The relationship between humans and animals is mutually beneficial and dynamic and positively affects both humans and animals. Whilst many of us intuitively understand the advantages of positive interactions in our lives, emerging research recognizes the effect of the human-animal connection on individual and community health. As evidence becomes increasingly clear of the benefits that animals can contribute to the promotion and handling of a number of conditions, the emotional and social benefits of animal-human relations are growing.

Dog as a pet

The joy of a loyal companion when coming back home is just on e perk of pet ownership. Animals can do more than keep their love for your companionship unconditional. Animals can also reduce stress, improve cardiovascular health and aid children with emotional and social skills. Dogs are considered the most loyal animals on earth.

On a fresh, spring morning nothing beats a long walk with a companion. Or o see the joy on their faces if you take a ball and they know that it’s time to play in the local park! It feels even better to relax at home. The old saying that animals and dogs reward their love 10 times is true. It is important to think carefully about it before you rush out and get a dog. It can be a tough task, a lifelong effort, as your dog relies on you for many years.

Cost of Owning a Dog

The cost of bringing an animal to your home goes far beyond the first fees, which can range from nothing to hundreds of dollars. The average cost for a medium dog for the first year is the breakdown listed below.

Your pet’s initial acquisition, first vaccination, and spay/neuter are the only one-time costs. The rest of the costs are ongoing and should be included in your budget. The bigger the dog, the more costly it is for food and accessories. The average dog lives to be about 15 years old.

One – time animal fee

Spaying or neutering a dog costs around $200 and for a cat it costs around $145 but can depend greatly on the veterinary or shelter service that you use.

An introductory Medical Exam of a dog costs around $70 and for a cat, it costs almost $130.

A collar and leash can cost up to $30 for a dog and $10 for a cat.

Total one-time fee costs can ring up $300 for a dog and $285 Dollars for a cat.

Annual medication and spraying

If you spay or neuter your dog, you not only make sure that he or she lives a longer and better life, but you also are doing your part to keep the stray population reduced. To protect your dog against lethal diseases, your dog must be vaccinated. The first set of vaccinations generally involves a set of vaccines and then an annual booster done after a month. Initial vaccinations and boosters cost approximately $400.

Veterinarians often recommend a full medical checkup to at least once or twice a year to help eliminate medical problems and allow you to deal with any problems during your dog’s upbringing. But the cost for puppies may increase. Talk to your veterinarian how often you need to have exams to ensure that you have the right appointment schedule. An annual checkup can be in the area of $235 for a dog and $130 for a cat.

Annual pet expenses

Food: Food costs can vary drastically depending on how you feed your pet. For an average medium sized dog, it costs around $120 and for a cat it costs around $145.

Litter: $200

Toys and Treat:  Dogs are powerful creatures that have to be active to stay happy and excited about the environment where they live. Most dogs enjoy having toys around, some like to destroy toys, others like to just carry them around. Depending on the type of toys you buy and their quality, it can cost you around $55

License: Almost all cities require you to license your dog, but the fee is usually around $15 (can be more if your pet is not spayed or neutered).

Pet Health Insurance: The cheapest type of dog insurance is time-limited dog insurance. This is a basic policy to provide financial support for veterinary bills if your dog requires short-term treatment of diseases. It’s important to note, the costs normally cover only 12 months, and this insurance type does not pay if your dog has a life long medical condition. The dog insurance usually costs around $175.

Miscellaneous: During the year, additional costs can be incurred, including supplies, injuries, and illnesses. To help create a nest egg, you should can try to set aside a small amount each month to ensure that you are covered financially. According to this report, the total cost of owning a dog during one first year is $1,300 and for a cat is $1,405.


As you can see, a pet can cost you more than $1000 in the first year and more than $500 every year after. The costs could be considerably higher depending on the food you buy and unexpected medical costs. Other things to take into consideration are paying for a  pet seat or service if you travel with your pet or if you rent an apartment, expect to pay a pet deposit and/or a cleaning charge.

It can seem a bit frightening to know how much a dog costs to keep, but that shouldn’t stop you bringing a puppy into your life. It’s worth investing, because you know your love and refuge are lovely, but also the loyal and affectionate relationship between the man and his better friend is an amazing reward.

About the Author: My name is Chris, I’m 33 and write about dogs and cats when I’m not playing with my two furry employees of the month, Loki and Volly. As a dog lover, agility trainer, and social media specialist, there is always enough work to do and never a boring day around! After having literally written hundreds of articles, there is still no short supply of knowledge to be gained and I’m surprised with unusual requests every now and then.