Understanding the cost OF GETTING A PUPPY

The idea of getting a new puppy can be extremely appealing – especially right now when a lot of us are spending more time at home and are looking for that additional company. But the fact is, that dogs can be costly, from the initial outlay for the puppy and all the essential bits and pieces, to ongoing health and wellbeing necessities.

For the team at Animal Friends insurance, supporting and helping responsible pet owners give their animals the best care possible is at the heart of everything they do – and that includes offering free expert advice and tips, as well as affordable, quality pet insurance that can reduce some of the costs around pet care for accidents and illnesses. Depending on the size and breed of your dog, it is said your pet could cost anything between £4,500 and £13,000 over its lifetime (on average), according to the PDSA. And that’s the lower end of the scale – if you choose to splash out, or if you need to pay a dog walker or attend training classes (which is recommended to help instil good habits and socialise your puppy), it could be nearer £30,000! Let’s break it down a bit more.

INITIAL COSTS

When you first get a puppy, your first cos st may be for the puppy itself. If you buy it from a breeder, it can cost hundreds (if no o thousands) of pounds, depending on the breed and pedigree. Even if you choose t adopt, there can be an adoption fee as p of getting your new dog, which goes bac into supporting the charity with their wor Then you’ll need the essentials: a bed, foo and water bowls, a lead, collar, harness, identity tags and some toys.

Other costs to consider, particularly in your pup’s first year, are theirvaccinations, , worming treatments (which should be administered monthly until your puppy is six s months old), flea treatments, and when the time comes, if you feel the option is right for you and your pet, neutering. The law also states that all dogs need to be microchipped by the time they reach eight weeks old, which you might need to pay for if it’s not been done by the time you collect your dog.

ONGOING COSTS

We’ve looked at different products and services and going by some of the latest figures supplied by PDSA, we estimate that this initial bundle of essentials could cost you anywhere between £370 and £425 depending on the size and breed of the dog and the brands you buy. It’s also important to think about the monthly ongoing costs – food, parasite treatments, poo bags, toothcare products and other regular items like annual vaccination boosters, vet checkups and pet insurance – which all in, could cost an estimated £80 EVERY MONTH!

So, in the first year of your puppy’s life alone, you could be looking at a spend of up to £1,385 if you have a large breed of dog. And with the life expectancy of some dogs stretching to over 13 years, according to an RSPCA study, that can add up over the dog’s life.

UNEXPECTED COSTS

Those figures also don’t include any additional dog treats, grooming, bedding or potential accidents, injuries or illnesses that might require extensive veterinary care. But that’s where pet insurance (like Animal Friends) comes in. Based on stats from Animal Friends between January 2020 and January 2021, an average cost of insurance for puppies between the ages of four weeks and 12 months was £17.52 a month. And according to Associated British Insurers 2019, the average pet insurance claim for pets of all ages, amounts to around £793, suggesting pet insurance could help protect you from forking out on unexpected veterinary bills. All these costs aside, many people still feel that the benefits of owning a dog far exceed the financial outlay involved but the experience of welcoming a new canine companion into your home can still be daunting and knowing what to do and when might not be so clear.

For puppy owners who take out an Animal Friends policy, theywill have access to the free Pupstart programme. This programme is for dogs up to 12 months old and offers you everything from one-to-one online puppy clinics with qualified veterinary nurses, to a month of free flea and tick treatment to video consultations with a vet wheneveryou need 24/7.

You’ll also get free access to advice, recommendations and tips which will be delivered right to your inbox from Animal Friends or through your phone via the Joii app – and you’ll even get a free online introductory session on puppy first aid training and much more!

And that’s the lower end of the scale