Ever wondered which four-legged friends might break the bank? Luxury dog breeds can cost thousands of dollars due to their rarity, unique characteristics, or specialized breeding programs. Some pups come with price tags that rival a new car or even a down payment on a house!
This list is based on our investigation of reputable breeders across Canada and their advertised prices as of 2025. Actual costs may vary depending on lineage, championship bloodlines, and individual breeders.
1. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Fit for royalty, these elegant spaniels combine aristocratic charm with puppy-dog sweetness. Their silky coats and expressive eyes make them irresistible companions.
Expect to pay $2,000-$3,500 for a well-bred Cavalier. Their popularity and relatively small litters contribute to their higher price point compared to more common breeds.
2. Bernese Mountain Dog
These gentle giants originate from the Swiss Alps, where they worked as farm dogs. Their striking tri-colored coats and calm temperament have made them highly sought after.
Bernese pups typically cost $3,000-$4,000 from reputable breeders. Unfortunately, their shorter lifespan (7-8 years) and health concerns contribute to careful breeding practices and higher prices.
3. French Bulldog
With their bat-like ears and smushed faces, Frenchies have captured hearts worldwide. These compact companions are perfect for city dwellers with limited space.
Canadian breeders charge $3,000-$5,000 for standard-colored puppies. Rare colors like blue, lilac, or merle can fetch upwards of $7,000, making them quite the investment for dog lovers.
4. Doberman Pinscher
Athletic and intelligent, Dobermans combine strength with elegance. Originally bred as protection dogs, they’ve evolved into loyal family companions while maintaining their impressive stature.
Quality Doberman puppies range from $3,500-$5,000. European bloodlines command premium prices due to their stronger build and temperament. Health testing adds to breeding costs but ensures healthier pups.
5. Boxer
Boxers bring endless energy and clownish personalities to families lucky enough to have them. Their expressive faces and bouncy demeanor make them impossible not to love.
Expect to pay $3,500-$5,000 for a well-bred Boxer puppy. Their popularity combined with smaller litter sizes and health testing requirements drives up their price tag considerably in recent years.
6. Chow Chow
One of the world’s oldest breeds, Chow Chows resemble fluffy lions with their distinctive blue-black tongues and mane-like ruffs. Their aloof, cat-like personalities set them apart from typical dogs.
Quality Chow puppies cost $3,500-$5,500 in Canada. Their thick double coats require specialized grooming, while their small litters and breeding challenges contribute to their hefty price tags.
7. Cane Corso
Ancient Italian guardians with imposing stature and noble bearing. Cane Corsos combine protective instincts with surprising gentleness toward their families.
These mastiff descendants typically cost $4,000-$6,000 from reputable Canadian breeders. Their growing popularity, combined with careful breeding to maintain proper temperament and health, contributes to their premium price point.
8. Rottweiler
Behind that powerful exterior beats the heart of a devoted family guardian. Rottweilers trace their lineage to Roman drover dogs, maintaining their working intelligence and protective nature.
Premium Rottweiler puppies cost $4,000-$6,000 from established breeders. German bloodlines command even higher prices due to stricter breeding standards and working certifications that verify temperament and abilities.
9. Akita
Japan’s national treasure, Akitas embody loyalty and dignity. Made famous by Hachiko, who waited years for his deceased owner, these dogs form unbreakable bonds with their families.
Expect to pay $4,000-$6,000 for a quality Akita puppy. Japanese bloodlines often cost more than American varieties. Their independent nature and powerful build require careful breeding for appropriate temperament.
10. English Bulldog
Winston Churchill’s spirit animal combines tenacity with a comical, wrinkled face that’s impossible to resist. These stocky companions have a distinctively waddling gait and snorting personality.
English Bulldog puppies command $4,500-$7,000 in Canada. Their breeding challenges are legendary: most require artificial insemination and cesarean births, driving costs skyward while breeders work to improve their health issues.
11. Samoyed
Famous for their dazzling white smiles and cloud-like coats, Samoyeds radiate joy. Originally bred by Siberian nomads for herding reindeer and pulling sleds in arctic conditions.
These stunning northern dogs cost $4,500-$7,000 from reputable breeders. Their limited breeding season, small litters, and growing popularity as both show dogs and companions contribute to their substantial price tag.
12. Löwchen
Once the rarest dog in the world, the Löwchen (meaning “little lion”) nearly went extinct in the 1970s. Their traditional lion-cut originated in medieval Europe, where they served as living foot warmers for nobility.
These uncommon little dogs cost $5,000-$8,000 due to their scarcity. Small litters and limited breeding stock keep their numbers low despite growing interest in these cheerful, hardy companions.
13. Portuguese Water Dog
Rocketed to fame as the Obama family’s choice, these curly-coated water workers have centuries of maritime history. Their webbed feet and water-resistant coats make them exceptional swimmers.
Expect to pay $5,000-$8,000 for a well-bred Portuguese Water Dog. Their hypoallergenic coats appeal to allergy sufferers, while their intelligence and versatility make them highly sought after family companions.
14. Pharaoh Hound
Ancient elegance personified, Pharaoh Hounds can trace their lineage back to Egyptian times. These graceful sighthounds actually blush when excited: their ears and nose turn a rosy pink!
These rare hunters cost $5,000-$8,500 from the few Canadian breeders. Their limited availability, small gene pool, and specialized breeding requirements contribute to their substantial price tag.
15. Dogo Argentino
Developed for big game hunting in Argentina, these powerful white athletes combine strength with surprising gentleness. Their impressive musculature and striking appearance turn heads wherever they go.
Reputable breeders charge $5,500-$8,500 for Dogo puppies. Their rarity in Canada, specialized breeding for both physical prowess and stable temperament, plus strict health testing contribute to their considerable cost.
16. Azawakh
Supermodels of the dog world, these West African sighthounds have an ethereal, almost otherworldly elegance. Their lean physique shows visible hip bones and ribs even at ideal weight – a feature considered beautiful in their native lands.
These rare hounds cost $6,000-$9,000 from the handful of Canadian breeders. Their recent recognition by major kennel clubs and extremely limited gene pool outside Africa keeps them exclusive.
17. Canadian Eskimo Dog
Canada’s own arctic treasure stands on the brink of extinction with fewer than 300 remaining worldwide. These powerful sled dogs served Inuit communities for thousands of years before snowmobiles nearly rendered them obsolete.
Expect to pay $6,500-$9,500 for one of these rare northern treasures. Conservation breeding programs work desperately to save this piece of Canadian heritage from disappearing forever.
18. Tosa Inu
Japan’s sumo wrestler of the dog world, the Tosa Inu was developed as a fighting dog but now serves as a rare guardian breed. Their massive size and dignified bearing command respect.
These uncommon mastiffs cost $7,000-$10,000 from the few breeders worldwide. Import costs, specialized knowledge requirements, and extremely limited bloodlines outside Japan contribute to their substantial price tag.
19. Afghan Hound
Glamorous doesn’t begin to describe these ancient sighthounds with their flowing silky coats and regal bearing. Their aloof, independent nature adds to their mystique as living art pieces.
Quality Afghan puppies cost $7,000-$10,000 from established breeders. Their specialized grooming needs, limited breeding stock with show-quality traits, and challenging temperament for novice owners keep them exclusive despite their recognizable beauty.
20. Bedlington Terrier
Lamb-like in appearance but terrier in spirit, Bedlingtons are among the most distinctive-looking breeds. Their crisp, curly coat forms a characteristic pear-shaped head that sets them apart from all other dogs.
These uncommon terriers cost $7,500-$10,000 from specialized breeders. Their unique grooming requirements, limited breeding population, and the expertise needed to maintain their distinctive appearance contribute to their hefty price.
21. Tibetan Mastiff
Ancient guardians of the Himalayas, these massive dogs were bred to protect monasteries and nomadic camps from predators like snow leopards and wolves. Their lion-like manes become particularly impressive during winter months.
Expect to pay $8,000-$12,000 for a quality Tibetan Mastiff puppy in Canada. Their limited breeding cycle (females typically only come into heat once yearly), massive size, and specialized care requirements justify their substantial cost.
22. Chongqing Dog
One of China’s rarest native breeds, the Chongqing Dog combines a wrinkled face with a smooth, short coat and bamboo-like tail. Their history spans over 2,000 years as loyal guardians and hunting companions.
These uncommon dogs cost $10,000-$15,000 if you can find one. Extremely limited bloodlines outside China, import challenges, and specialized knowledge requirements make them among the most exclusive breeds available.
23. Saluki
Ancient Egyptian nobility wouldn’t be caught without these elegant sighthounds adorning their palaces. Archaeological evidence suggests Salukis may be the world’s oldest domesticated dog breed, with remains found in tombs dating back to 7000 BCE.
Show-quality Salukis cost $10,000-$15,000 from top breeders. Their limited gene pool, specialized breeding for both appearance and hunting ability, plus their status as living history contribute to their substantial price.
24. Lagotto Romagnolo
Truffle hunters extraordinaire, these curly-coated Italian water dogs have noses worth their weight in gold. Their remarkable scenting ability can detect rare truffles worth thousands of dollars per pound hidden underground.
Trained truffle-hunting Lagottos command $15,000-$20,000 from specialized breeders. Their unique working abilities, limited availability outside Italy, and growing popularity as both working dogs and hypoallergenic companions drive their premium prices.
25. Samoyed Platinum Standard
While standard Samoyeds are already pricey, the rare platinum variation with its pristine white coat and perfect conformation represents the pinnacle of the breed. These dogs often come from champion bloodlines spanning generations.
Elite platinum Samoyeds from world-class bloodlines can fetch $20,000-$30,000. Their perfect structure, temperament, and coat quality make them highly sought after by serious show enthusiasts and affluent dog lovers seeking the absolute best.
