If you are thinking of adding a dog to your family, one of the things you may be thinking about is the expense. A lot of the times people just think about the initial, how much does it cost me to adopt the dog, and maybe get those first few supplies. But after that, they don’t stop to think about ongoing care – which can add up fast.
Rover.com (the Airbnb for pets) analyzed the costs of getting a new dog along with the ongoing monthly costs of being a pet parent.
When it comes to that initial expense, the average is around $838. However, this number is largely dedicated by the cost of the adoption fee. And if you buy your dog from a breeder, it will be quite a bit more.
Once your pup is at home, the costs don’t drop. In fact they more than triple.
Their findings revealed that, on average, people spend $2,858 a year on their dogs!
Here is a breakdown of some of those costs, that Rover.com says pet parents often forget about when budgeting for a pet:
- Pet Insurance: $35 per month
- Teeth Cleaning: $400+
- Apartment Pet Deposits: $0 – 500
- Emergency Vet Bills: $0 – $3,000
- Pet Sitting – The average price of a kennel nationally is $30 – $100 nationally. To keep costs down and fido happy, Rover.com is a great alternative to a traditional kennel. Rover.com also offers free premium insurance for all booked services, access to 24/7 vet consultations, photo sharing, and sitter background checks so dog owners can feel at complete ease when they are away from their four-legged friends.
Of course, a lot of this is hypothetical. Your dog may never need to go to the vet except for vaccines, or you may have one of those furkids that racks up thousands in one month. Or, your dog may end up having food allergies and need to be on a special diet, which can add expenses.
While you can’t plan for everything or possibly know for sure how much your dog is going to cost you, you can be prepared with these cost-saving tips from Rover.com that allow you to cut costs without cutting the quality of care you give your best friend.
- Consider if pet insurance is right for your situation (consumeradvocate.org, and petinsurancereview.com are good resources to refer to when looking for pet insurance.)
- Wherever possible, buy dog food/treats in bulk (Amazon, DoggyLoot, Coupaw, and Costco can be great options)
- Make DIY dog treats
- Make DIY dog toys
- Stay on top of your dog’s preventative health care, including brushing their teeth regularly
- Pet meds don’t always have to be purchased from the vet, ask your vet if they can recommend a trusted online pharmacy, or compare prices at pharmacies in your area with sites like GoodRx.com/pets.
- If you have a dog-friendly workplace, bring your dog to work with you (and skip the dog walker/daycare expense)
Image source: @CelestineChua via Flickr
Remember that the best and most important thing is what money can’t buy – your love and attention. Showering your dog with that costs nothings, and you will get plenty of the same in return. Do you have other cost saving tips? Share with our readers in the comments.
