910 |
| 13 | Portuguese Podengo Pequeno | Small | €205 | €15,025 |
| 14 | Lancashire Heeler | Small | €230 | €15,045 |
| 15 | Miniature Bull Terrier | Small | €355 | €15,055 |
| 16 | Norwich Terrier | Small | €220 | €15,250 |
| 17 | Tibetan Spaniel | Small | €220 | €15,250 |
| 18 | Border Terrier | Small | €230 | €15,420 |
| 19 | Italian Greyhound | Small | €200 | €15,550 |
| 20 | Norfolk Terrier | Small | €210 | €15,635 |
| 21 | Australian Terrier | Small | €290 | €15,665 |
| 22 | Japanese Spitz | Small | €290 | €15,665 |
| 23 | Affenpinscher | Small | €170 | €15,700 |
| 24 | Papillon | Small | €155 | €15,760 |
| 25 | Brussels Griffon | Small | €180 | €15,810 |
| 26 | Scottish Terrier | Small | €320 | €15,935 |
| 27 | Cirneco dell’Etna | Small | €340 | €15,950 |
| 28 | Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka | Small | €155 | €15,985 |
| 29 | Smooth Fox Terrier | Small | €275 | €16,035 |
| 30 | Wire Fox Terrier | Small | €275 | €16,035 |
| 31 | Cairn Terrier | Small | €240 | €16,040 |
| 32 | Lakeland Terrier | Small | €285 | €16,145 |
| 33 | Pekingese | Small | €245 | €16,150 |
| 34 | Mudi | Small | €360 | €16,220 |
| 35 | Parson Russell Terrier | Small | €255 | €16,275 |
| 36 | Chinese Crested | Small | €190 | €16,375 |
| 37 | Löwchen | Small | €225 | €16,400 |
| 38 | Cesky Terrier | Small | €310 | €16,480 |
| 39 | Pug | Small | €275 | €16,505 |
| 40 | Silky Terrier | Small | €190 | €16,505 |
| 41 | Basenji | Small | €355 | €16,720 |
| 42 | Beagle | Small | €380 | €16,750 |
| 43 | Lhasa Apso | Small | €255 | €16,870 |
| 44 | Poodle (Miniature) | Small | €225 | €16,970 |
| 45 | Shetland Sheepdog | Small | €320 | €17,120 |
| 46 | Maltese | Small | €145 | €17,225 |
| 47 | American Eskimo Dog | Small | €325 | €17,260 |
| 48 | Havanese | Small | €190 | €17,560 |
| 49 | Biewer Terrier | Small | €130 | €17,625 |
| 50 | Teddy Roosevelt Terrier | Small | €275 | €17,625 |
| 51 | Sealyham Terrier | Small | €360 | €17,655 |
| 52 | Shiba Inu | Small | €320 | €17,695 |
| 53 | Bedlington Terrier | Small | €320 | €17,710 |
| 54 | Welsh Terrier | Small | €320 | €17,710 |
| 55 | Manchester Terrier (Toy) | Small | €220 | €17,755 |
| 56 | Rat Terrier | Small | €290 | €17,810 |
| 57 | Taiwan Dog | Medium | €470 | €17,835 |
| 58 | Pomeranian | Small | €110 | €17,875 |
| 59 | Yorkshire Terrier | Small | €120 | €17,955 |
| 60 | Maltipoo | Small | €225 | €18,095 |
| 61 | American Hairless Terrier | Small | €245 | €18,370 |
| 62 | Bulldog (English) | Medium | €590 | €18,370 |
| 63 | Treeing Tennessee Brindle | Medium | €540 | €18,610 |
| 64 | Pumi | Medium | €385 | €18,635 |
| 65 | French Bulldog | Small | €345 | €18,740 |
| 66 | Braque du Bourbonnais | Medium | €580 | €18,760 |
| 67 | Manchester Terrier (Standard) | Small | €285 | €18,815 |
| 68 | Dachshund | Small | €370 | €18,820 |
| 69 | Basset Fauve de Bretagne | Medium | €445 | €19,040 |
| 70 | Shikoku | Medium | €590 | €19,155 |
| 71 | Poodle (Toy) | Small | €110 | €19,270 |
| 72 | Dogue de Bordeaux | Giant | €1,110 | €19,370 |
| 73 | Yakutian Laika | Medium | €615 | €19,430 |
| 74 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Medium | €420 | €19,445 |
| 75 | Mountain Cur | Medium | €590 | €19,625 |
| 76 | Dandie Dinmont Terrier | Small | €330 | €19,740 |
| 77 | West Highland White Terrier | Small | €290 | €19,830 |
| 78 | Icelandic Sheepdog | Medium | €405 | €19,935 |
| 79 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Small | €265 | €20,120 |
| 80 | Peruvian Inca Orchid | Medium | €450 | €20,165 |
| 81 | Swedish Vallhund | Medium | €405 | €20,255 |
| 82 | Nederlandse Kooikerhondje | Medium | €380 | €20,295 |
| 83 | Norwegian Lundehund | Medium | €380 | €20,295 |
| 84 | German Shepherd Dog | Large | €820 | €20,310 |
| 85 | Slovensky Kopov | Medium | €525 | €20,395 |
| 86 | Kishu Ken | Medium | €590 | €20,395 |
| 87 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Medium | €445 | €20,470 |
| 88 | American Water Spaniel | Medium | €490 | €20,530 |
| 89 | Karelian Bear Dog | Medium | €605 | €20,595 |
| 90 | Kai Ken | Medium | €435 | €20,645 |
| 91 | German Pinscher | Medium | €490 | €20,650 |
| 92 | Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen | Medium | €465 | €20,685 |
| 93 | Irish Terrier | Medium | €390 | €20,705 |
| 94 | Miniature Schnauzer | Small | €265 | €20,710 |
| 95 | Tibetan Terrier | Small | €370 | €20,850 |
| 96 | Cocker Spaniel | Medium | €380 | €20,895 |
| 97 | Boykin Spaniel | Medium | €465 | €20,995 |
| 98 | Flat-Coated Retriever | Large | €780 | €21,010 |
| 99 | Whippet | Medium | €465 | €21,040 |
| 100 | Shih Tzu | Small | €225 | €21,165 |
| 101 | Field Spaniel | Medium | €565 | €21,205 |
| 102 | Sloughi | Medium | €565 | €21,205 |
| 103 | Finnish Spitz | Medium | €395 | €21,210 |
| 104 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | Medium | €450 | €21,245 |
| 105 | German Shepherd | Large | €820 | €21,300 |
| 106 | Irish Wolfhound | Giant | €1,170 | €21,310 |
| 107 | Swedish Lapphund | Medium | €515 | €21,330 |
| 108 | English Cocker Spaniel | Medium | €435 | €21,385 |
| 109 | Glen of Imaal Terrier | Medium | €495 | €21,410 |
| 110 | Norwegian Buhund | Medium | €470 | €21,465 |
| 111 | Ibizan Hound | Medium | €615 | €21,480 |
| 112 | Croatian Sheepdog | Medium | €505 | €21,595 |
| 113 | Chinese Shar-Pei | Large | €660 | €21,680 |
| 114 | Portuguese Sheepdog | Medium | €615 | €21,875 |
| 115 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | Medium | €565 | €21,980 |
| 116 | Bichon Frise | Small | €255 | €21,995 |
| 117 | Brittany | Medium | €490 | €22,085 |
| 118 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | Medium | €490 | €22,085 |
| 119 | German Spitz | Medium | €380 | €22,135 |
| 120 | German Shorthaired Pointer | Large | €710 | €22,175 |
| 121 | Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog | Medium | €525 | €22,250 |
| 122 | English Springer Spaniel | Medium | €590 | €22,300 |
| 123 | Miniature American Shepherd | Medium | €435 | €22,360 |
| 124 | Coton de Tulear | Small | €210 | €22,370 |
| 125 | Kromfohrlander | Medium | €405 | €22,485 |
| 126 | Schapendoes | Medium | €545 | €22,530 |
| 127 | Working Kelpie | Medium | €580 | €22,605 |
| 128 | Deutscher Wachtelhund | Medium | €615 | €22,625 |
| 129 | Irish Red and White Setter | Medium | €615 | €22,625 |
| 130 | Finnish Lapphund | Medium | €570 | €22,865 |
| 131 | Azawakh | Medium | €580 | €22,975 |
| 132 | Norrbottenspets | Medium | €380 | €23,025 |
| 133 | Canaan Dog | Medium | €590 | €23,085 |
| 134 | Kerry Blue Terrier | Medium | €505 | €23,085 |
| 135 | Welsh Springer Spaniel | Medium | €590 | €23,085 |
| 136 | Australian Cattle Dog | Medium | €565 | €23,140 |
| 137 | Jindo | Medium | €540 | €23,180 |
| 138 | Bohemian Shepherd | Medium | €625 | €23,220 |
| 139 | Chow Chow | Large | €710 | €23,240 |
| 140 | Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen | Medium | €565 | €23,525 |
| 141 | Keeshond | Medium | €540 | €23,535 |
| 142 | Portuguese Water Dog | Medium | €615 | €23,675 |
| 143 | Portuguese Podengo | Large | €640 | €23,720 |
| 144 | Portuguese Pointer | Medium | €610 | €23,775 |
| 145 | Xoloitzcuintli | Medium | €465 | €23,880 |
| 146 | Drever | Medium | €515 | €23,915 |
| 147 | Bullmastiff | Giant | €1,190 | €23,960 |
| 148 | Border Collie | Medium | €565 | €24,035 |
| 149 | Lagotto Romagnolo | Medium | €430 | €24,060 |
| 150 | Puli | Medium | €435 | €24,085 |
| 151 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | Large | €885 | €24,190 |
| 152 | Sussex Spaniel | Medium | €540 | €24,340 |
| 153 | Polish Lowland Sheepdog | Medium | €540 | €24,525 |
| 154 | Skye Terrier | Medium | €540 | €24,525 |
| 155 | Bernese Mountain Dog | Giant | €1,010 | €24,705 |
| 156 | Belgian Laekenois | Large | €735 | €24,720 |
| 157 | American English Coonhound | Large | €685 | €24,860 |
| 158 | Boxer | Large | €780 | €24,915 |
| 159 | Neapolitan Mastiff | Giant | €1,305 | €25,075 |
| 160 | French Spaniel | Large | €685 | €25,085 |
| 161 | Standard Schnauzer | Medium | €540 | €25,140 |
| 162 | Australian Shepherd | Medium | €660 | €25,420 |
| 163 | Entlebucher Mountain Dog | Large | €660 | €25,605 |
| 164 | Segugio Italiano | Large | €640 | €25,640 |
| 165 | Labrador Retriever | Large | €800 | €25,655 |
| 166 | Clumber Spaniel | Large | €820 | €25,675 |
| 167 | Greyhound | Large | €780 | €25,955 |
| 168 | Bluetick Coonhound | Large | €755 | €25,990 |
| 169 | Curly-Coated Retriever | Large | €885 | €26,100 |
| 170 | Transylvanian Hound | Large | €685 | €26,185 |
| 171 | English Foxhound | Large | €800 | €26,195 |
| 172 | Siberian Husky | Large | €615 | €26,275 |
| 173 | Scottish Deerhound | Giant | €1,010 | €26,285 |
| 174 | Spanish Water Dog | Medium | €540 | €26,320 |
| 175 | American Bulldog | Large | €905 | €26,330 |
| 176 | Doberman Pinscher | Large | €905 | €26,330 |
| 177 | Rottweiler | Large | €1,135 | €26,355 |
| 178 | Dalmatian | Large | €710 | €26,480 |
| 179 | Golden Retriever | Large | €780 | €26,630 |
| 180 | Czechoslovakian Vlcak | Large | €640 | €26,670 |
| 181 | Thai Ridgeback | Large | €685 | €26,845 |
| 182 | American Foxhound | Large | €780 | €26,995 |
| 183 | Broholmer | Giant | €1,230 | €27,000 |
| 184 | Weimaraner | Large | €845 | €27,035 |
| 185 | Great Dane | Giant | €1,400 | €27,075 |
| 186 | Plott Hound | Large | €640 | €27,245 |
| 187 | Small Munsterlander Pointer | Large | €640 | €27,245 |
| 188 | Porcelaine | Large | €715 | €27,260 |
| 189 | Black and Tan Coonhound | Large | €970 | €27,315 |
| 190 | Irish Water Spaniel | Large | €700 | €27,395 |
| 191 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | Large | €800 | €27,465 |
| 192 | Berger Picard | Large | €735 | €27,465 |
| 193 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | Large | €735 | €27,465 |
| 194 | Mastiff | Giant | €1,630 | €27,475 |
| 195 | Old English Sheepdog | Large | €905 | €27,545 |
| 196 | Barbet | Large | €640 | €27,605 |
| 197 | Pharaoh Hound | Large | €640 | €27,605 |
| 198 | Dutch Shepherd | Large | €715 | €27,605 |
| 199 | Bracco Italiano | Large | €845 | €27,790 |
| 200 | Bull Terrier | Large | €735 | €27,810 |
| 201 | Lapponian Herder | Large | €820 | €27,825 |
| 202 | Wirehaired Vizsla | Large | €685 | €27,835 |
| 203 | Drentsche Patrijshond | Large | €735 | €27,860 |
| 204 | Vizsla | Large | €660 | €27,870 |
| 205 | Perro de Presa Canario | Giant | €1,045 | €27,915 |
| 206 | Basset Hound | Large | €660 | €27,965 |
| 207 | Borzoi | Large | €925 | €27,990 |
| 208 | English Setter | Large | €755 | €28,020 |
| 209 | Gordon Setter | Large | €755 | €28,070 |
| 210 | Greater Swiss Mountain Dog | Giant | €1,170 | €28,080 |
| 211 | Hovawart | Large | €885 | €28,285 |
| 212 | Saluki | Large | €660 | €28,550 |
| 213 | Samoyed | Large | €640 | €28,680 |
| 214 | Wetterhoun | Large | €755 | €28,750 |
| 215 | Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound | Large | €655 | €28,810 |
| 216 | Norwegian Elkhound | Large | €655 | €28,810 |
| 217 | Airedale Terrier | Large | €735 | €28,845 |
| 218 | Harrier | Large | €660 | €28,920 |
| 219 | Wirehaired Pointing Griffon | Large | €660 | €28,920 |
| 220 | Newfoundland | Giant | €1,265 | €28,985 |
| 221 | Catahoula Leopard Dog | Large | €845 | €29,115 |
| 222 | Slovensky Cuvac | Large | €925 | €29,115 |
| 223 | Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer | Large | €710 | €29,165 |
| 224 | Stabyhoun | Large | €640 | €29,180 |
| 225 | Hokkaido | Large | €685 | €29,200 |
| 226 | Saint Bernard | Giant | €1,455 | €29,260 |
| 227 | German Longhaired Pointer | Large | €800 | €29,345 |
| 228 | Hanoverian Scenthound | Large | €980 | €29,430 |
| 229 | American Leopard Hound | Large | €710 | €29,535 |
| 230 | Redbone Coonhound | Large | €710 | €29,535 |
| 231 | Appenzeller Sennenhund | Large | €720 | €29,705 |
| 232 | American Staffordshire Terrier | Large | €685 | €29,820 |
| 233 | Alaskan Malamute | Large | €905 | €29,860 |
| 234 | Leonberger | Giant | €1,305 | €29,905 |
| 235 | Belgian Sheepdog | Large | €735 | €29,915 |
| 236 | Belgian Tervuren | Large | €735 | €29,915 |
| 237 | Pudelpointer | Large | €710 | €30,165 |
| 238 | Collie | Large | €755 | €30,185 |
| 239 | Great Pyrenees | Giant | €1,010 | €30,370 |
| 240 | Kuvasz | Giant | €1,010 | €30,370 |
| 241 | Bearded Collie | Large | €640 | €30,475 |
| 242 | Bloodhound | Giant | €1,030 | €30,595 |
| 243 | Chinook | Large | €820 | €31,045 |
| 244 | Beauceron | Giant | €990 | €31,050 |
| 245 | Briard | Large | €885 | €31,270 |
| 246 | Eurasier | Large | €685 | €31,365 |
| 247 | Irish Setter | Large | €780 | €31,605 |
| 248 | Bergamasco Sheepdog | Large | €825 | €31,790 |
| 249 | Pointer | Large | €735 | €31,930 |
| 250 | Otterhound | Giant | €1,050 | €32,120 |
| 251 | Afghan Hound | Large | €685 | €32,180 |
| 252 | Bouvier des Flandres | Giant | €990 | €32,570 |
| 253 | Dogo Argentino | Giant | €1,025 | €32,735 |
| 254 | Tornjak | Large | €955 | €32,825 |
| 255 | Tibetan Mastiff | Giant | €1,150 | €32,825 |
| 256 | Belgian Malinois | Large | €735 | €32,960 |
| 257 | German Wirehaired Pointer | Large | €735 | €32,960 |
| 258 | Hamiltonstovare | Large | €710 | €33,180 |
| 259 | Poodle (Standard) | Large | €710 | €33,710 |
| 260 | Boerboel | Giant | €1,630 | €33,755 |
| 261 | Black Russian Terrier | Giant | €1,115 | €33,935 |
| 262 | Giant Schnauzer | Large | €820 | €34,025 |
| 263 | Komondor | Giant | €990 | €34,085 |
| 264 | Estrela Mountain Dog | Giant | €1,110 | €34,110 |
| 265 | Akita | Giant | €1,070 | €34,895 |
| 266 | Caucasian Shepherd Dog | Giant | €1,340 | €34,920 |
| 267 | Tosa | Giant | €1,455 | €34,935 |
| 268 | Anatolian Shepherd Dog | Giant | €1,190 | €35,100 |
| 269 | Rafeiro do Alentejo | Giant | €1,110 | €36,755 |
| 270 | Spanish Mastiff | Giant | €1,600 | €37,745 |
| 271 | Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog | Giant | €1,190 | €37,830 |
| 272 | Pyrenean Mastiff | Giant | €1,670 | €40,165 |
What a dog really costs in Germany
Across 272 dogs, lifetime cost in Germany ranges from about €12,290 for the Japanese Chin up to €40,165 for the Pyrenean Mastiff — roughly a 3.3× 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: Germany sits at a food price index of 0.9 and a services index of 0.75 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 EUR. Pet insurance is widely available in Germany.
Food & vet localized via Germany's price-level index; converted to EUR. 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 Germany?
The Japanese Chin — about €12,290 over its lifetime in EUR.
What is the most expensive dog to own in Germany?
The Pyrenean Mastiff — around €40,165 lifetime.
Is pet insurance available in Germany?
Pet insurance is widely available in Germany.
How are Germany dog costs calculated?
US base costs (food via the vet RER/MER calorie formula, NAPHIA insurance averages) scaled by Germany's price-level indices — food 0.9, services 0.75 — and converted to EUR.