Close Menu
Saving Superstar
    What's Hot

    How to manage debt in retirement

    June 11, 2025

    20 Tricks shops use to make you spend more

    June 6, 2025

    Your cash ISA is full, what next?

    June 6, 2025

    How to manage debt on a low income

    June 4, 2025

    What is lifestyle creep and how to avoid it

    May 28, 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    How to manage debt in retirement

    June 11, 2025

    20 Tricks shops use to make you spend more

    June 6, 2025

    Your cash ISA is full, what next?

    June 6, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Saving SuperstarSaving Superstar
    Facebook X (Twitter)
    • Home
    • Budgeting

      An honest guide to supermarket loyalty cards in the UK

      April 24, 2025

      How to stretch your grocery budget when prices keep climbing

      April 24, 2025

      Frugal living hacks: 10 Ways to save without sacrificing comfort

      April 16, 2025

      The biggest budgeting mistakes that keep you in debt

      March 26, 2025

      How to cut back on expenses without sacrificing your quality of life

      March 25, 2024
    • General finance

      20 Tricks shops use to make you spend more

      June 6, 2025

      What is lifestyle creep and how to avoid it

      May 28, 2025

      How to bleed your radiators: A step-by-step guide

      May 7, 2025

      Pay per mile road tax: What, where and when?

      September 13, 2024

      How to lower the cost of owning a dog

      April 1, 2024
    • Housing
    • Credit & debt
    • Bills and utilities
    • Saving and Investments

      Your cash ISA is full, what next?

      June 6, 2025

      7 Sensible steps to save for retirement

      May 21, 2025

      Common money saving mistakes that keep you broke

      May 14, 2025

      UK interest rates: How they impact debt repayments

      February 19, 2025

      How to save money on the cost of school uniforms

      August 1, 2024
    • Seasonal savings

      10 Ways to save money on back-to-school shopping

      August 5, 2024

      10 Amazon Prime Day tips – Get the most out of Prime Day!

      July 1, 2024

      Start the new year with a new financial outlook!

      December 26, 2023

      How to get the best out of post-holiday sales

      December 21, 2023

      How to save for Christmas throughout the year

      December 18, 2023
    • Contact
    Saving Superstar
    Home » How much does a dog cost over its lifetime?
    Budgeting

    How much does a dog cost over its lifetime?

    JamieBy JamieJanuary 23, 20234 Mins Read
    Share
    Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

    There’s nothing quite like having a dog. They are great company, a loyal friend and a loving companion.

    But dogs cost money.

    We saw sales of dogs go through the roof during lockdown and saw them selling for silly money online.

    Now lockdown is over and everyday living costs are increasing, people are struggling to cope with feeding their furry friends.

    So how much does a dog cost to keep? How much should you plan on spending over its lifetime?

    How much does a dog cost to keep?

    I’ll ignore purchase cost as that’s a variable I have no control over or full knowledge of.

    Travel anywhere in the country and prices vary hugely depending on the location and the breed.

    If you’re looking for a dog, perhaps adopting one would be the best option. You get to give a dog a new home, help the many charitable organisations that help dogs and will pay a lot less for the privilege!

    According to the PDSA, it costs up to £12,000 to keep a dog over its lifetime.

    They say it costs:

    • Small dog breeds: At least £5,000 – £9,600
    • Medium dog breeds: At least £6,600 – £10,400
    • Large dog breeds: At least £5,400 – £12,200

    These are minimum averages. Owners who want their dog to have a happy and healthy life should expect to spend at least that amount on their companion.

    This cost doesn’t cover pet insurance either. Given that British vets are now just as bad as American healthcare for charges, insurance is unfortunately essential.

    Factor in anywhere from £10 up to £65 per month for pet insurance. The older the pet, the higher the premium.

    Cost breakdown of dog ownership

    Cost breakdown of dog ownership

    Dogs are so much more than an expense and it’s not really fair to equate their value to pure cost.

    Yet the economic reality right now is that some people have to.

    When you come up against the decision of whether to rehome a dog or feed the children, it’s not even a choice.

    That’s why I think it’s vital that everyone fully understands just how much having a dog costs.

    They are amazing companions and enrich our lives beyond measure. But, if times are tight, perhaps now isn’t the time to get one.

    So what costs do you need to factor into dog ownership?

    I’ll use that PDSA data for this as it reflects my own experience.

    Initial setup costs for bedding, bowls, leads, toys and vaccinations:

    • Small dog breeds: £383
    • Medium dog breeds: £436
    • Large dog breeds: £494

    This is an estimate based on average prices for products and for vet care.

    Even if you stick to the basics, you’ll still need injections, neutering, a few toys, a good collar, food and a range of other things.

    Monthly cost of owning a dog

    If you need to break down the cost of owning a dog over a month, we can do that.

    Again, thanks to the PDSA, we know that an estimated monthly cost to own a dog is:

    • Small dog: £54
    • Medium dog: £61
    • Large dog: £75

    That reflects my own experience of owning a large dog.

    That cost includes food, insurance, boosters and vet checks, flea and worm treatment, poo bags and toys.

    The calculation includes average dog food and not fresh meat or premium brands. Many premium pet food brands are largely a waste of money anyway. They are typically designed to appeal to the owner, not the dog.

    Vegan dog food anyone?

    Use a good quality dog food and you shouldn’t need to spend too much.

    A dog will only need a booster and vet check once a year (hopefully), but the rest you’ll need every week or month.

    If you want to factor in treats, a dog walker or doggy day care, toys or other good stuff for your dog, you’ll need to add that to the monthly cost.

    As I said at the top, the true value of having a dog in the family cannot really be given a quantitative value.

    But, in these times, when every penny really does count, it’s useful to know just how much you’re in for if you’re considering getting a dog.

    These amounts are just minimal averages and will increase over time thanks to inflation. If you don’t have that kind of money to spare, please think very carefully about whether to get a dog or not.

    cost dog
    Jamie
    • Website
    • Facebook

    I'm a writer and editor at Coastal Content and Brainstorm Force with a background in IT and networks. I'm passionate about helping people take more control of their lives, especially finance.

    Related Posts

    An honest guide to supermarket loyalty cards in the UK

    April 24, 2025

    How to stretch your grocery budget when prices keep climbing

    April 24, 2025

    Frugal living hacks: 10 Ways to save without sacrificing comfort

    April 16, 2025

    The biggest budgeting mistakes that keep you in debt

    March 26, 2025

    How to cut back on expenses without sacrificing your quality of life

    March 25, 2024

    Cost of living crisis – 15 Quick tips to help you survive

    September 7, 2023
    Add A Comment
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Don't Miss
    Credit and debt

    How to manage debt in retirement

    June 11, 2025

    Retirement is supposed to be a time to relax and enjoy life after decades of…

    20 Tricks shops use to make you spend more

    June 6, 2025

    Your cash ISA is full, what next?

    June 6, 2025

    How to manage debt on a low income

    June 4, 2025
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    Links
    • Write for Saving Superstar
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer and affiliate information
    Categories
    • Bills and utilities
    • Budgeting
    • Credit and debt
    • General finance
    • Mortgages and housing
    • Saving and Investments
    • Seasonal savings
    Latest News
    • How to manage debt in retirement
    • 20 Tricks shops use to make you spend more
    • Your cash ISA is full, what next?
    • How to manage debt on a low income

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.