Is Pet Insurance Worth It? By Breed.
Premiums for a Chihuahua: $20/month. A French Bulldog: $70–$100/month. A Bulldog who hits a $6,000 BOAS surgery in year two? Insurance wins by a lot. Pick your breed — the calculator runs the math.
Cheapest to insure
$20–$40/mo
Chihuahua
All-breed average
~$59/mo
51 breeds
Most expensive
$90–$160/mo
Mastiff
Akita
Large · 11 yr lifespan
$60–$110/mo
High risk
Alaskan Malamute
Large · 11 yr lifespan
$48–$88/mo
Moderate risk
Australian Cattle Dog
Medium · 14 yr lifespan
$28–$55/mo
Low risk
Australian Shepherd
Large · 13 yr lifespan
$30–$60/mo
Moderate risk
Basset Hound
Medium · 12 yr lifespan
$45–$85/mo
Moderate-high risk
Beagle
Medium · 13 yr lifespan
$25–$50/mo
Low-moderate risk
Bernese Mountain Dog
Large · 8 yr lifespan
$55–$110/mo
Very high risk
Bichon Frise
Small · 14 yr lifespan
$28–$55/mo
Low-moderate risk
Bloodhound
Large · 11 yr lifespan
$70–$125/mo
High risk
Border Collie
Medium · 13 yr lifespan
$30–$55/mo
Low risk
Boston Terrier
Small · 13 yr lifespan
$55–$95/mo
High risk
Boxer
Large · 10 yr lifespan
$45–$85/mo
High risk
Bull Terrier
Medium · 12 yr lifespan
$58–$100/mo
High risk
Bulldog
Medium · 9 yr lifespan
$55–$120/mo
Very high risk
Cane Corso
Giant · 10 yr lifespan
$75–$135/mo
High risk
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Small · 11 yr lifespan
$40–$80/mo
High risk
Chihuahua
Small · 15 yr lifespan
$20–$40/mo
Low-moderate risk
Chow Chow
Medium · 12 yr lifespan
$48–$90/mo
Moderate-high risk
Cocker Spaniel
Medium · 13 yr lifespan
$30–$60/mo
Moderate risk
Dachshund
Small · 14 yr lifespan
$30–$55/mo
Moderate-high risk
Dalmatian
Large · 12 yr lifespan
$42–$80/mo
Moderate-high risk
Doberman Pinscher
Large · 11 yr lifespan
$45–$90/mo
High risk
French Bulldog
Small · 11 yr lifespan
$45–$95/mo
High risk
German Shepherd
Large · 10 yr lifespan
$40–$80/mo
Moderate-high risk
German Shorthaired Pointer
Large · 13 yr lifespan
$30–$60/mo
Low-moderate risk
Golden Retriever
Large · 11 yr lifespan
$40–$75/mo
Moderate-high risk
Great Dane
Large · 8 yr lifespan
$50–$100/mo
High risk
Great Pyrenees
Large · 10 yr lifespan
$40–$78/mo
Moderate risk
Havanese
Small · 14 yr lifespan
$28–$55/mo
Low-moderate risk
Irish Setter
Large · 13 yr lifespan
$40–$75/mo
Moderate risk
Jack Russell Terrier
Small · 14 yr lifespan
$25–$50/mo
Low-moderate risk
Labrador Retriever
Large · 12 yr lifespan
$35–$65/mo
Moderate risk
Maltese
Small · 14 yr lifespan
$32–$65/mo
Moderate risk
Mastiff
Giant · 9 yr lifespan
$90–$160/mo
Very high risk
Miniature Schnauzer
Small · 14 yr lifespan
$32–$65/mo
Moderate risk
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Small · 13 yr lifespan
$32–$62/mo
Moderate risk
Pomeranian
Small · 14 yr lifespan
$30–$62/mo
Moderate risk
Poodle (Standard)
Large · 13 yr lifespan
$35–$65/mo
Moderate risk
Rottweiler
Large · 10 yr lifespan
$45–$85/mo
Moderate-high risk
Saint Bernard
Giant · 9 yr lifespan
$80–$150/mo
Very high risk
Samoyed
Medium · 13 yr lifespan
$38–$72/mo
Moderate risk
Shetland Sheepdog
Small · 13 yr lifespan
$32–$60/mo
Moderate risk
Shiba Inu
Small · 13 yr lifespan
$28–$52/mo
Low-moderate risk
Shih Tzu
Small · 14 yr lifespan
$25–$50/mo
Moderate risk
Siberian Husky
Large · 13 yr lifespan
$30–$60/mo
Moderate risk
Standard Schnauzer
Medium · 14 yr lifespan
$30–$58/mo
Low-moderate risk
Vizsla
Medium · 13 yr lifespan
$30–$58/mo
Low risk
Weimaraner
Large · 11 yr lifespan
$38–$72/mo
Moderate risk
West Highland White Terrier
Small · 14 yr lifespan
$35–$70/mo
Moderate risk
Whippet
Medium · 14 yr lifespan
$28–$55/mo
Low risk
Yorkshire Terrier
Small · 14 yr lifespan
$25–$50/mo
Moderate risk
No breeds match that name.
How the ROI calculation works
Each breed page runs the math on your specific dog: premiums adjust by age (older dogs cost 40–50% more to insure), deductible and reimbursement rate both affect the break-even point.
Data sources: Nationwide pet insurance claims data, AVMA fee surveys, breed club health studies. Premium ranges from public rate filings — actual quotes vary by zip code and age.