A Breakdown of the Expenses Involved with Owning a Dog

Considering getting a dog? Hold on, before you get overly excited about taking your furry friend home, make sure you are prepared financially. Although pets provide us with joy, be mindful that it comes with commitment. To get yourself ready to be a fur parent, know the expenses involved with owning a dog. These are just some of the things you need to be financially ready when you have a pet. 


Veterinary Bills

Veterinary visits are important to make sure your pet is kept strong and healthy. Apart from medical consultation, vet bills may also include medication, vaccinations,  flea, and tick prevention, and other related medical expenses. Knowing that your pet comes from a reputable breeder reduces the chances of getting a dog with genetic malformation. 


No breeder can 100% say that their litters are perfect. But breeders with ethical practice follow standards that prevent, if not reduce, the chances of producing puppies with a genetic illness. 


You may incur more costs if, in the long run, you discover that the puppy you bought is sick. This entails frequent vet visits, medicine purchases, and other medical procedures. Take time to research the breed you want and the breeder you’ll get it from. This will save you from spending more in the future. 


According to Forbes, you will spend at least $61 for vet visits per year. Below are some of the factors which could affect the cost. 

  • Location of the veterinary clinic 

  • Medical treatment or procedure

  • Type of vaccines to be administered 

  • Length of treatment 


Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is another important aspect of raising a pet that you need to consider. Pet insurance provides financial medical coverage treatments and procedures. It is a huge help in times of emergency health and other unexpected vet bills. There is plenty of insurance providers' assistance to cover expenses for congenital illnesses. 

In another article that we’ve posted, pet insurance can cost about $30-$80 a month. This amount could vary depending on your dog’s breed, its health status, the coverage of your plan, and several other factors. 


Food 

Your pet needs to eat. Food expenses vary depending on your dog’s breed, size, and lifestyle. These days there are plenty of companies offering organic or all-natural foods. These types of food can be more expensive as compared to normal food. However, these could be safer and healthier options. 

According to The Dog Stop, the average annual cost of a dog is about $600. This is for a typical lower to the normal quality type of dog food. If you are aiming for high-quality dog food, be prepared to spend around $3,000 per year. 

Below is the breakdown of the annual expenses involved with owning a dog when it comes to food costs. This was based on the article published by Cost Helper. 


  • Basic Dry Kibble - $100 - $250 (30lbs bag) 

  • Premium Dry Kibble - $200 - $400 (30lbs bag) 

  • Canned or Frozen Dog Food - $400 - $1000 


If you want to give your dogs organic pet supplements, prices vary depending on which product you are getting. Check out these products from Native Pet products. Calculate how much will be spent in a year on native supplements. 

Grooming Costs

The average cost for a grooming session is around $40 (small dogs) - $75 (large dogs). A do-it-yourself (DIY) grooming could be possible if you’ve been grooming your pet for some time. But doing it the first time, you may need a professional groomer to do the job right. Several factors could vary from the rate of grooming cost. 

  • Dog breed

  • Size

  • Type of cut

  • Service Requested 


If there are few groomers available in your area, they may charge higher as the demand is high. Be mindful too that some breeds, especially long-haired ones would need frequent grooming. If you are feeling generous, include the grooming tip as an additional expense. There are also other services that you can avail such as nail trimming, teeth brushing, ear cleaning, flea and tick treatment, and paw balm. These additional services can cost you between $10-$20. 


If you don’t have the time to go to a grooming clinic, you can book a mobile grooming service which can cost you about $75 per session. 


Obedience Training Fees

Basic command and obedience training is something you can try on your own. But if you don't have the time, patience, and knowledge, let the experts do it. At Stokeshire, we spent years crafting our training programs for our doodles. You may think of it as an additional cost on top of everything you need to pay. But a well-trained and well-behaved dog will make your life less stressful than having a mischievous pet running around.  


Training fee varies depending on whether you are enrolling your doodle for individual training, a group session, or a stay-and-train service. These training sessions also vary depending on the location. Individual training could cost around $2,000. Group training for $200 and a stay and train for around $4,000. This is according to Daily Paws. 

Supplies 

Owning a dog means that you have to be ready with some pet supplies. You’ll also need to purchase other items such as:  

These are just a few of the expenses you need to think about before getting a puppy. Owning a puppy is a lifelong commitment. At Stokeshire, we take time in vetting our future dog owners. This ensures that the dogs will be properly taken care of and their needs will be looked after. 


Furparent, ParenthoodJames StokesStokeshire Designer Doodles Education