English Bulldog Price: How Much is a British Bulldog Puppy?

Last Updated on April 19, 2023

English Bulldogs are so expensive because of their popularity, rarity, and the high cost of breeding and nurturing them as healthy puppies. In fact, this breed is pricier than a Pug and a Bullmastiff. But how expensive is an English Bulldog?

The average price of an English Bulldog puppy from a reputable breeder is around $1,500 to $4,500. This price range might still increase, especially if you get a show-quality British Bulldog puppy or one with rare coat colors like Lilac, Merle, Chocolate, and Blue English Bulldogs.

Other factors, such as the breeder’s location and popularity, age, gender, and certification, like AKC papers (American Kennel Club), also affect the pricing of English Bulldog puppies.

How about if you want to adopt an adult or senior English Bulldog? The adoption costs for English Bulldogs are usually around $300 to $550. Is it possible to get them for free when you rescue this dog breed?

In this guide, we’ll cover how much it costs to own an English Bulldog, covering everything from where to buy or adopt this purebred dog, the initial puppy price to vaccination, food, grooming, medical expenses, and other pet supplies.

Meet the English Bulldog, the Sweet Drooling Machine

While the breed is officially known as the Bulldog, it is often referred to as the British Bulldog or the English Bulldog to distinguish it from other bulldog breeds like the American Bulldog or the French Bulldog.

The Bulldog’s bloodline started with the Romanian fighting mastiffs brought to the British Isles to be used in a bloody bull-baiting sport.

Despite their ancestry, English Bulldogs are not ferocious anymore but laid back and affectionate.

Bulldogs are one of the most recognizable dog breeds in the world. They are medium-sized dogs with low-hanging, thick bodies.

They are perfect for inexperienced owners due to their relaxed personality, moderate exercise needs, and easy grooming.

Of course, there are some negatives to owning English Bulldogs, like health problems caused by their flat muzzle and their unusual body shape. Also, Bulldogs drool big time, as you can see in this video:

What is the Average Price of an English Bulldog Puppy?

English Bulldogs usually cost between $1,500 and $4,500 in the US. The average price for a Bulldog puppy in the UK is around £3,700.

This is the English Bulldog price range for a puppy from a small-scale but reputable breeder. Anything less than $1,500 is a red flag signaling that the puppy comes from an unethical breeder or a puppy mill.

Keep in mind that English Bulldog’s price can be higher, depending on the puppy’s bloodline.

A purebred AKC Bulldog (registered with the American Kennel Club), with show dog parents, can cost more than $10,000. A puppy from champion parents can cost up to $30,000!

Gasping at these numbers is an appropriate reaction, but there are multiple reasons why Bulldog puppies are so expensive.

We will cover the high costs of breeding later, but the price of English Bulldogs also depends on market laws – the popularity of the breed drives the price up.

While the adorable Bulldog is low-maintenance in terms of grooming and exercise, various health problems can make them expensive to care for.

Buying Puppies from English Bulldog Breeders

Finding a good breeder is crucial when buying English Bulldog puppies.

Unethical breeders set lower prices because they don’t have AKC registered dogs, they make cuts on breeding costs, and won’t allow you to see their breeding facilities.

You should also avoid buying puppies from pet shops since they usually come from puppy mills.

Buying a puppy directly from a reputable breeder is the best way to go.

Ethical breeders provide health screenings for their puppies and answer all your questions regarding their parents, breeding, and living conditions. 

As we already mentioned, a Bulldog puppy with papers can cost more than $4,000, but you can also get papers for the puppy yourself if he meets the breed’s standards.

Bulldogs from reputable breeders cost more due to high breeding expenses.

This includes artificial insemination ($200 to $600) and delivery by C-section ($500 to $3,000 per birth), both of which are often necessary due to the Bulldog’s body shape.

Many breeders also pay around $650 for a stud fee.

Other breeding costs include genetic testing, vet bills, and preparation expenses. In total, breeding of one litter (4-5 puppies) can cost from $2,000 to $6,000.

What Does It Cost to Rescue and Adopt an English Bulldog?

If the idea of paying $2,000 for a dog seems outrageous to you, there are other ways to give a new home to a lovely English Bulldog, such as adoption from a shelter or a rescue organization.

While these Bulldogs might not be purebred and won’t have papers, you can adopt a Bulldog for as little as $300 to $550.

Not knowing the dog’s ancestry can be tricky since you won’t know their potential health issues.

On the other hand, when you adopt from a Bulldog rescue, the dog is usually spayed or neutered and up to date on vaccinations.

What Impacts the Price Differences of English Bulldog Puppies?

Bulldog puppies for sale can have significant cost differences; hence the price range from $1,500 to $4,000. So, let’s check out the key factors that affect the price of Bulldogs.

• Age: Caring for a newborn Bulldogs takes time, money, and energy. Older puppies or adolescent Bulldogs will cost less than newborns.
• Gender: The price for female English Bulldogs might be slightly higher in some cases, but the difference is usually negligible.
• Coat Color: Coat color can seriously affect the price of the dog because some colors and patterns are pretty rare.

Standard coat colors include white, fawn, red, brindle, and their combinations. Bulldogs with these colors and patterns fall within the average range price.

Meanwhile, rarer colors and patterns are more expensive. The price for chocolate or tricolor English Bulldog ranges from $4,000 to $5,500, including the black tri or blue tri puppies.

The newest colors, like merle or lilac, are even more costly. Tri lilac Bulldogs cost between $8,500 and $14,000. The most expensive are merle versions, like tri lilac merle or blue merle, which can cost upwards of $15,000.

Also read: How Do English Bulldog Color Genetics Work?

Long-Term Costs for English Bulldog Owners

There are more expensive dogs to buy than English Bulldogs, but Bulldogs are one of the most expensive dogs to own.

New owners should expect to spend around $5,000 for the first year. After that, the expenses will be about $1,400 per year (around $115 per month).

With an average lifespan of 8-10 years, the lifetime price of owning a Bulldog is around $16,000.

These numbers are based on the essentials like supplies, food, grooming costs, medical expenses, training costs, with microchip and license included.

If we add optional costs like pet insurance, medical procedures, and services like doggy daycare or dog walking, the average figure rises to around $68,000 for the dog’s life or roughly $7,000 per year.

If you think that this sounds like an exaggeration, let’s break these costs down:

Supplies (per year):

• Food and Water Bowls – $5 to $40
• Grooming Supplies (Brush, Clippers, Shampoo, etc.) – $35 to $140
• Dog Toys – $30 to $100
• Collars – $10 to $40
• Leash – $5 to $50
• Harness – $10 to $50
• Plastic Poop Bags – $15 to $100
• House Training Pads – $15 to $45
• Crate – $30 to $120 
• Dog Bed – $20 to $85

Food and Treats (per year):

• Puppy Food – $100 to $220
• Adult Food – $120 to $360
•  Treats – $110 to $330

Healthcare Costs:

• Puppy Shots – $100 to $300 total
• Spaying/Neutering – $150 to $450 total
• Routine Checkups – $45 to $55 per visit
• Dental Products – $120 to $200 per year

Other Expenses:

• License – $10 to $20
• Microchip – $25 to $50
• Dog Walking – $15 to $25 per walk
• Doggy Daycare (Dog Boarding) – $25 to $85 per day
• Training – $900 to $1,200 per year

Another cost to consider is pet insurance. English Bulldog insurance is a bit higher than other, healthier breeds, and it costs between $55 and $75 per month.

Common health issues and costs to fix them

As we already mentioned, Bulldogs are not the healthiest dogs. They can have breathing and dental problems (due to their brachycephalic head shape) and other health issues.

• Hip dysplasia is the most common problem for Bulldogs. In the most severe cases, a surgery that can cost up to $5,000 may be necessary. 

• Cherry eye is a term for a prolapsed gland, and it is more common in puppies. The cost to correct this issue ranges from $500 to $1,500.

• Bulldogs are also prone to allergies. Allergy testing can cost between $100 and $500, while the cost of allergy treatment is hard to predict. Some dogs only need to change their diet, while others may need medication.
• Interdigital cysts also affect bulldogs, specifically their paws. The best method is to remove the cysts with surgery, which can cost between $250 and $500.

In addition to these more expensive issues, Bulldogs can also suffer from skin infections, eye infections, progressive retinal atrophy, Cystinuria, digital cysts, yeast infections, Patellar Luxation, head tremors, and obesity.

Due to many potential problems, we recommend doing genetic tests for inherited conditions in Bulldogs, such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, luxating patella, tracheal hypoplasia, congenital heart disease, congenital deafness, autoimmune thyroiditis, and eye problems.

It is also important to do routine annual checkups and perform dental work when necessary. You may need deworming in some cases, which can cost between $40 and $80.

Heartworm prevention (around $10 per month) and flea and tick prevention (around $20 per month) should also go into your expense calculation.

What are the Differences Between Cheap and Expensive Bulldogs?

Unless you are looking for a Bulldog puppy from champion parents or with a rare color/pattern, the only difference between cheap and expensive Bulldogs is the dog’s health.

Cheap Bulldogs usually come from unethical breeders or puppy mills, so they are more likely to have different health issues.

Bulldogs from reputable breeders may cost more, but you will save a fortune in vet bills since these dogs pass health screenings before they are sold. Additionally, you will support ethical breeders instead of a cruel industry.

How’s the price of an English Bulldog compared to other breeds?

We’ve talked in detail about the price of Bulldogs, so let’s take a moment to compare it with the average prices of other dog breeds:

• Price of Bulldog: $1,500 – $4,000
• Price of Dachshund: $300 – $1,000
• Price of German Shepherd: $500 – $3,000
• Price of Rottweiler: $1,000 – $1,500
• Price of Beagle: $800 – $1,500
• Price of Bull Terrier: $500 – $3,500

Should You Buy an English Bulldog?

After everything we listed, you may be wondering are English Bulldogs worth the money? While that is up to you to decide, we think that they are worth it. 

These wonderful dogs can bring so much joy to your life, and, except for potential health issues, it is easy to care for them.

Do you own a Bulldog? Share your experience with our readers in the comment section.