How Much Does a Dog Cost? (Monthly and Lifetime)
In 2023, Household Pets produces an in-depth overview on the cost of owning a dog throughout its lifetime and per month. The results are astonishing, showing that with forecasted inflation, dog owners will need to budget carefully and plan ahead for future costs.
Methodology (How Costs Are Calculated)
1) By using the prices of individual aspects available online, such as products on the Pets at Home website and listings on UkPets.com as well as other means, this report provides a comprehensive breakdown of the average cost of owning a dog throughout its lifetime.
2) The report is unique in that it looks into the cost of different sizes of dogs to provide an insight into the greater cost difference between the most and least expensive dogs.
3) Finally, with the use of an inflation forecast, Household Pets is able to accurately estimate the cost of owning a dog for 2024, 2025, 2026, and so on to give an accurate insight into the future cost of ownership.
This report aims to provide pet owners with the information they need to make an informed decision about which size of dog, if any, is best for them and their circumstances.
Results
Broadly, the cost of owning a dog can be broken into overall lifetime costs, and average monthly costs.
We have split findings up by small to giant dogs, as they have different food/care needs, and different life expectancies – which changes the expected cost both on a lifetime and monthly timeline.
Lifetime Cost of Owning a Dog
| Dog Size | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pedigree (5-11kg | 12.5 years) | £18,286.06 | £27,344.37 | £46,513.94 |
| Small Crossbreed (5-11kg | 12.5 years) | £17,636.06 | £27,044.37 | £46,318.94 |
| Medium Pedigree (12-24kg | 11.5 years) | £22,092.94 | £29,954.63 | £74,199.98 |
| Medium Crossbreed (12-24kg | 11.5 years) | £21,442.94 | £29,654.63 | £74,004.98 |
| Large Pedigree (25-44kg | 10 years) | £29,454.71 | £32,720.74 | £84,155.70 |
| Large Crossbreed (25-44kg | 10 years) | £28,804.71 | £32,420.74 | £83,960.70 |
| Giant Pedigree (45 -70kg | 10 years) | £39,721.36 | £41,025.97 | £106,948.40 |
| Giant Crossbreed (45 -70kg | 10 years) | £39,071.36 | £40,725.97 | £106,753.40 |
The lifetime costs include both initial one-off and ongoing costs.
Monthly Cost of Owning a Dog
| Dog Size | Minimum Monthly Costs | Mid Monthly Costs | Maximum Monthly Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pedigree (5-11kg | 12.5 years) | £121.91 | £182.30 | £310.09 |
| Small Crossbreed (5-11kg | 12.5 years) | £117.57 | £180.30 | £308.79 |
| Medium Pedigree (12-24kg | 11.5 years) | £160.09 | £217.06 | £537.68 |
| Medium Crossbreed (12-24kg | 11.5 years) | £155.38 | £214.89 | £536.27 |
| Large Pedigree (25-44kg | 10 years) | £245.46 | £272.67 | £701.30 |
| Large Crossbreed (25-44kg |10 years) | £240.04 | £270.17 | £699.67 |
| Giant Pedigree (45 -70kg |10 years) | £331.01 | £341.88 | £891.24 |
| Giant Crossbreed (45 -70kg | 10 years) | £325.59 | £339.38 | £889.61 |
Detailed Data – See All the Costs of Owning a Dog
Generally, the cost of owning a dog can be broken down into two main categories – initial costs and ongoing costs.
Initial costs include purchasing the dog, vet costs, and buying essential products, such as food, bed, toys, etc.
Ongoing costs refer to the regular costs associated with owning a dog, like vet boosters, food, insurance, and so on.
The tables below show the list of individual items bought when owning a dog and the costs of each.
Initial Costs
The initial costs will vary depending on the dog’s breed, the age of the dog, and also the quality of the products.
Generally speaking, dog owners can expect to pay anywhere from £1,209.57 to £12,661.50 in the first year of owning a dog.
Costs of the Puppy
| Type of Dog Breed | Minimum Cost | Mid Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pedigree Puppy | £700.00 | £1,300.00 | £2,995.00 |
| Crossbreed Puppy | £50.00 | £1,000.00 | £2,800.00 |
The price of pedigree and crossbreed dogs differ; this is due to most pedigree dogs being more expensive than dogs that are crossbred.
For example, the minimum cost of buying a crossbreed puppy can be as little as £50, but a pedigree puppy would likely cost more than £700 at the cheapest price. This is a difference of £650.
This can change if the puppy is from a rescue organisation, such as Dog’s Trust, or if it is an adult dog.
In the first year of owning a puppy, which is often one of the most expensive years, it could cost up to £12,661.50. This first year includes the cost of the puppy, vaccinations, microchipping, neutering/spaying, insurance, food and other essential products, such as a bed, collar, lead, toys, etc.
Insurance and Vet Costs
| Service | Minimum Cost | Mid Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter Pack (including health check, initial vaccinations, microchipping, flea and worming treatment) | £75.00 | £75.00 | £75.00 |
| Neutering/Spaying | £189.00 | £229.00 | £269.00 |
| Vaccination Booster | £52.00 | £52.00 | £52.00 |
| Insurance | £279.60 | £279.60 | £279.60 |
Insurance for puppies is often slightly more expensive than it is for one-year-old dogs. A year’s insurance for a puppy could see owners spend £279.60 on average. This, when coupled with neutering, initial vaccinations, microchipping, etc., could cost up to £678.
Other One-Off Initial Costs
| Item | Minimum Cost | Mid Cost | Maximum Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collar | £3.00 | £14.50 | £34.00 |
| Lead | £5.00 | £26.00 | £52.00 |
| Harness | £9.00 | £24.00 | £80.00 |
| Car Seatbelt/Harness | £3.00 | £29.00 | £95.00 |
| Bowl | £2.25 | £19.00 | £169.99 |
| Bed | £8.00 | £80.00 | £225.00 |
| Crate/Carrier | £18.00 | £35.00 | £299.00 |
| Brush | £3.00 | £10.00 | £22.00 |
| Toy | £1.00 | £19.00 | £130.00 |
| Toilet Training Items | £7.99 | £14.99 | £155.00 |
Ongoing Costs
The ongoing costs can also vary depending on the size and breed of the dog as well as the quality of the products bought.
Dog owners could spend between £17,636.06 and £106,948.40 throughout their dogs’ lives, according to data found by Household Pets.
After buying the dog in 2023, owners can expect to spend between £859.67 and £8,482.90 the next year, in 2024. With inflation, this annual is predicted to rise year-on-year.
Cost to Feed a Dog
Monthly Dry Food Costs
| Dog Size | Minimum Monthly Cost | Mid Monthly Cost | Maximum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pedigree (5-11kg | 12.5 years) | £4.98 | £25.45 | £60.27 |
| Small Crossbreed (5-11kg | 12.5 years) | £4.98 | £25.45 | £60.27 |
| Medium Pedigree (12-24kg |11.5 years) | £13.60 | £45.46 | £109.65 |
| Medium Crossbreed (12-24kg | 11.5 years) | £13.60 | £45.46 | £109.65 |
| Large Pedigree (25-44kg | 10 years) | £33.45 | £72.38 | £177.45 |
| Large Crossbreed (25-44kg |10 years) | £33.45 | £72.38 | £177.45 |
| Giant Pedigree (45-70kg | 10 years) | £37.96 | £100.08 | £227.14 |
| Giant Crossbreed (45-70kg |10 years) | £37.96 | £100.08 | £227.14 |
Monthly Wet Food Costs
| Dog Size | Minimum Monthly Cost | Mid Monthly Cost | Maximum Monthly Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pedigree (5-11kg | 12.5 years) | £34.79 | £38.60 | £62.45 |
| Small Crossbreed (5-11kg | 12.5 years) | £34.79 | £38.60 | £62.45 |
| Medium Pedigree (12-24kg | 11.5 years) | £64.07 | £53.60 | £226.29 |
| Medium Crossbreed (12-24kg | 11.5 years) | £64.07 | £53.60 | £226.29 |
| Large Pedigree (25-44kg | 10 years) | £153.64 | £94.55 | £362.43 |
| Large Crossbreed (25-44kg | 10 years) | £153.64 | £94.55 | £362.43 |
| Giant Pedigree (45-70kg | 10 years) | £222.05 | £133.74 | £483.23 |
| Giant Crossbreed (45-70kg | 10 years) | £222.05 | £133.74 | £483.23 |
Lifetime Dry Food Costs
| Dog Size | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pedigree (5-11kg | 12.5 years) | £747.41 | £3,817.32 | £9,040.94 |
| Small Crossbreed (5-11kg | 12.5 years) | £747.41 | £3,817.32 | £9,040.94 |
| Medium Pedigree (12-24kg |11.5 years) | £1,876.44 | £6,272.95 | £15,131.99 |
| Medium Crossbreed (12-24kg | 11.5 years) | £1,876.44 | £6,272.95 | £15,131.99 |
| Large Pedigree (25-44kg | 10 years) | £4,013.91 | £8,685.85 | £21,294.05 |
| Large Crossbreed (25-44kg |10 years) | £4,013.91 | £8,685.85 | £21,294.05 |
| Giant Pedigree (45-70kg | 10 years) | £4,555.67 | £12,009.06 | £27,257.18 |
| Giant Crossbreed (45-70kg |10 years) | £4,555.67 | £12,009.06 | £27,257.18 |
Lifetime Wet Food Costs
| Dog Size | Minimum Lifetime Cost | Mid Lifetime Cost | Maximum Lifetime Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Pedigree (5-11kg | 12.5 years) | £5,218.95 | £5,789.33 | £9,367.43 |
| Small Crossbreed (5-11kg | 12.5 years) | £5,218.95 | £5,789.33 | £9,367.43 |
| Medium Pedigree (12-24kg | 11.5 years) | £8,841.85 | £7,396.32 | £31,228.31 |
| Medium Crossbreed (12-24kg | 11.5 years) | £8,841.85 | £7,396.32 | £31,228.31 |
| Large Pedigree (25-44kg | 10 years) | £18,437.18 | £11,345.73 | £43,491.10 |
| Large Crossbreed (25-44kg | 10 years) | £18,437.18 | £11,345.73 | £43,491.10 |
| Giant Pedigree (45-70kg | 10 years) | £26,646.43 | £16,048.23 | £57,988.14 |
| Giant Crossbreed (45-70kg | 10 years) | £26,646.43 | £16,048.23 | £57,988.14 |
Cost of Insurance
Throughout a dog’s life, insurance costs could increase more than five times between the first puppy payment to the annual payment for a 13-year-old dog. As stated previously, a puppy can be insured for just £279.60, but a dog owner might pay as much as £1,714.67 in 2036 when the dog is 13 years old.
Other Ongoing Costs
| Item | Minimum Annual Cost | Mid Annual Cost | Maximum Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treats | £47.88 | £165.48 | £359.88 |
| Poo Bags | £15.00 | £126.00 | £258.00 |
| Shampoo | £4.00 | £8.50 | £24.00 |
| Flea, Tick, and Worm Treatment | £54.00 | £94.00 | £132.00 |
Final Words
There are costs of owning a dog that are not included in this report, including emergency vet fees, boarding kennels, dog walkers, or training classes.
Owning a dog is an incredibly rewarding experience, but it is important to be aware of the financial commitments it entails.
Requests for Full Data
The data across our cost of pet ownership study took us hundreds of hours to research, analyse, filter and present the findings of. It is the most expansive and in-depth study into UK pet ownership costs anywhere online.
We are willing to share the full raw data with interested parties, however this is by request only. Please email [email protected] to ask for a copy and we will get back to you.