Dogs come in all shapes and sizes - the UK Kennel Club recognises 221 different pedigree dogs, from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier (there are sadly no dog breeds starting with the letter ‘z’!).
Then there are all manner of crossbreeds, from so-called ‘designer dogs’ to lovable mongrels.
Each has its own list of positive and negative attributes, and it’s important to take plenty of time to think about what breed will fit into your lifestyle the best - for instance a smaller dog if you live in a flat, or a hypoallergenic dog if the mere mention of dog hair makes you think about sneezing.
There is even scientific research to guide you, in particular psychologist Stanley Coren’s groundbreaking book The Intelligence of Dogs.
Growing demand for some of the most popular breeds has seen prices rocket since the Covid pandemic – meaning a dog will most likely cost you a great deal more today than it would just a few years ago.
A new report by Pets4Homes has taken data from thousands of dog sales over the course of 2025 to come up with the 10 breeds that cost the most on average.
And it seems that there’s no letting up in rising puppy prices - Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Whippets and Toy Poodles all now cost over 20 per cent what they did 12 months ago.
Here are the 10 most expensive breeds on average.
Make sure you don't miss a moment of breaking news from across Scotland by signing up to our free newsletter here.
.jpeg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
5. English Bulldog
The English Bulldog completes the top five most expensive dogs. You'll pay an average of £1,367 for these wrinkly heroes - up 13.9 per cent on 12 months earlier. | Getty Images
6. Boxer
The Boxer is one of the friendlist breeds of dog there is - but that comes at a premium average price of £1,357. That's an increase of 14.2 per cent over a 12 month period. | Canva/Getty Images
7. Pomeranian
The tiny Pomeranian would be cheap if dogs were sold by the pound. They're not though, so these wee characters come in at an average of £1,342 - up 11.4 per cent on the year before. | AFP via Getty Images
8. Toy Poodle
The Poodle comes in three sizes, but it's the smallest one that commands the highest prices. You can expect to pay an average of £1,334 for a Toy Poodle - a whopping 21.2 per cent increase on the year before. | Canva/Getty Images