Who would spend $10,000 to clean up poop? Or $10,000 to get bitten by a dog. How about spending that kind of money for something that won’t listen to what you say, does what it wants, digs up your yard? I don’t have a special $10,000 dog, I have an average dog just like you.

What does it cost to own a dog for their lifetime? Let’s take a look starting with a puppy. The first year is more expensive because you’ve got more vet bills, vaccines, and one time costs like bowls, crates, pen etc. so we can just add a number at the end for the first year. Average YEARLY costs for  your dog after the 1st year would be around:

• Vet bills  around $120. Could be more if your dog is prone to things like ear infections etc.
• Vaccinations – $70
• Heartworm, flea and tick prevention – $75
• Food will be $300
• Treats, bones, toys etc. $50
• Boarding $125 unless you have someone to watch them while you’re on vacation.
• Grooming costs $20 -  this depends on your dog breed, but they still need brushing, baths, shampoo, nail clippers etc.

These come out to be anywhere from $635 without any boarding to $760 if you take a vacation and board the dog.  So if we take the middle and you only take a vacation every other year that would be $700.  For 14 yrs you would spend $680/yr and that would come out to be …$9800…. Now add in the extra costs you have for the first year like:

• Spay or neutering -  $150
• A tie out, dog house, kennel or fence. This could vary widely from a $20 tie out to a kennel for $300 or a fenced in area.
• Crate – $50
• Collar and leash – $15
• bowls – $15
• cleaner -$30 you’ll probably have to buy a little extra stain cleaners the first year.

These add about $260. So there you have it…..$10,000…..These are of course averages and I think pretty conservative. I know we spend more on vet bills than $120. Some years you may not spend this much, some years more. I had a dog that lived to be 19 yrs old but you never know.

Do I Need Special Dog Training?

So if you spend that kind of money on your dog, it would be worth spending a little extra to have a dog that obeys you, that you can have a great relationship with. There are many great dog training courses out there. There are also some that aren’t that good. You are the best trainer for your dog, you are the one they will bond with and you are the one that will be there all the time. Find the best dog training course for you. One that covers the whole lifespan of your dog, from puppy obedience training to dealing with health problems dogs have as they get older. Check out our reviews of the best dog training courses we have tried out. Yes we read through these courses and used techniques from them with our own dogs.