Whether you’ve picked up an adorable "free-to-good-home" mutt or a purebred with show champions in her pedigree, you probably already know that the price of the puppy is a drop in the bucket compared with the price of living with and caring for a dog. But how much you spend on your pup depends on a lot on the choices you make. You can go all out with the highest of the high end, or you can stick within a small but sensible budget. Either way, you can expect to spend at least $1,000 during the first year of your puppy’s life—many people spend much more—and at least $500 each year after that.
Make a puppy budget, and you can decide where you want to spend more money, where you’d rather see some savings, and which items are non-negotiable. To get you started, and to give you an example of about how much you might spend during your puppy’s life, check out this list. We’ve included ranges plus approximate averages for each category, because products, services, and your individual circumstances will vary.
First-year costs:
Cost of the dog: $0 to $2,000 (average: $500)
Initial vet visits for a new puppy (including general check-up, shots, and worming): $100 to $500 (average $200)
Spay/neuter surgery (because you know it’s the right thing to do): $0 to $200 (average about $75 to neuter a male dog, $150 to spay a female dog)
Food: $120 to $500 for the first year, depending on the quality of food you choose and the size of your dog (average $300)
Food and water bowls: $3 to $100, or even more for high-end designer bowls (average $25)
Collar and/or harness: $10 to $60 (average $20)
Leash: $5 to $50 (average $20)
Grooming tools and products, including brush, comb, nail clippers, shampoo, and any other tools appropriate for your dog’s individual needs (such as a mat splitter, coat rake, ear cleaner, tear stain remover, or coat conditioner) : $15 to $100 (average $50)
Crate, for housetraining, safety, and down time: $20 to $200 (average: $90)
Dog bed (unless your dog sleeps in the crate, or with you): $5 to $200 (average $40)
Toys and things to chew (save your house!): $20 to $200 (average $40)
Stain and odor remover (yes, you’ll need it): $5 to $20 (average $10)
Books about your breed, dog training, dog sports, or other subjects relevant to you: $10 to $100 (average $50)
Basic training classes, from puppy socialization classes to basic obedience: $50 to $200 (average $120)
Other optional expenses, like pet/child gates, ramps and pet carriers for tiny dogs, cute dog accessories like sweaters, coats and other clothing, gourmet pet treats, dog seatbelts for safe car travel and life jackets for boating: $50 to $500
Fence: If you don’t have one already, this could cost $1,000 or more . Underground fencing can be cheaper.
Total first year costs: $408 to $5,910 (average: $1,760)
Ongoing Costs
Food: $120 to $500 (average $300)
Veterinary visits, both annual and for special reasons like illness or emergencies: $200 to $2,000 (average $500 for a healthy dog)
Pest control and heartworm medication: $60 to $200 (average $150)
License renewal: $5 to $50 (average $15)
Toys, supplements, treats, and other fun stuff: $10 to $200 (average $75)
Total ongoing costs per year: $395 to $2,950 (average: $1,040)
So what’s the bottom line? If your dog lives to a healthy average of 12, the total cost of owning that dog could come to anywhere between $4,358 and a whopping $35,470, with a probable average cost of somewhere around $12,000.
So have you started that puppy fund yet? Sure, $12,000 seems like a lot, but you probably spend at least that much on a lot of other things in the course of a decade or more—things you care a lot less about than your dog. Remember, your dog is a part of your family, and deserves the best care—not to mention the occasional luxury item, if you’re so inclined. She’s worth every penny.
