5 Hidden Costs of Owning a Dog

Everyone knows the basic costs of owning a dog such as food, toys and normal vet bills. But there are other costs that may not be apparent right away that you need to consider before you bring a furry friend home. Below are 5 examples of those hidden expenses to make sure you go into owning a pet with your eyes open.

Emergency Health Bills

You can expect that at least a few times in the life span of your dog there will be a health emergency, and it’s important to prepare for this. Especially as dogs age, they may experience new ailments that require emergency or even ongoing medication, specialty dietary needs that can be expensive, or even surgery.

One health essential that often gets overlooked is dental health. Dogs need to have their teeth brushed too, and dental surgery may be required to keep those teeth and gums in tip top shape.

Training

Dogs don’t start out perfectly obedient. If you’re bringing home a puppy, it will need to be trained. Professional help in the form of trainers or even dog obedience classes can curb jumping tendencies, nipping, inappropriate barking and territory marking. These types of training may be ongoing as new issues pop up.

Dog Walkers/Boarding

Working long hours and being away from home for longer periods of time is a way of life for some people, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t bring a dog into your life. What it does mean, however, is that arrangements must be made in your absence. For day-to-day working hours, it’s best to hire dog walkers, and for longer vacations look into boarding options. Both of these can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars a year, so definitely make room in the budget for it.

Cost of Your Time

Perhaps the biggest cost associated to your pet isn’t monetary, but rather your time. We don’t like to think about it in those terms, but it’s important to factor in the time and emotional costs of owning a dog. Before bringing them home, make sure your lifestyle allows enough space for your new family member. Is your job flexible enough to allow you to take a day off with no notice for vet emergencies? Are you ready to miss out on social events if your dog needs you at home? Do you have the time and energy to walk your dog a few times a day? Do you have the time and patience to train an unruly puppy? These are important questions to ask before making the long term commitment of pet ownership.

Even though dogs can cause a dent in your finances, the rewards of having them in your family can far outweigh the expense with love, fun and companionship.

There are ways to lessen the expenses of your pet. Visit shows like the Canadian Pet Expo to learn about new products and services, as well as interesting tips and tricks to make pet ownership fit into your life.

Canadian Pet Expo – Promoting Responsible Pet Ownership.