Note: The above data reflects estimated care costs that we sourced from Petco and Tufts University. Keep in mind that actual pricing may vary depending on your location and your dog’s age and breed.
Puppy Supplies and Food
Puppy supplies and food make up about one-third of total first-year expenses, ranging from $587 to $2,135 — a wide range because puppy size and breed greatly impact supply costs. A small dog will need smaller-sized supplies, make smaller accidents and eat less than a larger dog. Products also range in quality and design, from basic to luxury, and your style choices determine how much each item will cost.
Your puppy’s personality and trainability will also impact costs. Dogs who like to chew will go through more toys than others and may destroy bedding or other items, and some puppies will have more accidents.
Average first-year puppy food and supply costs include:
- Food and treats: $200 to $900
- Food and water bowls: $12 to $80
- Collars, leashes and other safety supplies: $20 to $110
- Dog beds: $20 to $150
- Crate: $100 to $200
- Potty supplies (pee pads and poop bags): $50 to $200
- Cleaning supplies: $75 to $125
- Toys: $100 to $300
- Grooming supplies (e.g., brushes, shampoo and nail clippers): $10 to $70
Breeder and Adoption Fees
Your new dog will almost always come with a purchase price or adoption fee that ranges from $50 to $2,000. Purebred or “designer” breed mixes from a puppy breeder typically cost around $1,000 to $2,000. Since most puppies are around 8 weeks old when purchased, this range does not include initial veterinary costs, such as vaccines, deworming and spay or neuter surgery.
Adopting from a shelter is considerably less costly, coming in as low as $50. Puppy adoption fees are usually higher than an adult or senior dog, and include most vaccines and veterinary care received prior to adoption. Rescued dogs are typically spayed or neutered before adoption, which is included in the adoption fee or provided at a discount shortly afterward.
Puppy Vaccinations and Veterinary Visits
Puppies need more health care, including multiple vet visits, during their first six months. Puppies are vaccinated in a two- to four-dose series, given several weeks apart, and need a physical examination before each vaccine to ensure proper growth and development.
Each individual puppy will need various vaccinations, depending on their expected lifestyle. Your puppy’s vaccination schedule may include:
- Distemper, parvovirus and parainfluenza: Series of three- to four-doses
- Rabies: Single dose
- Leptospirosis: Series of two doses
- Bordetella: Single dose or series of two doses
- Bivalent influenza: Series of two doses
Each vaccine costs around $20 to $40, and each veterinary visit can cost between $50 and $75. Puppies also require deworming and monthly preventive medications for fleas, ticks and heartworms, which can range from $120 to $440, depending on the products chosen and the dog’s size.
Altogether, puppy veterinary visits, vaccinations and parasite control will cost $470 to $890 in the first year. Some veterinary hospitals may bundle these costs into a wellness plan that can be paid in monthly installments, which will usually save you money compared to purchasing each item individually. You can also opt for additional procedures such as microchipping, which will cost extra.
Spaying and Neutering
The cost to spay or neuter your furry friend depends on when and where the surgery is performed. On average, total spay or neuter costs can range from $200 to $700. The price of surgery at a private veterinary clinic for a dog purchased from a breeder will be at the high end of that range. If you adopt a dog, surgery will likely be provided by the shelter or rescue group and included in any adoption fees. If not there are insurance plans for neutering that you can consider purchasing.
Dog spays for females require cutting into the abdomen to remove the reproductive organs. Dog neuters performed on males involve only a small incision on the body’s outside, which means they are less invasive, faster and less expensive than spays.
While spaying and neutering are commonplace surgeries, they still require a highly skilled veterinary team. A basic spay or neuter procedure requires general anesthesia, IV fluids and post-operative pain control, and many people opt for pre-anesthetic blood work, which costs extra, to ensure their dog’s health.