The reasons to own a dog are many, from “the neighbors look so happy with their dogs” to “Dogs just love us “ to “we need a companion” and the most convincing of all, “Mommy can we have a dog pleaseeeee!!!”. The reasons could be many and the outcome just one, bringing home a dog.
Seldom do people consider the costs involved with getting a dog home. The emotional and physical investments aside the cost involved will leave you surprised.
Here is a Sneak peak into how much will it take to care for your furry friends
Buying a Dog
Once you have decided to get a dog home, either you will adopt one or buy one. While adopting is the best thing you can do for those souls who are looking for a loving home. If you decide to Buy one then you will want to go for a Purebred dog from a breeder. If you just blindly buy a puppy from any breeder, remember that you may end up getting into trouble later, starting from the registration and papers to the health of the puppy. The cost associated with buying a puppy can be quite substantial based on the breeds and can range from Rs 6000.00 to Rs 500000.00 ( yes you read it right, try buying a purebred Tibetan Mastiff Puppy or an English Mastiff). A few other pricey breeds are Maltese dogs, Afghan Hounds, Akita Inu, Alaskan Malamute etc.
Many of us decide not to shell out so much money and rather go to a breeder around the corner, beware you will end up spending much more later.
We support and promote adoption, this not only gives you an opportunity to bring home a lovely pet which is in need of a loving home but also gives helps a much wider cause. Even while doing this ensure you don’t adopt them from questionable sources.
The Essential Supplies
While we will spend a lot of things throughout the life of the dogs, we are talking about the essentials which we need to equip ourselves with there when getting them home. A few things are,
- Crates
This is an important investment, dogs love enclosed spaces, at-least most of them and this is also an important investment for their training. A decent crate will cost anywhere between Rs 3000 to 12000. You will/may require to replace the create once or twice based not the growth of the dog.
- Bowl
Feeding bowls are not a luxury, they are very essential and will need to be picked up with care. If its too large dogs might not be able to eat properly and too small they all spill the food all over resulting in extra work. This will also need to be replaced multiple times based on the growth and the condition of wear and tear. Spare around Rs 1000–2500 a year for the bowls.
- Leash
A very important investment is the leash, its an essential ingredient in the training of the Dog. A leash will always have to be replaced in quick frequency to avoid discomfort and also ensure dogs don’t break free while walking them. You will need to keep around Rs 2000 for a good set of a leash(s) a year
- Treats
Dogs love treats and they have a specific purpose. Treats are very important to train dogs on obedience and also provide them with reinforcements for good behavior. You will have to stock ample treats to get them to be obedient always. Treats can cost you anywhere between Rs 5000- Rs 6000 per year at the minimum. Some dogs are very specific when it comes to certain treats and in some cases treats also recommended by the Vet in which case the cost might increase a bit
- Food
This is one very important aspect which if done right can help you reduce expenses related to the dog’s health. People who normally think they save on this by feeding the dogs low-quality food or ones that the owners themselves eat will end up paying more for their medical expenses. Good quality homemade food or readymade food will end up costing you around Rs 4000- Rs 5000 Per month. Food requirements will vary based on the breed and also the size and growth stage of the dogs and based on therapeutic diets prescribed by the Vet.
- Toys
Ignore toys at your own peril. Toys form an important part of the dogs exercise regime. A few dogs are expert at chewing and if you don’t give them a toy they will focus on things like your carpets, furniture etc. Typically toys for a year will cost anywhere between Rs 2000- 3000 a year but most dog owners cannot resist the sight of a cute toy and will spend more than a year
- Bed
Unless you want them to slide by you on your bed you will need to buy them one of their own. This also ensures there are no accidents on your mattress and bed sheets. The odor of dog urine can be very hard to remove from a mattress and the cost involved to dry clean or vacuum clean your sheets will anytime be more than buying them their own bed. Typical cost can range between Rs 7000- Rs 12000. The cost might vary based on the size of the dog and the breed
- Cleaning
You will also need to have specific cleaners while having your furry friends home. Some dogs like retrievers and Labradors shed a lot so a vacuum cleaner is a must, on top you will need liquid cleaners that will need to be used time and again to clean up the floor and also other agents to remove smell and odor. The amount ranges from Rs 3000- 5000 per year excluding heavy machinery like vacuum cleaners etc.
Grooming
Grooming sit a luxury, it’s just like our parlor visit. Most owners think if they give their dogs regular bathe and brush them they wouldn’t need to groom them. Grooming is very essential to keep them healthy and their coat smooth and clean. Average costs for a good professional grooming can range between Rs 5000–15000 per year. The costs might vary based on the number of visits and the type of grooming you are looking at
Training
Most owners ignore this and then face a lot of problems. Trust us when we say, youtube videos are no substitute for professional training. Many times improper or no training can result in highly disobedient and temperamental dogs which will then become a burden and most pet owners then decide to abandon their pets for no fault of theirs. This is a one-time investment and can bear fruits immediately. The cost of hiring a good trainer can range between Rs 2000–5000 which would include all that you ever want your dog to get trained on
Veterinary Care
One of the biggest expenses you will ever incur during the stay of your furry friends is the Veterinary expenses. Finding a good Vet is as important as finding a good family doctor. Starting from the initial vaccinations to neutering to regular check-ups, a vet ensures that your furry friends are blessed with health and energy to keep you entertained. The costs are divided across
- Regular checkups — Costs between Rs 7000–10000
- Medical emergencies — Costs can vary based on the emergencies and fall anywhere between Rs10000–50000 and upwards
- Supplements and Preventive medicines — Costs between Rs 5000–8000
Pet sitting, Daycare and walking
Dogs need a lot of attention and will need to be around people. It’s not that you will get that kind of time to spend with them and then there is travel for work, vacations, and soccer games for your children. You will need to Walk the dogs every day and board them in case of travel etc. Its good to have the expenses booked under one bucket for this. The costs may fall between Rs 10000–15000 and upwards based not he frequency
Miscellaneous
While we have covered almost all of the expenses here but its good to have a contingency fund in case you need to spend something extra . Let’s keep Rs 5000 under this header
Now let’s look at the overall cost. We will take both the low and the high range to give you an approximate idea.
So on an average, owning and caring for your furry friends might cost you a low of Rs 1,21,000.00 a year to a high of Rs 2,62,000.00 which translates to a monthly low of around 10,000.00 to a monthly high of around 22,000.00.W hile some of these costs may look exaggerated, trust us it’s not. These costs have been arrived after talking extensively with pet owners, Pet Shops and Vets alike. Taking care of pets is definitely expensive but a very rewarding experience.
Originally published at www.pawedy.com on October 30, 2018.
