How much does a Chinese Crested Dog cost?

If you’re purchasing a Chinese Crested from a breeder, then your average price will be somewhere between $1,200 to $2,200. This is much more expensive than many other dog breeds, especially the smaller ones. There is also a variation in price depending on if the dog is hairless or a powderpuff, with the hairless dogs usually reaching the upper end of this range.

Their rarity is a significant contributor to their higher price. It is difficult to find them, so the high demand often allows breeders to charge high prices. In some cases, top-quality puppies may cost as much as $4,000.

Of course, there are other ways to adopt a Chinese Crested dog besides through a breeder. Most rescues and animal shelters sell their dogs for anywhere from $150 to $600. This covers the dog’s expenses before adoption and will depend mainly on what vet treatment the dog needed upon arrival.

How much is a Chinese Crested Dog?

These dogs can vary widely in cost, depending on what the puppy’s quality is, as well as where you
adopt them from. Breeders are typically the most expensive option, but they also feed their puppy’s
high-quality dog food and follow the best practices for dog breeding.

Getting a puppy from Craigslist

A puppy listed on Craigslist or another local marketplace can potentially come from a variety of sources. Puppy mills commonly advertise through these mediums. While these facilities are illegal in most places, they do often operate until they are reported. This often takes years, during which time they are advertising and selling puppies. Puppy mills often emphasize quantity over quality, continually breeding their dogs and often not taking proper care of the puppies. They often have poor sanitation and breed their dogs to an early death. Their puppies are very cheap for this reason, sometimes costing as little as $100 for a Chinese Crested. If you see a puppy listed for a meager amount, you should be wary.

Backyard breeders are first-time breeders that don’t have much experience. They often advertise through these means, as they don’t yet have their website or social media pages. Sometimes, these breeders are looking to become professionals. Other times, they are simply breeding two Chinese Crested pets that they own. Either way, they are better than puppy mills but usually not as good as other breeders. The quality of these puppies can vary widely. Despite being new, some backyard breeders know what they’re doing. Be sure to ask about health testing and see where the parent dogs are being kept. Typically, these breeders sell their puppies from around $600 to $1000.

Getting a puppy from a rescue

Rescues rarely end up with Chinese Crested puppies. They are too rare to end up at most rescues and shelters. Some specialized shelters may end up with them occasionally, but they typically go fast. If you’re looking to adopt your pet from a rescue, it is in your best interest to let them know what kind of pet you’re looking for so that they can contact you when one comes in. While these puppies often have an uncertain past, the rescue does provide health testing, vaccination, and vet care for the dog. Depending on the level of care the puppy needs, they may be a bit more expensive than an adult dog. Often, puppies are more expensive because they need more vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, and other care that adults don’t need. Even though the puppies likely didn’t come from dogs that were health tested, the rescue will let you know if they have any underlying health issues upon adopting them. You know more about these dogs than you would purchasing them from a backyard breeder or puppy mill. Typically, you can expect to pay $150 to $600 when adopting from a rescue.

Getting a puppy from a breeder

Breeders are often the best (and usually only) way to get a Chinese Crested puppy. A high-quality breeder follows the best breeding practices for this breed. All parents should be health tested before they are bred, limiting the chance of puppies inheriting genetic conditions from their parents. Their puppies are well-socialized, which helps them readily adapt to their new environment. Well-socialized puppies are less likely to develop behavioral problems later on. Because breeders specializing in this breed are rare, puppies usually cost anywhere between $1,200 to $2,200. Some can cost even more, however. Those with champions in their bloodline often cost extra due to their potential future success in the show ring. Pet-quality dogs are often cheaper, though that doesn’t make them worse pets by any means. They may not conform to the standards as strictly as other dogs.

Costs of health tests

To ensure that the breed remains as healthy as possible, breeders must perform health testing on any dog they plan on breeding. This helps ensure that only the healthiest dogs are bred. It also prevents two dogs with poor health from producing even sicker puppies. There are certain diseases that this breed is prone to, which the Chinese Created Club of American recommends that dogs are tested for before breeding. Patellar luxation is common amongst most smaller dogs, including the Chinese Crested. This condition is characterized as a dislocation of the knee cap. This causes pain for the dog when walking. They may limp or hold their leg up when walking. While all sorts of things can cause this condition, it is also inherited. Generally, testing costs around $100 – $300. An eye exam is also recommended and should be done each year by a Veterinary Ophthalmologist. This checks for a wide range of eye problems, some of which these dogs are prone to. Some don’t show signs until later in life, though, so regular testing is essential. Usually, examinations are around $200. Results are submitted to CERF, which keeps a database of test results. Congenital heart disease should also be tested for, as these are common in the breed. Often, they are genetic, so an adult with a problem can pass it on to their puppies. Testing for this can be quite expensive, especially if your dog has some worrying markers on the first test, which may prompt further testing. $150 – $625 is a regular price, but some dogs may need more testing, driving the cost up to $1000. Luckily, this only has to be done once. These heart conditions occur from birth, by definition, so they will not pop up later in a dog’s life.

Annual cost of owning a Chinese Crested

Like most small dogs, the price of owning a Chinese Crested is relatively low. They don’t eat very much food in the least, which helps keep their price down. All their supplies are relatively inexpensive because you only need the smaller size. For instance, small dog beds are far cheaper than more extensive dog beds. The first year, you should plan on spending more on your puppy than you would other years. This is because you have to pay for non-consumable dog equipment, like dog beds and food bowls, all at once. After adopting your puppy, you’ll likely be spending about $2,000 to $4,000 the first year, depending mainly on the amount of health care your dog needs. Those from breeders will likely need very little, as the breeder takes care of most of their needs before they are adopted. After the first year, you’ll only need about $1,000 to $2,000 a year for each subsequent year. Health problems can quickly raise this extra cost, though. If your puppy ends up with a chronic health condition, you may be spending double or even triple this amount.

Vet expenses

Health expenses are going to be one of your significant expenses with this breed. Often, breeders will take care of their puppies, getting them the first few rounds of vaccinations and often taking them to the vet for check-ups. If you adopt a puppy from a backyard breeder, you may have to get these vaccinations yourself. This will increase your overall costs by quite a bit. You should expect to spend a few hundred on vaccinations in the least, as well as on the appointments necessary to get those vaccinations. Spaying and neutering will cost at least $100 to $300. These smaller dogs are usually cheaper, since they need lower doses of medication. You can find not-for-profits that fix dogs for as low as $50. Of course, you only have to get spay/neuter surgery and vaccinations the first year. This makes your expenses the subsequent year much cheaper. During subsequent years, you should plan on spending about $125 to $265 per year on a regular vet visit. Your dog will get a general examination, as well as vaccines and some necessary blood tests. This cost may go up as your pet ages, since they will likely require more regular tests. Optional booster shots may be anywhere from $15 to $45 each, depending on which one you need. These shots are extra and often depends on your locality. Some areas require specific vaccinations, as some diseases are more common, such as Lyme disease. Flea and tick treatment will cost about $200 a year.

This is assuming that your dog doesn’t get sick throughout the year. Sickness and injuries will drive your costs up substantially. Patellar luxation is a common condition that these smaller dogs are prone to. Treatment for this condition can range from $1,500 to $3,000 for surgery on each affected knee. If the dog’s condition is minor, you may be able to get away with supportive care only, though this can cost as much as $300 to $600. Dogs will likely eventually need surgery. Cataracts are another common problem. When you combine diagnoses, medications, and the surgery itself, this can cost as much as $2,700 to $4,000. Similar eye diseases often have a similar cost. Complications will raise the price even more. Len luxation will likely cost around $500 if the entire eye needs to be removed. If the vet believes the eye can be saved, the cost may be as much as $2,000 for a more careful surgery and supportive care. Hip and elbow dysplasia can cost anywhere from $3,500 to $7,000 per joint. This can get incredibly expensive very quickly. Dental disease is common for these canines due to their smaller mouths. Regular cleaning can cost around $400 to $800. However, more involved procedures can cost as much as $2,000. All of these health problems can substantially increase your annual bill. Most people do not have the extra money laying around for these thousand-dollar surgeries. For this reason, we recommend having an emergency fund just in case your dog develops one of these problems. You may choose to invest in pet insurance, which can substantially lower the cost of these conditions. Pet insurance should cost around $600. Accident-only plans are much cheaper at around $190. Your dog’s age and current health have a significant effect on the price, however. If you choose pet insurance, you should add it to your yearly expected cost.

Food and toy costs

These dogs don’t eat much, so you typically don’t have to spend very much on food. This is one reason why their annual costs are so low compared to other dogs. You’ll rarely have to buy a new bag of food; they won’t go through it very quickly. For this reason, we recommend purchasing high-quality dog food. It won’t be nearly as expensive as it is for larger dogs since the smaller dog will eat less food. This makes it much easier to afford high-quality food. Quality food can cost as much as $130 a year. Because these dogs will be eating about the same amount when puppies and adults, the food doesn’t get more expensive as they age. This isn’t true for larger dogs, which increase the amount of food they eat substantially as they age. Even if you choose costly dog food, you probably won’t spend more than $200 a year. The most expensive dog breeds typically fall into this area. You may also need to purchase smaller bags of food to prevent them from going stale. While buying in bulk often means that you can save money, this isn’t always possible with smaller dogs. Toys will typically only cost from $15 to $30 a year, depending on how much you splurge. Like most dog equipment, the cost of toys is often determined by their size. Because these dogs need small toys, you’ll likely be purchasing the cheaper options. These dogs aren’t particularly hard on toys, so you likely won’t have to purchase new ones very often.

Training Costs

Generally, these dogs are pretty well-behaved. However, it is still important to train and socialize them as puppies. Otherwise, they can be a bit unconfident in new situations, which can cause fear-based aggression. Treats will factor heavily into training. If you purchase high-quality treats, you will likely spend at least $50. This isn’t as expensive as it may be for other breeds, as you can often break up treats since these dogs are so small. We do recommend puppy training classes. These group classes help teach your dog basic obedience, as well as socializing them with other dogs and people. Usually, a series of group classes will cost anywhere from $200 to $500. It depends on the trainer, as well as the number of people in the class. Private sessions are usually only needed if your dog is aggressive or extremely fearful of other dogs. You may need to take your pooch to private classes before graduating to group classes in these cases. Private classes are more expensive, as you are the only person paying the trainer for that hour or so. Typically, these cost anywhere from $100 to $300 a session, depending on the trainer and what you need to work on. You’ll likely spend less on training as your dog gets older. This is more of a one-time cost than an annual fee.

Grooming Costs

Typically, these dogs don’t usually require much grooming. Those with hair will require more care, while those that are hairless will not. However, you have to consider other costs that come with hairless dogs, such as sunscreen and similar issues. We suggest taking your Chinese Crested to a groomer up to 6 times a year. However, many owners can quickly provide the grooming they need at home. If you decide to groom your dog at home, you’ll likely have to pay as little as $30 for the proper equipment, with consumables like dog shampoo costing about $30 to $50 a year. If you choose to take your dog to a groomer, you can expect to pay everywhere from $45 to $60 a year. This puts the annual cost under $360, depending on the frequency of visits. Professional grooming often includes bathing, brushing, ear cleaning, and nail trimming. If your dog needs their hair touched up, this is often included in the price.

Other Costs

There are some other costs you may want to keep in mind as well. Microchipping will often cost around $40 and is highly recommended. Occasionally, a not-for-profit will provide this service for as little as $5. Licensing may be required in some areas, which can cost between $10 to $20. This is only recommended in some areas, depending on the local laws. Many places do not require licensing at all. If you’re gone for much of the day, you need to invest in a dog walker, which can drive up your costs substantially. Generally, you’ll pay about $15 to $25 per walk. If you do a walk every day, this can add up very quickly.

Factors influencing the price

Several factors can influence the price of your dog. For instance, disease testing can drive up the cost substantially. This involves a vet testing your dog for various problems before the dog is adopted. Patellar luxation, deafness, lens luxation, and PRA are all common diseases in these dogs that can sometimes be detected at a young age. Many breeders have their dogs tested to ensure that they are entirely healthy before being adopted. If the puppy already has vaccinations, this will often be included in the price. You can expect vaccinations to add a few hundred dollars to the puppy’s price. However, you’ll have to pay for vaccinations anyway, so this isn’t an extra cost. The breeders often get a discount for vaccinating multiple puppies, so you may get a deal by allowing the breeder to vaccinate your puppy instead. Reputable breeders often charge more for their puppies. You’re paying for their reputation and experience. These breeders don’t necessarily produce better puppies than other breeders, but they often have more proof that their puppies are high-quality. Kennel Club Registration often costs a bit more. Puppies that come with certified parents often cost a bit more as proof that they are the breed advertised.

Price Considerations

Be sure you can afford one of these dogs before you purchase one. Much of your costs will be upfront, as they are expensive dogs with lower annual costs. Plan on a few thousand dollars a year in annual costs, as well as an emergency fund to pay for more expensive medical procedures.

The bottom line

A high-quality dog will cost about $1,200 to $2,200 from a good breeder. Shelters and rescues will often cost much less, but these are not necessarily readily available. Annual costs will be around $2,000 to $4,000 for the first year. After that, it will cost much lower at $1,000 to $2,000. Medical expenses can cost substantially more, though. If your dog develops health problems, the bill can be thousands of dollars. This is why we recommend having an emergency fund available for surprise medical problems and injuries.