In this article, we will be talking about how much a Pomeranian costs. We will give you all the realistic prices, as well as the full breakdown of all the major factors that can influence the price and how you can prepare yourself in the right way.
Price probably isn’t the very first thing you think about when deciding to bring home a new puppy — the first thing is the smiles it will bring to everyone in the family — but it’s definitely something you should consider.
When buying a puppy, people sometimes forget to think about all the future costs that come with a new dog and focus only on the upfront cost of buying it. But in reality, getting a dog is much like having a brand new family member in your home, from a financial point of view.
You need to know how much you will be spending regularly on its food, grooming, toys, and veterinary care. All those things add up pretty quickly and you need to be able to plan your finances accordingly.
When it comes to Pomeranians in particular, they have certain needs that you need to take care of, which can require some extra spending. That’s why we’ve decided to write this article and give you the answer to the question of “how much does a Pomeranian cost?”
How Much Does A Pomeranian Cost?
The bulk of the expenses of owning a dog will come in the first year of its life.
Before going into details about all the different costs and expenses, let’s first take a look at this handy first-year Pomeranian cost chart.
Pomeranian Cost Chart
Dog Supplies | Average Cost |
Puppy price | $2,000 |
Dog food | $100-120 per year |
Dog treats | $50-60 per year |
Food and water bowls | $10-50 |
Toys | $40-80 |
Dog bed | $50-100 |
Dog brushes | $10-50 |
Dog collars | $5-20 |
Dog leash | $10-30 |
Toenail clippers | $10-15 |
Pomeranian Puppy Price
Pomeranians are one of those breed dogs whose price can vary a lot. When buying a Pomeranian puppy, you can expect to spend anywhere between $800 and $6,000, although they average around $2,000.
There are multiple reasons why there is such a wide range of prices, and some of them might be more important to you than others. For example, if you don’t particularly care which coat type or color the Pom is, then you might want to focus more on other factors, such as the puppy’s health and genetic predispositions.
The more expensive the Pom puppy is, the higher the chances of it being a quality dog, but there isn’t always a 100% guarantee. That’s why it’s important to do your homework before actually picking out a Pom and paying for it.
Let’s now focus on some of the factors that influence the upfront cost of a Pomeranian puppy.
Factors You Need To Take Into Account
Putting aside the future costs of care for a moment, let’s discuss all those aspects of a Pomeranian puppy that dictate its price at the moment of purchase.
There can be a lot of them, and depending on your preference, living situation, location, etc. you might weigh some of them more heavily than others. We’ve collected several factors that we think are the most common and most important.
Some of those factors that determine the cost of a Pomeranian are health, genetics, breeder reputation, your location, appearance, the Pom’s age and sex, and whether or not they have been fixed.
Let’s take a look at each one of them individually.
Health
The Pomeranian’s health status is by and large the most important factor in determining its price. Regardless of anyone’s personal preference in regards to appearance or anything else, good health is always priority number one.
Like a lot of little dogs, Pomeranians are more prone to conditions like patellar luxation, hip dysplasia, and others, so it’s vital to have proof that they have been thoroughly tested.
Top-end breeders will often provide paperwork that shows the results of various health checks and exams, but if they don’t, you may ask to have these exams done yourself. In this case, you would probably have to pay extra for those medical costs, unless you agree otherwise with the breeder.
There is also the need to check if the dog has had all the necessary vaccinations. If those have already been taken care of, you can expect a higher price. On the other hand, if they are unvaccinated, they will be slightly cheaper but it will be up to you to provide the necessary medical procedures for them, which will probably result in extra costs anyway.
If the Pom has a clean bill of health and is showing signs of proper development, its price will likely be towards the higher end.
But when it comes to health, the price is generally worth it. Since you are paying for a healthy Pom, you are probably saving money in the long term, because you are less likely to spend a lot on future veterinary costs.
Genetics
A Pomeranian’s genetics is a very broad term that includes a bunch of different influences and layers that have a significant impact on its price.
For example, there is the question of breed purity. If you insist on buying a purebred Pomeranian, it is going to cost you a whole lot more than if you choose a mixed breed or a Pom that has some other breed’s genetic material in its ancestry.
Poms that have a pure bloodline going back multiple generations are considered the most valuable, and they’ve been known to command prices of up to $10,000. Yep, you read that right!
In addition to breed purity, being familiar with the puppy’s genetics can let you know about any inherent genetic predispositions it might have for certain diseases and health issues.
Along with the previously mentioned luxating patella, degenerative myelopathy and collapsed trachea are just a couple of health conditions that can be hereditary in Pomeranians, and if the Pom puppy you’re trying to buy has a higher risk of developing them, ethical breeders will usually inform you of it and decrease the price accordingly.
In addition to the impact it will have on the price, knowing what health problems your puppy might be prone to can help you prepare for them on time.
Seller Reputation
Whether you’re buying a dog from a specialized Pomeranian breeder, a pet store, a puppy mill, or getting one from the rescue shelter, it’s always good to know who the people behind it are.
If you can, try reading up on them online or speaking to other people who might have bought a dog from the same place. When you go to a restaurant for the first time, you usually Google it to see the ratings and reviews, so why shouldn’t you do the same when getting a living, breathing, barking animal?
Naturally, sellers that have a good reputation, whether that’s based on online reviews or word of mouth, will tend to have higher prices for their Poms. What you’re paying for here is the guarantee of quality that you probably won’t get with cheaper places.
Location, Location, Location
This is a factor that can sometimes get overlooked by a lot of people, but your location is a very important talking point when it comes to buying a dog.
Think about it like this: if you live in a place with a cold climate like Alaska or Canada, chances are that there won’t be a lot of Pomeranian breeders in your area. Even if there are, they will probably know that there isn’t a lot of competition, so they will have the justification to raise their prices and take advantage of the market.
So, if you really, really want a Pom, you will either have to pay those higher prices to the local sellers or find other ones from an area that is better suited for Pomeranian breeding. In that case, you will have to travel there yourself, which comes with a certain cost, or have them deliver the dog to you, which is fairly risky.
That is just one example of how geography can influence Pomeranian price, but it’s far from the only way. If you live in an area where the demand for Poms is unusually high, then breeders will most likely use that to their advantage and increase the prices.
Furthermore, if the breeders themselves are located in an area with high costs of living, the amount of money that they spend for the care and maintenance of their puppies will be higher. They will need to cover those expenses somehow, which might lead to them setting higher sale prices.
How Much Does A Pomeranian Cost In The United States?
After speaking generally about the ways that Pomeranian cost can fluctuate according to your location, let’s pick a specific place as an example. If you live in the United States of America and want to buy a quality Pomeranian puppy, the average cost will be around $2,000.
If you live in America, there are some really good Pom breeders around, particularly in California and Texas.
Pomeranians originated from central Europe — Germany, to be more specific — and that is the region where they are still the most widespread. That, of course, affects the pricing and Poms are generally somewhat cheaper there than they are in the USA.
Appearance
When talking about a Pomeranian’s appearance, the key things to consider are the coat color and the size.
Poms are one of the most colorful dog breeds around, with their coats in a multitude of different colors and patterns. Needless to say, some colors are more expensive than others.
For example, solid-color Poms are generally more expensive than multi-colored ones. Fully red or orange Poms require a more complicated breeding process and don’t come around as often as multi-colored ones, so they command higher prices.
Furthermore, solid-colored coats that are considered rare are even more expensive, for obvious reasons.
When it comes to size, it’s important to note that there are three distinct size categories of the Pom: miniature, standard, and throwback. Generally speaking, the miniature ones are usually the costliest ones, particularly the teacup Pomeranians, which are a subcategory.
What Color Pomeranian Is The Most Expensive?
As we said, solid-color Poms are significantly more expensive than multi-colored ones. This is because they are more difficult to produce in the breeding process, but also because they are generally considered more attractive.
However, even among single-colored Poms, some are pricier than others. All-black and all-white Poms are high on that list, but right at the top are blue and lavender-colored Poms.
How Much Is a White Pomeranian?
Pure white Pomeranians can set you back up to $5,000 if you are buying them from high-end, reputable breeders.
Considering that the average Pomeranian cost is around $2,000 for some of the more common colors, this is a significant discrepancy. If you really have your heart set on a white Pom, be prepared to crack open that wallet of yours.
Age & Sex
A dog’s age and sex are perhaps two of the most obvious factors in determining its price, and it’s no different when it comes to Poms.
As you might have assumed, the younger the Pom, the higher the price will be. Puppy prices will always be towards the high end of the price range, while older dogs will typically be cheaper.
When it comes to gender, females are usually more expensive than males, because they are typically in higher demand. This is because some people choose to buy females and use them for breeding themselves.
If you’re having trouble deciding between adopting a male or a female Pom, then we have the perfect article for you.
How To Save Money When Buying A Pomeranian
After reading everything so far, we hope that you now have a better understanding of how different factors shape the price of a Pomeranian.
Maybe it can even help you get a healthy, quality Pom for a somewhat lower price than you would pay before knowing all this.
However, if you’re not that bothered about your pet being show quality or up to the strictest breed standards of the American Kennel Club, then you might want to opt for some of the more cost-friendly variants of Pomeranian.
Below are a couple of examples that you can consider.
Rescue Shelters
Rescue shelters are one of the rare places where you can actually get a Pomeranian for free.
Poms are a very popular dog breed and they have been in consistently high demand for a long time, so it’s surprising to hear that anybody would ever abandon them or leave them at a shelter.
To be fair, it’s not that common, but it definitely happens. Ask around any local rescue shelter and see if they have a Pomeranian living with them. They are always looking to find good owners for their dogs so if you are keen on taking it with you, they would probably be more than happy to give it to you.
There are a couple of things to note, however. Number one, these Poms are quite often not purebred. They might be a Pom mix or have another breed in their close ancestry, which a lot of people sadly consider a fault.
And number two, they will generally have no paperwork associated with them so it can be hard to know if they are carrying any inherent health conditions. Rescuing dogs is always a challenge, as you can never know what their temperament is like and what they’ve been through in their lives.
They might have been abused or mistreated, or gone through traumatic events that have scarred them deeply. Such dogs often develop anxiety, socialization issues, and/or aggressive behavior and they can be a handful.
If you choose to adopt such a dog, you need to be prepared and keep in mind that you are taking on the responsibility of taking care of them and providing them with all the love and protection they deserve. They may not be pure enough for the AKC or to participate in dog shows, but they still need a home.
Dog Adoption Agencies
Dog adoption agencies might not be as specialized as dog breeders, but they can still have an assortment of dog breeds at their disposal.
You can often get an adult Pomeranian for under $300, which is basically ten percent of what you would have paid a breeder.
There are, of course, certain risks and caveats involved. Getting an adult dog is not the same as getting a puppy, mainly because you’re missing out on a key period of its development where you could have done the main portion of the training.
At this stage, their personalities and behavioral habits can be fully formed without you being able to change much.
Additionally, in most cases, these dogs will not have had medical check-ups as regularly as they should have. Combined with the fact that there are no records of their bloodline, there is no way for you to have a guarantee of their full health status.
Like with anything, there is a reason why they’re cheap.
Other Pomeranian Costs
Going out and buying a Pomeranian is just the first part. Once you’ve got them in your home, they become a full-time commitment that will require a lot of your time, love, and indeed — money.
Right at the very start, there are a number of one-time purchases that you will need to make. These mostly include various supplies and equipment that you buy once and use forever. After that, you need to think about recurring costs, such as dog food, grooming, and veterinary care.
Budgeting for your dog is something that we recommend you do before you buy one. Set aside a certain amount of money each month that will be enough to cover all the necessary expenses.
Below is an overview of the most common costs associated with Poms, along with average prices.
One-Time Purchases
These include all the various items that you find in any dog owner’s house. They are typically very accessible and available at practically every pet store or even a general supermarket. Here are some of them, in case you’re already making a shopping list for yourself:
• Food and water bowls
• Collar and leash
• Dog bed
• Toys
• Brushes
• Shampoo
• Toenail clippers
These are some of the essentials that you will use nearly every day. Depending on the brands and quality of individual items, all of this shouldn’t cost you any more than $150-200.
Dog Food Cost
Now we move on to recurring costs, and the first on that list is dog food.
Luckily, Pomeranians don’t eat much so this will not be a major expense. Seriously, Poms eat about as much as an average cat. To be fair, they are about the same size so it makes sense.
Pomeranian puppies usually eat three smaller meals a day during the first year of their lives, while adult ones only eat two. This amounts to around 250-300 ounces of dog food over an entire month, which costs around $8-10, even if you’re buying the best available Pomeranian dog food.
Health Care Cost
Speaking in general terms, the Pomeranian is a very durable, healthy dog breed with a long lifespan. If they have good genetic make-up and aren’t predisposed to any inherent health issues, they will not require a lot of veterinary care.
Seriously, if you don’t want to go to the vet’s every couple of weeks, then Poms are the breed for you. Even when they do get sick, the medication that is prescribed to them will come in very small doses, so it won’t be that expensive.
Even though it can vary in case of unforeseen emergencies, we can say that the average monthly cost of vet visits is between $65-200, not including pet insurance costs.
Spaying/Neutering
If you choose to fix your Pomeranian, then that will accrue some additional medical expenses for you.
The pricing of this procedure is closely tied to the dog’s size, so if you have a small dog like the Pom it will be much cheaper than it would be if you had a Husky, for example.
Spaying a female Pomeranian dog will usually cost between $120 and $200, while neutering a male Pomeranian is slightly expensive — normally between $150 and $220.
Spaying and neutering are, of course, one-time procedures, but we’ve decided to place them in this part of the article since they are medical expenses.
Grooming Cost
We’ve talked about nutrition and healthcare, which are two of the relatively minor expenses when it comes to owning a Pomeranian, or any smaller spitz-type dog, for that matter.
Now it’s time to speak about grooming, which will hit your wallet much harder. Poms require regular grooming at least three to eight times every year, especially during the time of year when they shed extensively.
You can either choose to do the grooming yourself at home or send them to a professional groomer. If you choose the former, you will have your work cut out for you, since it’s not easy to groom a Pom. Additionally, you will need a lot of tools that can cost a pretty penny sometimes.
If you choose to have them professionally groomed, you will take that burden off yourself and be relaxed in knowing that they will get the best possible treatment. If you don’t treat your Pom as a show dog, this may not be necessary, but it is still a good option.
All that being said, the average monthly cost of grooming your beloved Pom will average around $100 to $400.
What Is The Average Monthly Cost Of Owning A Pomeranian?
After talking about all the separate monthly expenses individually, it’s time to draw a line under them and see how much exactly it will cost you.
If our math is right, the overall cost of feeding, grooming, and providing medical treatment adds up to about $200 to $650 if we round up the figures. That right there is the price of beauty.
There are, of course, some things that we didn’t list, such as dog training and walking. Those are special expenses that not every Pom owner will have, but if you plan on doing it, you need to include it in your calculations.
Dog walkers are usually relatively inexpensive, while professional trainers charge anywhere between $30 and $120 per class.
The Final Word
There are many factors that add up to the total Pomeranian cost. Whether it’s the price tag of buying a Pom in the first place, or all the future expenses that will quickly start adding up, you need to know what to expect and plan accordingly.
This article was a detailed look into all those factors and was meant as a guideline for anyone that wants to buy a Pomeranian puppy or adult dog for themselves. If you are one of those people, we hope that you now have a clear picture of how much a Pom will cost you.
Getting a dog is a commitment that lasts for years, so it’s important that you are sure that you can afford that commitment.
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