Cairn Terrier Prices in 2024: Purchase Cost, Vet Bills, and More!

The cost of a dog is a huge financial responsibility. The upfront cost of a dog is considerable, but you also have to pay for all of the dog’s upkeep costs. Plus, dogs can have very high vet costs, especially if they develop an injury or illness. When you consider adopting a cairn terrier, it’s also important to consider cairn terrier prices.

Below, we’ll take a look at the price of these dogs, as well as discuss factors influencing their price.

How Much Does a Puppy Cost?

The cost of a cairn terrier puppy can vary depending on several factors, including the breeder’s reputation, the puppy’s pedigree, location, and whether the puppy comes with any additional services or guarantees. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $800 to $2,500 or more for a cairn terrier puppy.

These dogs are pretty rare, which allows breeders to charge quite a bit. Reputable breeders who show their dogs and perform health testing will often be more expensive. However, these breeders also provide higher quality puppies and provide proper health care and vaccinations.

Therefore, you’re paying more – but you’re also getting more.

Keep in mind that the cost of getting a puppy is just the beginning of your financial commitment. You’ll need to budget for ongoing expenses, including food, grooming, and veterinary care.

Other Factors Influencing the Purchase Price

While you can expect to pay between $800 to $2000 for a puppy, there are tons of factors that influence this price.

• Breeder Reputation: Established breeders who have a history of producing quality puppies often charge more for puppies. They may also have a pretty long waiting list.
• Pedigree: Cairn Terriers with impressive pedigrees or those that come from champion bloodlines may command higher prices.
• Health Screening: Responsible breeders often perform health screenings on their breeding dogs and often charge more. After all, these health screenings cost money.
• Coat Color: These dogs come in several coat colors, some of which may cost more than others. Rarer, more sought-after coat colors tend to cost more.
• Registration and Documentation: Puppies with AKC or other breed club registrations may be more expensive.
• Additional Services: Some breeders include extras in their puppy packages, such as initial vaccinations, microchipping, a puppy starter kit, or a health guarantee. These services may impact the overall price. Usually, they are not optional.
• Breeding Purposes: If you want to breed your dog, you’ll also have to buy “breeding rights,” which increases the cost of the dog.
• Training: Some breeders may provide socialization and training before sending puppies home. These breeders are spending more time on their puppies, so they tend to cost more.

Cost of Vaccination and Other Medical Expenses

All puppies require vaccinations and other medical expenses, including cairn terriers. The cost of vet expenses varies depending on the veterinary clinic, location, and needs of your puppy.

Puppies require a series of vaccinations to protect them against distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus. Usually, these costs range from $75 to $150 or more. However, these costs sometimes are covered by the puppy’s breeder (and lumped in with the puppy cost).

The cost of rabies vaccination, usually given at around 12-16 weeks of age, can range from $15 to $30, depending on location and the veterinarian. You’ll need to provide them with a new rabies vaccination every one to three years, as well.

Your dog may also need other vaccinations that aren’t “core,” depending on their lifestyle. For instance, Lyme disease vaccinations may be necessary.

Puppies often require multiple rounds of deworming medication, which can cost between $20 to $50 per treatment. Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention is also necessary. However, in many cases, quality breeders will cover the first doses for you. You’ll need to pay for further doses, though.

All dogs need annual wellness exams, too. Checking up your veterinarian is important for your dog’s health, and this exam may cost between $50 to $100. Puppies need several during the first year, but adult dogs only need one a year.

The cost of spaying or neutering your Cairn Terrier can vary based on location and the dog’s age, size, and gender. It can range from $150 to $500 or more.

You should also consider having money set aside for emergency and unexpected medical expenses. Dogs can get sick, and some treatments can cost thousands of dollars.

Cost of Food and Supplies

The cost of food and supplies for your cairn terrier can be a substantial expense. Your dog will need many things when you first bring them home – and most of these are consumable, meaning you’ll have to keep buying them.

• Dog Food: The cost of dog food depends on whether you choose commercial kibble, canned food, or a combination. High-quality dog food can range from $20 to $60 per month for a Cairn terrier. As you can see, costs vary widely depending on what you buy.
• Treats: The cost of treats will also vary widely, but you’ll likely need some for training purposes. You can expect treats to cost $5 to $20 per month.
• Food and Water Bowls: Bowls are a one-time purchase and, luckily, pretty inexpensive. You can expect to pay around $10 to $30, depending on the fanciness of the bowls you buy.
• Leash and Collar: You’ll need a leash and collar for your Cairn Terrier. These can range from $10 to $40, depending on the quality and style.
• Dog Bed: The cost of a dog bed can vary widely, but a decent-quality bed can range from $30 to $100.
• Crate: You should crate train your cairn terrier. A decent crate can cost up to $60 for a smaller dog like this terrier.
• Grooming Supplies: Cairn Terriers require regular grooming, which includes brushes, combs, and shampoo. The cost of grooming supplies can vary but might total around $20 to $50 per year.
• Toys: All dogs need toys. However, after the initial $30 or so, you won’t have to purchase many more.
• Poop Bags and Cleanup Supplies: These are ongoing costs, with poop bags costing around $5 to $10 per month and cleaning supplies for accidents costing as needed.
• Flea and Tick Prevention: The cost of monthly flea and tick prevention can range from $10 to $30.
• Training and Obedience Classes: We recommend enrolling your dog in obedience classes, especially as puppies. This can cost from $100 to $300 for a multi-week course.

How Much Does it Cost to Insure a Cairn Terrier?

The cost of pet insurance for a Cairn Terrier can vary depending on the specific factors. On average, you can expect to pay anywhere from $20 to $50 per month, though costs outside of this range aren’t rare.

Generally, the younger your Cairn Terrier is when you enroll them, the lower the monthly premium will be. Often, this premium will increase, though. The level of coverage you choose can significantly impact the cost. Basic coverage for accidents and illnesses will be less expensive than comprehensive coverage that includes routine care or wellness visits.

You can lower your premium by choosing a higher deductible and lowering the reimbursement rate. However, this will also lower the amount of money you can expect to get back when your dog does get sick or injured.

If your dog has pre-existing conditions, those conditions may not be covered. Companies have different policies about this, though, so be sure to completely read the insurance information before purchasing a plan.

Of course, the only way to be sure about how much pet insurance costs is to get several rate estimates. Often, your zip code plays a huge role, as vet costs vary widely from area to area.

How Much Does it Cost to Train a Cairn Terrier?

The cost of training a Cairn Terrier depends on several factors – like the type of training and trainer you’re using. We highly recommend puppy training classes, which often are one of the cheaper options. However, these classes provide both training and socialization, making them a better option for dogs that can be around other dogs.

Usually, puppy classes cost around $100 to $300 for several classes. Often, adult group classes cost about the same.

If your dog cannot be around other dogs (or people) for one reason or another, you may need to pay for private training classes. These are much more expensive, typically from $50 to $150 or more per hour. Therefore, the total cost will depend on the number of sessions your Cairn Terrier requires.

If you want your Cairn Terrier to receive advanced obedience training, such as off-leash training or specialized tasks, the cost may be higher. Advanced training programs can range from $300 to $1,000 or more.

For dogs with serious behavioral problems, you can expect the cost to be much higher. Behavioral training is very expensive, as it requires an advanced trainer and often many months of training.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © studio-laska/iStock via Getty Images