Are you thinking about getting a dog, but you aren’t sure how much it will cost you? What is the overall cost of owning a dog in the UK, in 2024? There are so many factors to consider if you are thinking about getting a dog, and the cost will be a huge deciding factor for many people.
I got a puppy in September 2022, and can hopefully give you a realistic view of the cost of owning a dog in the UK today. As I take you through the different expenses of owning a dog, I will tally up my own total (much to the dismay of my husband, who does not want to know the amount of money we’ve spent on the dog). Spoiler alert: it was £2991.40 for the first year.
Here are the main spending categories which contribute to the overall cost of owning a dog:
Upfront Costs:
- The cost of the dog
- Set up costs for all their essentials
- Transfer of ownership
- Vaccinations
- Neutering
- Training
Ongoing Costs:
- Food
- Toys
- Vet Care & Emergencies
- Insurance
- Dog walking
- Dog boarding/sitting
- Grooming
Lets go through the upfront costs of owning a dog first:
My Total is £1,497
The cost of the dog (£900)
First and foremost, there is an initial cost to purchase or adopt a dog. If you are purchasing a puppy, this can range anywhere from £300 – £5000 in extreme cases. Obviously this is hugely dependent on what breed you are getting, and who you are buying them from. If you are planning to get a purebred rare breed with a family tree of Crufts winners, you might be spending thousands.
If you are adopting a dog, many rescue centers will have an adoption fee. This fee goes to cover the cost of upkeep of their facilities and looking after all the animals in their care. This can range anywhere from around £150 – £500. The cost can depend on the age of the dog, and where you are adopting from.
My dog Honey is a cross breed between a Springer Spaniel and a Labrador, affectionately known as a Springador to some, a mutt or mongrel to others. You can read about why we chose a Springador here.
Given that a Honey is not a KC registered breed, she was at the lower end of the dog cost spectrum at the time. We purchased her from a farmer for £900. This was quite soon after the Covid-19 pandemic, which caused the cost of dogs to skyrocket. Many people were suddenly able to work from home, and had the flexibility to introduce a dog to the family, which drove up demand.
Set up costs: getting the essentials (£87)
You will need to consider the cost of basic necessities that the dog will need. Here is what I bought for my puppy, where I got it from, and how much I spent on each item:
- Collar (£3) – George.com
- Lead (£6) – George.com
- Harness & seatbelt (£25) – Amazon.co.uk
- Bed (£22) – George.com
- Crate (£15) – Facebook Marketplace
- Crate mat (£16) – Pets at Home
This is an area where you could potentially save some money from the total cost of owning a dog. We definitely went cheap here, as we knew a puppy would grow out of or chew up these items. In my opinion it is a waste of money getting high end products for a puppy. None of these things except the crate, seatbelt, and lead lasted longer than 6 months. It is definitely worth checking out second hand options too – a crate was easy to clean down and make look brand new!
Transfer of ownership (£30)
This cost really caught me off guard! When you get a dog, whether they are adopted or from a breeder, they should already be microchipped. It is the law in the UK that dogs are microchipped. However, you have to register the microchip to your address and register yourself as owner of the dog, which costs £30.
Vaccinations (£50)
If you have a puppy, the initial course of vaccinations can range from £40-£70. After this they will need yearly booster vaccinations, however for us this is covered in our vet health plan, which I will come on to in the ‘ongoing costs’ section.
Neutering (£280)
If you adopt an adult dog from a rescue centre, it will likely already be neutered. However if you adopt or purchase a puppy, neutering is a cost you should factor in. Our dog Honey was spayed, which cost us £280. This cost will vary depending on the vet and the different versions of the procedure they might offer. For example, some vets offer a more expensive keyhole surgery for spaying. Castration of male dogs is generally cheaper as it is a less invasive procedure, so might cost between £100 – £150.
Training (£150)
We booked a 4 week course of puppy training classes when we first got Honey, which cost £90 for all 4 sessions. Then we booked a one-off private one hour training session to focus on her lead walking when she was about 1 year old, which was £60.
Like many elements on this list, the cost of training will vary wildly depending on your dog. You might be great at training them on your own, or you might need some professional help – which is nothing to be ashamed of.
Now time for the ongoing costs of owning a dog:
My total is approximately £98.70 per month, not including the emergency vet trips and grooming supplies
Food (£50 per month)
This will be your main regular outgoing towards the cost of owning a dog. We spend £25-30 each month on dog kibble. Tip: it is cheaper to buy in bulk. We add salmon oil to her kibble for extra taste and nutrients. This costs £9 for the bottle which lasts about 3 months.
Then we also spend approximately £15 per month on various treats. The cost of dog food will vary depending on the size of your dog, and your costs might be significantly more if you decide to feed your dog a raw food diet, or a fresh dog food subscription.
Toys (£20 per month)
I’ve put this as an ongoing cost, as my dog’s toys never last long. There are some hardier toys that might last 6 months, but anything that isn’t tough enough can last as short as an hour. While my dog is still under 2 years old, she has a lot of energy to burn. Play is a great way to stimulate her mind and tire her out.
Most dog toys range from £2 – £15 in places like Pets at Home, it’s up to you how much or little you choose to spend! You might think the more expensive toys last the longest and therefore would be better value, but we haven’t found this to be strictly the case.
Vet Care & Emergencies (£15.50 per month)
My dog is on a vet health plan, which I would highly recommend. It costs £15.50 per month, and includes yearly checkups, her yearly booster vaccinations, and discounts on any treatments she may need, like dental work.
Unfortunately, you might experience some unexpected trips to the vet. I have only experienced this three times so far in my 1.5 years of having my dog, and thankfully for quite minor things. The first time was because she ate something she shouldn’t have, and needed an injection to make her vomit. The second time was for an eye infection, and the third incident was for an upset stomach. Each visit set me back about £80 – £100 for the appointment and medication.
However, we have friends whose dog unfortunately experienced a broken bone, requiring a £4000 surgery. Which leads me nicely onto my next point…
Pet Insurance (£13.20)
It is very wise to get pet insurance. There is an endless number of accidents or illnesses your dog could need treatment for, so it is best to be covered for the worst case scenario.
We pay £13.20 per month for pet insurance through LV. Pet insurance won’t cover any routine procedures like neutering or vaccinations, but it will cover you in case of an emergency or unexpected illness.
The cost of pet insurance can vary depending on the breed of your dog. For example, it will be more expensive for a breed with common health issues, such as the Brachycephalic (flat faced) breeds like pugs and bulldogs.
Dog walking (£19 per hour)
Consider whether you will ever need to use dog walking services. This might be for while you are at work, or for one off occasions. I am fortunate enough that I mostly work from home, and only head to my corporate office once per week. On my office day, my husband has a work from home day. This means we have only used our local dog walker about 3 times for one off occasions. For example, attending a wedding. Our dog walker chargers £19 for a one hour group walk.
Dog boarding or pet sitters
We are fortunate enough to have local family and friends to look after our dog when we have gone away without her. However, if you don’t have this option you might have to use a pet sitter or boarding kennels. This can range in price from £15 – £50 per day, depending on the company that you use.
Grooming (£32)
Here are all the at home grooming products we have brought:
- A dog 2-in-1 shampoo & conditioner (£9),
- Pawfume (I’ll let you figure out what that is) (£6),
- Dog brush (£10)
- Dog nail clippers (£7)
The only recurring costs from those are the first 2, which we purchase about once every six months. As our dog has low maintenance grooming needs, we choose to save money and do it at home. Honey never needs a haircut, just a good wash and her nails trimming.
If you have a breed with a high maintenance coat, like a poodle, you might need to go to a professional groomer as often as every 6 weeks. This could set you back from £30-£100 per trip depending on the breed of dog. A chihuahua will be quicker to groom than a Chow Chow!
Our total cost of owning a dog
So, being brutally honest – dogs are expensive! Looking at my monthly costs, it adds up to about £1,184.40 per year. If you throw in the first year upfront costs, and the emergency vet trips, my first year of dog ownership cost around an eye watering £2921.40. This is staggering considering we work from home, and don’t use any pet sitting or grooming services.
Despite how expensive she is – I have no regrets, and love my dog with my whole heart! I’ve written everything I love about having a dog here, and for me the companionship definitely outweighs the costs.
I hope this honest account is useful to you, and helps you decide whether you truly can afford to give a dog the care they require.
