Growing up in a family that always had pets, I knew from a young age that I always wanted to have a dog in my life. As a young and naive teenager, I really overlooked how much it costs to have a dog. Gina and I adopted our dog Jamie over two years ago and have learned what the true cost of a furry friend is.
If you ever considered adopting a dog then keep on reading. This article will shed light on the costs associated with owning a dog.
The Start Up Costs
Adoption Fee
After you’ve made the decision that you are going to adopt a dog you then have to decide whether you are going to rescue a dog or purchase from a breeder. There are pros and cons to both so be sure to do your research before making your decision. What I can tell you is that rescuing a dog from a shelter is much more cost friendly as opposed to going through a breeder.
Although the adoption fee does vary from shelter to shelter, you can typically rescue a dog for around $70- $300. If you decide to purchase from a breeder you should know that the typical cost of a purebred puppy is between $300-$1,500, per Pets.costhelper. It’s worth noting that the age and breed of the dog will have an affect on this adoption prices.
Shots
When you adopt your furball of joy you will need to make sure that s/he has all the necessary vaccinations. Some shelters and some breeders make sure that all dogs up for adoption are vaccinated before you even get them. You should expect to spend between $70-$100 to have your new dog good to go on their shots. For more information regarding puppy shots click here.
Neuter/Spayed
Although getting your dog neutered/spayed may not be required by law it’s definitely worth thinking about and is highly recommended by many doctors and organizations. On average to get your dog neutered you should expect to pay between $45-$135 for the procedure. Having your female dog spayed is slightly more expensive and can cost you between $50-$175, per pets.costhelper.
Microchip
I would highly recommend getting your dog microchipped if its not already a requirement. A microchip for your dog is the new age dog tag. The best part is you never have to replace the microchip and there is no chance of your dog losing it. Each microchip has a unique ID number that is linked to your dog.
So if you ever lose your dog and someone finds them they can take him to a shelter or vet and have them scan your dog to see if s/he is chipped. If so, his owners information will be provided.
Microchipping your dog will cost you around $45-$60, but be sure to check with the shelter or breeder before to see if they already chipped your dog.
Doggy Must Haves
A few other things that you I would consider start up costs are things such as collars, leashes, dog beds, food/water bowls, and toys. These are all things that you would want when first buying a dog and I would estimate spending between $50-$150 on these purchases.
Sum It Up
Alright let’s sum up the start up costs for adopting a dog through a shelter and through a breeder.
When rescuing a dog from a shelter you should expect the start up costs to be between $210-$700. If you adopt through a breeder you should expect your start up costs to be between $615-$2,450.
Adopting a dog is not as cheap as some make it out to be, start up costs can be shocking to those who don’t do their research first.
The Fixed Costs
The fixed costs associated with owning a dog are a lot more friendly than the start up costs. Once you get a grasp for all of the monthly expenses, you should be able to easily factor that into your budget. So what fixed costs are associated with owning a dog?
#1 Food
The amount of money that you spend on dog food will vary immensely based on the size of your dog, what brand of food you choose for your dog, and if your dog has any diet requirements. Per pets.costhelper, if you buy basic dry kibble you should expect to pay between $100-$250 per year, and if you feed your dog premium kibble then you can expect to pay $200-$400 per year.
#2 Dog Insurance
Having insurance for your dog is optional but highly recommended. If anything happens to your puppy the last thing you want to worry about is “Will I be able to afford to save my best friend?”. Many employers offer discounted dog insurance plans so be sure to check with your employer. You can expect to pay between $30-$50 per month for an insurance plan. For more information regarding pet insurance click here.
#3. Annual Check Up
You should be taking your dog to the vet at least once a year for an annual check up. Similar to humans, this will be a physical exam so your vet can judge the overall health of your dog and make sure your pet is up to date with all his shots. Per Petcarerx.com, the cost varies widely depending on your location but the average is $45-$55.
#4. Health Prevention
If you want your dog to live as long as possible you will need to spend a little cash towards medical prevention. Dogs are susceptible to the heart worm parasite and thus must be given medicine such as heart guard to defend themselves. Dogs are also susceptible to other diseases from mosquitoes and ticks such as lymes disease. You should expect to spend between $110- $250 annually on preventive medication.
#5. Groomer
Like most of these points the cost will vary based on your dog’s breed and size. Some breeds have really long fur and need to be groomed more than a short haired dog. A larger dog takes a lot more time to groom than a small dog, thus grooming may be more expensive. Expect to pay between $50- $90 per visit to get your pup groomed. The annual cost for this will vary, Gina and I take Jamie about 4 times per year.
#6 Personal Time
Ahh here is the fixed cost that people will always underestimate. The amount of time that you spend doing things with your dog or for your dog is considerable. In a typical day you’ll have to feed, walk, train, and entertain. The amount of personal time that you will have to give is a true cost of a furry friend.
Sum it Up
As a dog owner you should expect to pay around $965-$1,670 annually based on the above fixed costs.
The Extracurricular Costs
These costs are often overlooked as people overestimate their time and abilities. Some extracurricular costs include private training, and doggy daycare. At first you may think that you will be able to cover all these, but over time you may come to see things differently.
Private Training Sessions
A well trained dog is something that everyone is always impressed with. Spending the money on personal training sessions may be a great investment. The upfront cost of training is worth it, that way you are reducing the chance of your shoes becoming chew toys. Per the homeguide.com, the average cost of a single dog training class is between $30- $80.
Doggy Day Care
Leaving your dog alone all day while you are at work can be really tough on you and your dog. Doggy day care is a great option that allows you to go to work while your dog is playing with friends. According to angielist.com you should expect to pay somewhere between $240 and $550. Doggy day care isn’t cheap but is an option worth considering.
Closing Thoughts
There are many costs associated with owning a dog and the point of this article is to show people the true cost of a furry friend.
If you adopt a puppy and it lives for 10 years you will pay $10,160 on the low end and $18,600 on the high end and that’s not including extracurricular costs.
Don’t get me wrong I am a huge dog person and want all the dogs in the world to have a home, however it’s important to be rational and make sure that adopting a dog is a financial move that you want to make. After all, you want what to give your dog the best life possible and to short them on that because of your financial situation wouldn’t be a wise decision.
I hope this article was informative and I hope it helps with your decision of adopting a dog! As always please leave a comment below if you have any questions or stories of your own, and feel free to share this post!
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