Because of their rarity, the average price of purchasing a purebred Belgian Laekenois pup is around $1500 to $2500. This high price significantly drops from $100 to $300 if you’d choose to adopt.
There are various specific factors that influence the price and cost of a Belgian Laekenois. The breed, upbringing, rarity, as well as supply and demand, significantly contribute to their worth.
Overview of the Belgian Laekenois: Why So Pricey?
The Belgian Laekenois is a newly recognized breed of dog from Belgium. Among the four types of Belgian herding dogs, they consider the Laekenois as the rarest.
That said, it won’t be a surprise if many of your friends and family haven’t even heard of the Laekenois. Their population around the world is exceptionally sparse, after all.
This extreme rarity is the major driver for their high price. In fact, their number is even scarcer than Pandas—an endangered species!
The World Wildlife Fund has estimated that there are about 1800 pandas in the wild. Compare that number to the American Kennel Club’s estimate of only 1000 Laekenois all over the world.
In the US, it’s reported that their number is only about 400 since 1995. For that reason, you can expect to see high prices that can slightly vary based on the puppies’ pedigree and the breeder.
Annual Cost of Owning a Belgian Laekenois
If you’re planning on purchasing or adopting a Belgian Laekenois, familiarizing yourself with their basic needs is only natural, as this would give you a good look at their potential cost.
While these dogs are normally easy to maintain, there are certain points to remember if you want them to stay healthy and happy.
Food Cost ($400 – $600)
Like their cousins, the Belgian Laekenois are large dogs with athletic bodies. Their height can reach around 22 to 24 inches, while their weight can go over 55 to 65 lbs.
Apart from their massive size, these dogs are extra active as well. They move around a lot so you can expect that their appetites are on the larger side too.
They can eat two to three cups of dog food a day, which can cost you $1.50 to $1.90. That’s $39 to $52 per month and translates to $400 to $600 per year.
Another thing to remember is that these dogs are prone to dental problems. Because of this, we recommend feeding them with only dry, crunchy kibbles and avoiding wet food.
Grooming Cost ($60 – $180)
Good grooming is a crucial part of keeping every dog healthy. Cleaning their coat through constant brushing will help maintain their coat and skin health.
For the Belgian Laekenois, which are known for their rough and wiry coat, it’s especially necessary to keep watch of their coat’s condition, as they’re highly prone to skin allergies.
Because of their unique fur, it’s recommended that you trim their hair twice every year. Grooming sessions would cost you around $60 to $180 per year.
If you’d rather take care of your Laekenois hair, you can purchase grooming kits from pet stores. They usually cost around $20 to $35, depending on the brand and the tools included.
Training Cost ($1500 – $2000)
Despite the age, training your dogs is never a poor investment. It’s a good mental and physical stimulation that’d help build their confidence and improve your bond.
The good thing about Belgian Laekenois is that they’re highly trainable. For this reason, you can try to teach them a few tricks and commands to control bad behaviors.
However, if you’re new to dogs and are inexperienced in teaching pets, it’d be better to enroll them in professional dog training classes.
The cost of training dogs comes in three different price ranges: group training, individual training, and stay-in training.
Group classes are the cheapest, at $150 to $200 for several weeks of session, while individual training costs about $1500 to $2000 for a year of classes.
Stay-in training is the most expensive optionat $4000 a year, as it involves leaving your dog with a professional dog trainer for a few days at a time.
Medical Expenses ($750 – $2000)
As this breed of dog is prone to several health conditions, it’s best to keep up with your vet visits to avoid major health issues from developing.
For Belgian Laekenois, prioritize their dental checkup, physical examination, X-Rays, allergy testing, as well as thyroid tests. These are the common areas of health concern for them.
Routine checkups would cost you about $50 to $250, while other tests can cost anywhere from $40 to $400. Overall, the annual medical expenses for the Belgian Laekenois range from $750 to $2000, according to WAG.
In case of sudden illness and accidents, consider investing in pet insurance to cut down on vet costs. Dog insurance can cost around $20 to $44 per month or $200 to $500 per year, depending on the company and the coverage.
Entertainment and Exercise ($9 – $20)
Active dogs like Laekenois need an hour of activity each day to stay in shape. That’s why it’s recommended that you have a large enough space for them to move around.
Aside from fitness, keeping the Belgian Laekenois entertained is also important, so they don’t develop destructive behaviors. Luckily, providing them with toys to play with should do the trick.
On average, dog toys can cost around $9 to $20. Remember to purchase a variety of toys so that you can switch them around and your furry friends won’t get bored.
Medical Conditions Common to Belgian Laekenois
To have an idea of potential vet bills, it’s vital that you know the common illness and diseases that Belgian Laekenois are prone to.
1. Elbow and Hip Dysplasia
A bone and joint issue that can cause mild to severe lameness. This is common for dogs that are large and heavy like German Shepherds, Spaniels, and Belgian Laekenois.
2. Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Caused by the slow cell degeneration of their retina, the common symptom of this eye problem is the steady loss of eyesight in dogs. There’s still no known cure for this illness.
3. Hypothyroidism
This condition blocks the thyroid from producing important hormones for dogs. As a result, their body functions slow down, which affects their overall health and fitness.
Calvin is the co-founder and one of the main contributors to dogtemperament.com. He has been an avid dog lover all his life. He enjoys researching and sharing great ideas on how you can avoid common pitfalls of dog ownership and build the most loving and enjoyable relationship with your dog.
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