Dog Ownership and How Much It’s Costing Us

Pets are expensive and for some reason, people don’t tell you about the cost. My wife and I recently welcomed a new member of the family, Brownie – the morkie-poo. Engineered for cuteness sure, but this little guy is expensive.

Here’s the overview of how much we spent so far and the most common costs associated with dog ownership. As a bonus, we will share in some tips on how we save and where you can save as well. And yeah, this is a far cry from my usual financial literacy info but this is seriously need to know information.

Pandemic Pups, Adoption and Dognapping on the Rise

Owning a pet is definitely not the path to financial freedom. An average pet owner should expect to spend around $750 for a dog. If you are looking for a pure breed, that cost can escalate to as high as $5,000.

It’s no wonder why dognapping is on the rise

Turns out that French bulldogs can cost up to $10,000. Lady Gaga’s dog walker was shot and seriously wounded Feb. 24 in Los Angeles by gunmen who made off with her two French bulldogs. The DMV has become a bedrock of dog theft.

Rise in DC dog thefts exposes illegal market for pets. In February, another dog walker in Silver Spring, Maryland was attacked and had a 13-week-old Havanese puppy taken from him. You might need to consider microchipping just in case.

Microchipping a pet is relatively inexpensive. The average cost of your dog’s microchip is about $50. This includes the injection procedure as well as microchip registration. There is no annual fee for your pet’s microchip.

Adopted Pandemic pups can costs as much as a business

They say that the first year of owning a pet is the most expensive. We can attest that this is true due to startup costs such as vaccinations, supplies and training. You can expect to pay anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500 during the first year. 

Adoption fees vary, however pet store offer the best band for your buck. They typically include initial expenses such as vaccinations, microchips, and other veterinary visits. According to the Animal Humane Society, shelter adoption fees are on average $350 per dog. 

Some dog breeds, as previously discussed can cost as much as $14,000 to adopt with no vaccinations. That’s a massive initial cost. You could have invested in a business at that point.

Common one-time expenses

There are plenty of one-time expenses that pop up when you buy a new dog. Here’s a breakdown from the ASPCA with average one-time costs you can expect to pay for your new best friend dog:

	Average Costs	Our Little Expensive Brownie
Crate/cage	$35-$150	$125
Training classes	$100-$400	$400
Spay/Neuter	$200-$800	$200
Carrier bag	$40-$100	$75
Collar/leash	$25-$50	$20
Puppy pads	$50-$100	$30
Doggy Steps	$75-$300	$191
Medication	$200-$600	$458

Recurring annual costs of owning a pet

The average cost of owning a pet can range from $750 to $1,500 per year, depending on the type of pet and its size, according to the ASPCA. Here’s a breakdown of typical yearly costs of owning a dog versus where Brownie is tracking Year to Date (YTD): 

	Average Small dog	Brownie’s Pup Slush Fund YTD
Food	$250	$150
Toys	$50-$100	$215
Treats	$50-$75	$289
Health insurance	$225	$600/yr
Grooming	$200-$500	$100/month $250
License	$15	$15
Recurring medical costs	$200-$500	$458

Checking out Other Pet Expenses

Pet insurance – Avg cost $225

Purchasing a pet insurance plan can help you save thousands on vet bills or emergencies. It could be worth considering if your pet requires frequent vet conditions, develops a medical condition or if you’re worried about affording the cost of a one-off pet visit.

Do all dogs have dental coverage too?

Caring for your pet’s teeth might not seem important, but, by age three, most dogs have some form of dental disease.

To reduce your vet bill and improve your pet’s quality of life, scheduling yearly dental cleanings and cleaning your pet’s teeth at home are two great ways to keep your dog healthy.

Cashing out for delivery services

Pet food can be expensive, but some food delivery services like Chewy or Petsmart offer discounts when you have food auto-shipped or order in bulk — offering you peace of mind and saving you a few bucks.

Paired with credit card benefits or rewards, is a great way to stop the bleeding.

Beyond that, you might want to consider owning stocks in these brands.

May as well benefit as a share owner instead of being simply the consumer. All things consider, I guess the little guy is worth it.

Wait I forgot the training fee of $300. Yeah, he is expensive.

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