{"id":43811,"date":"2020-08-04T08:51:44","date_gmt":"2020-08-04T12:51:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianbudgetbinder.com\/?p=43811"},"modified":"2024-12-27T08:01:21","modified_gmt":"2024-12-27T08:01:21","slug":"dog-expenses-you-need-to-explore-before-owning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitalskyweb.co\/canadianbudgetbinder.com\/2020\/08\/04\/dog-expenses-you-need-to-explore-before-owning\/","title":{"rendered":"Dog Expenses You Need To Explore Before Owning"},"content":{"rendered":"

How Much Does It Cost To Own A Dog In Canada?<\/h2>\n

So you want to become a dog owner? Let me take you on a tour of what it takes to own a dog and the dog expenses involved.<\/p>\n

One of the most important things you can do is research dog expenses<\/strong> to see if they fit into your monthly budget<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

There are other things you need to understand before becoming a pet owner such as dog care, availability, lifestyle, insurance, medical costs, and lots more.<\/p>\n

I want to explore everything I can to help you become an informed owner to limit dog expenses that you didn’t know about.<\/p>\n

Let’s go…<\/p>\n

Oh, and I’m adding in stories througout the post from CBB fans who wanted to share their experiences as owners including dog expenses.<\/p>\n

A Pet Budget Is Crucial As A Dog Owner As Is The Love It Deserves<\/h2>\n

Recently our son has asked us if he could have a dog or a cat in our house which we knew would eventually happen.<\/p>\n

Our little guy loves to play with the neighbour’s cat and he warms up to dogs only when we know the owners.<\/p>\n

Ever since he was a toddler his face would light up when he’d see a cat or dog and he’d sit and want to pet the animal.<\/p>\n

The only problem with owning a cat for us is that both Mrs. CBB and I are allergic to cats.<\/p>\n

Owning a dog can be very expensive! We have 4, 2 great Danes, a mastiff mix and a shitzu mix.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Our food bill is about $300\/mth. Spaying and neutering can be very costly ( our last spay was $250 for our 95 lb great Dane…prices have gone up since then) yearly shots are about $100 with vet visit. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You’ll want to learn to clip their nails as that’s about $15\/month. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You’ll want a quality dog food ( nothing you can buy at walmart or grocery stores) which can get expensive as well. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Also factor in the price of purchasing your dog as well. We have paid upwards of $800 for a dog. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

You will want to find a vet that is familiar with your breed of dog as well.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Factor in emergency visits as well. Our last emergency vet visit was just over $300! – (Nancy T. CBB Fan)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Is It The Right Time To Own A Dog?<\/h2>\n

Since I’ve owned a dog in the past it made more sense to see if our son would be interested in a dog.<\/p>\n

At this point, he is adamant that he wants a cat however that’s just not going to happen.<\/p>\n

Both Mrs. CBB and I aren’t sure if we are ready to take on the responsibility as dog owners just yet either.<\/p>\n

Owning a dog is not only costly but part of the family which means you have to prioritize them into your day.<\/p>\n

Since we aren’t sure how this would play out I thought it would be wise to tap into how much it would cost to own a dog in Canada.<\/p>\n

The importance of the costs based on our current monthly budget must fit otherwise it makes no sense to own a dog.<\/p>\n

I’ve always said that you should never adopt or purchase a dog if you can’t afford to take care of them from start to finish.<\/p>\n

They are not toys or animals that you just toss away when you no longer want the responsibility as a pet owner.<\/p>\n

Take your time and carefully weigh out the options as to whether you can afford to own a dog before taking on the responsibility.<\/p>\n

When I moved to Canada I brought my dog along with me which leads to many other costs I can talk about another time.<\/p>\n

Put it this way, it cost me more money to immigrate my dog to Canada then it did myself.<\/p>\n

Dog Size Matters<\/h2>\n

When considering purchasing or adopting a dog it’s important to understand that bigger dogs come with more costs.<\/p>\n

Our dog was about 55lbs and the costs to feed him every month was around $50 for a bag from the veterinarian.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the early years, we used to buy grocery store dog food however if you can spring for the good stuff from the vet, do so.<\/p>\n

Just as quality food matters to humans so do pet food for our animals and many dog food products contain fillers.<\/p>\n

If not find the best dog food that you can at the grocery store that meets your dog’s needs.<\/p>\n

Dog Food, Coupons and Cutting Costs<\/h2>\n

Back when we had our dog there were coupons galore for pet food and pet treats that we did take advantage of.<\/p>\n

Also, check online coupon apps such as Checkout51<\/strong><\/a> along with any cashback websites such as Rakuten<\/strong><\/a> if you order dog food online.<\/p>\n

If you have a PC Optimum card<\/strong><\/a> you may find the more pet food you buy the app will include it for bonus points.<\/p>\n

The reason for this is that the app tracks your grocery purchases so Loblaws tries to help you save by offering points on products they know you will purchase.<\/p>\n

There’s no shame in clipping coupons especially when it saves your monthly pet budget money.<\/p>\n

You may even find that your local veterinarian has coupons for dog food and other products from their suppliers.<\/p>\n

We have 2 dogs, brothers from different fathers so they look completely different and have different needs. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One is a jack Russel\/chihuahua dad and the other is a golden retriever so you can just imagine!
\nCost wise it’s vet bills, food bills, grooming bills. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We are able to eliminate costs for boarding because family will trade off pets when we go away. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve bought a dog trimmer so I’m saving money there – he didn’t look so good the first few times I shaved him. However since I have him shaved down anyway why not do it myself. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve paid for the trimmer already since it’s about $80 to have the store do it. <\/span><\/span><\/span>I trim their nails myself so saving there.
\nWhere we find it expensive is at the vet if something goes wrong or they get sick – regular upkeep of their shots and check ups should be ok.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I don’t agree with pet insurance – just put some away in a separate account each month, then if it’s needed it’s there.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Here is Phil I’ll attach a separate pic of Angus so you can see the difference in brothers!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Phil-and-Angus-Teresa-Dogs\"<\/p>\n

This is Angus the dog!<\/p>\n

\"Angus-the-dog\"<\/p>\n

How Much Does A Dog Cost?<\/h2>\n

\"Costs-of-owning-a-dog-in-Ontario-2-OVMA-1\"<\/p>\n

Sometimes a dog needs a new home and owners offer the dog for free whether it is a puppy or full-grown dog.<\/p>\n

Be aware that a free dog may come with many illnesses that you are not aware of and a potential money pit.<\/p>\n

Any time you consider taking on a free dog always get the dog checked by your local veterinarian beforehand.<\/p>\n

If the owner says they have paperwork that the dog is clear it doesn’t hurt to make a phone call to make sure the info is legitimate.<\/p>\n

Whether you decided to adopt a dog from a shelter or a breeder the costs of buying the dog depend on a few factors.<\/p>\n