How to Get Puppies Under $400? (2023)

Figuring out how to get puppies under $400 can be a struggle, but we’re here to help. Everyone deserves the companionship of a dog in their lives, but not everyone can afford to spend thousands of dollars to purchase their ideal puppy from a breeder.

Luckily, in today’s world, you don’t have to spend a fortune to welcome a puppy home. There are several ways out there that enable you to get puppies for as low as $400. All you have to do is know where to look and devote some time and research.

Adopting puppies from other sources is always encouraged by dog enthusiasts over purchasing directly from breeders. You get to save a considerable amount of money and bring home an already trained, vaccinated, and healthy puppy. Moreover, adoption gives vulnerable and often neglected dogs a chance at a life filled with love and security they may otherwise miss out on.

With all that said, this article lists reliable ways to get puppies for under $400.

Before you scroll down this guide, check out: Where Can You Get Free German Shepherd Puppies? (2023) and Where Can You Get Free Dachshund Puppies? (2023).

1. Research Affordable Dog Breeds

As much as we adore dogs, they can be costly to raise. By adopting a dog, you’re committing to caring for your pet over its lifetime, which involves expenses. The costs associated with dog ownership include grooming, food, vet care, and toys.

However, many people don’t realize the cost of owning a dog can differ by breed. For example, some breeds are predisposed to genetic or other illnesses, such as hip dysplasia, heart issues, gum disease, and ear infections.

Other breeds tend to shed frequently and may come with increased grooming costs. Moreover, some dogs will also tend to eat more than others which increases the cost of the food you must purchase. For example, larger breeds require increased financial investment in food.

Therefore, if you cannot afford to commit a significant chunk of your finances to a dog but still do not want to miss out on the experience of dog ownership, consider getting a lower-cost breed.

Some breeds are less likely to break the bank include:

Dachshunds

Dachshunds are a breed of precious dogs that will offer you all their love and affection. They’re also playful and enjoy some physical exercise. They will happily accompany you on long walks at any time. Moreover, since they don’t have a coat, they don’t need as much care, which means you will save on grooming costs.

You can purchase a Dachshund for any price between $400 and $4,000, but the average price of this dog breed is on the lower end of the spectrum. In addition, it costs around $100 to care for a healthy Dachshund on a monthly basis.

Beagles

Beagles are everyone’s favorite when it comes to choosing family pets. They’re affectionate, loyal, and intelligent. Most importantly, Beagles are also affordable.

Averaging $550, which is pretty close to $400, Beagles are one of the most affordable dog breeds in the US. They adore food, but as a pet parent, you must ensure your Beagle practices portion control as they’re prone to gaining more weight.

Moreover, Beagles are a relatively healthy breed, making them an affordable dog breed when it comes to hefty vet bills.

Papillon

The Papillon, or the Continental Toy Spaniel, is one of the oldest Spaniel breeds. It is an AKC-registered breed known for its happy and friendly nature.

Papillons make excellent pets whether they’re living in a home with a family or with a single owner. They adore attention and are affectionate and playful. All in all, you will never get bored with a Papillon around.

The average cost of a Papillon puppy is $400. Moreover, they’re tiny, so you won’t have to spend a fortune on feeding costs.

Pug

Wrinkly, stubby, and huggable, no other breed in the dog kingdom can beat the Pug when it comes to sheer adorableness. Averaging at around $400 (give or take), this dog breed is an excellent choice, but Pugs are prone to health issues, so watch out for those vet bills.

Rat Terrier

The average cost of a Rat Terrier is around $425 in the US. Once known for hunting small animals (like rats!), Rat Terriers are popular pets in America because of their friendly temperament. These dogs are healthy, tough, compact, and affordable — the perfect mix.

2. Search Online

If you have a much more expensive breed in mind, then the internet can be your best friend! Browsing the web can help you get puppies for lower prices if you know where to look and how to proceed.

Several websites are dedicated to helping people interested in adopting dogs connect with sellers. These sellers often sell their puppies for lower prices if owners cannot care for them.

Here are some reliable websites that can help you find puppies under $400:

Puppy Heaven

Puppy Heaven is a website dedicated to helping dog enthusiasts find high-quality and adorable teacup and toy puppies. They’re committed to ensuring you get only the healthiest, most socialized, and potty-trained puppies that will light up your home.

The puppies at Puppy Heaven are also fully-registered and vet-checked. All you have to do is open the site, select the breed and gender you are interested in buying, and Puppy Heaven will do everything to ensure you receive the right match.

Moreover, Puppy Heaven also has convenient and reliable financing options that help with the cost of purchasing or adopting a puppy. You can get up to a $20,000 loan for their gorgeous teacup and toy puppies. You can read more about their financing options here.

So, if you cannot find a puppy that fits your budget at Puppy Heaven, you can consider their puppy financing options to bring a puppy home.

Puppy Heaven Details:

• Location: Nationwide
• Phone Number: 403-795-8635
• Email: puppyheavenlabradoodles@gmail.com
• Website: Puppy Heaven

PuppySpot

PuppySpot is an online platform that aims to place happy and healthy puppies in homes that raise them with the utmost love and care. It has placed over 200,000 puppies into homes.

PuppySpot has an exclusive network of breeders, so every puppy for sale on their website is given a thorough vet check-up before being delivered to your doorstep.

To find your ideal puppy for less than $400, go to the website, select the gender, breed, age, and color for your ideal puppy, and you will be redirected to a page with a list of dogs that match your preferences. The page will include important details about the puppy, from temperament to favorite activities.

You can ask specific questions from the seller by clicking on the Ask About Me option on the page or choosing the Take Me Home option to initiate the adoption process. However, since the website has puppies from various breeders, the prices can range anywhere from $400 to $3,000. So, make sure to research thoroughly.

PuppySpot Details:

• Location: Nationwide
• Phone Number: 866-269-1056
• Website: PuppySpot

3. Social Media

Other reliable sources that can help you get puppies under $400 include social media sites. Social media is our go-to source to purchase all our needs and luxuries, so why not use it to bring a puppy home?

Some ways you can adopt a $400 puppy through social media include:

Facebook Groups

Facebook groups are an excellent source for finding affordable puppies. Countless groups are dedicated solely to connecting sellers adopting puppies with interested buyers. Some Facebook groups we recommend checking out include:

All PETS: Needing Rescue, Fosters, Adaptable, Urgent, Lost & Found

This is a Facebook group with over 18,000 followers that continue to grow every day. The group is dedicated to helping rescued dogs, and those in need of adoption or rehoming find their forever homes where they can be raised with loved and security.

The group has several posts from sellers giving out their puppies or dogs for adoption, mainly only with a rehoming fee. All posts mention the location, age, gender, breed, vaccination, and spay/neuter status of the dogs. Although the group is located in Florida, it has sellers posting all over the United States.

However, choose your dog wisely. While platforms like Facebook groups offer decent opportunities to get cheaper puppies, scams are common.

To avoid getting scammed, we recommend choosing a puppy for adoption within your state or city. This will enable you to visit the puppy before adoption and see how healthy, active, and fit the puppy is. Moreover, do not forget to inquire about the vaccination, deworming, and spay/neuter status of the puppy from the seller before you decide to adopt.

You can also ask for vet documents to ensure the puppy has been receiving regular vet visits.

Facebook: All PETS: Needing Rescue, Fosters, Adaptable, Urgent, Lost & Found

4. Find Nearby Rescues or Animal Shelters

Visiting nearby animal rescues or shelters is another excellent way to find puppies for adoption. Animal rescues and shelters save, rehabilitate, and rehome neglected, abused, abandoned, or vulnerable puppies.

These rescues work tirelessly to save dogs in need from difficult situations, provide them with the necessary medical care, and train them with socialization. Rescues and shelters often give out puppies for more affordable prices to encourage more people to adopt and save them rather than directly purchasing from breeders.

So, you might want to try your luck with a local rescue or animal shelter.

What Can You Expect When Adopting a Shelter or Rescue?

Adopting a shelter or rescue can be lengthy and overwhelming for some. Here is what to expect if you are considering adopting your future furry friend from a shelter or rescue:

• Eligibility criteria: Rescues or shelters do not give away the dogs under their care without ensuring you meet specific requirements. Reach out to the rescues you’re interested in to find out whether you are eligible to adopt their dogs.
• Adoption application: Most dog rescues have a lengthy adoption application requiring you to provide information about your lifestyle, finances, family, pets, and so on. Most applications also ask for verifiable licenses. Be prepared to provide this information.
• Screening: Most dog rescues have a thorough screening process, which includes interviews and home visits. Prepare for a home check, as most rescues have an adoption team that will come by to inspect your house before approving you for pet adoption.

What to Look for When Choosing a Low-Cost Puppy

While low-cost puppies offer opportunities for everyone to adopt and care for a pet, scams are fairly common. For example, you might end up with a dog with health or behavioral issues. Therefore, you must be extra cautious when getting your new puppy.

Here are some tips to help you choose a low-cost puppy wisely:

• Try to evaluate the puppy’s temper and behavior: Make sure only to adopt a pet you can visit before adoption. During the meet-and-greet with the dog, try to evaluate its temper and behavior. If possible, try meeting the dog in a dog park and evaluating its behavior and body language with other dogs. In short, you should look for signs of aggressive behavior toward the other dogs.
• Inquire about the puppy’s health status: Make sure the puppy you’re adopting is up-to-date on its vaccinations, spayed and neutered, and has been receiving regular vet check-ups. You can also ask the seller for proof of these documents to verify their claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion for “How to Get Puppies Under $400”

You can easily find your ideal puppies for under $400 as long as you are cautious and do the right research. Just because you cannot afford to spend thousands of dollars on a pet does not mean you shouldn’t get one.

Everyone deserves to feel the delightful presence of a dog in their home, and in this article, we listed several ways to get an affordable pet. We hope you find a puppy within your budget and shower it with all the love and care you have to offer!

If you find this guide, “How to Get Puppies Under $400,” helpful, check out:

• Where to Find Boston Terrier Puppies for Sale Under $200? (2023)
• Where to Find Beagle Puppies Under $200? (2023)
• Where to Find Chihuahua Puppies for Sale Near Me Under $200? (2023)

Before you bring home a puppy, learn more by watching “If You Keep Doing 30 Things to Your Dog, Stop Yourself Now” down below: