Small dogs aren’t automatically cheap dogs. Toy breeds typically have the smallest litters of any size category, sometimes just one or two puppies, which means breeders spread their costs across fewer dogs, and that scarcity shows up directly in the price tag.
Part of the Dog Breed Cost Guides directory.
Why toy breeds don’t follow “smaller means cheaper”
A litter of Great Danes might have eight to twelve puppies; a litter of Chihuahuas or Maltese often has just two to four, and some toy breeds require C-section deliveries because the puppies’ heads are proportionally large relative to the mother’s birth canal. Fewer puppies per litter means each one has to cover a larger share of the breeder’s costs, vet care for the mother, whelping support, and early socialization, which keeps toy-breed pricing surprisingly close to, or above, many medium and large breeds.
Teacup Chihuahua Cost
Typical price range: $1,500–$5,000+
“Teacup” isn’t a recognized size category, it’s a marketing term applied to Chihuahuas bred at the extreme low end of an already small breed, typically under 5 pounds fully grown. The premium price reflects demand for extreme smallness, not better health or quality; in fact, breeding for this extreme carries added risk of complications for the mother and health fragility in the puppies, including a higher risk of hypoglycemia, bone fragility, and heart issues. Buyers specifically seeking a teacup should prioritize a breeder who’s transparent about health testing and willing to discuss these risks honestly, a breeder who won’t is a red flag regardless of price.
Chihuahua Cost
Typical price range: $800–$3,000
Standard-sized Chihuahuas cost less than their teacup counterparts but still command toy-breed pricing due to small litter sizes. Price varies significantly by coat type (long-haired vs. smooth), color rarity, and whether the puppy comes from show lines. Rare colors like blue or chocolate often sit at the top of this range.
Maltese Cost
Typical price range: $800–$3,000, regionally up to $4,500
Maltese pricing varies more by region than almost any other breed in this guide, buyers in the Northeast and West Coast commonly see prices $1,000 or more higher than the Midwest or South for a comparable puppy, reflecting both higher breeder overhead and stronger local demand. Show-quality Maltese from champion bloodlines with extensive health testing can run well above this range, sometimes into the $5,000 territory from specialist breeders.
Shih Tzu Cost
Typical price range: $500–$2,500
Shih Tzus have a wider price range than most toy breeds because they’re bred at very different quality tiers, from casual backyard breeders at the low end to health-tested, AKC-registered breeders at the high end. The gap between these tiers is worth understanding: a dramatically cheap Shih Tzu puppy often means no health screening was done on the parents, which can mean higher vet bills later for issues the breed is prone to.
Havanese Cost
Typical price range: $650–$1,800
Havanese sit toward the more affordable end of the toy group, partly because the breed, while popular, hasn’t seen the same demand spikes as Maltese or Chihuahuas. Breeder reputation and health testing (particularly for luxating patella and eye conditions the breed can be prone to) account for most of the price spread within this range.
Chinese Crested Dog Cost
Typical price range: $1,500–$4,000
The Chinese Crested’s price sits noticeably higher than most toy breeds, driven by its relative rarity, there are far fewer active breeders than for a Chihuahua or Shih Tzu. The breed comes in two coat varieties, hairless and “powderpuff” (fully coated), and hairless puppies sometimes command a premium since the trait requires specific genetics to produce reliably.
What drives the price spread within this group
- Coat type and rarity of color, hairless Chinese Cresteds, rare Chihuahua colors, and unusual Maltese or Shih Tzu markings all add cost
- Litter size, the smaller the typical litter for a breed, the higher the baseline price tends to run
- Health testing, patella, eye, and cardiac screening (where relevant to the breed) separates reputable breeders from the lower end of any given range
- Regional demand, toy breeds show some of the widest regional price swings of any size category, Maltese especially
This article is for general information only. Always verify a breeder’s health testing and reputation directly before purchasing a puppy.
