How much does your healthy dog cost a month? EASY 2 POINTS! (MAYBE 10!)?

Question

I am trying to convince my parents to get a dog. I am trying to make a presentation, and for it I would like to know the cost for my presenation. Not a puppy, a mixed HEALTHY dog. Thank you for your help.

Answer 1

I spoil my dog but avg cost is maybe $35-40/ month. Try telling your parents youll do chores or something to earn the money, if that will help convince them any. Its worth a shot! Good luck!!!

Answer 2

I have a chihuahua and a yorkie and I spoil them to death...so I'm pretty sure my costs aren't AVERAGE...
royal canin dog food - $34 per bag
clothes for the winter - maybe $40 a nmonth, i buy them alot lol everywhere i go
toys - not too much, maybe $10/month when the old ones are worn out
grooming - $25/month
treats - $25
frontline flea treatment- $50/month
an occassional dog carrier when i see one i like - they range in prices. The last one was $325.
Vet visits - $50/each
Pet insurance- $30
Adoption fee - $500/each
It's only been about 5 months and I know for a fact that I've spent about $2000 on them to fix them, shots, etc..


I would say about $175 + more a month, but they're more than worth it!

Answer 3

OK, are you adopting or buying? $50 adoption fee - several hundred for some breeds

All dogs should be spayed or neutered - $150 - $300
All vaccines and annual checkup - $150 - $300
Prescription Flea & Tick products (no OTC stuff) for the year $50 - $75

Now add:
Food (good quality) - depends on size and activity
Treats
Bowls/bed/collar/leash/toys
A dog house if he lives outdoors (part-time only)
Grooming - optional
Your Time - price varies

Oh, and the one cost everyone always forgets - the unexpected trip to the emergency hospital - keep $500 - $2000 on hand for an emergency (my dog has her own bank account that I add to from each of my paychecks)

Now take all of that and divide it by 12 - that is your first year. Its a bit more than what some have suggested.

Answer 4

This is based on my 85# dog

Food cost $35 month
Heartworm/flea meds $60 for 6 mths supply
(I get this from a low cost service that is provided in this area) The heartworm meds from the vet for my dog would cost around $100 for a 6 mth supply around $50 for flea meds

Spay/Neutering if you rescue a dog, this should be taken care of already

Training classes $100(for each class) puppy socialization class and then puppy advanced class (these classes will go thru basic sit/stay/down/come...the advanced would cover heeling/longer stays/sits/teach them some tricks etc....Humane societies/rescue services in your area may offer them for less

Then you would add shots they would have to get each year. You could call a vet and ask the cost or check with the Humane Society and ask them if they offer low cost shots or see if they know of someone that does.

Do you live in SC by any chance?

If I was your parent and you presented me with this, I would let you get your pup. Sounds like you are taking the right steps...

Good Luck!!!!

Answer 5

The initial cost to bring a dog home is much more than the monthly cost to keep a dog. And I did this same thing for my boyfriend, to prove to him that we could afford a dog. I made a list of everything we would need, and how much it would cost. If you are adopting an adult dog who is already spayed/neutered and up to date on all routine veterinary care, then it will be cheaper. I don't have my list anymore, but I will do my best to write everything I had on my list, with a rough estimate on cost:
Adoption fee: $110
Food: $30 a month?
Bed: $30
Crate: $40
Collar and Leash: $20
Toys and Treats: $45 initially, depending on what you want, and how many.
Each year you will have to take your dog to the vet for routine care, this means vaccines, heartworm test, fecal check for intestinal parasites, and heartworm prevention. The cost for this will depend on where you take your dog. But it is usually about $150 a year, if you just get basic care, and he doesn't get an ear infection, or something.

Answer 6

I have a large breed dog, and the costs vary month by month.

-Typically, once a year I have to invest in a new leash, simply because they get wear and tear, which is about $20 a year.
-I buy a large bag of the best quality food I can get, which will last about 3 months and is $70 a bag.
-Each month I spend about $20 on toys and bones.
-Each month I spend about $5 on treats.
-I replace my dogs bedding every 6 months, which is about $30 (I buy the largest, cheapest comforter I can get).
-I also buy doggy pick up bags once a month for about $5.
Once a year I also pay my vet fees for a check up and shots which can be anywhere from $50 to $200. And this year I have to pay $600 to get her shots and spay done, which is a large investment.
-This, of course, is not including other start up costs such as dishes ($20), collars/harnesses ($30 and up), registration ($20), pictures with Santa ($10), kenneling ($17/day), grooming tools ($100), days at the groomers (easily upwards of $60 per visit, and done about 6 times a year), and other random things I buy for her such as random treats, replacing chewed up items, muzzles for when she is at the dog park, etc, etc, etc.

Overall, I if you don't include the start up cost and assume your dog will never suffer any illness, you are looking at a cost of about $60 a month plus vet fees and other miscellaneous costs.

But remember, a dog is not only about money. You also have to take into consideration training (which you still have to do with older dogs), walking, feeding, etc etc etc. Also, mixed dogs tend to have more genetic conditions and will probably suffer from hip dysplasia or more, which will end up costing upwards of $1000 for hip replacements, etc.

Either way, good luck!

Answer 7

My dog is a big boy, I'd say about $20 a month in food, plus vet costs.... I adopted my dog from a county shelter for $55, vet costs to get him vaccinated, treated for worms, etc have probably been around $120 so far, plus his monthly heartworm/flea prevention is $15. That all averages out to about $50 a month for the first year, but it should be less next year since he won't need all those shots repeated. Of course, you should also keep a little in savings for pet emergencies, or unexpected treatments. I'd try to at least have $200 saved up for that kind of thing.

Answer 8

I have two 60+ pound dogs. Both rescues. On average with preventative medication and treats I would say we spend $5 a day so $150 a month. Without any vet visits but you should take your dog to the vet once a year for a check up. Do not get a dog if you cannot spend the time and effort training them and taking care of them.

Answer 9

it really depends, on size etc.
food = 30 dollars
grooming (if required) 20+
toys = 20-30
treats etc = 10 dollars
vet insurance = 30 dollars
heart worm meds = 7 dollars
flee meds = 7 dollars?
supplements (for heart and joints) = 10 dollars
please keep in mind that even healthy dogs have accidents. even healthy dogs can get into garbage and get sick or pick up something on the street. even healthy dogs can get eye and year infections. even healthy dogs need vaccinations. so the cost of vet care will really depend. a vet visit usually run around 50 dollars + medication + any extra tests your dog might need.

Answer 10

I have one small dog. She is about 10lbs. Dog food about $5-7 for a small bag and usually lasts about 2 months. Flea drops $33 for 3 month supply. I also spend about $5-10 per month on treats and things.

I would also plan $30-40 at least once for a Vet visit to make sure they have all their shots depending on where you get one from.

Answer 11

I spend 42.00 on food for 2 german shepherds
22.60 for heartworm pills for both.
25.40 on Frontline
2.22 on dog treats 2x a month
1.97 x 4 on braunshweiger to put glucosomine pills into for one and a good morning treat for the other.
And I try to put 15.00 a week in a bank account for emergency vet bills and another 5.00 a week for yearly shots and registration.This is for all 4 animals tho I have cats as well as dogs.
then there's whatever I feel like spending on a new toy or 2 depending on what they've torn to shreds or broken the squeakers
Collars,leashes ,beds and big toys are replaced on birthdays and Christmas since both dogs b-days are in the summer it's a perfect time to restock outdoor toys and Christmas is for inside toys,Also mine have their own pool and I have to constantly replace filters and we go thru alot of pumps since dog hair is not good on them so summer cost is higher but a daily swim is appreciated on a hot day so what the heck.