How Much Do German Shepherd Puppies Cost?

You’re thinking about getting a German Shepherd, Congratulations!!!!  As you probably already know, German Shepherds are wonderful dogs and make the perfect family companion.  You may also be wondering… how much do German shepherd puppies cost?

This article will answer that question, as well as give you an idea of how much to expect to spend during the first year of ownership for your new GSD puppy as well as later in life.

How much do German Shepherds cost to acquire?

If you adopt from your local shelter or animal rescue the cost can range from $100 – $300.  If you purchase your new GSD from a reputable breeder, your pup could cost anywhere from $900 – $2,500. 

Overall, it really depends on where you purchase your new German Shepherd as well as the dog’s pedigree.

If you are looking for information on how to select your new German Shepherd puppy click here.

Some people may want to purchase a fully trained adult German Shepherd.  Those can cost upwards of $30,000 depending on what the dog is trained to do. 

How much do German Shepherd puppies cost the first year?

Obviously, there is a pretty wide range of costs across the United States, so naturally, these costs will vary as well. 

I wanted to give you a snapshot of my costs of ownership for the first year.   I also contacted other GSD owners I know to get a better idea of how much they pay for these items to be able to provide both lower and higher ranges of costs.

	My First Year Expenses	Low Estimate	High Estimate
Puppy Acquisition Cost	1,200	100	2,500
Food Cost	540	360	900
Collar, Leash & Dog Tag	61	40	80
Food and Water Dish	40	14	99
Dog Toys	104	40	266
Crate (I purchased multiple crates)	157	50	199
Puppy obedience class	170	120	250
Additional training (schtuzhund for me)	600	200	1,500
First Puppy Vet Appointment	158	100	220
First dosage Flea Medicine	22	16	29
Second Puppy Vet Appointment	345	255	480
Flea Medicine (6 months)	78	56	120
Heartworm (6 months)	113	50	123
Oral Hygiene Solution	11.95	5	21
Spay	676	400	740
Total	4,276.95	1,806	7,527

Please take these figures ONLY as an example – your costs can certainly vary.  However, I do think this chart gives you a good idea of the majority of the expenses you will incur for your new pup and you can go out and get local price quotes in your area for the most accurate estimate for you.

We live in an expensive metropolitan area so costs are unfortunately on the high end. 

Also, keep in mind, I spent a significant amount of money on training for Allie, that expense can be excluded if you don’t plan on doing high-level training.

How much do German Shepherds cost…. after the first year?

As you will see, my expenses dropped by about 50% during my second year of German Shepherd ownership.  Again, with training making my ownership costs higher.

	My Second Year Expenses
Food	720
Toys	50
Second Year Vet Appointment	266
Schutzhund Training	900
Flea Medicine	156
Heartworm Medicine	226
Total	2,318

I also switched food brands during the second year as well as changed from puppy food to adult dog food, which accounts for the higher food cost. 

Taking out the extensive training costs – I would estimate that the average person would spend about $1,300 – $1,500 a year on their German Shepherd after the first year.

Final Thoughts

I hope this article helped to give new potential German Shepherd owners an idea of the costs to better prepare for their new pup’s arrival. 

Although owning any dog is an extra financial cost those costs can range significantly because of geographic location and personal preference.   For example, some owners buy every toy on the market for their dog while others do not. 

How much did you spend on your German Shepherd puppy the first year?  Let me know in the comments.