How much does a dog cost over their lifetime?
Dogs can be surprisingly expensive and there may be some costs that you haven’t thought of.
You should expect a dog to cost youat least £5,200 but, depending on the breed of the dog, their cost could be a minimum of£15,700over their whole lifetime:
- Small dog breeds: At least£5,200- £10,000
- Medium dog breeds: At least£7,500- £11,800
- Large dog breeds: At least£6,900-£15,700
This estimated lifetime cost is theminimumneeded to care for a dog. It will vary according to their size, breed, and how long they live. If you want or need to spend more on their ongoing care, your dog could cost you much more over their lifetime.
This estimated cost doesn’t include the cost of any vet fees if your dog becomes ill, although we have included the cost of pet insurance. If your dog has an accident or develops a health problem, the cost of caring for them could increase dramatically. It’s important to be prepared for this, which is whywe recommend taking out pet insurance.
Sadly, purebred dogs can be at higher risk of certain health problems, which could add to your costs.
