How Much Do Pugs Cost?

Last Updated on December 13, 2023
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

The “Mops” dog, with a short snout, was discovered in China in the 600s BC and was brought to the European continent by merchants from Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, and England. In the Netherlands, they were given the name Mopshond, from which it then became today’s Pug.

Pugs are often described as large puppies with small bodies. These robust and compact puppies are part of the American Dog Club’s group of toy dogs and are known as the clowns of the canine world because they have a well-developed sense of humor and love “to boast”.

The Pug price range is anywhere between $620 and $1,950, with an average price of a Pug pup of $1,180. Purchasing a pug from small, hobby breeders is generally less expensive, around $600 to $800, while those from reputable pug breeders with show dog champions can cost $1,200+.

After you bring home a pug, expect to spend an overall cost of around $2,800 in the first year. As monthly costs you should budget around $92, meaning around $1,100 each year. The lifetime costs of a Pug are around $16,250 and will include the supplies, food, treats, licenses, training costs, microchipping, grooming costs, maintenance costs, and medical expenses.

Some other costs, not included here, may refer to neuter/spay procedures, pet insurance, dog boarding, and dog walking. Taking into consideration these costs as well you will spend anywhere between $66,500 and $132,200, with an average of $97,500, if you own a Pug for around 14 years.

As with everything you purchase, expect to pay a higher price for a pug from a reputable breeder, while a pug from an animal shelter will cost a lot less.

The price of a Pug puppy

According to more than 600 online ads, the price of a Pug puppy would be anywhere between $620 and $1,950, with an average cost of $1,180. For a purebred puppy with documents from a responsible breeder, you could pay even $10,000. In the table below you will find how much is a Pug pup of up to 6 months old.

Factors affecting the cost of a Pug puppy

According to veterinarian Leslie Brooks, breeding Pug dogs should be tested or evaluated for the next conditions before breeding and during their breeding period: Pug dog encephalitis (DNA test), annual eye examination done by an ophthalmologist, and patellar luxation. Also, the buyer should ask the breeder about what health screening tests have been performed.

The cost of a Pug puppy will vary for the same breed as it depends on many factors like the following:

Registration pedigree/papers

There are breeders who are members of a kennel club and one of the most famous is the American Kennel Club (AKC). The Pug’s cost will increase if it is AKC registered.

Pug mix or purebred

In most cases, purebred dogs will be more expensive compared to mixed breeds.

Age of the Pug

Costs tend to be lower for older dogs because most people prefer to buy a Pug as young as possible. For instance, an 8-week-old puppy will be more expensive than a 6-month-old one.

Bloodline and breeder’s reputation

You will pay more for a pug with show-quality parents from a reputable breeder. This is because the breeders spend more taking care of their breeding dogs.

Breed popularity in the buyer’s location

The price of a Pug puppy will be greatly affected by the local supply and demand. It is recommended to get informed about how much a Pug costs in different locations, but also to visit the breeder’s location before purchasing the dog.

Health screening and medical expenses

Reputable breeders will maintain their dog’s health in good condition and will permanently test and evaluate their health at a vet clinic and this will result in a higher cost but will reduce the risk of buying a sick dog.

Pug colors and marking

Trends regarding the coat color of a dog are changing very often and when most people are interested in a specific color then the cost of the Pug puppy will increase. However, purebred dogs are accepted by kennel clubs only if they have a specific color. Also, the most expensive puppies are the ones with rare colors.

Training and socialization

Some breeders choose to train the dogs before selling and this increases their value. However it will save you money as you will not have to pay any more for dog training.

Additional costs of owning a Pug

One-time costs: supplies

As you welcome your new puppy or dog into the family, there are a few supplies to help things go smoothly. Expect to spend anywhere between $155 and $655 for supplies in the first year and $60 to $265 per year in the following period.

In the table below you will find the average costs of the supplies needed to own a Pug.

Supplies Prices	Average Cost	Cost Range
Dog Collars (x2)	$20	$5 – $40
Food & Water Bowls	$15	$5 – $20
ID Tag with Phone Number	$10	$5 – $20
Leash	$10	$5 – $20
Dog Crate (24″ or 30″)	$40	$20 – $80
Dog Bed (24″ or 30″)	$35	$15 – $65
Pooper Scooper	$20	$10 – $30
Plastic Poop Bags (900-1080)	$55	$15 – $110
Stains and Odors Removal Spray	$10	$5 – $20
House Training Pads (75-100)	$25	$15 – $45
First-Aid Kit	$30	$15 – $50
Toys	$30	$15 – $50
Shampoo	$10	$5 – $20
Brush	$15	$5 – $45
Tooth-brushing Kit	$10	$5 – $15
Toenail Clippers	$10	$5 – $20

These costs will depend on the location, the place you purchase them from, and their quality as well.

Training your Pug

Pugs are a popular breed, but they are not easy dogs to train because they have strong personalities, they are stubborn, intelligent, and independent. However, because they love to please their owners, the dogs comply and respond to certain commands learned in training. Moreover, because it is a food-loving breed, they know that they will receive delicious rewards whenever they are obedient.

Plan on spending anywhere between $155 and $210 for five hours (1 hour per week for 5 weeks) for basic obedience training. In general, Pugs don’t need individual training and it is recommended to group train them instead.

Medical costs

To keep your Pug healthy, you should expect to spend around $600 (plus a one-time fee of $60 to $310 for neutering/spaying the female or male pug) in the first year of life and almost $470 each year after that, depending on the place where you are living.

According to the vet Leslie Brooks, in the first year of life, a Pug should have at least three vet visits and each one costs anywhere between $70 and $175.

Besides the basic check-up, a flea and heartworm prevention treatment is recommended which will result in a cost of $55 to $110.

Moreover, you should plan on spending on some extra vaccines to prevent some diseases such as:

Lyme – $60 to $80 for two doses;
influenza – $75 to $95 for two doses;
leptospirosis – $25 to $30.

Adult Pugs will need at least one vet check-up every year and this would cost anywhere between $130 and $270, depending on the geographical location and the clinic. For the heartworm and flea prevention medications, you will pay anywhere between $60 and $160 each. Also, for the fecal examination, you will spend $40 to $55, and for the annual vaccine booster shots, anywhere between $15 and $50 each.

The Pug dog breed is a breed that has quite a few health conditions compared to other breeds. Pugs are prone to several diseases as follows:

Pug encephalitis is a unique disease in the Pug dog, which manifests as an inflammation of the brain. There is no test or treatment for this disease. It occurs mainly in young dogs, manifesting itself in the form of fainting, blindness, or coma.
Hip dysplasia and shoulder dysplasia, most often occur with the aging of dogs of this breed. It is best to find out if the dog’s parents have suffered or are suffering from such a disease.
Cheyletiella Dermatitis (Dandruff) is a skin condition that is caused by a small tick. If you see a lot of dandruff, especially in the middle of the back, contact your veterinarian and be careful because it is a contagious condition for the rest of the animals in the house.
Progressive retinal atrophy is an eye disease that involves gradual damage to the retina. At the beginning of the disease, the dogs lose their night vision, and as the disease worsens, they also lose their sight during the day.
Patellar dislocation is a movement of two articulated bones, located behind the knee and causing a loss of contact surface. In small breeds, this dislocation occurs in the form of a deformity of the tibia or femur. The dog will start limping and depending on the severity it may need surgery.
Cataracts usually appear at the age of 1 or 2 years, and it is also known as juvenile cataracts. It usually does not lead to blindness, but it is recommended that animals with this condition not be allowed to have offspring.
Gastric dilation/torsion or “volvulus syndrome” is characterized by rapid accumulation of air in the stomach or stomach misalignment. This means that the stomach keeps swelling and no longer allows food to flow through it.

In the table below you will find the costs associated with some of the most common health problems that a Pug may have.

Health Problem	Treatment Cost Estimate	Likelihood
Pug Dog Encephalitis & Seizures	$1,100 – $3,400	Medium
Eye Problems	$120 – $1,300	High
Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eye)	$70 – $250 per month	High
Collapsing Trachea	$300 – $4,900	High
Patellar Luxation	$340 – $2,400	High
Brachycephalic Syndrome	$300 – $3,200	High

Pet insurance

If you want to make budgeting much easier consider enrolling your Pug in a health insurance plan. According to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association’s latest State of the Industry Report, the average annual cost for accident plans is only around $200, while for the accident and illness plans you will have to pay around $570.

Food costs

A less active Pug or Mops requires 400 calories a day to receive the required dose of energy, while a specimen that maintains a moderate level of physical activity needs a higher caloric intake, of around 500 calories.

You might also like our articles about the cost of the Portuguese Water dog, Cocker Spaniel, or Beagle.

If your Pug develops a hyperactive behavior the required calorie baggage reaches the impressive figure of 775 calories and in some cases even more. Of course, no two dogs are alike. Pay attention to the right amount of food for your dog depending on his activity level. If you notice that he never finishes his portions or that he starts to gain weight, he needs a reduction in the number of calories offered daily.

In the table below you will find the average cost of dog food from some of the most popular brands.

Adult Food Brands	Quantity per Bag	Number of Bags / Year	Unit Price	Total Price
Purina One – Smart Blend	40 lb.	3	$45	$130
Purina – Dog Chow	50 lb.	2	$25	$50
Blue Buffalo – Adult	30 lb.	4	$49	$200
Pedigree – Adult	50 lb.	2	$28	$55

Grooming costs

If you want to take your dog to a salon for professional dog grooming that includes teeth brushing, nail trimming, ear and eye cleaning styling, and brushing, plan on spending anywhere between $40 and $60 per session.

What are the extra costs?

There are some extra costs you need to consider when owning a Pug such as the licenses, microchipping, dog walking, and boarding. In the table below you will find the average costs of each of these.

Additional Costs	Range	Average Cost
Microchip	$25 – $50	$40
License	$10 – $20	$15
Dog Boarding (per day)	$25 – $85	$40
Dog Walking (per walk)	$15-$30	$20

Pug characteristics

Even when they are not stressed and do not have any medical problems that cause them to lose their excessive hair, Pugs still shed more than other dog breeds. Make sure you have a good vacuum cleaner and stock up on animal hair adhesive rollers.

Wrinkles are one of the most adorable features of a pug, but they can be very difficult to “maintain”. They need to be cleaned DAILY or whenever they get dirty (they are like deep pockets where food scraps, water, or dirt from outside are collected).

You need to make sure that these wrinkles on his face are always dry and clean, otherwise, they risk becoming inflamed, infected, and catching a very unpleasant odor. It’s more than enough if you clean every morning, with a damp towel, each fold of skin.

The pug constantly makes all kinds of noises, especially when sleeping. You’ll have to get used to the “Symphony of a Pug”. Maybe during the day it won’t bother you so much, but if you’re the kind of person who wakes up from sleep at the slightest noise, you may need earplugs.

How can I save money?

If you want to save money when planning get a dog then adopting a pug would be much more affordable as the adoption fees are only between $55 and $510.

You can save money on dog supplies such as harnesses, door gates, or dog clothing by checking out second-hand stores.

How Much do Pugs Cost? – Adult and Puppy Prices