June 2023
There are many benefits to owning a pet. Who doesn’t love having a constant companion, who is always happy to see you and who loves you no matter what you do? But what people often don’t realize (or even think about) before getting a pet is the financial burden that they can become and how important it is to take all of this into consideration beforehand as this innocent little guy (or girl) will be wholly dependent on you for the rest of their lives.
Growing up I always wanted a dog but my parents never wanted to make the commitment. As soon as my boyfriend and I moved into our own place together, it became my top priority to get a dog. My boyfriend was a little bit more hesitant. He grew up with three dogs and wanted me to think about all of the positives and negatives before we decided to bring a dog into our lives.
Here are the five things he wanted me to consider before we finally adopted our pride and joy, Snoopy:
This is a pretty basic cost you incur when buying or adopting a dog, but what people often don’t consider is that this simple decision can determine how much the dog could cost you over the course of its entire life. DO RESEARCH ON THE BREED. The cost of purebred dogs is much higher than that of a mutt, or mixed breed, and they often come with a ton of predisposed health issues due to decades of unethical breeding practices.
Don’t get a purebred puppy from a breeder just because it’s cute or because it was your dream dog as a child. Let’s take a very popular dog at the moment as an example: the French bulldog. Are they cute? Sure. Are they expensive? Yes. The average cost of a French bulldog puppy from a breeder is $1,800–$4,000. Do they come with a lot of health issues? Yes. They are predisposed to respiratory issues (because of that cute squishy nose), heat stroke due to the respiratory issues, eye diseases, hip and elbow dysplasia (breeders actually look for an exaggerated bowleg),ear infections (those big, cute ears can be a hub for dirt and debris to collect) and deafness.
On the other hand, mixed-breed dogs often aren’t as desirable and can often be purchased for much less money. Mixed-breed dogs make up 95% of dogs in animal shelters. When adopting dogs from a shelter, the average cost of adoption usually ranges from $0–$400. Not only is this option initially more affordable, but there are better chances for your dog not to have major health problems and costs later on down the road. Of course, there are risks that come with adopting mixed-breed dogs as well. Their medical history and breed information might not be known upon adoption, or they might be older and have already developed negative behavior traits. From an ethical and affordability standpoint, my boyfriend and I chose to go this route and we adopted Snoopy, a Labrador and Australian shepherd mix, from a shelter when he was a year old.
An additional cost that you might not think about that comes with pet ownership is the cost of training. Training is critical, whether you’re bringing a brand-new puppy or an older dog into your home. A common thing I hear among people who are about to adopt a dog is, “Oh, I will just train it.” But training a dog is no simple feat and no amount of Cesar Millan episodes will prepare you for following through with a training plan. Especially if this is your first dog and you are an inexperienced dog owner, it might be the most responsible thing to seek professional help, at least to cover the obedience basics for puppies or corrective training for bad behavior for an older dog. These training costs typically range from about $1,500–$2,000. However, you do have options that could affect these prices, such as individual training sessions versus group settings, or the most bougie, sending your pampered pooch off to a stay-and-train “doggy boot camp.” However you choose to go about it, training is crucial and it is a very necessary expense as it will increase the happiness and comfort of both pet and owner long term.
Besides doing general breed research like I mentioned earlier, it might be hard to predict exactly how much you will end up spending on vet services for your dog. Vaccination costs are something that you should factor into your expenses, regardless of how healthy your dog is. If you have your dog from puppy age, you can assume that you will spend around $100 on vaccines in the first year of life. If you adopt an older dog, you will still need to maintain your dog’s current vaccines. These individual vaccines can range from $20–$45 each and usually need to be renewed every 1–3 years.
Accidents and emergencies can happen and are completely unpredictable. What if your curious puppy gets into some chocolate or your big chewer chips a tooth on a bone? I’ll never forget the time that I was sick and had just taken some SUDAFED®, put the pill packet on the counter and went to take a shower. When I came out of the shower, the pill packet was gone and had bite marks around a missing pill. I immediately lost my mind after a quick Google search told me that since SUDAFED® is a stimulant, it can induce heart attacks in dogs, and ended up spending hours on the phone trying to get through to poison control before finally speaking to a vet who reassured me that my 80-pound dog would not be affected by one small SUDAFED® pill.
So due to the unpredictable nature of a dog’s health issues, should you consider getting pet insurance? The average cost of pet insurance is around $45/month and while you might not necessarily need to use it often in the early years of your dog’s life, it can come in handy as your dog grows older and potentially develops chronic illnesses or cancers. Pet insurance will usually cover things like cancer treatments, but only if it is not a pre-existing condition. This is why it might be best to get coverage sooner rather than later in your pet’s life. I would recommend reviewing and comparing a variety of plans before purchase. Some highly rated pet insurance companies in California include Spot Pet Insurance, Lemonade, and Fetch.
Now what about all of the daily needs of your pet that may seem like small purchases at the time, but can quickly add up? These expenses include food, treats, toys, accessories, and daycare.
Nowadays there are so many options for dog food, ranging from affordable kibble to pricier raw diets. It is important to not only factor in today’s cost, but also the long-term effects of what you choose to feed your dog. For example, you might save a few bucks feeding your dog the cheapest kibble today, but maybe a poor diet will lead to more health issues later in life. There are plenty of affordable ways to feed your dog a healthy diet, so do your research and find what fits best into your budget and your dog’s lifestyle. Hint: Costco can be a great resource for pet owners on a budget.
Some accessories are also essential and can be pricey too when purchased all at the same time. For example, you need things like collars, leashes, food bowls, water dispensers, beds, and crates. If you are on a budget, check clearance sections at your local pet store or compare prices across the internet. If you are a first-time dog owner you can expect to spend at least a couple hundred dollars when purchasing all of these items for your new pet.
When it comes to treats and toys, while these are not necessary, they can be used to reinforce training and just contribute to your dog’s overall happiness. It is easy to get carried away purchasing all of these “fun” things when you first get your pooch, but you will quickly discover what your dog likes and what toys can stand the test of time. I used to buy Snoopy every cheap toy under the sun, until my house became a sea of fluff and I discovered it was actually cheaper to buy him one or two high-quality toys that last months instead of more affordable ones that are demolished in an afternoon.
Lastly, will you need to send your dog to any type of daycare or boarding service? Maybe you’re a working professional and don’t want your dog to be home alone all day, or maybe you take a two-week international vacation every year and don’t have any family or friends to leave your pet with. Daily daycare costs in California are usually around $40 for a full day, while overnight boarding can be as much as $75 per night. It is important to consider your lifestyle and workload before adopting a dog, because if you cannot personally give or afford to pay for the daily care and attention that your dog needs, your dog’s quality of life can suffer.
Finally, let’s take into account your living situation. If you own your own home, you’re in luck and you don’t need to worry about these additional costs! If you are a renter, however, it is important to take into consideration your landlord’s pet policies before looking into getting a dog. Not all landlords allow pets, and if they do, it usually comes at a price. Many apartment complexes have breed and weight restrictions for pets. Common restrictions include: no pets over 50 pounds and no breeds or mixes that are considered “aggressive,” such as pit bulls, German shepherds, cane corsos, etc. On top of general restrictions, you may be asked to pay an additional deposit and even a monthly pet rent. At my current apartment, I had to put down an additional $500 deposit and pay $50/month in pet rent for Snoopy.
So now that you’ve made it to the end, what do you think? Is owning a dog in your financial picture? Dollar signs aside, owning a dog can be one of the most challenging yet fulfilling journeys you embark on. I’m glad I went into dog motherhood knowing all the potential financial implications and now I can confidently say I would not change my decision for the world!
