CostHelper.com > Pets & Pet Care > Owning a Dog

Owning a Dog Cost

How Much Does Owning a Dog Cost?

Low: Easy to Maintain: $270-$970+

Medium Annual Cost: $600-$1,600+

High: High Annual Cost: $1,000-$2,400+

Related Topics:

Dog Food

Dog Teeth Cleaning

Dog Vaccination

All Pets & Pet Care

After a dog is adopted or purchased, there are initial and annual expenses that make up the cost of owning a dog.

Typical costs:

Small, short haired breeds cost the least to own. Examples include: small mixed-breed dogs, short-haired Chihuahuas, short-haired dachshunds, fox terriers, pugs and rat terriers. These dogs have the lowest food, grooming and boarding costs, starting at about $270 for basic food, at-home grooming and two weeks of boarding per year. Other costs, including vaccinations, flea and tick control, heartworm preventative and routine veterinary care, start at about $700, not including training, daycare or dog walking.
Examples of small dogs that need extensive grooming and mid-to-large sized dogs with short or medium-length coats include: Bichon Frises, toy poodles, Cocker Spaniels, beagles, mid-sized mixed breeds, Golden Retrievers, boxers, American pit bull terriers and Great Danes. The cost of basic food, basic grooming every two months and two weeks of boarding per year starts at about $600 in this category. Other costs, including vaccinations, flea and tick control, heartworm preventative and routine veterinary care, start at about $1,000, not including training, daycare or dog walking.
Examples of large dogs with medium-length or long, thick coats that require extensive grooming include: Old English Sheep Dog, Saint Bernard, Standard Poodle, Australian Shepherd, Great Pyrenees, Giant Schnauzers, Newfoundlands and Samoyeds. The cost of basic food, basic grooming every two months and two weeks of boarding per year starts at about $1,000 for dogs in this category. Other costs, including vaccinations, flea and tick control, heartworm preventative and routine veterinary care. start at about $1,400, not including training, daycare or dog walking.
PetEducation.com offers a chart on the typical total cost of owning a dog.

What should be included:

Initial costs include adoption fees or the purchase price, spaying or neutering, initial vaccinations and a general health assessment that might include a heartworm test and a fecal check. It also includes purchase of accessories such as a dog crate, a collar, a leash, tags and food bowls. This could cost $150 or more for a dog adopted from a shelter, all the way up to $1,000 or more for a dog purchased from a breeder.
Yearly costs include: vaccinations, flea and tick control, heartworm preventative, food, routine veterinary care, grooming, boarding and replacement accessories.

Additional costs:

Annual local dog-licensing fees usually range from $5 to $50. It often costs more to license a dog that has not been neutered or spayed.
The average dog owner spends $41 per year on toys, according to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association.
If a dog is injured or gets seriously ill or has an emergency outside of normal business hours, extra veterinary care can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. Also, other unexpected costs sometimes come up -- such as replacing items a dog has chewed or soiled and having carpet or furniture cleaned more frequently.
For renters, some landlords charge a pet deposit of $100 or more -- and it is sometimes difficult to get back. For homeowners, insurance companies concerned with dog bite liability sometimes charge higher premiums for owners of certain types of dogs. BankRate.com lists 11 breeds that can increase insurance costs in some states.

Discounts:

Tip: It is possible to buy prescription medicine online for a discount, but thoroughly check out the company first, and only buy from a business that requires a prescription from a veterinarian who has examined your dog. DrsFosterSmith.com is a licensed veterinary pharmacy. VetCentric.com is another option.
To safeguard against a veterinary catastrophe and to even out costs, pet health insurance can sometimes be a wise choice. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers pet insurance quotes online, as does PetInsurance.com.

Shopping for owning a dog:

Doing research before deciding where to get a dog and what kind to get can help a prospective dog owner make a sound choice. DogChannel.com has a list of breed descriptions searchable by size, and gives grooming and exercise requirements for each, along with adoption and purchase information. The site also has an article on making the right dog match for your household.
Deciding where to get a dog is also important. Most experts agree that shelters and reputable breeders can be good places to get a dog, while pet stores, where dogs often come from puppy mills, and backyard breeders should be avoided because of he higher chance of health and behavior issues.
Once you have a dog, working on disease prevention can save on veterinary costs. It is important to provide clean water, avoid overfeeding, provide regular exercise and keep the teeth clean. DogChannel.com has a guide to weight control, an article on how to catch subtle health issues that might signal a serious problem and ten tips for preventing canine cancer.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals offers a guide to saving on veterinary costs.