How Much Does Owning A Dog Cost?

Before deciding to bring a dog into your family you should think of all the implications including the cost. Owning a dog is a large commitment to make as the addition of a young puppy to your household may result in you paying vets bills even 20 years down the line!
The initial costs are the easiest to calculate. Buying a puppy or a dog from a breeder will vary depending on breed and pedigree. Adopting one from a rescue centre will be cheaper but expect to pay at least 100 as he / she will already have been neutered and had initial vaccinations. You will also need to go through a screening process and have your house checked before adopting.
The next purchases you will need to make will be basic equipment; a collar, lead, bed and food bowl. Toys are also a good idea especially for puppies, an assortment of balls, tuggers and squeaky things are ideal. You can easily spend a further 100 on these items which will need replacing from time to time.
Ongoing costs are a little harder to calculate but you will need to think about:
Vets bills vaccines, boosters, routine examinations and worming are regular expenses, but each visit to the vet will cost and if your dog develops any health problems or has an accident, the bills can be huge. Many people buy pet insurance but this does not necessarily cover all eventualities.

Dog food the cost of food varies depending on the size of the dog and what you feed.
Wagg has a price check calculator on the website to show what you can save by switching:
http://www.waggfoods.co.uk/products-price_check.aspx

Grooming many people groom their own dogs. This is easy if you have a short-haired dog which moults as you will just need a good brush. Bear in mind that you will also be doing extra cleaning around the house, picking up all the stray dog hairs! If you have a longer-haired dog you will spend more time grooming and may need professional help from time to time. If you need to wash your dog, special dog shampoos are needed.
Dogs which do not moult will need clipping regularly. Courses are available so you can learn to do this yourself but you will also need to buy special equipment. To use a professional groomer will cost upwards of 25 depending on the size of your dog and hair length.

Training it is a good idea to attend training classes with your new dog especially if this is the first time you have owned one. It helps both you and your dog get to know how to behave. You can have one-to-one sessions with a personal trainer but this can be quite expensive. Attending a class can cost as little a 5 per session. Ask you vet for recommended classes close to where you live.

Kennels you may not always be able to take your dog on holiday with you, so unless you have a close friend or relative that has a good bond with your dog, you will need to choose either a pet sitter or kennel to look after them while you are away. Visit the kennel before you leave your dog for the first time as they vary in standards and approach. You would expect to pay a minimum of 15 per day for reasonable care. A more individual approach can cost a lot more.