Pug Price: How Much are Standard and Teacup Pug Puppies?

Last Updated on April 19, 2023

If you’re thinking of adding a new furry friend to your family, then you can certainly consider a Pug. This purebred may cost between $1,000 and $3,000, depending on where you adopt the pooch.

The price may seem like a lot, but it’s not as bad as you may think. If you want to consider adopting a Pug, then keep reading about everything you’ll need to buy. 

How Much Do Pugs Cost?

You can expect the Pug cost to be about $1,000 to $3,000. However, if you adopt a pedigree Pug, then you may spend up to $6,000. So the cheapest Pug you can get might be about $500.

There are a few reasons why Pugs are so expensive. For example, they have small litters, are high in demand, and can have complications during and after pregnancy.

In addition, when giving birth, Pugs often need a C-section. Breeders may charge more to help cover the vet bills. 

However, the cost of a Pug puppy will vary, depending on where you adopt the dog from.

Should you buy a puppy or an older dog?

Whether you choose to buy a Pug puppy or an adult dog is up to you. Pug puppies will have higher prices because they’re more in demand.

On the other hand, adult Pugs will be cheaper to buy, may already be housetrained, and be up to date with vaccinations. 

Are small Pugs more expensive than large ones?

Some breeders have created a “Teacup Pug” in which they breed two runts together. This makes a smaller Pug which typically costs about $4,000. However, there is some controversy about whether this is ethical or not.

Overall, unlike some other dog breeds, the size does not affect the price of a Pug.

In some cases, one gender is smaller than the other. However, when it comes to these small dogs, the size for both males and females are the same.

How Much Does a Pug Cost from a Breeder?

From a reputable breeder, you can expect to pay a Pug for about $1,000 to $3,000. 

But why should you get a Pug from a breeder? First, they take into consideration the health of the dogs. A breeder will get the dogs tested for any diseases or genetic disorders. They also care about the health of the parents. 

In addition, dogs from breeders are pedigree pups, so you can be sure you’re receiving quality dogs from the breeder.

Remember to do your research on a breeder before deciding to adopt from them.

Backyard breeders do not produce the best dogs as they only care about profit. They do not get the dog’s health tested and may not even breed them under healthy or clean conditions.

How can you find reputable breeders and avoid puppy mills?

When searching for a reputable breeder, there are a few things to keep in mind.

For example, the breeder will keep the puppies and parents in their home as part of the family. The puppies will also be socialized, begin training, and be up to date on their vaccinations from the vet.

Also, the breeder will want to meet with you in person, answer all your questions, and have extensive knowledge of the Pug breed, their bloodlines, and overall health.

The breeder may also be registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) and have health documents for the puppies and parents.

To find a good breeder in your area, make sure they are licensed by the USDA and adhere to the rules.

For instance, some common red flags to watch out for are a lack of paperwork, the breeder won’t meet you in person, and the dogs are not tested for health or genetics.

Unfortunately, puppy mills do exist, and you’ll want to avoid them. These are breeders who are not licensed or registered.

In addition, they don’t breed the dogs safely and are only interested in making a profit rather than finding the dogs a good home. 

Adoption Fee for a Rescue Pug

The average price range of adoption fees from a Pug rescue is about $150 to $500. However, if you happen to find a purebred Pug at an animal shelter, then you’ll most likely spend about $200 to $400.

What’s the difference between an animal shelter and a rescue? Rescues are made up of volunteers and privately funded. They ensure all the dogs go to a happy home. In addition, rescues will ensure the dogs are healthy and up to date on their vaccinations.

Shelters, on the other hand, are usually funded by the government. So it’s where unwanted or stray dogs go.

Unfortunately, if the dogs aren’t adopted within a certain time, they get euthanized. However, some shelters have a “no-kill” policy.

If you go through a shelter, the process is much simpler because you’re saving a dog’s life. In most cases, you’ll be able to pick out your pup and bring them home within the same day. In addition, you’ll spend less for this.

Before adopting from a shelter or rescue, be sure to research the Pug dog breed so that you know you and the dog will be a good fit for one another. 

Factors Affecting the Price of a Pug Puppy

Many factors can cause a Pug to be higher or lower in price.

The first is age. Puppies will be more expensive than dogs who are one year old or older. This is because puppies are in higher demand.

There’s also the factor of whether the Pug is purebred or a mixed breed. Purebreds are often more expensive because they can be show-quality dogs and come from a high pedigree. For example, if the dog comes from a champion bloodline or lineage, you’ll pay more.

In addition, if the breeder has a good reputation and knows what they’re doing, keeps the dogs healthy and under good conditions, then the fee will increase to help cover medical bills.

For instance, a good breeder will get registration papers, health screenings, and medical testing on the parents and the puppies. They will also socialize and train the puppies as early as possible.

Size also matters because of the Teacup Pug. If you find a Pug that’s smaller than usual, it’s also more costly since it’s a rarity. Also, gender will affect the price. Female Pugs are more expensive due to the complications of pregnancy and birth.

Location and the time of year are also factors. When a dog is high in demand, the price will increase. So, if a Pug is popular where the breeder lives, they’ll most likely increase the cost.

In addition, the time of year affects the price since dogs are more in demand during the holidays, for example.

With that in mind, availability and popularity affect the price. If the dog is high in demand or there aren’t a lot of puppies in the litter, then the price will increase.

Finally, the pug’s coat color is taken into account. The only recognized colors of the Pug are fawn and black. However, rarer colors do exist, such as brindle, apricot, apricot fawn, or silver. Rare Pug coat colors will increase the cost.

Since fawn and black Pugs are common, they’ll be the cheapest to adopt.

On the other hand, white Pugs are extremely rare and can cost up to $19,000.

To learn more about the different coat colors, read about Pug Colors here.

The Long-term Ownership Costs

Based on medical bills, dog food, supplies, training, grooming, and everything in between, you can expect to spend an average of $16,210 for the long-term ownership of your Pug.

Depending on the cost of your and their overall health, you could spend anywhere between $7,025 and $26,090.

Fees for Vets

Vet expenses for your Pug’s first year might be roughly $590 with an added $50 to $300 if you get your pooch spayed or neutered. Every year after that, you may spend an average of $465.

These costs include physical check-ups, vaccinations, and flea, tick, & heartworm prevention.

During the first year, the puppy cost of the medical bill includes essential vaccinations to keep your Pug dog healthy and developing properly.

For example, these vaccinations might be Leptospirosis, Influenza, and Lyme disease.

An adult Pug may need boosters for previous shots given as a puppy. But, overall, they’ll only need to go to the vet for an annual physical. 

The average lifespan of a Pug is about 12 to 15 years. However, this doggo can have a few health problems you’ll want to keep an eye out for.

Some common health issues

Unfortunately, Pugs are prone to some health conditions. For instance, Pugs might be inclined to hip dysplasia, obesity since they love to eat, or have skin infections due to the folds and wrinkles on their face.

With medical issues come vet bills. Unfortunately, some of the most common (and serious) issues Pugs can get are pricey.

For example, Brachycephalic Syndrome may cost between $250 and $3,000, Patellar Luxation may cost between $300 and $2,000, Collapsing Trachea can cost $250 to $4,500, Pug Dog Encephalitis & Seizures can cost $1,000 to $3,000.

In addition, Pugs can have eye problems, which can cost anywhere between $100 and $1,200. Entropion costs $300 to $1,500, while Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (Dry Eye) can cost anywhere between $55 and $150 per month.

Other health issues may be Portosystemic Shunts, Legg-Calve Perthes Disease, Arachnoid Cysts, Fold Dermatitis, Granulomatous Meningoencephalitis, Allergic Inhalant Dermatitis, and Demodicosis.

With annual check-ups to the vet, you should be able to catch these conditions early enough when they happen.

Pet insurance

Luckily, there’s insurance for dogs. For both accident and illness coverage for your doggy, you may spend about $565 per year.

Services for dog insurance may include surgery, emergency visits, hospitalization, medications, cancer treatments, and more. 

However, you may only want to get a sick plan or just an accident plan, which would be cheaper. Call around different pet insurance to get quotes. Or you can ask your vet to recommend one for you.

Dog Food Expenses

You can expect to pay roughly $220 per year on dog food. But, overall, feeding your Pug dog won’t be that expensive. Treats, which can last a couple of months, often cost about $5 to $10.

It’s recommended that Pug puppies eat about one cup of high-quality kibble every day. As an adult, they eat about 1.5 cups of dog food each day.

You can buy a 30-pound bag of dog food for about $55, and that will last about three months, thus only spending about $220 per year on dog food. 

Pet supplies

For the first year, expect to pay about $345 for supplies. Each year after that, you might spend an average of $140 per year.

Supplies may include a collar, leash, harness, a dog bed, crate, food, toys, grooming supplies, and much more.

Additional costs to consider

In addition, you might want to get your pooch licensed and microchipped in case they ever get lost. A license costs an average of $15 while microchipping can cost $40.

Also, if you’re going to be at work all day, you might want to get a dog walker, which can cost $20 per walk. Alternatively, if you go on vacation, boarding can cost about $40 per day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the yearly and monthly costs for a Pug?

For a puppy Pug’s first year, the yearly cost might be about $2,755, which is about $230 per month. An adult Pug dog may average a yearly cost of $1,035, which averages about $86 per month.

What are great names for a Pug?

Have you decided to adopt a Pug, but you’re unsure of what to name it? Then check out this extensive list of Pug names to choose from.

Should You Buy or Adopt a Pug?

Pugs make an excellent family pet. They are loving, loyal, and all-around friendly pups. For instance, they’re affectionate with their family members, great with young children, great with other dogs, and are open to meeting strangers.

Also, they’re easy to potty train, crate train, and socialize. When you have a Pug as a family dog, there will never be a dull moment.

Depending on where you adopt the Pug from and whether they’re relatively healthy, then you can expect the overall cost of this pooch to be relatively low and undoubtedly worth it. 

Further reading: More Dog breed Prices to Consider

• Golden Retriever Price
• Shiba Inu Price
• Pomeranian Price
• French Bulldog Price
• Yorkshire Terrier Price
• German Shepherd Price