The Cost of Dog Ownership
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According to my calculations, we can afford more treats.
By: Philly Pridgen
Adding a four-legged friend to your family is exciting! It’s not hard to find the positives of adding a dog to your family - furry cuddles, wagging tails, and they’re always happy to see you. Dogs can be wonderful companions, a trial ‘kid’ for couples, or a child’s best friend. If you already have a dog, you know the benefits outweigh the costs of dog ownership - but what really IS the cost of dog ownership? Let’s take a look at many of the common expenses you will face.
Costs Vary Widely
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Whether you are looking for a 6lb Chihuahua or a 200lb Mastiff, all dogs have costs beyond the initial purchase or adoption fee. Costs vary widely from area to area, veterinarian to veterinarian, and can depend on the level of care you desire for your pet. The initial cost to purchase your pup can range from $0 if you adopt up to $2.5k+ if you want a specific breed that is in high demand. And if you start with a puppy, the first-year cost of shots and vet visits can be anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000. The yearly costs of dog ownership for regular vet-related visits and preventative medication can be between $550 and $1,100.
Unexpected Costs
Like people, dogs get sick too. A vet visit for a tummy ache can cost upwards of $200-$400 depending on the evaluation and treatment. The same goes for a hurt paw or earache. And let’s not forget the $1,000 vet bill when you find that your 8-month-old boxer has made himself ill by eating some unknown substance and requires an overnight IV at the emergency vet clinic!
In addition, certain breeds are predisposed to conditions beyond our control. Boxers tend to be predisposed to lumps and bumps, some of which may be cancerous and require surgery to remove. Golden Retrievers have bad hips. Other breeds are predisposed to allergies, heart conditions, or recurring ear infections. These conditions can be costly and require more than the usual semi-annual visit to the veterinarian’s office, thus raising your cost of ownership.
Should You Get Pet Insurance?
There are two schools of thought in planning for the unexpected costs of dog ownership.
Purchase pet insurance
Beef up your pet emergency fund
For those who are interested in pet insurance, look into a company like Trupanion, Lemonade, or Nationwide. When shopping for pet insurance, be sure to do a thorough analysis on what the insurance covers, which conditions are excluded from the coverage, and the deductible you must meet before insurance kicks in. Sometimes, if you add up the monthly cost of insurance and the deductible, you might be better off just adding that amount to your pet emergency fund.
Pet insurance could be worth it for you if it makes the decision to go ahead with a major (often unexpected) surgery easier.
If you find that pet insurance isn’t for you, start with a sizable amount in your pet emergency fund (maybe $2,000) and continue to contribute to it monthly. We choose to contribute approximately $150 per month to our pet fund, and we use it for vet bills, food, and necessary medications like heartworm and flea prevention.
Excerpt from Shawn: Our dog Coop developed a condition called Cherry Eye in the first year we owned him. This is common in dogs with big bulgy eyes like cavaliers, cocker spaniels, bulldogs, etc. Who knew?! We needed to have an eye surgeon put Coop under anesthesia and fasten the eye ducts down with sutures. Fortunately, we had pet insurance with Trupanion, but it doesn’t cover everything. Also, our monthly premiums have increased from $59/mo to $86/mo over the 5 years that we have had Coop. I wouldn’t say that we have made money from the insurance, but it makes the decision to do surgery a no-brainer. We plan to keep our insurance for the foreseeable future. We set our deductible at $250.
Other Costs
There are other costs that factor into dog ownership. Don’t forget to take into account the following expenses when calculating how much your new family member will cost you:
Grooming - Will you do regular baths and haircuts on your own, or leave them to a professional? In the Bay Area, this cost runs from $80-$120 per cut.
Toys and Beds - Is your new furry family member a power chewer, or do they cuddle their toys and treat their bed with care?
Doggy Daycare and Dog Walkers - Dog-life can be boring when your humans work long days. Expect dog walkers to cost at least $20/day for a short-ish 15-30 minute walk.
Boarding - This cost can be anywhere from $20 - $75 per night, depending on if you choose a budget or luxury kennel for your dog. In the Bay Area, we have found boarding to cost around $35-$40 per night.
Air Travel - You used to be able to fly with your dog on Southwest for free since if you had it designated as an emotional support animal. Because, hey, travel can be stressful. Now Southwest has changed their policy and it is $95 each way.
Are They Worth It?
For most people, dogs become a member of the family. While costly, we wouldn’t give up our 5-year-old boxer, Rocket, for anything! We choose to pad our pet budget with some extra funds to combat the expected and unexpected costs associated with having him in our family.
Expensive? YES!
Worth it (in my opinion)? YES!
*All amounts are estimated. The true cost of your new family friend might be significantly more or less, depending on many factors.
Team Spotlight:
Philly Pridgen
Philly joined the Ballast Point team in October 2020. She currently lives in Rocklin, CA with her husband, two tweens, and their mini zoo (Rocket the dog, Echo the parakeet, and Garmadon the bearded dragon).
When Philly is not taxiing the kids to and from dance or baseball, she enjoys crafting, reading, and baking treats to share with friends. As east coast transplants, Philly and her family have enjoyed spending the last 2 years outdoors in the warm California sunshine while exploring the many scenic areas the state has to offer. The coastline is by far her favorite.
