PlainPetCare rankings

Most Expensive Dog Breeds to Groom

Breeds ranked by average high-end price across all eight modeled services (six grooming and care ones plus boarding and training), not Full Groom alone.

$102
#1 · Bernese Mountain Dog
140
breeds ranked
$41
#140 · Chinese Crested

The verdict

According to PlainPetCare grooming-cost model, national base service rates adjusted for breed size and coat complexity (AKC breed standards), Bernese Mountain Dog tops the list at $102; the #140 cutoff to make this list is $41 (Chinese Crested).

$102
#1 · Bernese Mountain Dog
$41
#140, the cutoff to make this list
140
entries ranked

Top 12 by avg cost (all services)

The 12 highest-ranked entries.

  1. 1
    Bernese Mountain Dog $102
  2. 2
    Great Pyrenees $102
  3. 3
    Leonberger $102
  4. 4
    Newfoundland $102
  5. 5
    St. Bernard $102
  6. 6
    Akita $99
  7. 7
    Anatolian Shepherd $99
  8. 8
    Kuvasz $99
  9. 9
    Tibetan Mastiff $99
  10. 10
    Giant Schnauzer $96
  11. 11
    Irish Wolfhound $96
  12. 12
    Irish Water Spaniel $87

Source PlainPetCare grooming-cost model, national base service rates adjusted for breed size and coat complexity (AKC breed standards) · Apr 2026

Where the #12 cutoff sits

Avg Cost (all services) across all 140 ranked breeds, not just the 12 shown above

$87 12th of 140 higher than 128 of 140 breeds

all ranked breeds, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.01K-wide band; taller bars hold more breeds. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source PlainPetCare grooming-cost model, national base service rates adjusted for breed size and coat complexity (AKC breed standards) · Apr 2026

The full ranking

# Name Avg Cost (all services)
1 Bernese Mountain Dog giant $102
2 Great Pyrenees giant $102
3 Leonberger giant $102
4 Newfoundland giant $102
5 St. Bernard giant $102
6 Akita giant $99
7 Anatolian Shepherd giant $99
8 Kuvasz giant $99
9 Tibetan Mastiff giant $99
10 Giant Schnauzer giant $96
11 Irish Wolfhound giant $96
12 Irish Water Spaniel large $87
13 Bloodhound giant $84
14 Boerboel giant $84
15 Bullmastiff giant $84
16 Cane Corso giant $84
17 Dogo Argentino giant $84
18 Dogue de Bordeaux giant $84
19 Great Dane giant $84
20 Mastiff giant $84
21 Neapolitan Mastiff giant $84
22 Afghan Hound large $82
23 Belgian Sheepdog large $82
24 Belgian Tervuren large $82
25 Bergamasco Sheepdog large $82
26 Borzoi large $82
27 Briard large $82
28 Collie large $82
29 English Setter large $82
30 Golden Retriever large $82
31 Gordon Setter large $82
32 Hovawart large $82
33 Irish Setter large $82
34 Old English Sheepdog large $82
35 Saluki large $82
36 Alaskan Malamute large $80
37 Belgian Malinois large $80
38 Chesapeake Bay Retriever large $80
39 German Shepherd large $80
40 Labrador Retriever large $80
41 Bouvier des Flandres large $78
42 Pudelpointer large $78
43 Clumber Spaniel large $73
44 Barbet medium $71
45 Bedlington Terrier medium $71
46 Goldendoodle medium $71
47 Kerry Blue Terrier medium $71
48 Labradoodle medium $71
49 Lagotto Romagnolo medium $71
50 Mudi medium $71
51 Poodle medium $71
52 Portuguese Water Dog medium $71
53 Puli medium $71
54 Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier medium $71
55 Black and Tan Coonhound large $68
56 Boxer large $68
57 Bracco Italiano large $68
58 Catahoula Leopard Dog large $68
59 Dalmatian large $68
60 Doberman Pinscher large $68
61 German Shorthaired Pointer large $68
62 Greyhound large $68
63 Rhodesian Ridgeback large $68
64 Rottweiler large $68
65 Treeing Walker Coonhound large $68
66 Australian Shepherd medium $67
67 Bearded Collie medium $67
68 Cocker Spaniel medium $67
69 Australian Cattle Dog medium $65
70 Border Collie medium $65
71 Cardigan Welsh Corgi medium $65
72 Chow Chow medium $65
73 Finnish Spitz medium $65
74 Keeshond medium $65
75 Miniature American Shepherd medium $65
76 Norwegian Elkhound medium $65
77 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever medium $65
78 Pembroke Welsh Corgi medium $65
79 Samoyed medium $65
80 Siberian Husky medium $65
81 Airedale Terrier medium $63
82 Berger Picard medium $63
83 Standard Schnauzer medium $63
84 Wirehaired Pointing Griffon medium $63
85 Brittany medium $60
86 English Springer Spaniel medium $60
87 Bichon Frise small $58
88 Cockapoo small $58
89 Miniature Poodle small $58
90 Toy Poodle small $58
91 American Staffordshire Terrier medium $56
92 Basset Hound medium $56
93 Beagle medium $56
94 Bulldog medium $56
95 Chinese Shar-Pei medium $56
96 Pharaoh Hound medium $56
97 Staffordshire Bull Terrier medium $56
98 Vizsla medium $56
99 Whippet medium $56
100 Biewer Terrier small $55
101 Bolognese small $55
102 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel small $55
103 Coton de Tulear small $55
104 Havanese small $55
105 Japanese Chin small $55
106 Lhasa Apso small $55
107 Maltese small $55
108 Papillon small $55
109 Shih Tzu small $55
110 Silky Terrier small $55
111 Yorkshire Terrier small $55
112 American Eskimo Dog small $53
113 Pomeranian small $53
114 Schipperke small $53
115 Shetland Sheepdog small $53
116 Shiba Inu small $53
117 Swedish Vallhund small $53
118 West Highland White Terrier small $53
119 Affenpinscher small $52
120 Brussels Griffon small $52
121 Cairn Terrier small $52
122 Miniature Schnauzer small $52
123 Scottish Terrier small $52
124 Welsh Terrier small $52
125 Wire Fox Terrier small $52
126 Xoloitzcuintli medium $49
127 Basenji small $47
128 Boston Terrier small $47
129 Chihuahua small $47
130 Dachshund small $47
131 French Bulldog small $47
132 Italian Greyhound small $47
133 Jack Russell Terrier small $47
134 Lancashire Heeler small $47
135 Manchester Terrier small $47
136 Pug small $47
137 Rat Terrier small $47
138 Russian Toy small $47
139 Smooth Fox Terrier small $47
140 Chinese Crested small $41

Source: PlainPetCare grooming-cost model, national base service rates adjusted for breed size and coat complexity (AKC breed standards).

How to read this ranking

This table ranks 140 entries in the PlainPetCare dataset by avg cost (all services). The gap between the top and bottom of this list spans $61, wide enough that a mid-list entry rarely tracks either pole closely. Rankings like this are most useful read alongside the underlying price ranges on each breed or metro page, the aggregate score hides detail that matters for individual budgeting.

To get the most out of this ranking, click through to any row for the full service-by-service breakdown. Each breed page shows a complete pricing table by size and service type, where real budgeting decisions actually get made. Aggregated ranks are useful for scanning the market; itemised tables are where you plan spend.

Frequently asked questions

Why do some breeds cost so much more to groom?

The three biggest factors are size (more dog = more time and product), coat complexity (double coats, long hair, and curly coats require specialized techniques), and grooming frequency needs. A Bernese Mountain Dog with a thick double coat takes 2-3x longer to bathe, dry, and brush out than a short-haired breed of similar size.

How often do expensive breeds need grooming?

Most high-maintenance breeds need professional grooming every 4-8 weeks, plus regular at-home brushing 2-4 times per week to prevent matting. Breeds like Poodles, Bichon Frises, and Shih Tzus need the most frequent professional grooming due to continuously growing coats that require regular trimming.

Explore more rankings

Most Expensive Metros Cheapest Metros Cheapest Breeds Most Popular Breeds Most Grooming-Intensive

Related guides

How grooming prices work Regional pet-care pricing Annual pet care budget
Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

Every figure on PlainPetCare is rendered directly from AKC breed data and industry pet-service pricing surveys, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on AKC breed data and industry pet-service pricing surveys, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.

Sources: PlainPetCare grooming-cost model, national base service rates adjusted for breed size and coat complexity (AKC breed standards); the regional index is calibrated to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics regional cost-of-living data (verify with BLS →). Read our methodology.

Disclaimer: Prices are modelled estimates for informational budgeting only and do not constitute professional advice. Confirm with a local provider before making decisions.