The most affordable dogs. Before making the decision to buy a dog, it’s important to know how much your furry friend is going to cost you over the course of its lifetime. First, there are initial costs and then there are annual costs.
Initial costs include things like the purchase fee, spaying or neutering, training, general supplies, and emergency costs; initial costs can add up to over $2,000. Annual costs are what it’s going to cost you to keep your dog happy and healthy. These costs include food, veterinary bills, grooming, extended training, toys, and treats which can all add up to be over $2,300. Naturally, these figures are all dependent on the breed you choose to buy.
Here’s the list of the most affordable dog breeds to raise.
1. English Foxhound
First on our list is the English Foxhound. This is a larger breed of dog and can be anywhere from 65 to 75 pounds. They generally live for 10 to 13 years which isn’t long in comparison to smaller dogs. They have a great temperament and usually cost about $100 for a puppy. You should spend about $150 in food for the first year which will double and plateau by the second due to their growth. You’re going to have to get them vaccinated at first and then maintain their health which is going to cost around $500 a year. General supplies should cost about $350 the first year and then around $100 for each year after that. After you calculate all of your costs, multiply that number by 12 years (anticipating your dog will live to the maximum number of years) and then add about $1,000 for incidentals. All in all, you’re looking at about $4,900 for the lifetime of an English Foxhound and just over $350 per year.
2. American Foxhound
The first cost you’re going to face with an American Foxhound is their purchase cost; usually, this breed costs around $400. Similar to the English Foxhound, American Foxhounds will cost about $300 per year in food and vaccinations and medical costs should be about the same at about $500. Because they’re around the same size as the English, you should spend the same amount in general supplies ($350 initial/$100 each year). This breed usually lives for 12 to 13 years making their lifetime cost about $5,200 and about $400 annually.
3. English Cocker Spaniel
With a lifespan of 11 to 12 years, this breed usually weighs between 25 and 35 pounds so it’s going to be less expensive in food as well. For the first year, you’re going to pay about $600 to purchase the dog, $125 in food, $500 in medical care, and about $300 in general supplies totaling at $1,225 for the first year. After that, it’s going to cost you about $250 in food, $100 in medical care, $100 in general supplies, and $100 in treats and toys. On the lower end, this breed should cost you around $7,600 over the course of its lifetime.
4. Miniature Schnauzer
This breed costs more in the initial purchase price (about $800), although they are a small breed that weighs between 11 to 18 pounds and has a lifespan of about 12 to 14 years. The first year is going to add up like this: $800 to purchase, $100 in food, $500 in medical, $50 in treats and toys, $250 on beds and crates, and $250 in general supplies totaling up to $1,950 to start. For each year after, it’s going to cost about $200 in food, $200 in medical, $25 in treats and toys, $100 on general supplies, and $50 to maintain their bed and crate. Take this number and multiply it by 13 and you’ll get a total of $7,475 plus the initial $1,950 and add another $1,000 for incidentals and the cost of a Miniature Schnauzer’s lifetime is $10,425 and just over $700 per year.
5. Pomeranian
The initial purchase price of a Pomeranian is about $750. After that, the first years expenses are going to be $100 in food, $500 in medical care, $250 in general supplies, $50 in toys and treats, and about $50 on a bed because they don’t really need to be crated due to their small size. This breed usually lives for 14 years and only weighs between 4 and 8 pounds. The first year’s costs add up to about $1,700. After the first year, you should plan on spending about $200 on veterinary costs, $200 on food, $100 in general supplies, and $50 on toys or a new bed. Take that number and multiply it by 13, add the first year’s costs, and add $1,000 for incidentals and you’ll find that the average cost of a Pomeranian over the course of its lifetime is about $9,850 which is only about $700 a year.
6. Rat Terrier
The average cost of a Rat Terrier is about $400 and they’ll eat about $100 worth of food in their first year. Medical costs, as usual, are going to be around $500 and you should plan on spending about $350 in general supplies, $250 on beds and crates, and $50 on toys and treats. So far, the first year is going to cost about $1,600. After that, costs get pretty low with medical care being about $200, general supplies costing around $100, $200 in food, and $50 to maintain their bed and toys. This breed lives for about 15 to 23 years and weigh between 10 and 24 pounds. Their lifespan sounds intimidating, but when you realize owning a Rat Terrier only costs about $4,200 over the course of their lifetime, you’ll find that just over $180 per year isn’t so bad.
7. Beagle
A Beagle is one of the most mild-tempered dogs you can buy and they’re inexpensive, too. They usually live for about 12 to 15 years and weigh around 25 pounds. Start-up costs are going to be $450 to purchase, $125 in food, $500 in medical, $250 in general supplies, $50 in toys and treats, and $250 on crates and beds totaling up to about $1,625 for the first year. After that, costs go down to about $250 in food, $200 in medical, $100 in general supplies, and $50 in maintenance making the total cost of a Beagle’s lifetime to be around $10,000 and an annual cost of about $650.
8. Boxer
Living only 9 to 10 years and weighing as much as 70 pounds, a Boxer’s lifetime will cost a little more than the others previously mentioned. Their price tag is about $650 and their first year is going to cost about $150 in food, $500 in veterinary costs, $350 in general supplies, $300 in beds and crates, and $75 in toys and treats totaling up to about $2,000 for their first year. But, don’t let that figure intimidate you. After the first year, costs drop to around $300 for food, $200 in medical care, $150 in general supplies, $50 in treats and toys, and $100 in maintenance. The total cost of their lifetime should only be around $10,200 and only about $1,000 annually.
9. Dachshund
A Dachshund usually lives for about 13 years and are between 15 and 30 pounds. This breed’s purchase price is about $450 and their starting costs are about $100 in food, $500 in veterinary costs, $200 in general supplies, $50 on a bed because they don’t need to be crated, and $50 in toys and treats. These figures add up to about $1,450 for their first year. After that, their costs go down to about $200 in food, $200 in veterinary care, $100 in general supplies, and $25 in maintenance. The total cost of owning a Dachshund for their lifetime is about $8,750 making their annual cost about $670.
10. Golden Retriever
This breed is immensely popular in the United States due to their family-friendly attitude and low costs. The average Golden Retriever will cost around $600 to purchase and their first year is going to include about $150 for food, $500 for veterinary costs, $350 in general supplies, $350 on a bed and crate, and $50 in toys and treats. Their first year’s cost is about $2,500 but their expenses quickly drop after that. Food is going to cost around $300, veterinary care is going to be about $200, general supplies should cost about $125, and you should set aside $100 for maintenance. This makes their grand total about $10,750 because they only live for 11 years on average. The annual cost of owning a Golden Retriever is going to cost about $950.
11. Miniature Pinscher
Last on our list is the Miniature Pinscher; this breed has a lifespan of about 13 years and weighs around 10 pounds. Ticket price for this breed is usually just $500 and their first year’s costs are nothing to be concerned about. Plan on spending about $100 in food, $500 in medical, $200 in general supplies, $50 on a bed because it isn’t necessary to crate them, and $50 in toys and treats. These costs will add up to about $1,400 for their first year and after that, their expenses will drop drastically. Food is going to cost about $200, medical will be around $200, $25 in maintenance, and $25 in toys and treats. After everything, the total price of owning a Miniature Pinscher will be around $7,800 for their lifetime and just $600 per year.
9 Ways To Save Money On Dog Care
If you own or have ever owned a dog, you most likely know that they are not easy or cheap to take care of. Dogs are wonderful pets, correctly labeled as, “Man’s Best Friend,” because of their loyalty and compassion for everyone. As a dog owner, you want the best for your furry friend and you want them to have the best possible care.
On average, a dog’s veterinary bill reaches approximately $20,000 dollars in their lifetime. That includes shots, vaccinations, spays and neuters, and any other medical issues that they may develop over the years. Yes, it is fine to want to spoil your dog and plenty of dog owners do. It is also wise to try to find every possible way to save money on dog care. In fact, here are some great ways you can save money on your dog’s care:
1. You can save money on dog food.
There are lots of ways to save money on your dog’s food. Not every dog needs to eat the best dog food available and will do just fine and stay healthy with a cheaper brand. Yes, expensive dog food may have better ingredients in it, but not all dogs benefit from the healthier ingredients in expensive dog food. As long as your dog is eating the right amount of food and getting the nutrients it needs, the brand of dog food does not necessarily matter. Another way you can save money on dog food is to make sure you are feeding them the right amount. There are calculators you can use or experts you can ask to make sure you are not overfeeding your dog.
2. You can save money by keeping your dog up-to-date on vaccines.
When you first get a dog or puppy, you are aware that it needs vaccinations, shots, and tests to make sure it is healthy. Dogs need to be seen by a vet at least once a year to make sure they are still doing well. Veterinarians will typically run tests, labs, and give your pet an examination to ensure they are as healthy as can be. One way to save money is to keep your dog up-to-date on its vaccines by never missing your yearly veterinarian appointment. The appointments are necessary and if the veterinarian does find something wrong, it would have been caught early on making the medical care much cheaper than it would be if years had gone by with the issue being undiagnosed. Also, keep your dog healthy by using flea and tick preventatives as advised. Fleas and ticks can cause serious medical problems and preventatives can greatly reduce your dog’s chance of developing flea or tick diseases.
3. You can save money by purchasing dog health insurance.
Dog health insurance exists and is a great investment to make if you want to avoid expensive vet visits. By having health insurance for your dog, you will no longer have to worry about paying for an emergency vet visit. Even if the coverage plan you choose only covers emergency situations, it can definitely save you money if the emergency is extremely serious. Your vet can provide you with an insurance plan for your dog and go over all the benefits you and your dog can expect to receive. If your vet does not have an insurance plan in their practice, you can simply purchase insurance from other companies and request quotes to find the best and cheapest deal.
4. You can save money by recycling and being creative.
As a pet owner, there is probably a part of you that absolutely loves spending money on your dog. You may love going to PetSmart or PetCo to shop around for a new toy, bone, sweater, or even a brand new dog bed just because you simply love your dog and love to shop. Dogs do not necessarily need to have “new” everything. They do not know the difference between a new sweater and an old sweater. They do not mind sleeping on a dog bed that another dog has slept on rather than having a brand new one. Do you have an extra fluffy blanket that has been sitting in the closet for years? Grab a basket and put that fluffy blanket in there and you have a dog bed. Put an empty water bottle in a sock and you have a dog toy. There are ways to be creative that can save you money.
5. You can save money by ensuring your dog will not have an unexpected litter of puppies.
Spaying or neutering your dog is extremely important. If you do not want your dog to unexpectedly have puppies that you must care for, schedule an appointment once your dog is old enough to be spayed or neutered. The procedure is fairly cheap and there are plenty of clinics that have specials each month to lower the cost.
6. Save money by starting a “doggy piggy bank.”
If you have had a dog for a long period of time, you are probably aware that surprises happen. Your dog may accidentally swallow something that it cannot digest or may accidentally rip its toenail off, which requires a vet visit. Having a “doggy piggy bank” can help relieve some of the stress of coming up with the money to treat your dog. Put all spare change in your “doggy piggy bank” and when an emergency situation arrives, you will at least have a little bit of help in treating your furry friend.
7. You can save money by grooming your dog yourself.
Dog groomers typically charge an arm and a leg to simply cut your dog’s hair and style it. There are dog grooming kits at many stores that you can buy and learn to cut your dog’s hair yourself. Once you get the hang of it, you can accomplish that same look your dog groomer could do, but you will be saving money. Your dog does not necessarily care what it looks like and even if its hair is not perfect, at least you are bonding with your dog and doing your best to save money.
8. Save money by keeping your dog happy.
A happy dog is typically a healthy dog. Dogs do not need special toys that squeak to be happy. They simply need interactions. Behavior problems can arise if a dog does not have enough human interactions and training classes can be very expensive. Make sure you are spending plenty of time with your dog to avoid behavior problems and future health problems. After all, they simply love attention.
9. You can save money by buying generic rather than name-brand.
For instance, you may take your dog to the vet and they may prescribe an antibiotic for $30. That same antibiotic may be able to be purchased elsewhere in a generic form for much cheaper. Before purchasing everything your dog needs name-brand, shop around for the generic version and best prices.
Utilize these 9 tips to cut costs when it comes to your dog care costs and enjoy some extra cash that you can save or use in other areas of your life.
