The larger the dog, the higher its monthly expenses will be. Most giant breeds live only eight to 10 years, so the overall ownership cost is lower than large breeds that live longer. Taking life expectancy into account, here are the five dog breeds with the highest total ownership costs*.

• Giant schnauzer: $34,410 over 14 years
• Goldendoodle: $32,675 over 13 years
• Tibetan mastiff: $32,485 over 11 years
• Black Russian terrier: $30,200 over 11 years
• Labradoodle: $29,475 over 13 years

Giant Schnauzer

This breed is only “giant” in comparison to other schnauzers. Adults typically weigh 55 to 80 pounds but are highly active and may need up to 4 cups of food per day. You can expect to spend $290 per year on food and $345 on treats. Giant schnauzers are very intelligent but strong-willed and may become destructive when bored. Thus, they need plenty of exercise and mental stimulation. You’ll need to spend on toys and training to help with this.

Giant schnauzer puppies are hard to find and cost an average of $2,500. First-year costs for this breed, including supplies, training and vet visits, are about $5,940. Grooming is another substantial cost: A giant schnauzer has a double coat that must be hand-stripped every four to six months. Expect to pay about $650 per year for grooming.

Giant schnauzers are usually relatively healthy, though hip and joint problems, thyroiditis, and squamous cell carcinoma are possible. Vet visits will cost an average of $675 per year, plus any emergencies.

Giant schnauzers cost an average of $2,190 per year of adult life. Considering first-year costs and a lifespan of 14 years, that’s about $34,410, making the giant schnauzer the most expensive breed on our list.

Goldendoodle

It may surprise you to see this mixed breed on our list, but since the goldendoodle is a designer breed combining a golden retriever with a standard poodle, it’s fairly expensive. Puppies are easy to find, but a responsible breeder who knows how to pair dogs to lower the likelihood of hereditary illness will charge about $2,000 for a goldendoodle. 

Food costs about as much as it would for a giant schnauzer, about $290 per year, as both breeds are similar in size and energy levels.

Goldendoodles don’t shed much, but they’ll need regular haircuts totaling about $710 annually. They are reasonably healthy, but like many large breeds, they’re prone to hip and elbow dysplasia. These genetic conditions can cause arthritis, joint pain and even paralysis. So expect to spend about $675 per year on vet bills.

First-year expenses for a goldendoodle puppy average about $5,675, and you can expect to pay roughly $2,250 annually after that. Over an average life expectancy of 13 years, this comes to about $32,675.

Tibetan Mastiff

The first truly giant breed on our list, Tibetan mastiffs are huge, hard-working guard dogs that can weigh up to 160 pounds. They eat 4 to 6 cups of food per day, or about 430 pounds per year, totaling $390 annually plus another $345 for treats. 

Another considerable regular expense is professional grooming at about $900 per year. Mastiffs’ thick double coats form a lion-like mane around their neck and shoulders, which creates a striking appearance but requires frequent grooming to remain mat- and tangle-free.

Tibetan mastiffs are a somewhat rare breed. A puppy can cost anywhere from $1,800 to $4,500, though the average is $2,500. In 2011, a Tibetan mastiff named Big Splash sold for $1.5 million — at the time, the most expensive dog ever sold.

Even if you opt for a rescue dog with $500 in adoption fees, you’ll still need to pay yearly medical expenses of about $750. Hip and elbow dysplasia and other orthopedic conditions are concerns, as are hypothyroidism and canine inherited demyelinating neuropathy.

Total first-year costs for a Tibetan mastiff puppy add up to $6,235 since they cost so much to purchase and grow so quickly. These dogs also have the highest average yearly adult costs at about $2,625. However, since they live only about 11 years, their overall cost is $32,485, slightly lower than the goldendoodle.

Black Russian Terrier

The black Russian terrier is similar to the Tibetan mastiff in that it’s a giant breed with a high annual cost and a short life span. It’s also rare, with puppies costing around $2,000. You can expect to pay about $5,750 in the first year of ownership between food, training, medical bills and extra-large supplies.

Adult black Russian terriers can weigh up to 140 pounds and eat about $380 worth of food annually. Grooming their long double coats isn’t quite as hard as a Tibetan mastiff, but you’ll still pay about $730 per year for professional grooming. Black Russian terriers are fairly healthy, but there’s still the potential for elbow and hip dysplasia and an eye disease called progressive retinal apathy. Expect to pay about $750 per year in medical expenses.

Overall, an adult black Russian terrier costs about $2,445 per year, totaling $30,200 over an 11-year life span.

Labradoodle

Another hybrid breed rounds out our top five, thanks to the relatively high price of puppies (about $1,550) and longer life span. Because this mix of labrador retriever and standard poodle is a designer breed, there aren’t many in shelters. You’ll likely need to find a breeder and possibly join a waiting list. Expect to pay about $225 for the first year of food and $255 per year for food after that.

Labradors come in various coat textures and lengths, so grooming requirements depend on the individual labradoodle’s parentage but average about $650 per year. Most labradoodles grow to about 50 to 65 pounds, though some are bred smaller. Hip and elbow dysplasia are potential health concerns, as are epilepsy, diabetes and progressive retinal apathy. That said, labradoodles tend to gain some health benefits from their hybrid genetics, so medical costs will be about $625 per year.

A labradoodle puppy costs about $4,695 in the first year of ownership and $2,065 for each subsequent year. Assuming a lifespan of 13 years, this breed has a total ownership cost of about $29,475.