Cost of owning a dog in France
Lifetime and food cost for 272 dogs, localized to EUR.
The cheapest dog to own in France is the Japanese Chin (~€12,405 lifetime). All costs in EUR. Pet insurance is widely available in France.
Chart: the six cheapest dogs to own in France, by total lifetime cost.
| # | Breed | Size | Food/yr | Lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japanese Chin | Small | €180 | €12,405 |
| 2 | English Toy Spaniel | Small | €205 | €13,630 |
| 3 | Russian Toy | Small | €130 | €13,675 |
| 4 | Toy Fox Terrier | Small | €115 | €14,355 |
| 5 | Danish-Swedish Farmdog | Small | €295 | €14,395 |
| 6 | Chihuahua | Small | €105 | €14,695 |
| 7 | Russell Terrier | Small | €225 | €14,885 |
| 8 | Jagdterrier | Small | €320 | €14,885 |
| 9 | Boston Terrier | Small | €310 | €14,895 |
| 10 | Miniature Pinscher | Small | €180 | €14,900 |
| 11 | Bolognese | Small | €150 | €15,015 |
| 12 | Schipperke | Small | €235 | €15,050 |
| 13 | Portuguese Podengo Pequeno | Small | €205 | €15,160 |
| 14 | Lancashire Heeler | Small | €235 | €15,175 |
| 15 | Miniature Bull Terrier | Small | €365 | €15,210 |
| 16 | Norwich Terrier | Small | €225 | €15,390 |
| 17 | Tibetan Spaniel | Small | €225 | €15,390 |
| 18 | Border Terrier | Small | €235 | €15,560 |
| 19 | Italian Greyhound | Small | €205 | €15,675 |
| 20 | Norfolk Terrier | Small | €215 | €15,775 |
| 21 | Australian Terrier | Small | €295 | €15,820 |
| 22 | Japanese Spitz | Small | €295 | €15,820 |
| 23 | Affenpinscher | Small | €175 | €15,865 |
| 24 | Papillon | Small | €155 | €15,885 |
| 25 | Brussels Griffon | Small | €180 | €15,980 |
| 26 | Cirneco dell’Etna | Small | €345 | €16,110 |
| 27 | Scottish Terrier | Small | €325 | €16,130 |
| 28 | Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka | Small | €155 | €16,150 |
| 29 | Smooth Fox Terrier | Small | €285 | €16,190 |
| 30 | Wire Fox Terrier | Small | €285 | €16,190 |
| 31 | Cairn Terrier | Small | €245 | €16,190 |
| 32 | Lakeland Terrier | Small | €290 | €16,305 |
| 33 | Pekingese | Small | €250 | €16,335 |
| 34 | Mudi | Small | €370 | €16,385 |
| 35 | Parson Russell Terrier | Small | €260 | €16,430 |
| 36 | Chinese Crested | Small | €195 | €16,505 |
| 37 | Löwchen | Small | €230 | €16,535 |
| 38 | Cesky Terrier | Small | €315 | €16,645 |
| 39 | Pug | Small | €280 | €16,665 |
| 40 | Silky Terrier | Small | €195 | €16,685 |
| 41 | Beagle | Small | €390 | €16,865 |
| 42 | Basenji | Small | €365 | €16,890 |
| 43 | Lhasa Apso | Small | €260 | €17,065 |
| 44 | Poodle (Miniature) | Small | €230 | €17,160 |
| 45 | Shetland Sheepdog | Small | €325 | €17,325 |
| 46 | American Eskimo Dog | Small | €335 | €17,435 |
| 47 | Maltese | Small | €150 | €17,460 |
| 48 | Havanese | Small | €195 | €17,750 |
| 49 | Teddy Roosevelt Terrier | Small | €285 | €17,790 |
| 50 | Biewer Terrier | Small | €130 | €17,800 |
| 51 | Shiba Inu | Small | €325 | €17,870 |
| 52 | Sealyham Terrier | Small | €370 | €17,875 |
| 53 | Manchester Terrier (Toy) | Small | €225 | €17,910 |
| 54 | Bedlington Terrier | Small | €325 | €17,925 |
| 55 | Welsh Terrier | Small | €325 | €17,925 |
| 56 | Taiwan Dog | Medium | €480 | €17,975 |
| 57 | Rat Terrier | Small | €295 | €17,980 |
| 58 | Pomeranian | Small | €115 | €18,120 |
| 59 | Yorkshire Terrier | Small | €125 | €18,140 |
| 60 | Maltipoo | Small | €230 | €18,365 |
| 61 | Bulldog (English) | Medium | €600 | €18,440 |
| 62 | American Hairless Terrier | Small | €250 | €18,575 |
| 63 | Pumi | Medium | €395 | €18,750 |
| 64 | French Bulldog | Small | €350 | €18,765 |
| 65 | Treeing Tennessee Brindle | Medium | €550 | €18,765 |
| 66 | Braque du Bourbonnais | Medium | €590 | €18,915 |
| 67 | Dachshund | Small | €375 | €18,950 |
| 68 | Manchester Terrier (Standard) | Small | €290 | €18,995 |
| 69 | Basset Fauve de Bretagne | Medium | €455 | €19,180 |
| 70 | Shikoku | Medium | €600 | €19,325 |
| 71 | Dogue de Bordeaux | Giant | €1,135 | €19,495 |
| 72 | Poodle (Toy) | Small | €115 | €19,580 |
| 73 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Medium | €430 | €19,585 |
| 74 | Yakutian Laika | Medium | €625 | €19,605 |
| 75 | Mountain Cur | Medium | €600 | €19,785 |
| 76 | Dandie Dinmont Terrier | Small | €340 | €20,035 |
| 77 | Icelandic Sheepdog | Medium | €415 | €20,070 |
| 78 | West Highland White Terrier | Small | €295 | €20,115 |
| 79 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Small | €270 | €20,145 |
| 80 | Peruvian Inca Orchid | Medium | €460 | €20,305 |
| 81 | Swedish Vallhund | Medium | €415 | €20,385 |
| 82 | German Shepherd Dog | Large | €840 | €20,405 |
| 83 | Nederlandse Kooikerhondje | Medium | €390 | €20,430 |
| 84 | Norwegian Lundehund | Medium | €390 | €20,430 |
| 85 | Slovensky Kopov | Medium | €535 | €20,550 |
| 86 | Kishu Ken | Medium | €600 | €20,565 |
| 87 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Medium | €455 | €20,620 |
| 88 | American Water Spaniel | Medium | €500 | €20,725 |
| 89 | Karelian Bear Dog | Medium | €620 | €20,770 |
| 90 | Kai Ken | Medium | €445 | €20,785 |
| 91 | German Pinscher | Medium | €500 | €20,800 |
| 92 | Irish Terrier | Medium | €400 | €20,830 |
| 93 | Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen | Medium | €475 | €20,840 |
| 94 | Miniature Schnauzer | Small | €270 | €21,055 |
| 95 | Flat-Coated Retriever | Large | €795 | €21,100 |
| 96 | Tibetan Terrier | Small | €375 | €21,105 |
| 97 | Cocker Spaniel | Medium | €390 | €21,125 |
| 98 | Whippet | Medium | €475 | €21,185 |
| 99 | Boykin Spaniel | Medium | €475 | €21,190 |
| 100 | Finnish Spitz | Medium | €405 | €21,350 |
| 101 | Field Spaniel | Medium | €575 | €21,385 |
| 102 | Sloughi | Medium | €575 | €21,385 |
| 103 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | Medium | €460 | €21,400 |
| 104 | German Shepherd | Large | €840 | €21,430 |
| 105 | Irish Wolfhound | Giant | €1,200 | €21,455 |
| 106 | Swedish Lapphund | Medium | €525 | €21,505 |
| 107 | Shih Tzu | Small | €230 | €21,515 |
| 108 | English Cocker Spaniel | Medium | €445 | €21,575 |
| 109 | Glen of Imaal Terrier | Medium | €510 | €21,615 |
| 110 | Norwegian Buhund | Medium | €480 | €21,630 |
| 111 | Ibizan Hound | Medium | €625 | €21,660 |
| 112 | Chinese Shar-Pei | Large | €675 | €21,735 |
| 113 | Croatian Sheepdog | Medium | €515 | €21,755 |
| 114 | Portuguese Sheepdog | Medium | €630 | €22,070 |
| 115 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | Medium | €575 | €22,165 |
| 116 | Brittany | Medium | €500 | €22,290 |
| 117 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | Medium | €500 | €22,290 |
| 118 | German Spitz | Medium | €390 | €22,320 |
| 119 | Bichon Frise | Small | €260 | €22,360 |
| 120 | German Shorthaired Pointer | Large | €725 | €22,385 |
| 121 | Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog | Medium | €535 | €22,430 |
| 122 | English Springer Spaniel | Medium | €600 | €22,495 |
| 123 | Miniature American Shepherd | Medium | €445 | €22,615 |
| 124 | Kromfohrlander | Medium | €415 | €22,675 |
| 125 | Coton de Tulear | Small | €215 | €22,680 |
| 126 | Schapendoes | Medium | €560 | €22,715 |
| 127 | Working Kelpie | Medium | €590 | €22,785 |
| 128 | Deutscher Wachtelhund | Medium | €625 | €22,825 |
| 129 | Irish Red and White Setter | Medium | €625 | €22,825 |
| 130 | Finnish Lapphund | Medium | €585 | €23,055 |
| 131 | Azawakh | Medium | €590 | €23,170 |
| 132 | Norrbottenspets | Medium | €390 | €23,175 |
| 133 | Canaan Dog | Medium | €600 | €23,285 |
| 134 | Welsh Springer Spaniel | Medium | €600 | €23,285 |
| 135 | Kerry Blue Terrier | Medium | €515 | €23,305 |
| 136 | Australian Cattle Dog | Medium | €575 | €23,320 |
| 137 | Chow Chow | Large | €725 | €23,350 |
| 138 | Jindo | Medium | €550 | €23,365 |
| 139 | Bohemian Shepherd | Medium | €640 | €23,410 |
| 140 | Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen | Medium | €575 | €23,720 |
| 141 | Keeshond | Medium | €550 | €23,760 |
| 142 | Portuguese Podengo | Large | €655 | €23,780 |
| 143 | Portuguese Water Dog | Medium | €625 | €23,970 |
| 144 | Portuguese Pointer | Medium | €620 | €23,970 |
| 145 | Xoloitzcuintli | Medium | €475 | €24,040 |
| 146 | Drever | Medium | €525 | €24,085 |
| 147 | Bullmastiff | Giant | €1,220 | €24,115 |
| 148 | Lagotto Romagnolo | Medium | €440 | €24,210 |
| 149 | Border Collie | Medium | €575 | €24,275 |
| 150 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | Large | €905 | €24,305 |
| 151 | Puli | Medium | €445 | €24,410 |
| 152 | Sussex Spaniel | Medium | €550 | €24,570 |
| 153 | Belgian Laekenois | Large | €750 | €24,805 |
| 154 | Polish Lowland Sheepdog | Medium | €550 | €24,820 |
| 155 | Skye Terrier | Medium | €550 | €24,820 |
| 156 | Bernese Mountain Dog | Giant | €1,035 | €24,865 |
| 157 | American English Coonhound | Large | €700 | €24,920 |
| 158 | Boxer | Large | €795 | €25,000 |
| 159 | French Spaniel | Large | €700 | €25,195 |
| 160 | Neapolitan Mastiff | Giant | €1,335 | €25,260 |
| 161 | Standard Schnauzer | Medium | €550 | €25,380 |
| 162 | Entlebucher Mountain Dog | Large | €675 | €25,660 |
| 163 | Australian Shepherd | Medium | €675 | €25,685 |
| 164 | Segugio Italiano | Large | €650 | €25,700 |
| 165 | Clumber Spaniel | Large | €840 | €25,780 |
| 166 | Labrador Retriever | Large | €815 | €25,920 |
| 167 | Greyhound | Large | €795 | €26,040 |
| 168 | Bluetick Coonhound | Large | €770 | €26,080 |
| 169 | Curly-Coated Retriever | Large | €905 | €26,210 |
| 170 | Transylvanian Hound | Large | €700 | €26,260 |
| 171 | English Foxhound | Large | €815 | €26,285 |
| 172 | Scottish Deerhound | Giant | €1,035 | €26,415 |
| 173 | American Bulldog | Large | €925 | €26,445 |
| 174 | Doberman Pinscher | Large | €925 | €26,445 |
| 175 | Rottweiler | Large | €1,160 | €26,540 |
| 176 | Siberian Husky | Large | €625 | €26,545 |
| 177 | Dalmatian | Large | €725 | €26,560 |
| 178 | Spanish Water Dog | Medium | €550 | €26,685 |
| 179 | Czechoslovakian Vlcak | Large | €655 | €26,735 |
| 180 | Golden Retriever | Large | €795 | €26,770 |
| 181 | Thai Ridgeback | Large | €700 | €26,905 |
| 182 | American Foxhound | Large | €795 | €27,080 |
| 183 | Weimaraner | Large | €865 | €27,150 |
| 184 | Broholmer | Giant | €1,255 | €27,170 |
| 185 | Great Dane | Giant | €1,430 | €27,270 |
| 186 | Plott Hound | Large | €650 | €27,290 |
| 187 | Small Munsterlander Pointer | Large | €650 | €27,290 |
| 188 | Porcelaine | Large | €730 | €27,330 |
| 189 | Black and Tan Coonhound | Large | €990 | €27,460 |
| 190 | Irish Water Spaniel | Large | €715 | €27,475 |
| 191 | Berger Picard | Large | €750 | €27,540 |
| 192 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | Large | €750 | €27,540 |
| 193 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | Large | €815 | €27,605 |
| 194 | Barbet | Large | €650 | €27,665 |
| 195 | Pharaoh Hound | Large | €650 | €27,665 |
| 196 | Dutch Shepherd | Large | €730 | €27,685 |
| 197 | Mastiff | Giant | €1,665 | €27,705 |
| 198 | Old English Sheepdog | Large | €925 | €27,705 |
| 199 | Bracco Italiano | Large | €865 | €27,895 |
| 200 | Wirehaired Vizsla | Large | €700 | €27,895 |
| 201 | Bull Terrier | Large | €750 | €27,900 |
| 202 | Lapponian Herder | Large | €840 | €27,935 |
| 203 | Vizsla | Large | €675 | €27,940 |
| 204 | Drentsche Patrijshond | Large | €755 | €27,950 |
| 205 | Perro de Presa Canario | Giant | €1,070 | €28,060 |
| 206 | Basset Hound | Large | €675 | €28,075 |
| 207 | Borzoi | Large | €950 | €28,125 |
| 208 | English Setter | Large | €770 | €28,155 |
| 209 | Gordon Setter | Large | €770 | €28,165 |
| 210 | Greater Swiss Mountain Dog | Giant | €1,200 | €28,255 |
| 211 | Hovawart | Large | €905 | €28,400 |
| 212 | Saluki | Large | €675 | €28,600 |
| 213 | Samoyed | Large | €650 | €28,785 |
| 214 | Wetterhoun | Large | €770 | €28,830 |
| 215 | Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound | Large | €670 | €28,875 |
| 216 | Norwegian Elkhound | Large | €670 | €28,875 |
| 217 | Airedale Terrier | Large | €750 | €28,975 |
| 218 | Harrier | Large | €675 | €28,990 |
| 219 | Wirehaired Pointing Griffon | Large | €675 | €28,990 |
| 220 | Newfoundland | Giant | €1,295 | €29,180 |
| 221 | Stabyhoun | Large | €650 | €29,230 |
| 222 | Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer | Large | €725 | €29,230 |
| 223 | Slovensky Cuvac | Large | €950 | €29,255 |
| 224 | Catahoula Leopard Dog | Large | €865 | €29,270 |
| 225 | Hokkaido | Large | €700 | €29,275 |
| 226 | German Longhaired Pointer | Large | €815 | €29,435 |
| 227 | Saint Bernard | Giant | €1,485 | €29,485 |
| 228 | Hanoverian Scenthound | Large | €1,005 | €29,570 |
| 229 | American Leopard Hound | Large | €725 | €29,620 |
| 230 | Redbone Coonhound | Large | €725 | €29,620 |
| 231 | Appenzeller Sennenhund | Large | €735 | €29,790 |
| 232 | American Staffordshire Terrier | Large | €700 | €29,880 |
| 233 | Alaskan Malamute | Large | €925 | €30,035 |
| 234 | Belgian Sheepdog | Large | €750 | €30,050 |
| 235 | Belgian Tervuren | Large | €750 | €30,050 |
| 236 | Leonberger | Giant | €1,335 | €30,180 |
| 237 | Pudelpointer | Large | €725 | €30,235 |
| 238 | Collie | Large | €770 | €30,325 |
| 239 | Great Pyrenees | Giant | €1,035 | €30,520 |
| 240 | Kuvasz | Giant | €1,035 | €30,520 |
| 241 | Bearded Collie | Large | €650 | €30,650 |
| 242 | Bloodhound | Giant | €1,055 | €30,755 |
| 243 | Chinook | Large | €840 | €31,160 |
| 244 | Beauceron | Giant | €1,010 | €31,235 |
| 245 | Eurasier | Large | €700 | €31,485 |
| 246 | Briard | Large | €905 | €31,500 |
| 247 | Irish Setter | Large | €795 | €31,750 |
| 248 | Bergamasco Sheepdog | Large | €840 | €31,895 |
| 249 | Pointer | Large | €750 | €32,025 |
| 250 | Otterhound | Giant | €1,075 | €32,285 |
| 251 | Afghan Hound | Large | €700 | €32,375 |
| 252 | Bouvier des Flandres | Giant | €1,010 | €32,815 |
| 253 | Dogo Argentino | Giant | €1,045 | €32,885 |
| 254 | Tornjak | Large | €980 | €33,020 |
| 255 | Tibetan Mastiff | Giant | €1,175 | €33,050 |
| 256 | Belgian Malinois | Large | €750 | €33,055 |
| 257 | German Wirehaired Pointer | Large | €750 | €33,055 |
| 258 | Hamiltonstovare | Large | €725 | €33,250 |
| 259 | Boerboel | Giant | €1,665 | €34,025 |
| 260 | Poodle (Standard) | Large | €725 | €34,190 |
| 261 | Black Russian Terrier | Giant | €1,140 | €34,210 |
| 262 | Giant Schnauzer | Large | €840 | €34,260 |
| 263 | Estrela Mountain Dog | Giant | €1,135 | €34,295 |
| 264 | Komondor | Giant | €1,010 | €34,395 |
| 265 | Akita | Giant | €1,095 | €35,170 |
| 266 | Tosa | Giant | €1,485 | €35,185 |
| 267 | Caucasian Shepherd Dog | Giant | €1,370 | €35,195 |
| 268 | Anatolian Shepherd Dog | Giant | €1,220 | €35,310 |
| 269 | Rafeiro do Alentejo | Giant | €1,135 | €36,955 |
| 270 | Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog | Giant | €1,220 | €38,055 |
| 271 | Spanish Mastiff | Giant | €1,635 | €38,080 |
| 272 | Pyrenean Mastiff | Giant | €1,705 | €40,530 |
What a dog really costs in France
Across 272 dogs, lifetime cost in France ranges from about €12,405 for the Japanese Chin up to €40,530 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: France sits at a food price index of 0.92 and a services index of 0.78 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 France.
Food & vet localized via France'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 France?
The Japanese Chin — about €12,405 over its lifetime in EUR.
What is the most expensive dog to own in France?
The Pyrenean Mastiff — around €40,530 lifetime.
Is pet insurance available in France?
Pet insurance is widely available in France.
How are France dog costs calculated?
US base costs (food via the vet RER/MER calorie formula, NAPHIA insurance averages) scaled by France's price-level indices — food 0.92, services 0.78 — and converted to EUR.