Understanding the Cost of Owning a Dog
Pets can be more than just an animal to us – they can become our best friends. Dogs provide love, companionship, and much more to our lives. Something that they drain you of, though, is money. Even if you believe you are financially prepared, dogs can be surprisingly quite expensive. Before you bring a dog into your home, you should understand the true costs of owning a dog.
Cost
LendEDU surveyed 1,000 people to find out how much they spend on their dogs monthly. The average response of the survey was $157.39 a month or $1,888.68 a year. Many dog breeds live to be around 10 years old, meaning that you could be spending around $19,000 during your dog’s lifespan. For many, though, that estimate is on the lower side as there can be travel expenses, dog events, and unexpected expenses. This number also fluctuates depending on your dog’s breed, health, size, and many other factors. Consider researching your preferred dog before purchasing to see what unexpected costs could occur during their lifetime.
Expenses
Once a dog owner, you are faced with many decisions that you can choose to act on; having a pet can really be what you make of it, including the costs. Some choose to take every precaution – microchipping their pets, luxury products, fencing in your yard, etc. These are not mandatory, though, and many choose to stay on the cheaper side of purchasing. Here are different dog costs broken down into categories to understand the average prices.
As accounted by the LendEDU survey, half of the monthly costs of dog owners go towards feeding their pets. The average cost of food per month is $287 and the cost of treats is $81. As mentioned before, though, there are plenty of dog food options nowadays all over the price spectrum. The food purchased might depend on your dog’s breed, size, and health conditions.
Depending on your dog, where you live, and many other factors, you will spend different amounts monthly on toys and accessories. If you live somewhere quite cold, you might need to purchase a doggy coat or snow boots; whereas if your live somewhere warm, you could be buying a lifejacket for your dog. According to an APPA survey, the yearly cost of toys is around $56 and grooming costs are $47.
There are many different services that you can splurge on for your dog. Dog trainers, groomers, and walkers are all examples of potential services for your pet. The APPA maintains that service costs for dogs are around $228 per year. This cost depends on the lifestyle your dog will need to maintain.
Your dog might be a breed with many or few health issues which all dictate how much is spent on veterinary and health services. Surgical pet visits are about $458 yearly and regular vet examinations are close to $242, according to the APPA survey. These cost estimates are excluding things like supplements, medicines, or vitamins that your dog may need. Something else to consider is pet insurance which sits around $76 a month depending on your insurance type. Pet insurance can be significant if you run into a series of health issues in your dog.
Unexpected
These numbers are all estimates and will not be the same for every dog. You should always plan for the unexpected in your dog’s life. Save money when you can and if you are able to, it is recommended that you have pet insurance.
By speaking with your veterinarian, you can choose cheaper options that are still right for your dog, if necessary. Although these numbers might seem intimidating, the love of your dog can never truly be replaced by nominal things.