Although the happiness a dog can bring to your family is immeasurable, many people don’t realize the long-term costs of dog ownership when they first adopt one. We’ll help give you an idea of what costs you can anticipate so you can decide if you can afford a dog for the long term. Table Of Contents.
The price of owning a dog can vary significantly depending on the breed, where you live, potential health issues, and other elements. Your monthly cost for a dog could range from $27 to $165 after the initial costs of adopting a dog and purchasing all the necessary accessories (see our table below).
However, keep in mind that these numbers only reflect basic costs and do not account for any additional costs you might incur, such as dog walking or pet sitting fees or unexpected veterinary visits.
It’s crucial to consider how much of your budget will go toward providing for your dog’s needs throughout its lifetime. Even though it is not as expensive as college tuition, it is also not insignificant. In a UK study, it was discovered that almost all pet owners (98%) vastly underestimated the lifetime cost of keeping a pet.
Most sources calculate the cost of dog ownership by the size of the dog. According to an article in “Money,” the lifetime costs are as follows:
Move over, Baby Boomers. Millennials have more pets than you do. In fact, 57 percent of millennial households have a pet, and this generation is 77 percent more likely than others to get a pet before getting married or having kids. Even millennials link getting a pet to buying a house. The largest group of home buyers—millennials—buy a new house one-third of the time to have more space or a better yard for their dog. Additionally, this age group spends more on their dogs, including on toys, treats, and veterinarian visits.
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The price of owning a dog adds up, from that pricey toy you couldn’t resist to dog park fees, a dog sitter, restricted-ingredient diets, and all of the regular expenses. Prepare yourself to give up a few treats for yourself and put some money aside to pay for any expenses that come with owning a dog. After all, you are responsible for your canine best friend every day of his life in addition to loving and caring for him. https://www. akc. org/wp-admin/admin-ajax. php Get Your Free AKC eBook.
4 Tips for Future Pet Owners
What can we learn from this? The costs of pet ownership are unpredictable, just like many other costs. It is preferable to have a safety net in place in case of a serious illness or other emergency, as much as we can estimate the cost for a year. Never put yourself in a position where you have to decide between saving your pet’s life and incurring significant debt.
Making sure you can afford to own a pet can be done in the following ways:
Other Expenses to Consider
Before getting a pet, it’s difficult to imagine how quickly your vet bill can mount. From annual teeth cleaning to injuries, your pet’s medical costs can frequently be high and unanticipated.
Fortunately, pet insurance protects your budget from these costs.
Pumpkin provides optional preventive care packages for animals; they reimburse you in full for wellness necessities such as the cost of the yearly examination, vaccinations, and more. Additionally, they have fairly high annual limits ($10,000 or $20,000 for dogs and $7,500 or $15,000 for cats).
Lemonade is another great option for pet insurance. They provide individualized, cost-effective insurance options starting at just $10 per month. Lemonade also covers prescriptions, emergency care and procedures, and diagnostics if your pet gets sick or has an accident. With Lemonade’s Preventative Care packages, you can also get additional coverage for wellness examinations, heartworm tests, fecal tests, vaccines, and other procedures.
FAQ
What is the cheapest small dog?
The Chihuahua is the most affordable small dog breed available for purchase. These breeds are cost-effective because they are inexpensive and require little upkeep. They typically only cost around $23 to take a bath. Additionally, healthy Chihuahuas can live up to 18 years old.
How much does having a small dog cost?
The ASCPA estimates that the annual cost of owning a dog is $1,001 for small dogs, $1,214 for medium-sized dogs, and $1,448 for large dogs (this does not include the one-time cost of spaying and neutering). The price can vary depending on the breed, where you live, and your dog’s particular needs.
Do small dogs cost less?
Small dogs typically cost less because they consume less food. But that’s not all. Because they are also smaller, their crates, toys, bowls, feed, leashes, and other pet products typically cost less.
How much does a first dog cost?
Small to medium-sized dogs: First-year: $740 to $1,325. Estimated annual costs after that: $500 to $875. Total estimated lifetime cost: $7,240 to $12,700.