SEATTLE – March 18, 2019 – Rover.com®, the world’s largest network of 5-star pet sitters and dog walkers, today released The Cost of Getting a Puppy, in honor of National Puppy Day (March 23, 2019). The report found that new pet parents invest huge amounts of both time and money into puppy ownership, including veterinarian visits, puppy-proofing their homes and taking time off from work.
To give new puppy parents the scoop on bonding with their puppy, providing great dog care, and raising a happy, healthy pet, Rover developed Puppy HQ in tandem with the report. Puppy HQ provides expert insights on puppy care and development, training tips, puppy guides, product recommendations, and even puppy name lists.
The Cost of Getting a Puppy report includes responses from dog owners across the U.S. who have experienced the realities of bringing a new puppy home. The research revealed that the time investment of a new puppy should not be overlooked:
- Nearly 70 percent of pet parents admitted to spending more than half of their day caring for their puppy in the first few weeks.
- A third of dog owners said their new puppy went out for five or more bathroom breaks a day.
- With the special attention required of a new puppy, one in five dog owners took time off work to help their puppy adjust, while 16 percent didn’t but wish they had.
“Welcoming a new puppy to your family is an exciting life event for new pet parents and our insights shed light on some of the most important and potentially unexpected information that soon-to-be puppy parents need to know,” said Halle Hutchison, vice president of marketing for Rover. “Whether preparing to puppy proof the house, taking time off of work or budgeting the appropriate amount of time for early puppy care, there’s a ton of considerations for new pet parents when expanding their families.”
Understanding puppies’ needs and how to address them early on can help owners plan and create a rewarding life together. Many pet parents revealed their puppies chewed on clothes or shoes (58%), munched on furniture (38%), ate human food (37%), and got into the trash (35%). Early training, socialization and other formative learning experiences can prevent destruction like this, and can take place before a puppy is even four months old, according to professional dog trainer and member of Rover’s Dog People Panel, Nicole Ellis.
“Puppies are like sponges – they spend their days soaking up information by interacting with the world around them – and are eager to learn, even at a young age,” says Nicole Ellis. “While accidents and hiccups will happen with new puppies, with the proper socialization and training pet parents can work to foster a strong relationship with their puppy that’s built on unconditional love and trust.”
Additional insights from the Cost of Getting a Puppy Report include:
- A quarter of pet parents say they spent more than 50 hours caring for their puppy in just the first month.
- In the first year, 18 percent of pet parents used a dog walker or doggy daycare for their puppy.
- The top ways pet parents puppy-proof their homes include: securing the trash, moving items out of reach, gating areas of the home, using a crate or pen while away, bundling cords and wires.
An infographic further delving into the costs associated with getting a puppy can be found on Puppy HQ at: www.rover.com/blog/new-puppy-cost.
About the Report
For The Cost of Getting a Puppy, Rover.com conducted a survey via SurveyMonkey in February 2019 among 1,601 U.S. adult dog owners who experienced puppyhood with their dog.
About Rover
Founded in 2011 and based in Seattle, Rover.com® is the world’s largest and most trusted network of five-star pet sitters and dog walkers. Rover connects dog owners with pet care whenever they need it. Millions of services have been booked on Rover, including pet sitting, dog walking, in-home dog boarding, and doggy daycare.
As The Dog People™, Rover makes it easier for people to have dog love in their lives through the Rover Guarantee, 24/7 support, vet consultations, and GPS walk tracking. And by sharing expertise on TheDogPeople.com-one of the world’s top dog blogs-Rover provides tips and articles that delight, inform, and enhance the bond between people and their pets. To learn more about Rover, please visit https://www.rover.com.