Part 2: Things Your dog Will Need

Food and Treats: It is important to feed your dog a high-quality dog food and healthy dog treats. Purchase a high quality dog food that is appropriate for the size and breed of your dog will cost on average between $40 - $80 per month ($480 - $1000 per year). The cost of food will vary based on the size and energy level of your dog as well as the quality of the food. Special foods like veterinary therapeutic diets, raw diet or freshly-made special-order food, could cost an additional $100 or more a month. Buying cheap, discount dog food may initially save you money however this type of food can also have negative consequences to your dog’s health, which can cost you more at the vet’s office over the long term.

Toys: Dog toys are a fun and important part of your dog's, development, mental stimulation and exercise. You can plan on spending $25 - $250 per year. If you love shopping for new dog toys this figure can become several hundred dollars higher. A destructive dog may rip and tear its way through toys faster, so you may want to invest in toys that are designed for "strong chewers".

Beds: Your dog deserves a cozy bed and blankets (other than yours) so keeping some of these around the house may cost you $50 - $300 a year. The price of a dog bed will go up in relation to size and quality of the bed. Try to buy a high-quality and easy-to-clean dog bed, this will extend the life of the bed and help to keep your costs down in the long run.

Leashes and Collars: Your dog must have at least one leash and one collar (with ID tags & license where required). Depending on the size and quality of the collar and lead you can expect to spend around $20 - $100 per year on leashes and collars. In some cases you dog’s leash and collar may last for several years. You will need a leash and a dog training collar for dog training classes, private dog training or K9 distraction training.

Grooming:Your dog's grooming needs should be based on the type of hair coat that it has. Smooth coated, short-haired dogs require little more than basic grooming where dogs with hair that continually grows will need a good grooming on a regular basis. Between the cost of home grooming tools and visits to your professional groomer, you can expect to spend between $40 - $600 a year.

Our next article will look at the specific costs of routine veterinary care and preventative medications and supplements, obedience classes or dog training and pet sitters and boarding.
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