Click to Skip Ahead
The Samoyed is a medium-sized purebred dog that was originally bred as a working dog that pulled sleds in Siberia. Everything about the Samoyed is functional. They’re highly energetic and have great endurance and stamina. Along with having a thick, insulating coat, Samoyeds have what appears to be a permanent smile on their faces. The corners of their mouths are turned upward to prevent them from drooling and having icicles form on their faces.
Samoyeds are as beautiful and charming as they are practical and hardworking. They can become excellent companion pets, but they also have a lot of needs that can take up a significant amount of your budget. It’s important to consider all the details that will go into caring for a Samoyed. Here are some costs you can expect when living with a Samoyed.
Bringing Home a New Samoyed: One-Time Costs
There are a lot of things to consider and prepare for before bringing home a Samoyed puppy. Depending on where you get your Samoyed puppy, you can expect to pay hundreds to thousands of dollars, but breeders charge between $2,000 and $5,000. The additional one-time costs will vary depending on the brand and quality of the supplies.
Free
Samoyeds are a very sought-after breed, so it’ll be challenging to find one for free. You may be able to find breeders who are looking for homes for some of their older Samoyeds who have retired from their breeding program. However, that is pretty rare, and most breeders will have a waiting list and be very selective about the families they choose for their Samoyeds.
Adoption
- $150–$400
The average adoption fee for adult dogs is about $275 (fees will vary from state to state). Puppies are more expensive, and senior dogs usually have lower adoption fees. It’ll be difficult to find a purebred Samoyed in an animal shelter. However, some Samoyed rescue organizations in your state may help unclaimed or abandoned Samoyeds find forever homes.
Breeder
- $2,000–$5,000
Samoyed puppies are relatively popular, so you can expect them to be sold at higher prices. You can find purebred Samoyed puppies with show-quality lineage, but they cost much more than dogs sold as pets. Both types of Samoyeds are healthy and make good companion pets. So, if you don’t plan on entering the dog show world, there’s no need to pay for a particularly expensive Samoyed puppy.
Initial Setup and Supplies
- $900–$2,070
You can expect to pay several hundred or over a thousand dollars when purchasing initial supplies for a Samoyed. The costs vary depending on the brand of the supplies and what materials they’re made from.
An initial vet visit is also included in our calculations. Your Samoyed’s age and health status will significantly impact the cost of this visit and whether subsequent visits are required.
List of Samoyed Care Supplies and Costs
ID Tag and Collar | $15–$30 |
Spay/Neuter | $100–$350 |
X-Ray Cost | $150–$250 |
Ultrasound Cost | $300–$600 |
Microchip | $25–$65 |
Teeth Cleaning | $180–$300 |
Crate | $100–$200 |
Nail Clipper (optional) | $8–$15 |
Brush (optional) | $10–$15 |
Toys | $30–$40 |
Travel Carrier | $100–$150 |
Food and Water Bowls | $20–$40 |
How Much Does a Samoyed Cost Per Month?
- $50–$500 per month
Your monthly budget for your Samoyed will include regular health care costs, toys, and entertainment. You’ll also have to set aside money for home maintenance, especially while your Samoyed puppy is going through potty training. Here are some important monthly items to budget for when caring for a Samoyed.
Health Care
- $135–$450 per month
Food, grooming, and veterinary care are some monthly costs associated with caring for your dog’s physical health. The monthly budget for health care costs can vary widely because there are more significant price differences between different types of food and pet insurance plans.
Food
- $50–$150 per month
Dog food prices vary greatly for various reasons. First, dry dog food is often cheaper than wet dog food. You can also find premium brands that use organic ingredients or make fresh dog food recipes. Fortunately, you can find budget-friendly options that don’t heavily compromise on quality, so there’s much more wiggle room for your dog food budget.
Grooming
- $0–$90 per month
Most of your grooming costs will be budgeted for professional grooming. Samoyeds benefit from going to a professional groomer every 6 to 8 weeks. They’ll probably get a trim and a blowout to remove loose hairs from their coat.
At-home grooming includes regular coat brushing, teeth cleaning, and nail trimming. Samoyeds are known to be especially sensitive about their paws getting touched. So, you may need to enlist the help of a groomer or a veterinarian technician to help clip your Samoyed’s nails.
Medications and Vet Visits
- $15–$120 per month
After your Samoyed puppy receives all their vaccines and gets a health clearance from your veterinarian, you probably won’t have to visit the vet outside of annual checkups. So, the only monthly medical costs usually come from heartworm and flea and tick medication.
Pet Insurance
- $50–$90 per month
Pet insurance can help cover medical costs and is helpful for unforeseen accidents. Pet insurance premiums vary depending on the coverage you receive, and you can find plans that only cover accidents while others cover both accidents and illnesses.
You’ll also notice pet insurance costs rising as your Samoyed ages. Another factor that affects premiums is your location. Cities with higher living costs tend to have higher premiums than smaller suburban regions and rural areas.
Environment Maintenance
- $20–$50 per month
You’ll most likely spend most of your environmental maintenance costs when your Samoyed is a puppy. As your Samoyed is being housetrained, you can expect some accidents to happen around the house. A pet odor and stain remover is an essential item, and it’s helpful with cleaning up other accidents, like vomit. Laying out puppy pads around the home during the potty-training period will help protect your carpets and floors from stains and damage.
Puppy Pads | Up to $20/month |
Pet Odor and Stain Remover | Up to $10/month |
Entertainment
- $15–$50 per month
Playtime is essential throughout your Samoyed’s lifetime. Play encourages exercise and provides mental stimulation to keep Samoyeds happy and stress-free. The money you spend on toys will depend on your Samoyed’s play style. If your Samoyed prefers playing with plush toys, you can expect to purchase a new toy almost every month. Tennis balls and rubber toys usually last a few months.
Several subscription clubs ship a month’s supply of new toys and treats. These subscription boxes can introduce your Samoyed to new toys that aren’t typically found in pet stores. They’re also usually cheaper than purchasing toys and treats individually.
Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Samoyed
- $50–$500 per month
You can expect to spend a couple hundred dollars a month caring for your Samoyed. Just keep in mind that this amount will fluctuate month to month depending on whether your Samoyed requires professional grooming or a visit to the veterinarian.
Additional Costs to Factor In
Other costs to consider for your Samoyed include obedience training and care services if you plan to be away from home for long hours or go on vacation. Obedience training costs will depend on whether you enroll in group or one-on-one sessions. Group sessions are cheaper than one-on-one training.
Your Samoyed may also need a dog walker or a sitter if you regularly work away from home for most of the day. You can also look into doggy daycare services. It’s also important to research several different dog boarding services near you in case you plan to be out of town for several days.
Owning a Samoyed on a Budget
There’s no denying that it costs a significant amount of money to live with a Samoyed, and dogs generally aren’t budget-friendly pets compared to other common pets. However, you can offset some monthly costs by choosing more affordable brands. It requires a little more research, but you can find cheaper food, toys, and other dog supplies while still maintaining good quality.
Another way to save on costs is to stay on top of your Samoyed’s at-home grooming. Groomers charge extra if they have to spend extra time grooming your dog. Regular brushing and maintaining your Samoyed’s coat and dental health often reduces the number of grooming services your Samoyed will need.
Saving Money on Samoyed Care
You can find ways to save money on your Samoyed’s care with thorough research. Researching on budget-friendly dog food can help you save a significant amount of money on monthly costs. Dog supply subscription services can also help you get discounted prices on various products. Just ensure you use these products regularly, or you’ll quickly accumulate a pile of unused items.
Conclusion
Before bringing home a Samoyed, it’s vital to budget for one-time and ongoing monthly care costs. You can expect to spend over $2,000 on purchasing a purebred Samoyed puppy from a breeder and an additional $900–$2,070 on initial supplies and veterinary care costs.
Monthly costs will vary depending on your Samoyed’s grooming and veterinary needs and if you need to restock food or toys. However, you can expect to spend between $50 and $500 a month.
Dog owners must be prepared to invest a significant amount of time and money in caring for a Samoyed. However, there’s nothing quite like a happy and healthy Samoyed, so everything that you invest into your Samoyed will undoubtedly be worth it.
- Related read: 8 Samoyed Mixed Breeds: Pictures, Facts & History
Featured Image Credit: Monika Hodanova, Shutterstock