How Much Do Pomeranians Cost?

If you’re reading this, you’ve already come to the conclusion that life is not complete without a fun-loving furball to follow you around. And while there are plenty of small, fluffy breeds to choose from, you’ve set your sights on a Pomeranian.

But now that you’re ready to pick out your pooch, you are probably wondering how much your new four-footer is going to set you back. After all, Pomeranians are not free, nor do they grow on trees (we are still hunting for the legendary Pom-tree).

We’ll talk about the average prices of Pomeranians below, and we’ll discuss some of the ways to help save a bit of money when making your choice.

The Average Price of a Pomeranian

Pomeranians – like most other breeds – vary in price depending on an assortment of factors. However, most Pomeranians are priced between about $500 and $1500.

However, this assumes you are purchasing a “pet quality” Pomeranian and that you are buying her directly from a breeder. “Show quality” Pomeranians may cost much more than this, and some breeders may charge $4,000 or more for animals from award-winning gene pools.

If you purchase your pet from a retail establishment or broker, you can also expect to pay a bit more than usual, as there will be more people involved in the supply chain, and they’ll all want a piece of the pie.

Factors Affecting a Pomeranian’s Price

A few different factors will influence the price of a given Pomeranian. And while there’s plenty of variation in the market, as different breeders value different things in their pups, some of the most important factors influencing the price of a Pomeranian include:

 Your Location

Breeders must factor in the cost of living and the average household income in their area when pricing puppies. For example, breeders in Beverly Hills, where the cost of living and the average household income are both quite high, will charge more for their puppies than breeders located in Topeka. This is true for veterinary costs and grooming too – the more expensive the region, the more you’ll probably pay!

 Differences Between Breeders

Breeders are individuals, who price their puppies in part based on their own desires, business plan, and goals. Theoretically, you could find two otherwise identical breeders pricing their puppies much differently. Accordingly, it always makes sense to shop around when buying a dog.

 The Dog’s Age

Most people interested in buying a puppy want a very young animal. However, breeders occasionally have problems moving their puppies as quickly as they’d like, and you’ll sometimes see breeders offering older puppies for sale. Generally speaking, older puppies are cheaper than those in the 8- to 16-week-old age group.

 The “Quality” of the Dog

I shudder to use the word “quality” when describing dogs; I like to think that all canines are awesome and deserving of love. That said, some puppies win the genetic lottery and pop out with prettier fur, superior intelligence, or a particularly pleasing build. These characteristics are often subjective, so they’ll influence the price differently depending on the breeder’s individual tastes.

Make sure to read our guide to choosing a good breeder if you’re thinking about getting a Pomeranian through a breeder. Going with a bad breeder could have devastating longer-term consequences for you and your Pom.

The Canine’s Coat Colors

Pomeranians come in several different color patterns, and some are in greater demand than others. Those in greatest demand usually cost more than those with more common color patterns. Solid-colored Pomeranians are the rarest, so they typically cost more than multi-colored pups.

You could also consider going after a Pomeranian mixed breed, which boast all kinds of cool colors and combinations!

Six Ways to Save Money When Purchasing a Pomeranian

Because there are so many different factors that can influence the price of a Pomeranian, there are several things you can do to help save a bit of money in the transaction.

In fact, you may as well try to implement as many of these strategies as possible – the won’t all bear fruit, but there’s rarely harm in trying.

1. Shop during slow seasons.

The puppy market gets cooking in the late spring and continues through the late summer, as most people start thinking about dogs during summer vacation when the weather’s nice and the kids begin begging for a four-legged companion. Accordingly, breeders often charge the highest prices during this time of year.

To save money, you’ll want to shop during the fall, winter and early spring, when demand and prices are both at their lowest. Note that prices may temporarily rise during November and December, as a lot of people purchase puppies during the winter holiday season.

2. Consider picking up an older pup.

If you aren’t set on a young puppy, you can often save money by selecting an older dog that the breeder’s been unable to sell. Older animals require a bit less care than their younger counterparts, and they should’ve already received many of their vaccinations.

Some may even be housetrained already, which can be quite a bonus for some buyers.

Just be sure to verify that any older dog you consider is completely healthy before paying a deposit – there may be a reason that she’s still available. You’ll also want to be doubly sure to obtain paperwork regarding her vaccinations and veterinary care.

3. Weigh the pros and cons of paperwork.

For a variety of reasons, some breeders will be unable to provide paperwork for their animals. It’s hard for these breeders to compete with the paperwork-bearing puppies other breeders have available, so they often lower their prices – sometimes considerably so.

Animals from these types of breeders deserve an extra level of scrutiny, but that doesn’t mean you should rule them out automatically. You’ll probably want to meet the puppy’s parents and chat with previous customers who’ve bought animals from the breeder.

Obviously, you won’t be able to use a paperless Pomeranian for the show circuit, and she won’t make a great candidate for breeding programs, but If you just want her as a pet, this can be a great way to save some bucks.

4. Expand your shopping area.

If you live in an area where prices are high, consider expanding your search area. You’ll have to travel a little farther to pick up your pooch (and long-distance transactions can cause a few headaches in other ways), but it’s sometimes worth buying from a breeder in a neighboring state or more affordable neighborhood.

Don’t expand your search area too much though, or you won’t save any money in the long run. You probably won’t save much money on the international market, for example.

5. Tap into your social circle.

In the modern world, it almost always makes sense to leverage your friends and family when making significant purchases.

Let your peeps know that you are looking for a Pomeranian and that you’d like any help they can provide. You may find that a friend of a friend just bought a Pomeranian from a great breeder.

In fact, you may even find that with a bit of effort, breeders start reaching out to you. This puts you in the driver’s seat and may even help you get a great deal.

6. Haggle.

Although some people aren’t comfortable negotiating prices or arguing over money, it is almost always worth trying. Just be respectful when doing so and always make the breeder a reasonable offer. Don’t throw out a low-ball price that may be insulting; instead, offer about 10% to 20% less than the asking price. You may not get a discount of this size, but it’s a good starting point.

As you can see, Pomeranians vary in price quite a bit and there are several things you can do to help save money when plopping down your credit card.

However, it is important to remember that your new Pomeranian will hopefully be bouncing around by your side for the next decade and change. So, be sure to save as much money as you can, but don’t base your choice on cost alone – it is much more important to obtain a healthy, happy puppy than it is to save a few bucks. Find a breeder that you like and then pick out your favorite pup in the litter. Only then should you start worrying about her price tag and start negotiating a price.

Do you own a Pom? How did you go about finding your fluffy friend – and if you don’t mind us asking – what did you pay? Tell us in the comments!