Gorgeous, compact, and slightly clownish, the Pug is a cherished dog bred with unique features and a charming personality.
Pugs are a perfect choice for the first time dog owner since they are low maintenance when it comes to exercise, great with kids, and most importantly, they are ready to put that smile on your face with a cuddle on the couch.
This guide will give a detailed answer to the first question most individuals have when they have decided to purchase a Pug – how much do Pugs cost?
The Initial Pug Cost
The cost of a Pug can vary significantly, with the average price ranging from $600 to $1,500 in the United States. With that price range, a Pug will probably have papers but won’t have breeding rights or meet show qualities.
A Pug with excellent lineage will cost anywhere between $1,900 and $6,000, based on the pedigree. While you will pay much more for such a dog, you will have peace of mind knowing the dog comes from a superior line.
Which Factors Affect the Cost of a Pug?
1. Location
Location is the primary factor that affects the cost of Pugs – their price can vary vastly based on your country. For instance, prices differ from the U.S. to the UK, Canada, Australia, and other parts of the world from as little as a few hundred dollars to $6,000+.
2. Quality
The cost will vary from low to high based on the quality of the Pug too.
There are two primary kinds of Pugs: show quality and pet quality. Show quality Pug puppies are more costly compared to the pet quality ones.
Some competent Pug breeders will ensure the puppies are health tested to evaluate possible genetic disorders and diseases. However, even with these health tests, puppies can be susceptible to health issues as they mature.
With so many breeders out there, choosing the best breeder to buy a Pug puppy from can be overwhelming.
Here are a few tips to help you buy quality dogs.
- Visit the breeder to check out the conditions the dogs are bred in.
- Find out if the breeder’s kennel club is licensed – in the U.S., they must meet the AKC, CKC or KC standard.
- Request to see the parent of the puppy.
- Confirm whether both parents are purebred.
3. Supply and Demand
The prices of Pugs change throughout the year, but they are usually higher from late spring to the winter holidays. When the demand is high, the cost of a Pug will also be high.
Breeders begin to advertise Pug puppies when they are around 5-6 weeks old, with a goal of finding suitable homes for them before they reach 9 weeks. Once they are beyond 9 weeks, their cost will gradually drop since potential owners aim to take them home around 8 weeks – when the puppy is ready to be separated from its mother.
If those puppies reach 3 to 5 months old without being sold, the breeder may decide to reduce their price significantly or integrate them into the breeding program.
What is the Cost of Nourishing a Pug?
Weighing about 14 to 18 pounds, the Pug is a small pup with a great appetite. Experts recommend around a cup of food per day for Pug puppies, which should increase to 1 ½ cups when they are completely grown.
Quality dog food can cost you about $2 to $3 per pound. Assuming you buy a 50-pound bag at $100. That’s about 200 cups of Pug food. If an adult dog consumes 1 ½ cups a day, that means the 50-pound bag would offer 133 days of food.
Wrapping up
If you are looking for a frisky, loving, and petite companion, a Pug could be the perfect choice for you. Pugs love children and make wonderful pets for families because of their tendency for playtime and adaptability to any living environment.
When searching for the best pup, bear in mind that many factors affect the cost of a Pug but in the end, a new playful companion is priceless.
We lost one of our Pugs just before Thanksgiving and would like to replace her. We live in Western Wa. and are having a hard time finding a Pug. We don’t need a pup and would actually prefer one older. Rescue is also an option. Let us kknow if you can be of any help in our search. Thanks