The Chinese Shar-Pei is a medium-sized breed, well known for its deeply wrinkled skin and sunken eyes. Bred as watchdogs and pit fighters, Shar-Peis are instinctively protective, making them a popular pet among dog lovers.
Like any other dog, owning one of these breeds is costly, and you’ll need to anticipate all the expenses you’ll incur. With an average lifespan of 8-10 years, this dog can live a healthy life if the owner caters to all vet fees, food, supplies, grooming, and training expenses.
Purchasing the puppy is the first cost to be incurred. As you plan the budget, keep in mind that there may be several unexpected costs. These expenses can add up pretty quickly and make it harder for you to stick to the budget.
The cost of a Chinese Shar-Pei will vary depending on several factors. What are some of these factors? This article will examine these details and estimate how much it costs to own a Chinese Shar-Pei.
Chinese Shar-Pei Price: One-Time Costs
Bringing a new dog home is an exciting experience for the whole family. However, you have to incur some one-time costs for your dog to be comfortable. Whether you are getting a pup for free, from the adoption center, or the breeders, you have to spend some cash if it’s your first time owning a dog.
For homes with multiple pets, you might have some dog supplies that the Shar-Pei can use. This will significantly lower down your costs. However, if each of your dogs is very independent and competitive, you might have to get new supplies and items for your new puppy.
A new puppy needs initial supplies such as a dog bed, a leash, carriers, a collar, food and water bowls, and more. Some of these items can’t be shared; therefore, hand downs might not be ideal. For this reason, you’ll still need to buy new gear for your pup.
Free Chinese Shar-Peis
Everyone loves a free puppy. When you get a dog for free, you avoid the initial costs of purchase and can now focus more on buying supplies that the Shar-Pei needs.
Whether it’s a stray or a gift from a friend, the dog has some basic needs. It needs to see a vet for health screenings as well as for neutering or spaying. The dog also requires all the typical supplies a dog needs to live comfortably.
A free dog is, therefore, still expensive.
Chinese Shar-Pei Adoption
- $100-$200+
If you want to own a Chinese Shar-Pei, consider looking into adoption. Rescue homes and adoption centers give dogs a loving home until they get adopted. Rehoming a dog from a shelter will also cost you less than at the breeders.
Some of these centers ensure that they neuter their puppies and maintain their health to keep them happy. Therefore, getting a Shar-Pei from this type of center will reduce your costs, and you can use that money to cater to other needs.
However, you still need to pay some adoption fees. These fees are charged to offset the expenses involved in raising the dog.
Keep in mind that adoption centers might need to do background checks and in-home visits to check the suitability of your home.
Chinese Shar-Pei Breeders
- $750-$1,800+
While Chine Shar-Peis puppies can fetch as low as $750, champion bloodlines can go for up to $3,000 because of their show quality. If the puppy also has parents who have won contests, the price goes up because of the desirable genetics.
For typical non-show quality dogs, several factors could raise the market price. Since they are watchdogs, the breeder might need to properly train and socialize them early. In this case, the breeder will price the puppy depending on the effort and time taken to do this type of training.
High-quality breeders also charge more for their services; therefore, the Shar-Pei will be more expensive. Apart from training and socialization, some breeders also take their puppies through medical screenings to test for different conditions. If you go to a reputable breeder with such services, be prepared to pay more for the pup.
Chinese Shar-Peis can be found in a puppy mill, backyard breeder, or a reputable one. Getting a dog from a puppy mill or backyard breeder is a much cheaper alternative; however, it’s not advisable.
A puppy from these two businesses is highly prone to infections and medical conditions. Therefore, they tend to be expensive in the long run.
Initial Set up and Supplies
- $180-$900+
Getting a new pet requires a lot of supplies to ensure the home is comfortable. Your Chinese Shar-Pei needs its own bed, ID tags, and toys to keep it engaged and happy. You incur these costs at the initial stage of bringing the pet home. Therefore, you need to budget well for all the things your pup will need.
The amount you spent on these items depends on where you shop and how you want to take care of your dog. The quality of items also affects the price. You could get some toys at a much lower cost while still maintaining the quality.
These initial supplies are vital for your dog; therefore, you should ensure that you get the best for your dog while sticking to the budget.
List of Chinese Shar-Pei Care Supplies and Costs
| ID Tag and Collar | $5-$10 |
| Spay/Neuter | $150-$450 |
| Heartworm Prevention Medication | $80-$150 |
| Flea Prevention Medication | $170-$250 |
| Microchip | $40 |
| Teeth Cleaning Kit | $10 |
| Bed | $20-$85 |
| Nail Clipper (optional) | $15 |
| Brush (optional) | $5-$45 |
| Poop Bags | $55 |
| Poop Scoop | $10-$30 |
| Toys | $30-$100 |
| Carrier | $30-$120 |
| Food and Water Bowls | $5-$40 |
How Much Does a Chinese Shar-Pei Cost Per Month?
- $60-$200+ per month
Owning a Chinese Shar-Pei can be as expensive or as cheap as you want. Your preferences in services and products largely determine how much you spend each month. If you go for high-end services to keep your pup happy, the expenses will reflect that.
Dogs love human companionship; therefore, it’s much easier to find things to do with your dog that can also cut down some costs. You can also shop at cheaper stores to give your pup the same level of comfort within a budget.
Services such as vet visits are crucial to your pet; hence you can’t compromise on the quality. However, for others, such as professional grooming and training, you can find ways to do them yourself without paying an external provider.
Chinese Shar-Pei Healthcare Costs
- $30-$70+ per month
This breed is prone to various medical problems. The most common ones include joint pains, Shar-Pei fever, eye, ear problems, breathing difficulties, hypothyroidism, and allergies.
Their skin wrinkles are a unique feature in this breed but can also bring a lot of problems. The folds might house mites if you don’t carefully clean and dry our dog’s skin. Once you neglect the grooming, the skin gets irritated and could grow molds.
When getting the Chinese Shar-Pei from the breeders, it’s best to confirm whether they have any genetically inherited medical conditions that need to be treated. Reputable breeders carry out these tests to ensure the health status of their puppies.
Feeding your dog a healthy diet is also critical in keeping the health care costs down.
Dog Food Costs
- $10-$35+ per month
Chinese Shar-Pei are mid-sized dogs, and therefore, require moderate amounts of food. As adults, they can weigh up to 55 pounds and consume about 260 pounds of food each year. The food budget differs depending on the brand you choose for your dog. Premium brands get priced a bit more expensively.
On top of food, your puppy needs treats occasionally. The monthly expense for treats is approximately $20. If you feed your dog fewer treats, this total amount could even be lower. Therefore, you need to schedule a nutrition plan according to how much your dog eats to avoid weight problems.
The vet or canine nutritionist comes in handy when drawing up a food budget. They can recommend the exact amount of food your pup needs according to their age, weight, and health condition. With a proper plan, you can avoid overspending.
You can also save monthly expenses by buying food in bulk. For instance, when it comes to dry food, you can get a bigger pack for your Shar-Pei and feed your pet for several months until you need to replenish stock.
Dog Grooming Costs
- $5-$27+ per month
Chinese Shar-Peis are highly prone to allergies. To keep them at bay, you can frequently wipe the coat and paws, especially when the pollen is high.
In addition, because of the skin folds, you should give your dog an occasional bath, especially between the folds, to keep mites and other insects away. The fur coat doesn’t shed much; however, you should brush it frequently, at least once a week.
If you can afford it, professional groomers offer these services that incorporate a bath, nail trimming, ear cleaning, teeth cleaning, and hair trimming. Every visit could cost you around $40 to $55 for about 5-6 visits per year.
To keep your grooming costs low, you can opt to do the grooming yourself. It’s much cheaper to buy cleaning supplies and cleaning your dog yourself.
Medication and Vet Visits
- $10-$100+ per month
Because of the wrinkles, Chinese Shar-Peis are prone to flea attacks and infections. To keep this problem in control, you need to talk to your vet for flea prevention medication which should cost you about $175-$250 each year. They also get allergies a lot; therefore, you might need a prescription to manage this issue.
On top of medication, dogs require vaccines and annual booster shots priced at approximately $15-$45 per shot. Your vet should recommend which medications and tests your pet needs depending on their medical condition.
Like any other pet, vet visits are crucial. You can schedule an annual visit for your pup, which can increase if your dog is older or sickly.
Pet Insurance Costs
- $15-$50+ per month
Pet insurance helps you save a lot of money in the long run. Once you get on a plan, you can offset any healthcare costs, especially if your pup has chronic conditions or needs life-long medications.
Insurance is also a good choice because accidents happen. If your dog gets injured when you don’t have money, you can still get medical attention at no extra cost.
Carefully consider whether your dog needs only an accidental plan or a comprehensive health coverage plan. The latter will cost you more money.
Environmental Maintenance
- $5-$10+ per month
When you keep a dog, you just need some poop bags and a scooper to dispose of waste. These items are affordable and can be bought during the initial set-up. You can also purchase the bags in bulk to reduce the money spent on repeat expenses.
| Poop Bags | $5/month |
| Poop Scoop | $5/month |
Chinese Shar-Pei Entertainment Costs
- $50-$75+ per month
As a loyal dog, this breed is very protective of its owners. It enjoys hanging around and going on walks with its family members.
They have moderate exercise needs; therefore, you can go for brisk walks. Because of their skin folds, you should not spend a lot of time outside in the heat. The skin is highly sensitive.
In addition to these walks, you can get your Chinese Shar-Pei some toys to keep them physically and mentally stimulated. Toys are good if you don’t have a lot of time to spend with your dog. They take their attention and keep them occupied until you are back. Therefore, if you are not home a lot, ensure you invest in good quality chew toys.
When shopping for toys, always go for the best quality. Cheaper low-quality alternatives get destroyed within a short time, and you may be forced to go back and shop again.
Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Chinese Shar-Pei
- $50-$300+ per month
If you want to own a Chinese Shar-Pei, you have to be ready to spend some money. There are needs that the dog needs for basic survival.
They need regular medical checkups to ensure they are healthy at all times. They also need food, grooming, exercise and training, and entertainment.
If your dog has severe medical conditions, you are more likely to spend more.
For expenses, the costs will reduce over time. It’s more expensive in the first year when the puppy is younger. However, as the dog grows older, the expenses become minimal.
Additional Costs to Factor In
Even with a proper budget, you still need an emergency fund to cater to unexpected expenses. For instance, if you are getting your pet from a breeder who is not within your locality, you might need to pay for shipping costs. These travel expenses add up to your set budget on top of the purchase price.
Dogs, like other pets and human beings, get sick suddenly. When the pup is sick, you need to get medical attention immediately to protect the dog from severe infections. These types of sudden expenses require an emergency fund.
Shar-Peis require moderate exercise every day. If you are rarely home, you have to pay a dog walker to take your dog for strolls. To keep your pet happy and engages, you have to incur the extra costs.
Owning a Chinese Shar-Pei On a Budget
If you can’t afford premium products, there’s still a way to own a Chinese Shar-Pei on a budget. Once you get your puppy home, you can make some adjustments that reduce the amount of money you use.
Shar-Peis that exhibit good health don’t need a lot of vet visits. If your pup is relatively healthy, you can reduce the number of vet visits and set that money aside for medical emergencies.
You can also reduce the expenses by taking a less expensive insurance plan. Before deciding on this, you can analyze what is of importance for your dogs.
Treats are essential for your pup. However, you can reduce the number of treats your dog gets to cut down the total cost of food.
At the initial stage, also consider getting a dog from the adoption center rather than a breeder. If you don’t need a show-quality dog, a pup from the rescue center is still a good option. As long as the dog is healthy, you can save a few dollars while giving the puppy a good home.
Saving Money on Chinese Shar-Pei Care
Hiring a professional groomer for your dog can be pretty costly. If you can, save on this cost by cleaning your dog. Cleaning tools are readily available at pet stores; hence, you’ll incur less fees when doing it at home.
Summary: Chinese Shar-Pei Price
Chinese Shar-Peis are excellent pets. Before buying or adopting one of these dog breeds, you need to budget for all the monthly expenses properly. They are low-maintenance dogs; therefore, you can find ways to minimize the costs.
The cost of owning Shar-Pei decreases as the dog grows older. When trying to keep the costs down, it’s essential to buy high-quality items. In the long term, cheap becomes expensive, especially if you have to keep repurchasing items.
Featured Image Credit: Waldemar Dabrowski, Shutterstock
