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Owning a dog doesn’t have to break the bank.

With some planning and a little effort, you can keep your pet happy and healthy without adding financial strain. We’ve outlined the main financially draining categories with tips to keep your dog ownership costs low. 

(tl/dr – Dogs are expensive. Make a dog food budget. Be transparent with your vet. Groom your dog at home. Homemade toys. Sexier than a Squirrel.)

1. Dog Food
Buy food in bulk to get discounts. Look for coupons and sales! Yes, sign up for the rewards program wherever you buy dog food.

To all you foodies out there, don’t come at me yet! Yes, it’s a commonly known fact that dog food bought in bulk typically isn’t the healthiest choice for your pup. HOWEVER, for those of you who have been splurging and need to get back on track for YOUR budget, this might be a good temporary plan for you. 

Our recommendation is to do your research. Ask your vet for the best budget-friendly dog food option for your dog at his current stage of life. Decide how much you can spend per month on a bag (or bags) of dog food, then find one that fits the budget AND meets the nutritional needs of your bestie. 

Keep in mind that any daily medicine or food additives your dog needs (like Salmon oil or Greenies) should be included in the “dog food” budget. 

2. Vet Bills
Avoid expensive vet visits by keeping your dog healthy through preventative care like regular exercise and dental cleanings.

Ugh… it seems like each vet visit ends up taking at least $100 from our bank account. Our quick solution? Set up a savings fund for these unexpected trips. If you set aside just $20 each month, you’ll have $240 at the end of the year, which could go a long way if you have a random appointment come up. 

That might not seem like a lot, but if you conduct a general Google search, you’ll learn that the average basic routine vet check-up costs between $50-$250 (on average). So those 20 bucks pays for your annual visit! 

Okay, so don’t read that previous paragraph and think “cool, I can get a dog and it’ll only cost me $20 a month to keep it healthy.” If you do, we suggest you get a pet rock. 

When it comes to vet visits and bills, it’s best to be transparent with your veterinarian. Not joking here! Your vet will appreciate your candor if you go in and say “I have budgeted this much money per month for vet care. How can we spread out our vaccines and check-ups throughout the year to make this feasible?” They know vet care is not cheap. But they are more likely to work with you if you’re upfront. 

If your dog is active, or if you travel with them a lot, or if you’re competing in dog sport competitions, we recommend looking into pet insurance. That’s a conversation for another day, though. 

3. Grooming
Groom your dog at home instead of taking them to a professional groomer. 

Some of you are reading this thinking “but I just bought a Goldendoodle and I dunno how to groom her.” Sucks to suck? 

KIDDING

It’s completely free to look up a YouTube video to find easy at-home solutions for this. And if you’re adamant about going to a groomer, set aside an amount per month you’re willing to spend and find a groomer you like in that budget! 

Again – transparency is key. The reasonable groomers out there will explain the entire grooming service and break it down for you. Some even offer a custom grooming plan. Is the blow dry not in this month’s budget? That’s fine! Ask if you can leave out the blow dry and save some money. 

For reference, a Google search tells us each grooming session could range from just $20 to over $100 depending on the size dog and the type of service. So, let’s say it again – ask for a custom grooming plan that fits your budget! 

There are a ton of grooming tools you can purchase online to help you do more at-home grooming care. One of our favorites is the Onisall Dog Grooming Vacuum. A few minutes a day, and dog hair is under control. 

4. Toys 
Entertain your dog with homemade toys and activities instead of buying expensive ones.

Let us be upfront – our favorite dog toys include the KONG, the Toppl, Chuckit Frisbee, and a plain ole tennis ball. The KONG and Toppl allow us to stuff it with yummy treats from our fridge and pantry (peanut butter, bananas, blueberries, plain yogurt, etc.) and freeze it overnight. The result: occupied dogs while we work! The frisbee and balls are just outside toys in our home, which are great for exercise! 

Before stuffing your KONG with treats and food, consult your vet for the best healthy treats for your dog that you might already have on your shopping list. 

Another easy (and basically free) toy most dogs enjoy is a sock with an empty water bottle inside. Yes, it’s loud. And yes, we do not recommend leaving it with your dog unattended. But trust us – you’ll enjoy watching your dog fetch, tug, or simply barking at the weird homemade toy. 

Have an old stuffed animal? Give it to your dog! (again, do not leave the stuffed toy with your dog unattended) Most dogs love holding the soft stuffed toys in their mouths and sometimes taking the stuffing out of it. (RIP stuffed bear)

Have an old shirt? Tie it into knots and play tug of war with your dog!

As long as you’re supervising your dog with the toys and you know their habits, most of us have some sort of homemade toy in our house to make them happy. 

5. Training

Here’s the money drainer most dog owners do not think about – training. 

Who here has a dog that turned out to be more energetic than they expected? Or have a dog that shows signs of aggression? Or how bout a dog that is perfect with its family, then bounces off the wall when it meets other people? 

Me. It’s me. I was those people.

If you get a dog, you’ll have to put in *some* amount of training. That amount varies with breed, size, age, habits, and really what you want out of your dog. 

Your first step is to decide what type of training your dog needs (or will need). Do you want to train it yourself? Great! Youtube is full of different trainers. Do you want to join a training class? Great! Ask around for reputable trainers (ask your vet, ask your neighbors, ask your dentist, ask around) Do not settle for the first name you find on Google. Do your research. 

Is your dog well behaved and you want to get into dog sports? Great! Find your local AKC club and visit an event or join a class. 

If you’re not sure where to start, try this: Sexier than a Squirrel Dog Training Challenge. The program is multiple video lessons of game-based training that shows how YOU are the most interesting thing to your dog (aka, you’re more interesting than the squirrel over there). It’s great for reactive dogs, puppies, and even older dogs that need some mental or physical stimulation. 

Okay, that was a lot of information. If you read the whole thing, then you’re my favorite! If you want more tips on how to make a budget for your dog, keep exploring this site and follow us on Instagram at @practicalpetowner.