It’s no secret that the cost of living goes up each year. In 2025, the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) rose by 2.4%. But have you thought about how much this affects the costs of raising your dog? This year, dog parents can expect costs to rise as much as 18%.
According to a Rover survey of 1,000 pet parents, 45% of Canadian dog parents are concerned about the rising cost of pet care over their pet’s lifetime. At Rover, we’ve observed this cost rise as we refresh our data each year, researching prices across the nation and interviewing experts.
From the moment you bring them home, your dog’s lifetime care can range from $17,343 for a small breed to $53,935 for a large breed. The costs vary significantly based on breed, size, and ongoing health conditions, with smaller dogs more likely to be less expensive over time.
Looking for medium breed representation? The lifetime costs of a medium-sized dog range between $33,250 and $35,639.
If these costs feel overwhelming, remember that the average healthy dog has a lifespan from 10 to 13 years. As a new or second-time dog parent, understanding what costs you can anticipate will help you stay on budget.
Below, we’ve broken down the costs of dog parenthood into four categories: upfront costs when you first bring your dog or puppy home, annual essentials, and surprise costs that many forget to budget for.
Cost of Adopting or Buying a Dog
When it comes to choosing a pet, the cost of care is a lower priority for most people than a dog’s size and breed. However, a dog’s size and breed play a major role in the initial costs. Cost of supplies, from dog food and toys to flea medicine and crates, will depend on how big or small your dog is. For example, a dog’s weight can determine whether you pay $60 or $300 for food.
The cost of bringing a dog home in 2025 is 17% higher than the costs in 2024. In 2025, the upfront costs of bringing your dog home ranges from $1,750 to $4,655. The categories where costs have increased in Canada include grooming supplies (180%), food and treats (29%), and cleaning supplies (166%).
The good news? Having a budget helps — 53% of dog parents say their actual upfront costs matched their budget, while 18% reported costs being less than budgeted.
Up-front costs of bringing your dog home:
| Item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption fee | $135 | $735 |
| Breeder costs | $1,550 | $3,750 |
| Spay/neuter | $770 | $990 |
| Microchip + ID | $15 | $90 |
| Initial vet exam | $115 | $150 |
| Vaccinations | $155 | $655 |
| Preventatives | $15 | $295 |
| Essential supplies | $260 | $865 |
| Grooming supplies | $165 | $315 |
| Food and treats | $60 | $300 |
| Cleaning supplies | $40 | $135 |
| Pet license | $10 | $50 |
| Toys | $5 | $50 |
First up, adoption vs. breeder fees
Generally, the cost of dog adoption increases as your criteria becomes more specific. A puppy or popular breed will cost more than a senior or mixed breed. Fortunately, the adoption fee often includes many of the up-front costs, such as the spay/neuter surgery, a microchip, and the first round of vaccines. Adopting a dog from a shelter is the most budget-friendly way to welcome a dog home.
On the other hand, breeder prices range from $1,550 to $3,750, depending on the breed and sex of the dog. Getting a dog from a breeder may also mean spending up to $1,800 more to cover a puppy’s vaccines and spay/neuter surgery.
Vet visits, surgeries, and vaccinations
The cost of vet visits and vaccinations varies based on the age of your dog. For example, puppies require regular vet visits and vaccinations until they are six months old — and they are more likely to get into trouble in their first year. An adult dog will only need annual check-ups as part of a preventive care routine.
Veterinary service costs have risen, with office visits, preventatives, and vaccinations increasing by up to 50%.
If you need to pay for your dog’s spay or neuter surgery out of pocket, you may find yourself delaying their surgery until their second or third year. For larger breed dogs, a vet may recommend waiting until they are fully developed, around two years old. If you do wait, expect higher spay/neuter costs due to your dog’s increased weight.
Cost of new dog supplies: essential, grooming, and cleaning
You should expect to spend more on essential puppy supplies than on essential adult dog supplies — unless you are bringing home a second dog. In that case, many of these supplies are likely already in your home.
How much you spend on your dog’s essential supplies will depend on whether you are buying generic or premium brands. We researched Canadian pet stores, from Pet Valu to Mondou, to determine the average cost of essential dog supplies:
- Toys: $5 to $40
- Treats: $10 to $30
- Food and water bowls: $5 to $25
- Leash: $35 to $65
- Collar/harness: $35 to $160
- Crate(s): $135 to $560
- Dog bed(s): $50 to $70
- Poop bags: $5 to $15
- Pee pads: $35 to $85
- Stain and odor removal: $15 to $45
- Pet hair vacuum: $285 to $755
- Brushes: $10 to $70
- Shampoo and conditioner: $15 to $35
- Pet hair dryer: $115
We didn’t factor in the possibility of buying these items twice, but it is important to consider how destructive a puppy can be. A teething puppy, for example, will go through toys and chews at a rapid pace. A large-breed puppy may outgrow multiple harnesses in the first year.
When it comes to getting premium items like fancy beds or aesthetic dog crates, we recommend waiting until your puppy has learned to settle down in a more budget-friendly crate.
How Much Does a Dog Cost Per Year?
Thankfully, the initial expenses don’t always reflect the ongoing annual costs for a dog. If your puppy has become an adult dog, you may see a 31% decrease in your yearly spending. This reduction is due to fewer essentials purchases, such as crates, beds, and harnesses, as well as fewer vet visits.
In 2025, the average annual cost of a dog ranges from $1,418 to $4,485. Your dog’s age can also impact this cost. Based on our estimates for supplies, vet visits, and food, we found that dog parents typically spend:
- $1,575 to $5,390 per year for a puppy
- $1,260 to $3,565 per year for an adult dog
- $2,110 to $5,570 per year for a senior dog
Factors like your dog’s size, breed, and medical needs make a big difference in what you’ll spend. In fact, breed size plays a large role in the cost of dog care. Smaller breed adult dogs can cost up to 200% less per year than large- or giant-breed adult dogs.
Note: The above costs for a senior dog do not include end-of-life care. However, we did factor two annual vet visits, one round of blood work, and medications.
Annual Cost of Dog By Age
| Items | Puppy | Adult | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food | $635 to $3,345 | $575 to $2,520 | $640 to $2,590 |
| Treats and chews | $100 to $250 | $100 to $250 | $0 to $50 |
| Gear and supplies | $515 to $815 | $20 to $65 | $110 to $155 |
| Vet visits | $115 to $600 | $75 to $100 | $75 to $195 |
| Preventatives | $185 to $295 | $185 to $295 | $185 to $295 |
| Training sessions | $115 to $210 | $55 to $100 | $0 to $45 |
| Dental hygiene | $170 to $305 | $445 to $885 | $695 to $1,560 |
| Pet insurance | $540 to $2,220 | $600 to $2,340 | $1,740 to $5,100 |
| Toys | $5 to $40 | $10 to $40 | $0 to $40 |
Costs that increase as a dog ages
- Health checkup: While puppies need more frequent vet visits in their first year, the average adult dog typically requires only one wellness checkup per year. However, as your dog enters their senior years, they’ll need to visit the vet twice a year for preventive care and bloodwork.
- Grooming: Grooming sessions are often charged by the hour. The larger or more anxious your dog is, the more time a groomer will need for bathing and brushing.
- Dental cleaning: Dental cleaning fees increase with your dog’s size due to the higher cost of anesthesia and the additional time required to clean their teeth.
- Senior dog care: Senior dogs require extra supplies, such as mobility aids and joint supplements. Life-extending medications may also become part of your budget during your dog’s golden years.
Costs that decrease or stay the same
- Food: Surprisingly, food costs tend to decrease as your dog ages, largely because adult food costs less than puppy food, and senior dogs require less food than adult dogs.
- Treats: As your dog responds more to praise and routine, treats—while still helpful in training—become more of a nice-to-have than a necessity.
- Toys: Dogs typically play with fewer toys as they become less active adults. Toys shift from an annual cost to an optional add-on.
- Flea and tick preventatives: Flea and tick prevention costs are dependent on your dog’s weight and should remain relatively stable throughout their lifetime.
- Poop bags: Your dog’s size, along with your personal preferences regarding factors such as scent, eco-friendliness, or quality, also affect the cost of poop bags. You may go through these bags a little faster as your dog ages and starts to poop multiple times during a walk.
- Training: As your dog matures and settles into their personality, training becomes more of an as-needed activity.
- Gear: In the first year of dog ownership, you may spend up to $815 on harnesses, carriers, or leashes. This cost can drop to as low as $20 to $65 per year once your dog is an adult.
What Is the Monthly Breakdown of Dog Expenses?
It may be easier to break down your budget into monthly expenses so you know how much to set aside. Our survey found that 41% of dog parents report spending $50 to $99 per month per pet while 30% spend up to $149 per month.
On average, dog parents with a medium-sized breed can expect to spend between $120 and $375 per month on their dog’s care. This includes everything from food and vet visits to grooming and unexpected expenses.
We defined these categories based on spending needs:
- Diet & health (approx. $43 to $135): This category includes everything related to wellness, from food, treats, and chews to monthly preventatives.
- Medical (approx. $40 to $125): Vet visits, medications, and dental care fall under this category.
- Gear (approx. $6 to $20): Poop bags, toys, leashes, and lick mats make up this category.
- Grooming (approx. $12 to $60 annually): Grooming costs are often spread throughout the year, including pet wipes, nail trims, or self-service dog bathing.
- Pet care (approx. $145 to $460 annually): Training, dog walking, and dog boarding are often one-time or quarterly costs rather than monthly.
- Surprise costs (approx. $216 to $690 annually): Emergency vet services and unplanned supply purchases, such as dog trackers, fall into this category.
While surprise costs such as emergency vet visits or dog care services may not occur every month, they can add up quickly. These unexpected expenses can make a significant dent in your dog’s annual costs, so it’s important to budget for them in advance.
Monthly Cost of Popular Dog Breeds
While every dog is unique, some breeds tend to cost their pet parents more or less on average than others. We’ve taken a look at the top ten most popular dog breeds and their average monthly costs.
At the top are the Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever. These lovable family dog breeds cost most pet parents $150 or more per month.
Next up is the $100-$149 monthly category, which includes two highly popular breeds: the German Shepherd and French Bulldog.
Then we have Chihuahuas, Cockapoos, Goldendoodles, Shih Tzus, Yorkshire Terriers, and mixed breeds in the final category. Dog parents of these breeds reported spending $50-$99 per month.
What Additional Expenses Should You Budget For?
From emergency visits to dog boarding, the average cost for additional dogs ranges from $590 to $2,060. Depending on your lifestyle or the age of your dog, you can expect to pay for these services once, once a year, or once every few years.
| Low | High | |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency vet bills | $200 | $1,250 |
| Diagnostic testing | $75 | $150 |
| Dog care services | $250 | $415 |
| End of life care | $690 | $1,460 |
| Misc | $110 | $350 |
A stubborn puppy who refuses to be potty trained or chews on baseboards may cause you to lose your security deposit ($1,600 to $2,300). If an older dog eats a sock or gets into a jar of cinnamon powder, they may need to go to the emergency room. Understanding these costs can help you calculate how much to set aside each month in preparation for a rainy day.
Emergency vet visits and diagnostic testing
Emergency vet visits are often unexpected. The typical visit starts at $200 and can go up to $1,250, depending on whether your dog needs additional testing or overnight care. If the cause of your dog’s condition is unknown, your vet may recommend diagnostic testing.
Diagnostic testing can help identify chronic dog illnesses and diseases like cancer, parasite infections, Addison’s disease, and more.
Dog care services: boarding, walking, and day care
Dog enrichment costs vary based on your dog’s needs and your location. For example, a puppy may need more frequent walks to maintain their potty training schedule. For services like dog walking, doggy day care, and dog training, you can expect to pay $165 to $415 per year. In higher-cost-of-living cities, a dog parent might spend more than $830 per year.
If you have a reactive or anxious dog, you may spend $975 more on training or boarding to help your dog stay safe. While at-home training is possible, first-time dog parents of sensitive dogs will benefit from professional help. Fortunately for these high-need dogs, virtual dog training is just as effective and often cheaper than in-person training.
Grooming costs for severe matting
If you have a breed with a coat that requires regular maintenance, like a Havanese or large Poodle, put aside $160 to $1,100 per year for one to four professional grooming sessions. Many dog owners try to save on grooming, but cases like severe matting, rolling in a sticky substance, or getting anal gland expression, are when a professional groomer will be needed (or appreciated).
On average, a high-maintenance dog needs to be professionally groomed every 8 to 12 weeks.
End of life care for dogs
It’s difficult to think about saying goodbye to our beloved dogs, but it’s important to budget for it. A common sentiment around end-of-life care for dogs is, “Better to be one day early than too late.” Financial planning can help so that costs do not become a reason to choose a different service during an emotional time.
Typical costs for end-of-life care can range from $690 to $1,460, depending on your dog’s circumstances and your preferences. In-home euthanasia and private cremation, which many pet parents prefer, can cost up to 500% more than less private options.
Which Provinces Are the Most & Least Expensive?
Interestingly, in Canada, the cost of raising a dog did not always mirror the cost of living in each province. To average the cost of goods by province, we also used the consumer price index of goods and services from Statistics Canada to measure the cost of supplies and services.
The most expensive province to raise a dog is Alberta ($3,790 per year) while the least expensive province is New Brunswick ($3,155 per year).
While we expected British Columbia to rise to the top for cost of dog care, Alberta and Ontario edged out due to higher veterinary care costs. However, dog adoption costs were higher in British Columbia and Quebec, with Alberta coming in 6th for the cost of dog adoption.
Additional Resources
Socializing Your Rescue Dog
Bringing a new dog home can be like introducing a kid to a new park. You’ll need to teach them how to play nice, aka be polite to your family and other pets. Read our guide to socializing your rescue dog.
How to Bond with Your Dog
A little love can go a long way to nurturing a calm, confident dog. Make your home your dog’s new safe space by building positive associations when you bring them home. Here are tips and tricks to foster a stronger bond with your new pup.
Five Basics for New Puppy Parents
Patience is a virtue when it comes to puppy parenting. Besides getting all your doggy gear ready, you’ll also want to put together a training plan. Read up on our top tips for new puppy parents.
*Methodology: A Rover survey of 1,000 pet parents conducted in February 2025, via Pollfish.
**Rover determined the most expensive and affordable provinces based on the cost of office visits, emergency visits, adoption fees, and licensing fees. Cost of pet care services, such as boarding and training were based on Rover services. Costs of supplies and preventatives were calculated using the national average and applying a cost of living multiplier calculated by Statistics Canada.
Interested in learning more about services Rover provides?
Dog Boarding | Pet Sitting | Dog Walking | Doggy Day Care | House Sitting | Dog Training
