Dog breeds / Medium breeds

What a Brittany really costs

The Brittany is one of the cheapest sporting breeds to buy and maintain: puppies often cost under $1,500, the coat needs no groomer, and a 30-40 lb dog eats far less than a retriever. The cost is in time and energy, since this is a bird dog that needs serious daily running.

Size: Medium, 30–40 lb
Life expectancy: 12–14 years
Grooming: Low
Insurance risk: Below average
Puppy price: $800–$1,800
Food a day: About 1,000 calories

Where the money goes each year

A typical adult year for a Brittany with mainstream food, home grooming, no insurance, in an average-cost area. That's $460 less than the median breed.

Illness and injury (average)$553
Food$519
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$443
Checkups, vaccines and tests$330
Dental cleanings$283
Toys, beds and everyday supplies$230
Treats and chews$104
Grooming$53
License$20
Typical year$2,530

Most years land between $1,930 (budget food, home grooming, lower-cost area) and $3,550 (premium food, groomer, insurance, big city). Dogs over about 7 add about $180 a year for senior checkups.

The first year

Buying a puppy front-loads the bill: the price, gear, puppy shots and spay or neuter.

Bringing a puppy home

Breeder price$1,300
Crate, bed, leash, bowls and gear$550
Spay or neuter$490
Microchip$50
Puppy or basic obedience class$149
Upfront$2,540

Running costs in year one

Food$519
Treats and chews$104
Puppy vaccines and checkups$738
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$443
Grooming$53
License$20
Illness and injury (average)$553
Year-one running costs$2,430

First-year total: $4,970. Adopting instead brings it to about $3,110.

Health costs to plan for

AKC describes the Brittany as a very healthy breed with few genetic issues, and its OFA elbow (2.2% abnormal) and eye (4.8% abnormal) rates are low, so we expect below-average premiums for its size; no breed-specific claim data was found.

Condition	How it affects Brittanys	Typical treatment	Cost
Hip dysplasia	OFA graded 13.8% of 23,822 Brittany hip X-rays dysplastic, the main orthopedic concern AKC asks breeders to screen for. Source	FHO or other non-replacement hip surgery, per hip	$1,500–$3,000
Cranial cruciate ligament rupture	Lemonade lists CCL tears as a real risk for this active sporting breed; a sudden rear-leg limp after exercise is the usual first sign. Source	TPLO surgery, per knee (2026 specialist range)	$6,000–$10,000
Epilepsy	Lemonade notes epilepsy is seen in Brittanys with some frequency and is usually managed with lifelong medication. Source	Anticonvulsant medication and monitoring, per year	$200–$5,000

The yearly estimate already includes an average allowance of $553 for illness and injury. A single surgery can cost several times that, which is the case for an emergency fund or insurance.

What drives the cost of a Brittany

Food runs about $45 to $65 a month per Lemonade, well below the 60-80 lb retrievers.
No professional grooming is needed; AKC says a soft brush and a quick comb of the feathering suffices, plus monthly nail trims.
Exercise is the real cost: owners who work full time often pay for dog walkers or daycare, since an under-exercised Brittany gets destructive.
Hunting owners should budget for bird-dog training, training birds and a GPS/e-collar for open-field work.
A 36-inch crate fits most adults and the breed travels easily in a mid-size car.

Breeder or rescue

Reputable breeder: $800–$1,800
Rescue or shelter: $275–$500
Lifetime, from a breeder: $36,200
Lifetime, adopted: $34,300

Brittanys are one of the less expensive pointing breeds: iHeartDogs puts puppies at $600-$1,800 by region and Lemonade at $500-$1,500. Litters from tested, titled field parents are at the top. American Brittany Rescue charges $275-$500 depending on local vet costs.

Adopting vs buying: the full cost comparison

Similar-size breeds by yearly cost

Beagle$2,470 a year
Whippet$2,470 a year
Staffordshire Bull Terrier$2,580 a year
American Eskimo Dog$2,660 a year
Cardigan Welsh Corgi$2,700 a year
American Pit Bull Terrier$2,710 a year
Compare all breeds

Common questions

How much does a Brittany puppy cost?

A Brittany puppy from a reputable US breeder typically costs $800–$1,800. Adopting one through a rescue usually costs $275–$500.

How much does a Brittany cost per year?

After the first year, a Brittany costs about $2,530 a year, or $211 a month, for food, vet care, preventives, grooming, supplies and average illness costs. Depending on food, grooming, insurance and where you live, a typical year ranges from about $1,930 to $3,550.

How much does a Brittany cost over its lifetime?

About $36,200 over a 13-year life when bought from a breeder, or $34,300 if adopted, in 2026 dollars.

Sources

Prices are averages from the sources above and the cost baselines on our methodology page, in 2026 US dollars. Your vet, groomer and city will differ. Updated October 14, 2026.