Avoid Economic Downturns With These Tricks For Your Dog's Budget

Are you worried about your expenses as the economy turns downward? A dog budget will be a game-changer for you since it shows you where you’re spending and how to adjust your costs.

Also, creating a dog budget allows you to know what you’re getting into before you get a dog, puppy, or another dog. But even better is that a budget for your dog allows you to make adjustments as the economy shifts.

It might be overwhelming to set up a budget for your dog. But it’s really easy. With this in mind, let’s dig in, and I’ll guide you step-by-step through the process. Make sure to download your free budget template and use it as you read this article.

a cute puppy is hoping his new dog parents have a dog budget

Budget Tip:

Knowing your dog expenses, whether for a current dog, future dog, in great economic times, or uncertain financial future, it is critical in being able to properly care for your dog. When you create a budget, you can see where your money goes and let's you adjust as needed. It really can be a great win-win for your bank account and your dog's well-being.

First make sure you download your FREE dog budget template, which is completely editable and automated to help you in creating your own dog budget. You can then more easily work your way through this article and create your own dog budget at the same time.

Table of Contents

1. Fees

Rescue, adoption, or breeder costs

If you buy your dog from a breeder then that’s a certain price and will depend on many factors. Even if you decide to rescue your dog, then there’s a fee to the rescue organization. Of course, fees can vary widely.

For example, if you are looking to adopt a senior dog or a special needs, then sometimes shelters will have free adoption days. My dog, Henry is a rescue. I can’t imagine a better furry family member.

However, if your heart is set on adopting a hybrid-type dog, such as a Schnoodle, then you might be shocked to learn the rescue fee could be as much as $2500 or more. Although, Henry is a cockapoo his fee only cost me $100. As I already mentioned, it truly depends on your location and the rescue organization. The good news is this cost is a one-time cost.

Adoption Fee: $0-2,500
Breeder Fee: $500-3,000

Dog License

Meanwhile, the cost of a dog license will vary greatly depending on where you live and whether or not your dog is spayed, neutered, and even the age of your dog. This is also generally a yearly fee. You may want to call your local county or city animal services to get the exact amount for where you live. You should also be able to find these fees online.

Dog License: $8-500

Do you know that a dog license can reduce your dog’s costs? Find out how in this article.

Renter Pet Deposit Fee

If you rent, you may need to pay a pet deposit fee and even a monthly pet rental fee. You’ll need to talk with your landlord prior to getting a dog to determine if this will apply to you. Never spring a new pet on a landlord and expect a no-pet policy to be waived. You may be able to get a no-pet policy exemption if you’re open and transparent from the beginning. Here’s an article about this exact issue.

Renter Pet Deposit Fee: $0-500
Monthly Pet Renter Fee: $0-500

2. Medical

I encourage you to make an appointment with your veterinarian within a few days of getting him or her. You want to know what’s his baseline and if there are any issues you should be aware of from the start. Plus, this gives you a great opportunity to discuss food and pet insurance with your vet.

Additionally, I budget an additional 3 visits because you never know what will happen. Here are the costs to budget for a new dog:

First Vet Visit + Vaccines: $60-350
Spaying/Neutering: $0-300
(most rescue organizations will have pets spayed or neutered prior to adoption so there will be no additional fee)
Microchipping: $0-50*
Pet Insurance/savings: $12-46/mth
Flea/Tick/Heartworm Prevention: $20/mth
Emergency vet visit: $60-5,000+

*Microchipping is very common for rescue organizations to do prior to adopting pets out to their forever homes. Even if you’re told your dog is not microchipped, I encourage you to have your vet check on your first visit. I was told Henry wasn’t chipped. But on his first visit, I was happy to discover he was chipped.

3. Equipment costs

These costs include your new dog’s leash, collar, ID tag, harness, brush, bowls, crate, and beds. Of course, these items will vary depending on your dog’s needs. However, I highly recommend a harness and specifically a no-pull harness, which will prevent damage to the dog’s trachea later on, especially if he’s a strong puller.

Additionally, I encourage people to put out a couple of bowls of water for their dog. You may want to get three bowls. One for food and two for water.

Next, crates are essential for crate training, which many trainers recommend. They also provide a safe place when the dog gets scared.

Please note that the cost of these equipment items will vary depending on your dog’s size and the type or style you like. Here’s a good ballpark on these costs you can add to your dog budget.:

Collar: $8-32
Harness: $19-70
ID Tag: $4-10
Leash: $7-54
Brush: $6-32
Beds: $9-300
Crate/Kennel: $38-900
Food & Water Bowls: $9-32

Additionally, the good news is that most of the equipment costs should be a one-time expense. Unless you have a puppy that is growing. Then you’ll need to buy new collars and harnesses as your puppy grows. Or if your puppy accidentally chews or destroys something. However, I have to admit, that I destroyed Henry’s bed by washing it too much. Therefore, I would say, beds have a lifespan of probably 2-3 years. You’ll want to start shopping for a new one before it unravels in the washing machine.

4. Consumables

Food

A dog’s stomach is very sensitive. I highly encourage you to try to stay with whatever your dog has been eating until you can discuss what is best with your vet. Food can vary in quality and price. They all do different things. Plus, the size of your dog, age, and level of activity will play a role in the amount of food your dog will need. This is a good discussion for your first visit with your vet.

Food: $20 – $300/month

Treats

This includes cookies and dental chews. While cookies are good for training and reinforcing good behavior, dental chews are great for keeping your dog’s teeth clean and breath minty fresh. Additionally, if you have a chewer, then chewing treats would be a good choice.

However, I recommend steering clear of rawhides as they can cause choking hazards. I do recommend looking for quality treats, especially if you’re training your dog. Although, the best treats, I believe in most cases are natural treats. Henry thinks so as well. But I still budget for a few treats and if I don’t use what’s budgeted, then I’m ahead in my forecast.

Moreover, homemade dog treats will save you a ton of money. Additionally, they are healthier!

Treats: $8-30

5. Services

Dog walker/doggie daycare/pet sitter costs

Will you be away from your home a lot? Will you need a dog walker or perhaps doggie daycare? They are not the same. A dog walker will come to your home and take your dog out for a walk a few times a day, depending on what you’ve agreed upon. While daycare is separate from your home. Henry LOVES daycare!

Meanwhile, the average price for a pet sitter will vary depending on what you wish them to do during a visit, the length of the visit, or if you want them to stay overnight with your dog. Here are the prices for my area:

Doggie Daycare: $20-30 for half or all-day
Dog Walker: $25 for a one-time visit including a 15-minute walk
Pet sitter: $25 for a 30-minute visit or $75-85 per night
Dog boarding: $0-175 per week

a dog walker is part of a dog budget as this dog walker will atest

Grooming costs

Will you be adopting a dog that needs to be groomed regularly? You will need to carefully check out groomers and price them in your area. Will you be able to bathe your dog? Or will you want or need someone else to bathe him or her? This will vary in price depending on your dog’s size, coat, and the service you ask for (full grooming or basic bathing). Here the ballpark price for my area:

Dog Groomer: $50 every 7-8 weeks (full grooming and bathing for a thick-coated small dog)

Training costs

I also highly recommend training for all dogs, regardless of age. This is a great way to get to know your new family member while establishing boundaries with him. Besides, some commands, such as come, sit, stay, wait, down, and let go are simply essential for your dog’s well-being. However, prices for basic training vary widely, even within the same geographic locations. Although, you can surprisingly train your dog for free or for very little and on your own time. Check out this article for those options.

In my area, here is the cost for traditional basic dog/puppy training:

dog training is essential and this dog mom is glad she built the cost into her dog budget

Basic Dog/Puppy Training Classes: $0-2,000 /6 weeks course

You might be surprised to learn that you can train your dog for free as well. In this article, I walk you through how to do it.

6. Other supply costs

Most of these supplies you could list as budget dog supplies. Thus, it may not be essential for you to have these when you first get your dog. With this in mind, I haven’t included additional supplies under the “New Dog” template that you can download. However, you’ll find a supply cost in the monthly/yearly templates.

These supply costs include such items as pee pads, shampoo and conditioner, carpet stain and odor remover, marking spray, toothbrush, toothpaste (dental kit), and other items. However, pee pads are mostly for puppies and special needs dogs. However, they can come in handy during bad weather or post-surgery.

As such, I like to say it’s better to be prepared than left high and dry.

Pee pads: $21-60
Carpet stain/odor remover/ marking spray: $12-16
Shampoo & Conditioner: $8-14
Dental supplies: $18-35
Potty Bags: $0-35 (you can easily pick up a few free poo bags at a dog park to get started)

Toys

Some dogs will not like toys for whatever reason. Henry doesn’t like toys. But I still recommend dog toys. I still have toys for Henry to try to encourage him to play with them. They are good for keeping an overly stimulated dog entertained and his mind active. You’d much rather your new family member chew on a toy than your couch. Of course, the price of toys can vary widely. You can even make great DIY dog toys.

Toys: $5-40

dogs are always happy with their human parents remember to include dog toys in their dog budget

Plus…Accessories

These aren’t really essential items for your dog. As such I haven’t included them on your “New Dog” template for you to download. However, they are included in the monthly/yearly cost templates.

These accessories will include such items as sweaters, coats, booties, scarves, ties, and the like. Some people like dressing up their dogs for holidays. That will be up to you and your dog. If you like to hike in cold or hot weather, booties will come in handy for snow, rocks, and hot sidewalks. Here’s a breakdown of some basic accessory costs for your dog budget:

Sweater: $9-40
Coat: $10-70
Booties: $12-90
Bandanas: $7-35
Tie: $5-15

*If you buy accessories, you’ll probably buy a few every year. At least that’s been my observation.

Time to build your own dog budget

There are many things to include and think about when building your dog budget. The basic costs include the cost of the dog, equipment, food, treats, toys, accessories, dog walker, doggie daycare, grooming, training, and veterinarian.

Thus, with planning you can easily put money aside for a future dog, forecast, and track your current expenses with this free dog budget template. Perhaps even better, you can manipulate the templates for your needs and track them to make sure you are within your budget goals. And that makes for a great future with your dog!

Avoid Economic Downturns With These Tricks For Your Dog’s Budget