Having a furry friend join your family brings untold joy to everyone. Whether it’s for security reasons or companionship having them around is something several households are embracing increasingly.
According to a report by the American Pet Product Association, over 60% of households own a pet. This wasn’t the case some twenty years ago. While this increase is a commendable one, the cost of owning a dog has also increased drastically.
The true cost of owning a pet dog varies depending on several factors like – your current location, your lifestyle, dog breed, whether you’re adopting or getting a puppy. Other things to consider would include care expenses for the dog. Michigan pugs have a list of pugs for sale that you may consider checking on
Before you go all out in getting a new pet, check what truly the cost of owning a dog is.
6 Things to Think about for the Cost Of Owning A Dog
Initial Investment
When considering owning a dog, understand it comes with a cost. It is, therefore, important for you to carefully count the cost as new puppies or even adopted dogs come with considerable expenses.
Choosing an ethical Goldendoodle breeder (or any other breeder) is a crucial step in this process as it ensures not only the health and well-being of your future furry friend but also contributes to responsible pet ownership.
You should expect to spend $500-$2000 if you plan on getting a purebred dog from a breeder. This is not quite much considering it’s not from a renowned breeder. For example, a golden retriever cost $1000 to $4000 when gotten from a quality breeder. Buying from a professional breeder would cost you less as time goes on anyway.
Mixed breed lovers who are also interested in helping dogs in need can get their dogs from reputable shelters. Adopting from a reputable rescue group would cost you as little as $50 to $200 with a high possibility of getting a healthy dog.
Health Costs
After getting a new dog, taking them to a good vet is the first thing to do irrespective of where you got it from (shelter or quality breeder). Be prepared to spend anything ranging from $50 to $300 on a first visit. Young puppies cost a little bit more depending on where you live.
They need to see the vet regularly until about 16 weeks of age with each appointment costing $100 to $300 depending on the puppies’ needs. That’s an average of $800 to $2,400 if the visit is done every two weeks.
You also have to think about towards end of life care and the sad thought that you may need to think about after your dog has gone, factoring in costs such a dog urn for if you wish to have your pet cremated.
Feeding
For your dog to be healthy, it needs to be fed with high-quality dog food and healthy treats such as Nutra Thrive For Dogs. No, treats are not giving him the family’s leftovers.
The typical dog food costs somewhere around $20 to $60 per month i.e. $250 to $750 per year. Kindly note that the feeding expenses of your dog vary depending on three factors – quality of the food, size of your dog, and its energy level.
When it is on the vet’s therapeutic diet or other special foods, the cost may go up to $100 or more in a month ($12,000 per year).
Dog Toys
An important aspect of your pet’s exercise and mental stimulation is in the toys it plays with. You’re likely to spend a little less than $200 yearly for his toys. If the owner is a lover of cute toys, the figure can be way more expensive than that.
Having a hyperactive or destructive dog is one reason why you’d need more toys around the house. They tend to go through the toys faster than other dogs. You want to spend more on toys made for tough chewer dogs.
Beds
While this is not compulsory, it is also necessary for the well-being of your dog. They too are worthy of a comfy bed to keep them warm and comfortable. A good bed will cost around $50 to $200 every year, depending on the quality and size. You will want to invest in a long-lasting and quality dog pet bed that will be easy to clean.
Medical Supplies
Dogs need to be medicated to prevent ticks, heartworms, and other bugs. These sort of items would be recommended by your veterinarian and they’re usually dependent on the region’s climate and needs of the dog.
The cost of medical supplies also varies depending on the dog’s size and needs. But you’re likely to spend $100 to $500 yearly on medications and supplements.
Other factors that comprise the cost of a dog include training classes, dog walking, pet sitters, and emergencies. While these are not compulsory things to do with your dog, they are important to take into account when figuring out the cost of adding a dog to the family.
An important point to take away is to possibly consider getting pet insurance. Health care expenses are some of the highest unknown costs when it comes to owning a dog. With some surgery operations costing up to $5000 or more, you want to be well prepared and let nothing take you by surprise.
