Puli cost of ownership
Cost of ownership in Texas · 25–35 lb · 13.3-year median lifespan · AKC rank #177 (2025)
Photo: Puli1989 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Source · 8 sources · Updated 2026-09-21estimate
Where the money goes
| Category | per year | Share | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food & treats794 kcal/day × $1.42 per 1,000 kcal + 30% treats | $534 | 17% | PetSmart · est. |
| Vet & preventive1 exam, core vaccines, heartworm test, dental every 3 yrs, 12 months of parasite prevention | $782 | 25% | CareCredit / Synchrony · est. |
| InsuranceAccident & illness plan, US average, adjusted for state | $812 | 26% | North American Pet Health Insurance Association · est. |
| Grooming8 salon visits × $77 | $598 | 19% | Industry price guides · est. |
| Supplies & gearReplacement toys, waste bags, treats | $58 | 2% | PetSmart · est. |
| Training & boardingUS average yearly boarding spend, adjusted for state | $313 | 10% | American Pet Products Association · est. |
A Puli — 25–35 lb, herding group, ranked No. 177 of 202 by 2025 AKC registrations — costs a typical owner in Texas about $3,097 a year, or $1,830 to $3,975 depending on food, grooming and insurance. That is 6% above the $2,927 average for medium breeds; the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje is the cheapest in the group and the Portuguese Water Dog the dearest.
With a small appetite — 794 kcal a day, about 15 lb of kibble a month, $534 a year — the fixed costs dominate: insurance is the single biggest line at 26% of the total at the US average accident-and-illness premium, adjusted for Texas. Turn it off in the panel and vet & preventive takes over at 25%.
At No. 177 of 202 it is a rare breed in the US; the yearly figures here come from its size and coat, not from breed-specific price data, which does not exist for breeds this uncommon.
A curly, non-shedding coat is the classic hidden cost: it does not drop hair, so it must be clipped about every six weeks or it mats to the skin. At Texas prices that is 8 salon visits × $77, $598 a year — 19% of everything this dog costs.
First-year total: $4,050. Beyond the running costs that includes spay or neuter ($457 at Texas prices) and the puppy vaccine series with its extra visits. Medium dogs are the sweet spot for gear — $160 covers a crate, bed and walking kit, and none of it needs replacing as the puppy grows.
A Puli typically lives 13.3 years (a study of 584,734 UK dogs), so the lifetime figure of $43,113 is driven by the long tail: 5 senior years at about $3,280 each rather than $3,097.
Food
Calories from RER = 70 × kg^0.75 scaled for a 30 lb moderate-activity dog; price per 1,000 kcal is the median of our recorded SKUs in this tier.
Source · 2 sources · Updated 2026-09-21estimate
Shop dog food at Chewy · partner link
First-month shopping list
- CrateTop Paw · 42″L x 30″H, Large$65
- BedTop Paw · Medium$15
- Bowls ×2Top Paw · 12 fl oz$3
- LeashPetSafe · 3/8 in$5
- CollarKONG · Large$25
- HarnessPetSafe · Small$21
- BrushTop Paw$9
- Nail ClipperTop Paw · Large$8
- Pee PadsGreat Choice · 23″ x 24″$10
- Total$160
Source · PetSmart (recorded by pawdget) · Updated 2026-09-21
First-month gear on Amazon · partner link
Health conditions commonly recorded in Pulis
We have not yet found a peer-reviewed, openly licensed prevalence study for this breed, so this section stays empty rather than quoting unsourced lists.
Informational only — not veterinary advice. Talk to your veterinarian about your own dog.
Breed data
| Weight | 25–35 lb |
| Median lifespan | 13.3 yrs (12.8–14.4) |
| Breed-club life expectancy | 10–15 yrs |
| Coat | curly nonshedding |
| Activity | moderate |
| AKC group | herding |
Source · 3 sources · Updated 2026-09-21
Questions about Puli costs
How much does a Puli cost per year?
About $3,097 a year in Texas for an adult on a standard kibble with an accident-and-illness policy, ranging from $1,830 to $3,975. Insurance is the largest category at 26%.
How much does it cost to feed a Puli?
A 30 lb Puli needs roughly 794 kcal a day, about 15 lb of dry food a month. On a standard kibble that is $45 a month treats included ($39–$48 depending on brand); budget kibble costs about half, fresh food several times more — use the food tier switch to see exact figures.
What is the lifetime cost of a Puli?
Around $43,113 over the breed's 13.3-year median lifespan, including $953 of first-year set-up costs and higher senior-care spending after age 8.
Last updated September 21, 2026. Figures are estimates built from the sources listed above; your own costs will differ. How we calculate.