The world of expensive and rare dogs is fascinating. Some breeds on this list can fetch millions of dollars for a single dog! Let’s travel the world until we reach the Million-Dollar Dog at the number one spot.
15. Portuguese Water Dog – $5,000
The Portuguese Water Dog is very smart with a lot of high energy. This shaggy adorable pup is known for its hypoallergenic coat. The Water Dog was originally bred to assist fishermen and are popular for being great therapy dogs. They get trained to visit hospitals, nursing homes, and calming down children.
14. Saluki – $5,500
The Saluki is known as the “royal dog of Egypt,” and is one of the oldest dog breeds! They have a graceful appearance and incredible speed (a Saluki is fast enough to catch a Gazelle).
13. French Bulldog – $6,000
Despite their small size, French Bulldogs are quite expensive because of their demand and popularity. Unlike French fries, French bulldogs are from Paris, France, sometime in the 1800s.
12. Akita – $6,500
Akitas were bred to guard and hunt bears in the mountains of Northern Japan (known as Matagi Dogs). They have a thick double coat and a powerful build and can weigh as much as 130 pounds.
11. Afghan Hound – $7,000
The Afghan Hound’s long, flowing locks are not merely for show; this breed is built for speed. This breed resembles the Saluki and emerged in the 19th century as well.
10. Pharaoh Hound – $7,500
Despite its name suggesting Egyptian origins, the Pharaoh Hound is the national dog of Malta and the name means “rabbit dog”. There are many claims that this is the breed shown in the tomb of paintings in Ancient Egypt, but that is not the case. This breed was developed in 1963.
9. Dogo Argentino – $8,000
Originally bred for hunting big game, the muscular Dogo Argentino is a mastiff type bred in the early 20th century from Argentina.
8. Canadian Eskimo Dog – $8,750
The Canadian Eskimo Dog is, unfortunately, one of the rarest dogs in the world, with only 300 purebreds remaining. This fearless leader was originally brought to the American land 12,000 years ago, and in the Arctic, they were used as sled dogs before snowmobiles.
7. Rottweiler – $9,000
While not the rarest, the purebred Rottweiler was originally bred to herd livestock and pull meat carts for butchers. Not only are they expensive to buy, the cost of owning a Rott and the history of medical issues they face is quite hefty.
6. Azawakh – $9,500
Also a sighthound, the Azawakh is known for its slender build and speed, and it originated in West Africa, where it was used as a hunting companion.
5. Chow Chow – $11,000
With a hefty fur coat like this, how could you not want to run up to one and give them a huge hug? The Chow Chow is originally from China and was bred over 8,300 years ago!
4. Lowchen – $12,000
The playful and affectionate “Little Lion Dog” almost became extinct in the 1970s (65 were remaining), leading to its high price and exclusive status. Today the growth is slowly increasing.
3. Samoyed – $14,000
With its smiling face and fluffy white coat, the Samoyed (nickname Sammies) was originally bred in 1906 and are known as the “Smiling Sled Dogs”.
2. Czechoslovakian Wolfdog – $50,000
The Czechoslovakian Wolfdog were originally used as border patrol dogs but later became used for search and rescue dogs. They were originally bred as an experiment in 1955 by breeding German Shepherds with Carpathian grey wolves! Sounds like the canine version of Dr. Frankenstein.
1. Tibetan Mastiff – $2,000 to Millions
The Tibetan Mastiff are easily the most expensive and rare dog breeds. This breed has been sold for millions, mainly due to its the wealth status it provides. They were originally used to protect Buddhist monks in Tibet in the 1800’s and soon made their way around the world.
