13 Dog Breeds So High-Maintenance They Can Bankrupt U.S. Households

Nearly half of American pet owners—47%—have taken on debt for their pets, up from 36% in 2019, reveals a LendingTree survey. As lifetime costs for dogs average $34,550 over 10 years, with some large breeds hitting $52,075, many families face unexpected financial strain from high-maintenance breeds.

When Affection Turns Costly

Emergency veterinary care often triggers the debt, with 39% of owners holding animal medical bills averaging $450, and 22% owing more than $2,000. Cat emergencies can reach $1,850, while large dogs demand far higher sums, pushing households to their limits. Pet owners frequently misjudge these expenses, particularly in crises.

Thirteen Breeds with Hidden Expenses

Certain breeds amplify risks through health issues, training needs, and behavior challenges. Border Collies, with 12-15 year lifespans, cost about $20,000, or $1,500 yearly before emergencies; their high energy demands 2-3 hours of daily exercise and training at $30-$50 per session to curb destruction. Some owners face $20,000-$35,000 annual bills for rare conditions.

Belgian Malinois require professional training at $300 hourly, with basic programs at $1,100-$1,500 for eight sessions; full service-dog courses hit $2,000-$5,000. Without expert handling, they become aggressive, overwhelming unprepared families and filling rescues.

Cane Corsos see 50% develop hip dysplasia, with surgery at $1,500-$6,000 per hip, plus elbow dysplasia ($1,200-$3,500), epilepsy drugs, and lymphoma care ($2,000-$7,000). Their size escalates all medical costs.

Australian Shepherds risk hip and elbow dysplasia surgeries ($1,500-$6,000 and $1,200-$3,500 per joint), epilepsy treatment ($500-$2,500), and recurrent ear infections ($300-$800 per case). Monthly costs average $100-$149 before age-related spikes.

Siberian Huskies need escape-proof setups like $3,500 fencing plus $700 collars, plus extras like coyote rollers. Without activities like bikejoring, destruction follows, barring off-leash freedom.

Dalmatians have 15-30% congenital deafness risk, needing BAER tests and specialized training; epilepsy adds medication costs, pushing lifetime totals over $17,000.

Weimaraners battle separation anxiety requiring drugs like Prozac and specialists at $100-$200 per session, plus hip surgery ($1,500-$7,500) and bloat emergencies ($1,000-$3,000).

Great Pyrenees face bloat surgery ($1,000-$3,000), hip dysplasia fixes, and eyelid repairs ($500-$2,000 per eye). Annual care averages $1,400 before emergencies, with huge food needs.

Chow Chows endure frequent entropion surgery ($600-$1,200 per eyelid), hip/elbow procedures ($1,000-$7,500), and premiums double the breed average at about $1,240 yearly.

Akitas demand training for dominance ($100-$200+ per session), plus thyroid, eye, and skin disease treatments.

Alaskan Malamutes incur high food bills for their 75-100 pound frames, $3,500+ fencing, hip surgery ($3,000-$10,000 per hip), and dominance training.

Even small Jack Russell Terriers need $100-$300 training courses for hyperactivity; neurological issues top $1,000, bladder stones $600-$1,000.

Cairn Terriers risk blindness from retinal atrophy ($300-$700), cataract surgery ($2,000-$4,000), patella fixes ($500-$2,500), and liver shunts ($2,000-$6,000), plus training.

Yearly Ownership Breakdown

Large dogs cost $1,390-$5,295 annually per Rover’s 2025 data; puppies $1,520-$6,415, seniors $2,555-$4,680—excluding surgeries or specialists that shatter budgets.

The Emergency Burden

Seventy-four percent of indebted owners cite emergency visits, like hip dysplasia surgery averaging $2,629 ($2,059-$4,546 range), or total replacements at $4,000-$10,000 per hip. Diagnostics alone can exceed $1,000.

Insurance Realities

Dog policies average $749 yearly, rising for older or predisposed breeds like Cane Corsos; they exclude pre-existing issues, with 6.4 million U.S. pets covered in 2024, double 2020’s number.

As 62% of owners express shock at costs—59% from medical surprises—thorough planning becomes crucial. Families eyeing these breeds should budget $20,000-$50,000+ lifetime, covering training ($2,000-$5,000), surgeries ($1,500-$10,000), specialists ($100-$200 sessions), and fencing ($3,500+). Proactive funds and research can prevent debt while enabling responsible ownership.