Scottish Deerhound

Scottish Deerhound cost of ownership

Cost of ownership in Texas · 85–110 lb (m) · 75–95 lb (f) · 10.5-year median lifespan · AKC rank #156 (2025)

Photo: Canarian · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Typical per year
$3,796
$2,511 – $4,449 depending on choices
First year
$4,819
Lifetime (10.5 yrs)
$41,119
Source · 8 sources · Updated 2026-09-21estimate
SOURCE · PetSmart.com regular (non-promotional) list prices — hand-recorded SKU sample — PetSmart (recorded by pawdget), 2026 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals (RER = 70 × kg^0.75, MER factors) — Merck Veterinary Manual, 2024 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · Veterinary Exam and Procedure Costs (ASQ360° research, 50 states + DC) — CareCredit / Synchrony, 2025 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · pawdget methodology — our own schedules, rubrics and formulas — pawdget.com, 2026 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · Regional Price Parities by State, 2024 (table SARPP) — U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · State of the Industry Report 2026 — highlights (2025 data) — North American Pet Health Insurance Association, 2025 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · Dog grooming price guides 2025–26 (Bark.com, QC Pet Studies, MoeGo) — Industry price guides, 2026 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · National Pet Owners Survey 2025 — dog spending (press release) — American Pet Products Association, 2025 data · accessed 2026-09-21
METHOD · estimated by formula · View methodology

Getting a Scottish Deerhound

This is the one-off, and it is not in any figure above — the yearly and lifetime numbers on this page are the cost of keeping the dog, not of getting one.

No breed rescue publishes a fee schedule for the Scottish Deerhound, so there is no breed-specific figure here — only what any dog costs to adopt, which 18 shelters do publish.

Puppy from a general shelter $269 ($30–$600)
Adult from a general shelter $161 ($25–$500)
Senior from a general shelter $93 ($0–$500)

Read off the fee pages of 18 US shelters and animal-control agencies across all four census regions. Breeder prices are not collected publicly anywhere credible, so this page does not quote one — the adoption guide explains why and lists all 18 shelters.

Source · pawdget · Updated 2026-10-03

Where the money goes

Categoryper yearSource
Food & treats1828 kcal/day × $1.42 per 1,000 kcal + 30% treats $1,231 PetSmart · est.
Vet & preventive1 exam, core vaccines, heartworm test, dental every 3 yrs, 12 months of parasite prevention $800 CareCredit / Synchrony · est.
InsuranceAccident & illness plan, US average, adjusted for state $812 North American Pet Health Insurance Association · est.
Grooming5 salon visits × $120 $582 Industry price guides · est.
Supplies & gearReplacement toys, waste bags, treats $58 PetSmart · est.
Training & boardingUS average yearly boarding spend, adjusted for state $313 American Pet Products Association · est.

A Scottish Deerhound — 85–110 lb for males and 75–95 lb for females, hound group, ranked No. 156 of 202 by 2025 AKC registrations — costs a typical owner in Texas about $3,796 a year, or $2,511 to $4,449 depending on food, grooming and insurance. That is almost exactly the average for giant breeds ($3,671), between the Great Pyrenees and the Black Russian Terrier.

Food is the largest line at 32%. At 91.3 lb this dog needs about 1,828 kcal a day — roughly 34 lb of kibble a month — so brand and tier matter more than for a smaller dog: $1,081 to $1,316 a year across the standard kibbles we priced ($1,231 at the median), and several times that on fresh food. Insurance is the next line at 21%.

At No. 156 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. Males run about 13 lb heavier than females, which is enough to move a male into a higher parasite-prevention band — the panel's weight setting matters here.

A wiry coat is either hand-stripped by a specialist or clipped every couple of months; either way it is a recurring salon cost. The figure assumes 5 salon visits × $120, $582 a year.

First-year total: $4,819. Beyond the running costs that includes spay or neuter ($457 at Texas prices) and the puppy vaccine series with its extra visits. A giant-breed puppy outgrows everything: crate, bed, collar and harness are all bought at least twice, so treat the $230 first-month list as the first of two rounds.

Over a 10.5-year median lifespan (a study of 584,734 UK dogs) the total is $41,119; the final 3 years run about $3,891 each once senior exams and bloodwork are added.

Food

1,828 kcal/day
Mid-range kibble, treats included
$103 /month

Calories from RER = 70 × kg^0.75 scaled for a 91.3 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
SOURCE · PetSmart.com regular (non-promotional) list prices — hand-recorded SKU sample — PetSmart (recorded by pawdget), 2026 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · Nutritional Requirements of Small Animals (RER = 70 × kg^0.75, MER factors) — Merck Veterinary Manual, 2024 data · accessed 2026-09-21
METHOD · estimated by formula · View methodology

Dog food in bulk at Sam's Club · partner link

First-month shopping list

  • Crate KONG · 48″L x 32″H, Xlarge $90
  • Bed Top Paw · 38″L x 48″W, X, Large $60
  • Bowls ×2 Top Paw · 12 fl oz $3
  • Leash PetSafe · 3/8 in $5
  • Collar KONG · Large $25
  • Harness PetSafe · Small $21
  • Brush Top Paw $9
  • Nail Clipper Top Paw · Large $8
  • Pee Pads Great Choice · 23″ x 24″ $10
  • Total$230
Source · PetSmart (recorded by pawdget) · Updated 2026-09-21
SOURCE · PetSmart.com regular (non-promotional) list prices — hand-recorded SKU sample — PetSmart (recorded by pawdget), 2026 data · accessed 2026-09-21
METHOD · measured

partner link · As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices above are our own recorded PetSmart samples, not Amazon's.

Health conditions commonly recorded in Scottish Deerhounds

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

Weight85–110 lb (m) · 75–95 lb (f)
Median lifespan10.5 yrs (9.7–11.3)
Breed-club life expectancy8–11 yrs
Coatwire
Activitymoderate
AKC group hound
Source · 3 sources · Updated 2026-09-21
SOURCE · AKC Dog Breeds — breed pages (height, weight, life expectancy, group) — American Kennel Club, 2026 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death (Sci Rep 14:531) — McMillan K. M. et al., Scientific Reports, 2022 data · accessed 2026-09-21
SOURCE · The Most Popular Dog Breeds of 2025 — American Kennel Club, 2025 data · accessed 2026-09-21
METHOD · measured · View methodology

Questions about Scottish Deerhound costs

How much does a Scottish Deerhound cost per year?

About $3,796 a year in Texas for an adult on a standard kibble with an accident-and-illness policy, ranging from $2,511 to $4,449. Food & treats is the largest category at 32%.

How much does it cost to feed a Scottish Deerhound?

A 91.3 lb Scottish Deerhound needs roughly 1,828 kcal a day, about 34 lb of dry food a month. On a standard kibble that is $103 a month treats included ($90–$110 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 Scottish Deerhound?

Around $41,119 over the breed's 10.5-year median lifespan, including $1,023 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.