King Shepherds might look like German Shepherds but, in reality, are a hybrid mix of various dog breeds – Shiloh Shepherds, American-bred German Shepherds, the long-haired variety of FCI-recognized German Shepherds, Alaskan Malamutes, and even the Great Pyrenees.
If you are looking for information about the price of this affectionate, giant-breed dog, then read on, we have the answer for you.
How Much Does a King Shepherd Cost?
Although the King Shepherd dog breed is not AKC-recognized, it still costs as much as many purebred AKC-recognized dogs.
Expect to pay between $1500 and $3000 for a King Shepherd puppy.
The first-year cost of raising this giant dog breed is nearly $6000 and, afterward, you could spend $3688 on your pet, annually.
The lifetime cost of owning a King Shepherd is almost $38,725.
Also Read: Cost of Other Shepherd-Type Dog Breeds
How Much Does a King Shepherd Puppy Cost?
Our team analyzed around 50 ads to bring you the latest prices of King Shepherd puppies:
- Most breeders charge between $1500 and $3000 for King Shepherd puppies. The price varies based on the puppy’s parents/bloodlines, the breeder’s reputation, the pup’s age, and coat colors, the quality of the puppy – whether it is pet quality or show quality, etc.
- The minimum price for a King Shepherd puppy was $500 typically on sites like Craigslist.
- The maximum price for a King Shepherd puppy from a reputed breeder was around $3000.
- The price of adopting a King Shepherd was between $300-$500. This cost also covered the initial vaccinations, and deworming, as well as the cost of spaying/neutering.
Basic Equipment for King Shepherds
To get started in your King Shepherd training and to make it more comfortable in your home, you will need some basic equipment.
- Good-quality, soft fabric collar – the collar should fit snugly around your pet’s neck with space to insert two fingers. This costs around $10-$30
- Leash – $10-$25. You can choose expensive leather leashes or retractable leashes for over $50.
- Bowls – Your King Shepherd will eat 4 meals a day, while it is a puppy. Choose non-skidding, anti-tipping food and water bowls, preferably in stainless steel or ceramic. These cost around $20-$50 for two bowls – depending on the type you choose.
- Bed and crate – A crate will aid you in potty training your pup. Choose a sturdy crate of wire or plastic. Add a bed or liner inside. You might need two beds and two crates if you want to keep one for the car. This can cost over $200.
- Poop bags/potty scoop, wipes, odor-removal sprays, and cleaning supplies – $50.
- Dental chews, teething rings, and kong and outdoor toys – these can keep your pet entertained and also help during the teething phase when your King Shepherd’s gums are sensitive. These can cost around $50.
- Basic grooming kit – this consists of a brush or comb, shampoo, ear, and eye wipes, ear cleaner, eye drops, nail clippers, etc. It will cost around $50 to $75.
Depending on what you buy, the basic supplies and equipment can cost around $300.
Medical Costs for King Shepherds
Vet expenses vary widely depending on the area you live in and the services you need. Your King Shepherd puppy will need several vaccinations and booster shots in its first year to prevent diseases like canine distemper, parvovirus, etc.
Additionally, your dog will also need routine veterinary checkups two to three times a year, spaying or neutering in the first year, and flea and tick prevention as well as deworming throughout its life.
Here are some canine medical costs to consider:
- Routine veterinary checkups – $40 to $200
- De-sexing surgery – $500 for spaying and around $150 for neutering
- Vaccines – $15 to $40 per shot
- Dental care – $200 – $300 for a cleaning
- Allergy testing – $150
- Surgery – $1000-$4000
- Short hospitalization – $500 to $750
- Long hospitalization – over $2000
- Common health issues in King Shepherds – dysplasia, eye issues, thyroid-related disorders, Von Willebrand’s disease, degenerative myelopathy, etc. These can cost over $1000 to diagnose and treat.
Again, these prices will vary considerably based on the city you live in. The good news is that you can reduce some of these expenses by buying pet insurance. Pet insurance covers many routine services as well as emergency costs depending on the plan you buy. The cost of pet insurance can fall between $360-$500 per annum.
Dog Training Costs for King Shepherd
King Shepherds are massive dogs, so it is very important that you train your dog properly. Failure to do so could result in unwanted behaviors like barking at visitors, jumping on people, etc. Here are the average costs of dog training in the USA:
- Group training with a professional trainer – $30-$50- per class
- Private training costs between $45 and $120 per session
- 6-day training packages – $600
- Obedience training schools – $500-$2000 per week.
- Service dog training – $120 per hour.
The national average cost of dog training in the USA in 2021-22 was $50 with a minimum cost of $20 and a maximum cost of $120. The average range of dog training across the different states comes to $30-$80.
Dog Food Costs for King Shepherd Dogs
The height and weight of King Shepherds are not standardized since they are hybrid dogs. In general, most King Sheps measure between 25-31 inches and weigh around 110-115 lb.
For an adult dog of this size, you need at least 85 pounds of dog food a month. This quantity will vary based on your dog’s age, activity levels, overall health, and also the kind of food you feed.
Here are some dog food cost estimates for this breed:
- We found the cheapest dog food to be around $1.75 per pound. Based on this, the monthly cost of feeding an average-sized adult King Shepherd comes to $150 a month.
- Medium-range dog food costs around $3 a pound. This can bring the monthly cost of feeding your Shepherd to $257.
- Most expensive dog food costs around $4.8 per lb. This brings monthly dog food costs to $540 and annual costs to over $6000 on dog food alone!
Other Costs of Dog Ownership
In addition to food, veterinary, and training costs, you could also incur the following miscellaneous expenses:
Travel or Pet Boarding
It is likely that you have to leave town for a while whether for business or pleasure. You always have the option to fly or drive with your King Shepherd. The cost of airfare for transporting dogs is around $300 for a round trip but could increase or decrease based on the layovers and the distance you fly. Pet boarding costs come to $30 to $60- per night based on the city you live in.
Microchipping and license
Annual license renewal costs $9 for de-sexed dogs and slightly over $30 for dogs over 4 months that aren’t neutered. Microchipping costs around $25-$40.
Rental Deposits
If you live in a rented apartment, you need to pay almost $200 in pet deposits to cover potential damage.
Dog Walker
Your giant-breed dog will need at least 2 walks a day. Dog walkers tend to charge between $10-$30 for a single walk of 30 minutes.
Grooming
Simply daily coat brushing and oral care are not the only grooming needs; your King Shepherd will also need a monthly bath, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and anal gland expression. A professional groomer could charge between $30-$75 for grooming this large dog.
Summary & Key Takeaways – King Shepherd Price
As can be seen, King Shepherds are fairly expensive to keep. The puppy price alone for a purebred King Shepherd comes to $1500-$3000.
The first-year cost of keeping this dog can come to $6000 or more based on the quality of food you feed it. After the first year, you can expect to pay nearly $3800 -or more -and the price can vary according to the city you live in and your lifestyle. The average lifetime cost of keeping a King Shepherd (with a lifespan of 11 years) is almost $38,000 to $40,000.
