Dog breeds / Large breeds

What a Old English Sheepdog really costs

Grooming is what makes an Old English Sheepdog expensive: AKC warns owners to expect either hours of weekly brushing or paying a professional groomer for several sessions a month, for life. Add large-dog food bills and an 18.9% OFA hip dysplasia rate, and this is one of the costlier herding breeds to keep.

Size: Large, 60–100 lb
Life expectancy: 10–12 years
Grooming: High
Insurance risk: Above average
Puppy price: $1,500–$3,000
Food a day: About 1,660 calories

Where the money goes each year

A typical adult year for a Old English Sheepdog with mainstream food, a groomer, no insurance, in an average-cost area. That's $1,150 more than the median breed.

Illness and injury (average)$992
Food$858
Grooming$824
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$451
Checkups, vaccines and tests$330
Toys, beds and everyday supplies$280
Dental cleanings$213
Treats and chews$172
License$20
Typical year$4,140

Most years land between $2,490 (budget food, home grooming, lower-cost area) and $5,810 (premium food, groomer, insurance, big city). Dogs over about 6 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$2,250
Crate, bed, leash, bowls and gear$700
Spay or neuter$620
Microchip$50
Puppy or basic obedience class$149
Upfront$3,770

Running costs in year one

Food$858
Treats and chews$172
Puppy vaccines and checkups$738
Heartworm, flea and tick prevention$451
Grooming$824
License$20
Illness and injury (average)$992
Year-one running costs$4,050

First-year total: $7,820. Adopting instead brings it to about $4,850.

Health costs to plan for

Embrace says OES cost more to insure than mixed breeds because of expensive hereditary claims; OFA hip dysplasia at 18.9%, heart defects and thyroid disease, plus a 60–100 lb size, push it above average.

Condition	How it affects Old English Sheepdogs	Typical treatment	Cost
Hip dysplasia	OFA rates 18.9% of OES hip evaluations dysplastic (12,643 evaluations). Source	Diagnosis and treatment of hip dysplasia, from medical management to surgery (Embrace's OES cost range)	$1,500–$6,000
Elbow dysplasia	OFA rates 4.7% of OES elbow evaluations abnormal (1,205 evaluations). Source	Elbow dysplasia diagnosis and treatment (Embrace's OES cost range)	$2,500–$5,000
Hypothyroidism	OFA thyroid screening found 86.3% of OES normal and 6.2% with compensatory autoimmune thyroiditis (1,433 dogs); AKC lists autoimmune thyroiditis among breeder screening priorities. Source	Lifelong thyroid hormone pills at $20–$50 a month plus annual retesting	$240–$600
Congenital heart defects	Embrace lists atrial septal defect and tricuspid valve dysplasia as high-risk conditions in the breed, and AKC names cardiac anomalies among breeder screening priorities. Source	Cardiac diagnosis and medical management (Embrace's OES range for tricuspid valve dysplasia)	$500–$2,000

The yearly estimate already includes an average allowance of $992 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 Old English Sheepdog

AKC says owners must brush to the skin at least weekly or pay a groomer for several sessions each month; most pet owners choose a short puppy trim every 4–8 weeks to cut that cost.
A full groom on a 60–100 lb shaggy dog is priced at the top of a groomer's menu and takes several hours; matted coats cost more and may need shaving.
At 60–100 lb, food, preventives, boarding and insurance are all priced for a large-to-giant dog.
Ask breeders for DNA results on cerebellar ataxia, primary ciliary dyskinesia, MDR1 and exercise-induced collapse; AKC notes these tests now exist for the breed.
The 10–12 year lifespan means fewer total years of costs than most herding breeds, but heavier senior-care costs arrive sooner.

Breeder or rescue

Reputable breeder: $1,500–$3,000
Rescue or shelter: $100–$600
Lifetime, from a breeder: $49,900
Lifetime, adopted: $46,900

Only 15 AKC Marketplace OES listings were live in October 2026; stated prices ran $900–$3,000 with a median near $1,600. Old English Sheepdog Rescue Network quotes adoption fees of $100–$600.

Adopting vs buying: the full cost comparison

Similar-size breeds by yearly cost

Golden Retriever$3,660 a year
Afghan Hound$3,710 a year
Standard Poodle$3,710 a year
Goldendoodle$3,710 a year
Giant Schnauzer$3,810 a year
Bernedoodle$3,980 a year
Compare all breeds

Common questions

How much does a Old English Sheepdog puppy cost?

A Old English Sheepdog puppy from a reputable US breeder typically costs $1,500–$3,000. Adopting one through a rescue usually costs $100–$600.

How much does a Old English Sheepdog cost per year?

After the first year, a Old English Sheepdog costs about $4,140 a year, or $345 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 $2,490 to $5,810.

How much does a Old English Sheepdog cost over its lifetime?

About $49,900 over a 11-year life when bought from a breeder, or $46,900 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.