How Much Does it Cost to Have a Dog?

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 21 December, 2022

Having a pet may require an annual budget. The biggest expenses go to food and veterinarian bills and they both depend on the dog’s breed and size. At the same time, insurance is also very important. Below, you can really get into detail on the expenses for having a dog. 

Deciding based on your ability to provide for a dog

It’s time to make the decision about getting a pet or not. You shouldn’t only think about your preferences, interests, and available space. Your budget is a key factor; you need to know if your family has the finance to support a dog.

There are several expenses if you want your dog to have the best living conditions. Food, veterinarian bills, vaccines, toys, and accessories. The list goes on and on. So, continue reading to see how much it costs to own a dog.

Initial expenses

The initial expenses are the biggest investment, because you will have to get a lot of things. At a bare minimum, you will have to get:

• A place for the dog to rest: these cost between 50 and 150 euros, depending on your dog’s size.
• Leash and collar: they cost around 40 euros, and they should be changed several times throughout the pet’s life.
• Food and water bowls: they cost 30 euros on average depending on the material. Stainless steel bowls are recommended because they are more hygienic and durable.
• Microchip: between 40 and 60 euros, depending on who inserts it.
• Veterinarian appointments: this is important. Having general check-ups for the animal guarantees a healthy life. The cost of these appointments is around 50 euros.

Necessary food for your dog

Besides the vet, food is a fixed expense that has the most financial impact. It’s also the least problematic item when it comes to considering unforeseen circumstances. Unless the pet needs a special type of food, it won’t vary significantly.

You can calculate that a small-breed dog consumes around 6 kg a month, while a large-breed dog consumes 15 kg. A bag of food costs about 50 euros, and special puppy food costs 80 euros on average. Of course this all depends on the brand too. Therefore, it’s best to purchase a good-quality dog food to guarantee your pet has a well-balanced and healthy diet.

Veterinarian expenses

The veterinarian, medical check-ups, and vaccines are the second biggest expense after food. Unexpected expenses usually involve large sums of money. Therefore, you should never slack on preventative care such as getting all of your dog’s vaccines and check-ups.

According to the vaccination schedule in Spain, expenses include:

• Heptavalent or Polyvalent vaccines: a first vaccine is given at 8 weeks of age and a second one at 11 weeks old. It’s for hepatitis, distemper, and leptospirosis. Each vaccine costs between 40 and 50 euros.
• Trivalent vaccine: it’s given anywhere between 15 to 16 weeks of age. It’s meant to protect the dog from parvovirus, distemper, and hepatitis, which costs 40-50 euros.
• Rabies vaccine: it’s given at 6 months old and usually costs about 30 euros.

Parasites

In addition, you need to consider the following:

• Internal deworming: this is done every three months by administering a product that costs 15 euros on average per year.
• External deworming: there are various products for this. Pipettes, sprays, collars, each one with a different price and duration. The average cost is 20 euros.

Hygiene, grooming, toys

Although it’s not an essential expense, a haircut is important to keep the dog clean and control ticks and fleas. A grooming session with a bath included costs between 30 and 60 euros. If you have the time and space, you can do your dog’s grooming at home. In such case, expenses for brushes, combs, and shampoo are around 30 euros.

Toys can cost anything from 5 to 35 euros. 

Other costs

• Canine insurance: basic coverage (damages to third parties) are between 30 and 40 euros per year. 
• Dog walkers: are meant for people who don’t have time or don’t spend a lot of time outside. The prices may vary, but generally they charge 4 or 5 euros an hour.

This is just a simple overview of the expenses for owning a dog. It not only includes monthly costs, but also those you have to deal with at the beginning. All these prices will depend on the dog’s breed, size and where they live.

As you can see, having a pet at home is very rewarding, but it does require responsibility with time and money. It is also a good idea to check and compare prices according to your budget.

Source of the main image: NAPARAZZI