My wife and I are planning on getting a dog very soon. We’ve been discussing getting a dog for a while now and now that we are in our house and have a yard, the time is right. I’ve started to run some numbers as to what we expect to pay outright as well as some of the ongoing costs.
We want a dog for a number of reasons:
- We love pets (currently have a cat)
- They are great for couples not planning on having kids for a while
- It’s fun to have a dog around
- We think we’d be good owners
- We want to rescue a dog from a shelter
While these are definitely not the only reasons, they are what came to my mind first. Of course, some of these reasons will vary by person. For example, if you don’t plan on having kids but you hate dogs or wouldn’t take good care of one, it makes no sense to get one!
While I have personally never owned a dog, I have been around my father-in-law’s dog quite a bit. My aunt- and uncle-in-law had a great dog named Dexter and now have another awesome dog named Aggie (see pic above, my wife took it). They are great at taking care of their dog and I definitely feel like I am more prepared after seeing how they train and care for their dog.
The main point of this post was to consider some of the costs involved with getting a dog. We have made one trip to the humane society and looked around a bit for some of the supplies we will need.
Below is a breakout of everything I can think of at the moment (note: some are approximate values):
- Adoption Fee – $300
- Bed – $35
- Collar – $10
- Leash – $22
- Bowls – $15
- Dog Crate/Kennel – $100
- Dry Dog Food – $20
Total Cost: $502
Before you flood the comments saying the costs I use are too high or too low, these are estimates, largely going off of Amazon
There are some costs that I have not included. As you might know, I am big on factoring in opportunity costs into my decisions.
Here are some costs that are not monetary OR are not completely necessary but will likely come with having a dog:
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Time – As with most things, the time required is the biggest opportunity cost in this situation. Taking the dog for walks, making sure that they get let out every eight hours or so, and giving them the attention they need all take time out of your day.
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Limited Housing Options – People who don’t have dogs don’t want to live in an apartment building that allows dogs. Even if you have a house, anything can happen; a career opportunity that you can’t give up may require you to move. The 3 million+ houses that have been foreclosed on since the housing bubble burst are a testament to the fact that things can change quickly, forcing you to adapt to a different living situation. This may require moving into an apartment, and the options are much more limited when you have a dog.
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Fencing – If you live in an apartment instead of a house, or you own a house that doesn’t already have a fence, you will likely end up paying for one. Whether it means putting in a new fence or paying for it via the purchase price of the home you end up buying, if you have a dog you will likely end up paying for a fence.
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Dog “Emergency Fund” – Pets get sick and injured, and vets are not always cheap. It’s a good idea to put aside some money each months towards these inevitable expenses, or to purchase pet insurance which I have posted about in the past.
There is definitely a lot of things to consider when deciding whether or not to get a dog. For me personally, even with all the costs considered, I think getting a dog will be worth it. I will be sure to post an update when we get one.
Do you have a dog? How much did it initially cost you? Are there other costs that should be considered?
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Photo by Victoria Carlson
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Seems like a pretty decent guess of the initial up front costs of dog ownership. The major expense is in the ongoing cost of food, and then when they invariable get sick, vets cost WAY more than you think. It would pay to look up the common conditions that afflict your breed (labs get hip complaints for example) and then ring your local vets to see how much it might cost. Think thousands rather than hundreds for vet fees over the life of a normal dog.
Good luck!
@Free in Ten Years Thanks for the tip about checking the breed’s common conditions. I think that is definitely a good way to prepare for future costs.
The other thing about dogs is that some will cost very little and others will cost you a fortune. Our dog Pablo is ten years od and he has nevr been sick or needed anything other than his regular shots and heartworm pils. On the other hand, our dog “Hammy” cost us thousands of dollars in tests and treatments in his short little life. I miss the guy. He only lived until he was 5 =(
@GregatClubThrifty Sorry to hear about Hammy, 5 is too young for a dog to pass :/
Seems lke a good guestimate to start with. We do not have dogs anymore. We gave ours to the inlaws before we had our son Isaac because we did not know what kind of specialized care he might require so we wanted one less thing to be responsible for. We do have a cat, but cats can tend to be more simple to care for. One thing to keep in mind is kennelling fees if when yo travel. It was always a hassle to get them taken care of when we did want to travel and we had two dogs which double the cost.
@FrugalRules Thanks for the reminder about the kennel fees – definitely need to make sure that we factor in those expenses. We have a cat as well who is fairly high maintenance (for a cat) but yes much easier to take care of. You can leave for a day or two without having to worry about them.
I just adopted a dog from the SPCA in June, and it cost me around $750 because I bought an underground fence to contain her. I would say your costs are a reasonable approximation. The only thing I would say that you should consider adding to this cost would be obedience classes, especially because you are a first time dog owner. Getting a new dog is a big adjustment, and things will go much smoother if you have the watchful eye of a professional giving you advice on how to properly communicate what you want from your dog. I’ve been a dog owner all my life and I’ve never considered an obedience course “not worth it”.
@Jordann I will have to check out obedience classes. I hadn’t thought much about them bu tit would be great to have a professional to help train our dog.
My wife and I got a dog when our kid were 7 and 4 years old. We had to get rid of the first dog we got, a Jack Russel Terrier, because he was wound up too tight, and started nipping at our kids. The second dog we got, and still have, was a Black Lab, who had a very gentle personality, and was perfect for the kids.
I think one great advantage of having a dog is that they can set a relaxed tone around the house. The Lab has been my younger son’s best friend, and just having a friendly dog in the family eases tension that can arise in any fhousehold.
@tsx1561 Yikes a dog that nips at your kids is no good. I definitely hear you about setting a relaxed tone, and I hope that our dog can do that for us as well. I would love to have a black lab.
Pets are definitely expensive but they are well worth it. We spent most of the money on shots of course.
@SenseofCents Definitely factoring in shots into the equation, though I honestly do not know how often you need them? Yearly?
@DC @ Young Adult Money @SenseofCents I’ve been told every 1 to 1.5 years is generally good. But it also depends on your breed. My mutt is very healthy, whereas my French Bulldog always has something wrong, so we always makes sure that he has every shot possible.
Our dogs are a part of our family. Both Dexter and Aggie were free to obtain; Aggie less free. If Kari had not died, we wouldn’t have Aggie. Dexter lived beyond 18 and Aggie will be 3 in January. To date, we have had few costs incurred with either dog. Many of the costs are “up front” and not recurring. Food really isn’t that expensive, depending upon what breed you have. Dexter ate about 2-1/2 cups of dog food a day and Aggie gets 1-1/4. A 40 lb. bag of food lasts her a long time! We give three little treats every day. She gets her rawhide chewies, but it takes her forever to get them to a point where they are too small and I have to throw them. Dexter only had his annual checkup, Frontline, and heartworm – no more than $200 per year. So far, the same with Aggie. We groomed Dexter ourselves. Jeff got pretty good at it. Aggie only has to go to the groomer 3 times per year for bath and trim. (Whaaaat? Crazy, I know!) That is $120 per year. This weekend, Jeff and I are going out of town without Aggie. We are putting her in a kennel owned by a person we know in Nisswa. That is about $25 per day. The owner gives a free bath and nail trim. Very sure they won’t do as good a job as Victoria and you!
Every situation is different. Every owner is different. Every dog is different. Dogs really need minimal things to be happy. They need training (see if community education has training classes – good training for a lot less). They need dicipline. They need a patient pack leader. They need to know they are dogs, not people. They don’t need fancy bowls, fancy beds, fancy collars, etc. Those are trappings that make the owners happy, not the dogs. If you want to save some money as you purchase things for the new pet, ask yourself if the dog needs it or if you need it. Dexter was one of the happiest dogs that I knew. All he wanted was to be with us, to feel secure, and make us happy.
Quite certain that you guys will be great pet owners! The wonderful thing about dogs is that they are mallable. I do believe that past wrongs can be corrected with leadership and patience.
@RobertaRenstromNyquist Thanks for the long message, Roberta! You definitely are a great resource for us!
As others mentioned I’d be careful about what breed you get. Know what types of health conditions are common to the breed because some breeds are just more unhealthy and have more genetic problems than others.
Luckily we’ve had relatively healthy dogs over the years, and our pet costs have been pretty low. After the initial purchase of the dog and dog items – we really only paid for the regular vet visit every year, and then for dog food. If you have an unhealthy pet it can be a lot more expensive proposition.
The biggest cost I don’t think we considered was purely the cost of our time and freedom associated with having a pet. When you have a dog they have to be taken outside to go several times a day, they require your attention and they also mean you have to plan ahead for the dog’s care if you’re going on vacation or out of town. Having the dog stay at a kennel can get pricey!
As others mentioned I’d be careful about what breed you get. Know what types of health conditions are common to the breed because some breeds are just more unhealthy and have more genetic problems than others.
Luckily we’ve had relatively healthy dogs over the years, and our pet costs have been pretty low. After the initial purchase of the dog and dog items – we really only paid for the regular vet visit every year, and then for dog food. If you have an unhealthy pet it can be a lot more expensive proposition.
The biggest cost I don’t think we considered was purely the cost of our time and freedom associated with having a pet. When you have a dog they have to be taken outside to go several times a day, they require your attention and they also mean you have to plan ahead for the dog’s care if you’re going on vacation or out of town. Having the dog stay at a kennel can get pricey!
Last year we had to find a new home for our Shi-Tzu Nala because she wasn’t acclimating well to life in a house with a newborn baby, she was acting out, going in the house, and becoming a nuisance – mainly in part because she wasn’t getting enough attention. So we found a family friend that wanted a dog, and she is now happier than ever now that she’s getting all the attention again. So the cost of having to move on when the dog dies or is moved to a new home is also a cost to consider.
@moneymatters
I think that your point about the freedom is very important! I’ve always said that it is easier to find someone to watch a child even though my dog is far better behaved than most people’s children. We have been lucky that we have found people that were willing to watch our pets. Actually, Dexter used to travel with us all the time. We would stay at hotels that allow dogs. He was awesome! However, it is true that we travel far less when we have a dog.
I also wouldn’t get a dog if you have young children or if you are planning to have children relatively soon after you obtain a dog. They are pack animals. That doesn’t change after children arrive. Dogs should NOT be used as a precursor to having children! Drives me nuts when people do that!
@RobertaRenstromNyquist We don’t ‘plan’ on having children for a relatively long time, so I think we pass your warning. We also would be fine with a relatively older dog. Last time we went to the humane society we fell in love with a 6-year old lab-retriever named Faith. She was pretty timid but friendly once we were around her a bit. I am not really thinking about dogs/children and how those dynamics work, but I have to imagine an older dog would be better around children? Either way it’s not really a consideration since we don’t plan on having them for so long.
@moneymatters Glad to hear that you found a good house for your Shi-Tzu, and I definitely have seen firsthand how dogs need a lot of attention and when they lack it things can spiral out of control.
I’d second Jordann’s comment about obedience classes. I assume all shots would be up to date on an adoption, but that’s a concern too. Plus, depending where you live, you may need to buy flea meds, which are fairly pricey. Also, please do not opt for the cheapest dog food you can find. Usually there’s a volume/quality trade off, plus health implications from eating the cheap stuff.
@Ugifter Thanks for all the tips!
I can’t remember the exact breakdown, but my dog was from the pound/animal shelter. He was inexpensive, I think under $100. He lived to be 13 or 14 years old. He was a good boy. He was fed and walked (2 to 3 times a day). One other cost is bathing. About once a month or once every two months he was sent to the groomers…that was not cheap :-)
I love the picture of Aggie!! That is my kind of dog even though I have never had one as a pet.
We have 2 cats and have no plans to have children. They are our children. Both are rescue cats. The second we adopted just before Christmas in 2007. He did cost a lot but came with most all of his shots done already. I don’t remember exactly how much he cost. However their food each month does cost us $100.
Look forward to seeing a pic of your new dog when you find one.
I would love to have a dog and have lived in a house with one previously, although before I get one I want to make sure that my lifestyle allows it. Then there are all the ongoing costs like grooming and kennel for the holidays, if you don’t want to do it yourself or can’t leave the dog to someone.
I’m sure you’ve been reading my dog posts so if there is a way to make sure your dog doesn’t have allergies before you get it I highly recommend it :)
It’s great you took the time to really think things through. Too many people don’t. I think a dog emergency fund is a GREAT idea, because those unexpected emergencies will get you. It happened to me with my cat. I LOVE my cat, but when something happens to him, I probably won’t get another one until my income is WAY more stable. I got him when I had a full time job. I need to consider a pet emergency fund myself.
Our dogs were free at first. We pick up Ralph at a Burger King in the middle of the Navajo Reservation. He had to get shots and be neutered. Our other dog, Mo, was a foster, so she came with all shots and spayed. When we decided to keep her, they didn’t charge a fee because we had fostered her. Emergencies are the killer. We spent about $400 this summer when Mo broke her toe, but the kicker was when Ralph blew out his knee and our choice was euthanasia or a $2K+ surgery. Since we still have him, you can guess what we picked. I’d say good plan on the emergency plan. Pet insurance wouldn’t have covered his surgery. Regardless, my life is so much better because of the dogs I’ve had now and in the past. It will be a great adventure.
There are many dogs being given away on Craigslist too. People who have to make significant changes in life and can’t keep their pets around for whatever reason… I’d give that a looksy too. Adopting from a shelter is a great decision though, you know those pets deserve a good home! Take some pics if you do get one :)
I’m so happy you are getting a puppy :D
We adopted our pooch from the local shelter and it cost us about $400. The cost will all come down to the breed of dog and the age of the dog. We bought ours as a puppy this time as the last one we had was a lot older and came with a heap of *cough* humping issues….
The only other things you will need to check out is if you are planning on a certain breed of dog you will want to make sure it’s not restricted and also check to make sure your local council doesn’t have any registration requirements.
I would also highly recommend enrolling your dog into some schooling. This will teach both you and your dog obedience and help give you an idea how it will be around strangers and other dogs. Our classes cost $5 a week so it wasn’t terribly expensive, but it was definitely worth it.
Dude. As long as you’re a dog lover I’d say go for it… At least you’ve thoroughly thought it through!
:-)
A friend of my pretends to operate a dog kennel out of her house. She accepts money, but can’t seem to turn a dog away. She had her sister-in-laws dog, it was a biggie kind of like a St. Bernard, and shed a lot. She had the dog for a year before her sister-in-law took it back in June.
Last month her fridge broke because dog hair clogged the fan. Can’t forget the chance of damaged property from those cute little guys.
I don’t have a dog, but most of my friends and family members do. I love them. Take pictures of the pup you choose!
@frugalportland I definitely will!