How much does a dog really cost?

Welcome to my dog blog!

Hi, my name is Karen and welcome to my Doberman Pinscher blog! I’ll try to keep all my posts as informative and concise as possible. This blog is dedicated to documenting everything about my Doberman right from the start. Beginning with choosing a breeder, to puppy training, to (hopefully) Schutzhund practice in the future. I have always wanted a dog, specifically a Doberman. But the first question I asked myself was...

Do I have the means to be a responsible dog owner?

Before deciding to bring home a puppy, I needed to evaluate myself on whether I could dedicate the time and resources required to properly raising a dog. The idea of getting a puppy is so exciting, it causes many people to jump at the chance of having a dog without any sort of preparation. This happens way too often, and that’s why we see so many dogs brought to the shelter because their owners simply “could not care for the dog anymore”. Dogs are lifetime pets. As a potential dog owner, I need to ensure that I can take care of my dog for the 10 years or more of its life.

I urge everyone considering adding a puppy to their lives to objectively review your cash-flow and create a “dog-schedule”. Here is a sample break down of how much it costs, money-wise and time-wise to own a dog.

Puppy purchase price = $1500
One-time dog supplies = $390
$130 - Crate with divider
$100 - Dog bed
$35 - Grooming brushes, nail clipper
$50 - Food/water bowls/diner
$10 - Puppy collar
$15 - 4’ training leash
$20 - Chew toys
$10 - Stain and odour remover
$20 - Kibble bin and measuring scoop

Dog consumables cost per month = $110/month
$50 - Dry Food
$5 - Training Treats
$5 - Puppy shampoo/conditioner/grooming
$10 - Replacing Chew Toys/Accessories/Clothes
$40 - Pet insurance

Time commitment = 3 hours per day
- 2 walks per day (1 in morning, 1 after dinner)
- at least 1 hour every night devoted to training
- at least 1 hour a week for grooming
- take 1 week off work for puppy’s first week at home

It costs $3210 the first year and $1320 every year after that for the rest of the dog’s life!
Owning a dog requires 3 hours/day of your time, everyday for the next 10 years or more!

I guess this means I want a dog pretty badly, because after taking all this into consideration, I still really want a Doberman. So stay posted for tips on selecting a breeder!