There is an old saying that dogs are man’s best friend. Whenever someone decides to get a dog for the first time they usually look forward to all the fun times they would have with their new dog.
However, understand that you need to take care of them, and taking care of a dog comes with a cost. So how much does it cost?
Dog Care Estimated Cost1.Initial Investment
Depending on whether you adopt or purchase a dog it can cost from ”free” to thousands of dollars.
* Purchasing from a professional breeder: $500 – $2000.
* Adoption Fee: $50 – $200.
2.Veterinarian and Medication
Once owning a dog you should find a good veterinarian for your dog. You should prepare:
* Initial checkup: $50 – $300
* Routine checkups: $200 – $300 annually
* Dental Cleanings: $300 – $800 annually
* Preventative medication & supplements :$100 – $500 annually
If it’s a puppy you would need to bring them to the veterinarian until they are 16 years old :
* $100 – $300 per checkup
In cases where your dog has tooth decay you would need:
* $800 – $3000
3.Food
Dogs a known to eat a lot even when they’re full if given a choice they would eat all day. Depending on your dog size, energy level, and quality of food it can cost $250 – $900 annually.
4.Grooming
Just like humans dogs also require grooming to keep them healthy and happy. Depending on whether your dog has short hair or has long hair and how heavily it sheds grooming can cost from $40 – $1400 annually.
5.Training
Training is also essential when owning a dog as you do not want them to poop anywhere they want especially inside the house. Plus if you are looking to teach them some cool tricks it can cost even more.
Typically you want to have at least set aside $25 – $300 annually.
6.Toys
Although it is fun playing with your dog, you cannot play with your dog all the time. This means that you should have a recreation station for your dog.
Having a good variety of toys for your dog can cost $25 – $150 per year.
These are just some of the essential things that you need to spend when owning a dog. This list of things does not include miscellaneous expenses (emergencies, dog sitter, dog dish, etc) which mean that dog care will cost even more.