Estimate annual and lifetime expenses.
The average annual cost of owning a dog ranges from $1,500-3,500+ depending on size and location. Major expenses: food (20-30% of total), veterinary care including preventives (25-35%), grooming (10-15%), supplies/toys (5-10%), insurance (15-20%), and miscellaneous (boarding, training, treats). First-year costs are higher: adoption/purchase fee, spay/neuter ($200-500), initial vaccines ($100-200), microchip ($50), and supplies setup ($300-500). Emergency vet visits average $1,000-5,000. Pet insurance ($30-60/month) helps manage unexpected costs. Giant breeds cost more in every category. Over a 12-year lifespan, a medium dog costs approximately $20,000-30,000.