The Cost of Owning a Family Dog

The average cost of raising a child from birth to the age of 17 in the United States is estimated at $222,360 according to the USDA. But for someone like me, who thinks of her four rescue dogs as family, there is no study estimating the cost of owning a family dog. To budget my pet expenses accurately, I looked at my overall financial investments and concluded that the total costs of dog ownership are $487 as an initial investment, $1000 for annual keep, and between $225 to $1,225 for special care. Here are the specifics.

Adoption Fee $200

I'm a strong proponent of adopting rescue dogs, but the assumption of many people that such adoptions are free is wrong. In fact, adopting two of my dogs from Fur Baby Rescue, I paid $175 for each; while my puppy mill rescue dog cost $200 at the Skagit County Pound. My last rescue dog was adopted from a family who wanted to put her down. In this case I paid nothing for adopting her. Therefore, budget around $200 for adopting your pet, or look for newspaper ads or pamphlets at your local vet's office or supermarket from people who want to give up their family dog for free.

Initial Investment $287

To make your dog feel at home, you'll need to buy a few things. Here are the average costs I paid: water and food bowl ($50); collar, harness and leash ($65); orthopedic dog bed ($50); dog stairs for beds ($37); sweater and coat ($85). The total for your initial investment in owning a family dog is: $287. Take into account that a large breed may not need dog stairs, but his sweater and coat will be larger and, therefore, more expensive.

Dog Food $250

The size of your dog and the brand of dog food you feed her, will determine your annual cost. Because of these fluctuating factors, here's a rough estimate of the cost of feeding a family dog annually. For a small dog fed with quality dry food, the estimated cost is $.15 a day for a total of $55 annually. For canned food expect to double the cost. For medium dogs the cost will be around $110, and for large dogs between $150 to $200. Add the cost of dog treats, and the average cost of feeding a family dog based on my experience is estimated at $250 annually.

Grooming, $155 annually

All dogs need grooming, though some breeds require more of it. You can take your dog to be groomed professionally but the cost will be high. To save money on owning my family dogs, I groom them myself. Here are the cost estimations involved. Grooming brushes ($30), nail clippers ($15), and dog grooming clippers ($40) are required as an initial investment. You may also buy pet shampoo ($35 annually), but I save money by using our own shampoos when I wash my dogs twice monthly, using a detachable shower head in the tub ($35). The total dog grooming costs with this DIY approach are $155.

Routine Medical Care $560

If you adopt from a shelter, you will save on initial medical costs because your dog will have received all initial shots and will have been spayed or neutered, for a total estimated saving of $300. However, your family dog will need a yearly veterinary exam and vaccinations at an estimated cost of $200. In addition, expect medical costs for teeth cleaning ($100), occasional infections or deworming ($110 each), and flea and heartworm medication ($150 annually). Your total routine medical care for your family dog from my experience will average around $560. You can reduce infection and teeth cleaning expenses, by cleaning your family dog regularly and brushing her teeth.

Special Medical Care $225 to $1,400

All dog breeds have a propensity to certain medical conditions. My Shetland Shepard had hip dysplasia ($600 for surgery). My terrier mix has a displaced retina that requires expensive eye drops for the rest of her life ($1,200 annually). And my mixed Pomeranian had no knee cap ($1,400 surgery). You can save money on emergency medical care by buying health insurance ($225 annually).

Training $225

Lovable family dogs are a product of good training. Expect to spend around $255 in professional dog training classes. Alternatively, read articles online to master training your family dog yourself, using a lot of patience and even more love.

More from this Contributor

First Person: 8 Ways to Raise Money for Family Vacations

6 Psychological Money Traps We All Fall into

8 Places I Shop for Clothes when Money is Tight