Boston Terriers (also known as Bostons or Bosties) are a truly American dog breed. They are loyal, energetic, and affectionate, and display positive energy. This makes them excellent pets for families with kids as well as individuals.
Are you looking to adopt or buy a Boston Terrier? This extraordinary dog can truly change your life! However, before taking the decision of adding a Bostie to your household, it is important that you know how much it can cost to keep.
We give you the details.
How Much Does a Boston Terrier Cost?
The average price of a purebred Boston Terrier puppy from a reputed breeder in the USA is $1000.
Over your Bostie’s first year, you can expect to spend around $2500 (mainly on medical costs like de-sexing surgery, food, dog training, etc.)
After the first year, most Boston parents spend an average of $1500 per year on raising their dogs (not including travel, dog walking, grooming, and emergency vet bills). This brings the lifetime costs of keeping a Boston Terrier (having a lifespan of 14 years) to almost $15,000 to $22,000.
Also Read:
- Boston Terrier Puppy Price in USA
- Boston Terrier Mix Puppy Price in the USA
- How Much Does a Boston Terrier Pekingese Mix Puppy Cost?
How Much is a Boston Terrier Puppy Price in the USA?
The price of a Boston Terrier puppy varies from state to state and breeder to breeder. Our team analyzed over 150 ads to bring you the latest puppy prices for Boston Terrier puppies:
- We found the minimum price of a Boston Terrier to be $450.
- The maximum price for a purebred Boston Terrier with top bloodlines was $2800.
- The national average price of a Boston Terrier purebred dog is $1000.
- Adopting a Boston Terrier can cost between $200-$400 and some shelters even return the deposit of $100 once you spay/neuter your re-homed Boston. Most animal shelters even cover the cost of initial vaccinations and deworming.
Initial Costs – Equipment a Boston Terrier Needs and its Price
Bosties don’t need a lot, but some basic equipment can enhance their comfort and also ease the potty training process for owners.
Here are some basics to buy and keep for your pet before bringing it home from the breeder or shelter:
- Food and water bowls – $10-$40
- Dental/chew toys and play toys like balls, etc. – $10-$40
- Comfortable bed – $30-$150
- Crate – $50-$300
- Baby gates – $10-$30
- Grooming supplies – $20-$50
- Leash and collar – $10-$45
- Potty training pads, poop scoop, and cleaning supplies – $20-$40
Most of these are one-time expenses although some items will need to be replaced. You can expect to spend between $200-$500 on equipment in your puppy’s first year.
Dog Training Costs for Boston Terriers
We have a detailed cost guide on dog training costs in the USA. Do check it out for the latest dog training prices. Here is a brief summary of what you can expect to pay for different types of dog training:
- Group training – this is a wonderful way to get your Boston Terrier to interact and socialize with other dogs. The price varies from state to state but the national average is $50 per class. In most states, you can expect to pay between $30-$120 per session for group training.
- Private training – this may be a better choice for very young Bosties who tend to get distracted easily. Private dog trainers charge almost $50-$200 for obedience training per session.
- Board and train/stay and train/kennel and train – this is also called doggy boot camp. Its cost is a lot higher than private or group training since your Bostie will stay with the trainer for almost a week to learn basic obedience. The weekly charges in most states are $500-$2000 per week.
Medical Costs for Boston Terriers
You must prioritize your Bostie’s well-being and take it for regular vet checkups. You also need to get it spayed/neutered, unless you plan to breed your dog.
Furthermore, your little pup will need various vaccinations and booster doses of those vaccines to prevent deadly canine diseases such as parainfluenza, canine distemper, etc. It will also need year-round tick and flea prevention and regular deworming.
Boston Terriers are generally healthy dogs but they could suffer from issues due to their brachycephalic or snub noses. Some dogs even need surgery to prevent breathing issues. Many Bostons suffer from eye problems like entropion, cherry eye, cataracts, and glaucoma.
Here is a table showing some of the medical costs most dog owners incur:
| Vaccinations (first year) | $170-$200 |
| Spay/neuter | $100-$500 |
| Microchipping | $20-$45 |
| Flea-tick prevention | $150-200 per year |
| Deworming (first year) | $50-$150 |
| Dental cleaning | $100-$300 |
| Emergency surgery/hospitalization | $1000-$4000 |
As can be seen, medical expenses can leave a sizeable dent in your pocket. You can always consider purchasing pet insurance to help cover some or all of these costs.
Most pet insurance plans start from $10 a month although you could buy better coverage for a higher price. On average, Bostie owners spend $100-$300 per year on pet insurance. Dog medical costs for small dogs like Bostons are approximately $600 a year.
Price of Dog Food for Boston Terriers
Boston Terriers measure 12-15 inches at the shoulders and weigh around 18 lb. These small dogs need around 14 lb. of food per month although this quantity will vary based on the type of food you feed, your dog’s age, size, and level of activity.
Here is a table to summarize the monthly and annual food costs for Bosties:
| Type of food | Cost per pound | Monthly cost on dog food | Annual cost |
| Low-price/budget dog food | $1.75 per lb | $25 | $300 |
| Medium-priced dog food | $3 per lb. | $45 | $540 |
| Premium dog food | $5 per lb. | $70 | $850 |
Most Boston Terrier dog owners spend between $300 and $1000 annually on dog food and treat.
Other Costs (Miscellaneous Costs) of Owning a Boston Terrier
Here are some other dog-related expenses to save for when you own a Bostie:
Dog License Renewal
Every state has different rates for dog licenses. On average, spayed or neutered dogs have lower rates of around $8 to $10 a year.
Pet Deposits
This is applicable to owners living in rented units. Landlords are known to ask for $200-$400 in pet deposits. The price varies from state to state.
Professional Dog Grooming Services
Boston Terriers can be easily groomed at home although you might want to take your pet for a special medicated bath and anal gland expression from time to time. Expect to pay between $25-$50 per basic grooming session that includes services like bath, nail trimming, ear cleaning, etc.
Travel/Dog Boarding Costs
Dog hostels charge nearly $30-$60 a night for dog boarding. This can mean an expense of over $500 if you plan to go away for 2 weeks each year.
Traveling can cost almost $150-$300 for two-way airfare for Bosties and you also need a special carrier for your dog.
Dog Walker Service
If your work keeps you too busy and prevents you from walking your Bostie daily, then you could hire a professional dog walker for walking your doggo. This can increase your monthly expense by almost $600 considering that most dog walkers charge $10-$40 per walk of 30 minutes.
Summary – How Much Does a Boston Terrier Cost?
Boston Terriers make excellent pets but can be expensive to keep.
The average price of a purebred Boston Terrier puppy from a reputable breeder itself comes to over $1000. The annual expense in the first year of your puppy’s life can be $2500 (without considering the emergency costs and miscellaneous costs stated above).
After the first year, your expenditure of owning a Bostie can come to $1500 (but this is a conservative estimate without the special costs mentioned above).
On average, you could spend nearly $15,000 to $22,000 over your Boston Terrier’s lifetime.
