Dog Health
Does Choosing a Crossbred Dog Reduce Pet Health Costs?
Key takeaways:
Mixed-breed dogs are generally healthier than purebred dogs. This is because purebred dogs have a limited gene pool and risk passing along genetic disorders from generation to generation.
Typically, owners of mixed-breed pets can expect to pay a lower pet insurance premium than owners of purebred pets.
Purebred dogs can be more expensive because of healthcare costs, grooming, their pedigree, and their roles as show dogs.
Can choosing a mutt, crossbred, or mixed-breed dog instead of a purebred one reduce the costs of pet healthcare? It’s a question many ask after deciding to adopt a new pet.
Canine healthcare costs can vary. Generally, having a mixed-breed dog can save you money on pet healthcare. One reason is because pedigree or purebred dogs can be more prone to certain genetic disorders, which can increase their healthcare costs.
According to research from pet health insurance plans, purebred dogs have a higher risk for cancer claims than mixed-breed dogs. For instance, labradoodles and goldendoodles — which are crossbred dogs — have fewer claims than the purebred dogs that produce them, which are Labrador retrievers, golden retrievers, and poodles.
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A purebred dog has two parents of the same breed. This dog’s ancestry can be traced without difficulty. Basically, all the individuals in the dog’s family tree are from the same breed.
A mixed-breed dog, or mutt, can have uncertain ancestry or multiple types of dogs in the pet’s family tree. These dogs are produced by free-breeding, random breeding, or accidental mix.
Some mixed-breed dogs are crossbred intentionally, such as poodles and Labrador retrievers to produce labradoodles. These mixes are called “designer dogs,” or “hybrid” breeds.
Generally, you will pay more for a purebred dog than a mixed-breed dog over its lifespan. The higher costs often begin with adopting the dog. Purchasing a purebred dog from a breeder is typically more expensive than adopting a mixed-breed dog from a shelter or animal rescue organization.
The cost of your dog is your initial investment. A purebred dog from a breeder can cost $500 to $2,000, or more. Adopting a dog from a shelter or rescue can have a more affordable cost range of about $50 to $200.
Veterinary spending analysis and pet insurance claims show higher costs for the care of purebred dogs. Pet health insurance premiums are often determined, in part, by breed.
Maintaining the health of a purebred dog also may include expenses such as specialized food and veterinary care.
It’s important to note that a dog’s anatomy may make them more susceptible to certain health problems. For instance, large dogs such as Great Danes can have bone and joint conditions. Short-nosed dogs can be more prone to breathing issues. These flat-faced dogs, known as brachycephalic breeds, are popular and include:
Pugs
French bulldogs
Boston terriers
Research published in 2021 found that U.S. dog owners spend an average of $253 per dog each year for veterinary care. The average cost of a preventive care visit is $138.
Dog owners can expect to pay more than $400 for a full wellness exam, without parasite prevention, with these services:
Canine wellness exam
Core and noncore vaccines
Annual laboratory tests
The ASPCA also reports more than $400 as the average cost of healthcare for a dog in 2021. This figure included:
Routine medical costs (vaccines, wellness visits): $225
Preventive medication (heartworm, flea, tick): $185
You may have additional costs of about $300 to spay or neuter your dog. Dental care can cost $500, on average, annually.
Some dogs are at higher risk for certain health conditions, as revealed by a report on the policy and claims data for 1.61 million Nationwide-insured dogs during a 6-year period ending in 2021. The analysis showed that purebred dogs have a higher risk for cancer claims — diagnosis or treatment — than crossbred and mixed-breed dogs. Purebred dogs are almost twice as likely to have submitted a claim for cancer than mixed-breed or crossbred canines.
Out-of-pocket pet healthcare costs for accidents and injuries are often reduced by having pet insurance. We’ll discuss this more in the next section.
Pet health insurance can save you thousands of dollars if your dog has an accident or injury. Your plan also may cover alternative treatments as well as inherited conditions and birth defects, but that coverage is usually offered for an additional cost.
In 2021, more than 3.2 million dogs in the U.S. were insured with pet policies, and dogs accounted for 81.7% of insured pets, according to the North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA).
The average annual U.S. premium in 2021 for accident and injury coverage for dogs was $583, or about $49 a month, the NAPHIA reported. The yearly cost of accident-only coverage for dogs averaged $239, or about $20 a month.
Pet health insurance typically doesn’t cover routine care, such as vaccines or wellness visits — but you can have these services added to your plan for an extra fee.
Usually, mixed-breed dog owners can expect to pay a lower insurance premium than purebred dog owners. You will be asked about your dog’s breed when requesting an insurance quote.
Grooming is often essential to maintaining your dog’s health and appearance. There can be several categories of costs, including:
Professional grooming
Home grooming supplies, such as shampoo and conditioner
Home grooming tools, such as brushes and clippers
The annual cost of professional grooming depends on your dog’s size and coat, as well as how often they have an appointment.
The ASPCA reports these annual grooming costs:
Professional grooming: $300
Grooming supplies: $28
Grooming tools: $40
Depending on the products, frequency of grooming, and your upkeep preferences, your costs could be much more each year.
Researchers have found that a dog’s breed does not always determine their personality and behavior. In fact, a study published in 2022 found that breed accounted for only 9% of a dog’s personality. In addition to genetics, a dog’s behavior is determined by other factors, including:
Training
Environmental factors
Individual experiences
The ASPCA reports annual training costs at about $200 in 2021.
The lifespan for your dog will be influenced by many factors, including:
Breed
Size
Sex
Living conditions
Food
Mixed-breed dogs lived about 1.2 years longer, on average, than purebred dogs of the same size, according to an analysis published in 2019. Body size also matters as a predictor of the lifespan. Small breeds live longer than large breeds.
Choosing a crossbred or mixed-breed dog instead of a purebred dog can reduce your pet health costs. Generally, crossbred and mixed-breed dogs have a lower risk for health conditions, such as cancer. Pet insurance is also less costly for dogs that are not purebreds. You also may save on grooming costs with a dog that has diverse breeds in its family tree.
Allan, M. C. (2019). Short faces; long medical bills. The Humane Society of the United States.
ASPCA. (2021). Cutting pet care costs.
ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. (n.d.). Coverage for dogs and cats.
Benson, J., et al. (2022). Diversity of risk: Purebred dogs and cancer. Nationwide Veterinary Analytics.
Benson, J., et al. (2022). Oodles of doodles: Popularity and health. Nationwide Veterinary Analytics.
Burke, A. (2020). Great Dane life span & health issues. American Kennel Club.
Chiu, L. J. V., et al. (2021). Analysis of the demand for pet insurance among uninsured pet owners in the United States. Vet Record.
Fossati, P., et al. (2021). Purebred dogs and cats: A proposal for a better protection. Journal of Veterinary Behavior.
Hecht, A. (2020). Owning a dog costs thousands of dollars a year—Here’s how to know if you can afford one. CNBC.
Meyer, I., et al. (2022). Pampered pets or poor bastards? The welfare of dogs kept as companion animals. Applied Animal Behaviour Science.
Morrill, K., et al. (2022). Ancestry-inclusive dog genomics challenges popular breed stereotypes. Science.
North American Pet Health Insurance Association. (n.d.). Section #2: Total pets insured.
North American Pet Health Insurance Association. (n.d.). Section #3: Average premiums.
Shepherd, K. (2022). Looking for a well-behaved dog? Breed may not tell you much. The Washington Post.
Williams, A., et al. (2020). The impact of pet health insurance on dog owners’ spending for veterinary services. Animals.
Yordy, J., et al. (2020). Body size, inbreeding, and life span in domestic dogs. Conservation Genetics.
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