How it cost me $10,000 in 10 weeks to raise a puppy in NYC, and why it's the best money I ever spent
Meet Lady
After months of searching, submitting adoption applications, and doing tons of research on every possible dog available, I decided on a Rhodesian Ridgeback. I grew up with a dog of this breed — who passed away in December 2018 — and I love their floppy ears, playful energy, and sleek, powerful build.
I ended up purchasing the most adorable 8-week old pup, Lady, from the same breeder who sold my family my childhood dog.
Week 0 Total: $95 (Food, $49; Dog tag, $26; Crate, $20)
The week before Lady came home, I spent $49 on a Chewy order that included food, treats, a collar, and pee pads. I also purchased her a dog tag from Etsy and a used crate on Facebook Marketplace for around $20 each.
My parents still had many items from our old dog which they gave to me, including blankets, toys, a leash, and a few different collars. This helped with upfront costs, as I estimate these items would have totaled at least $100 if I'd purchased them new.
Week 1 Total: $2,302 (Dog, $2,000; License, $9; Toys and treats, $23; Vet for first checkup, $171; Walker, $100)
The biggest expense of the first week was Lady herself.
I spent over a year looking for dogs to adopt from shelters — which typically cost around $400 in fees — but ultimately realized my heart was set on getting another Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy which are very rarely found in shelters.
Shortly after my childhood dog passed away, her breeder was having another litter and marked one of her puppies for me. It was sentimental that my old dog and new puppy would be related!
Eight weeks after the litter was born, I drove to the breeder's Kentucky farm, handed over a check for $2,000, and returned home to Brooklyn with my new baby, Lady.
Week 2 Total: $380 (Classes, $217; Food, $63; Walker, $100)
The first week with a puppy was rough. Lady had crazy energy and, because she wasn't fully vaccinated, couldn't play at the park or be around other adult dogs.
I quickly enrolled her in classes at Petco, where she could be socialized with other puppies and learn to behave. The cost was $216 for 12 weeks which was extremely affordable compared to the $50-per-hour classes in my Williamsburg neighborhood.
Week 3 Total: $349 (Merchandise, $30; Vet for first vaccinations, $219; Walker, $100)
I took Lady for her second appointment at the vet. For $219, she received a physical exam, vaccinations, heartworm pills, and treatment for a parasitic worm commonly found in puppies.
I did have pet insurance through the American Kennel Club but realized from the fine print of the policy that it did not cover exam fees, preventative treatment, or medication for the worm — which was the entirety of her care.
Week 4 Total: $315 (Merchandise, $10; Vet for follow-up after worm, $199; Walker, $106)
In week four, it hit me just how much I was paying for my dog walker. I work in a coworking space that has a dog-friendly policy, and I had planned on being able to bring Lady to work with me every day.
It turned out that my building was dog-friendly, but my boss was not. I did extensive research to find affordable dog walkers through reputable companies so that Lady could be let out during the day, but the lowest rate anywhere was $20 per walk. I chose to go with Swifto, an awesome app that assigns the same walker to your dog each day.
Lady loves her daily walks, but I was cringing at the thought of paying $5,000 a year for this ongoing service.
Week 5 Total: $435 (Food, $55; Health insurance, $87; Merchandise and treats, $33; Vet for second vaccinations, $159; Walker, $100)
Lady is a growing girl! Her food costs around $55 a month, which is shipped directly to my apartment so I can avoid lugging a 40-pound bag down the street.
Her treats were also surprisingly expensive. As an incredibly picky puppy, she exclusively loved Orijen Tundra Freeze-dried Dog Treats, which cost $20 for a small pack and smell strongly of mackerel (ugh).
Luckily, she's since expanded her appetite to include some less expensive treats, and her food overall is a predictable and steady cost.
Week 6 Total: $4,708 (Animal Hospital, $4,628; Walker, $80)
Anyone with a dog will tell you their horror story of a puppy emergency that cost them hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
I heard about swallowed tennis balls and month-long bouts of leptospirosis (read: extreme vomiting and diarrhea) but I was confident that by puppy-proofing my apartment, liberal use of the crate, and careful attention to Lady at all times, I could avoid any surprise incidents.
Boy, was I wrong!
Just six weeks in, I had to take Lady to the animal hospital, as she was vomiting every few hours. After a very expensive ultrasound, the doctors found a pair of my underwear (gross!) in her small intestine that was deemed impassable and required surgery. The pet insurance I had barely made a dent in Lady's $5,000 emergency room visit, operation, and recovery costs.
Week 7 Total: $362 (Health insurance, $145; Vet for final vaccinations, $217)
Lady recovered from her operation in Connecticut with my parents, who had the flexibility to care for her around the clock.
Although I was sad to be without Lady for a bit, it didn't hurt that I was saving $100 a week by canceling the dog-walker services. I was ashamed that I'd let Lady get hurt and become yet another dog owner with a costly accident, and was still gawking at the bill.
I decided to increase her pet insurance so that it would cover all wellness visits as well as a greater percentage of any future emergencies. Unfortunately, this skyrocketed the premium to $112 a month, nearly what I pay for my own health insurance. The week ended with Lady returning to Brooklyn for a $217 visit to the vet, where she received her final vaccinations — it was finally time to bring her to the dog park!
Week 8 Total: $497 (Food, $52; Merchandise, $16; Vet for abscess on neck $319; Walker, $110)
At 16 weeks old, Lady had far outgrown the crate she started out in. Large crates can be found for around $100, but luckily my parents still had one from our old dog which they gave to me.
My roommate's dog kindly lets Lady play with his old toys, so I've hardly spent anything on those. I do buy her bones and bully sticks (yes, it's a dried bull penis) especially since she is teething and loves to chew at this stage of her puppyhood.
I had imagined toys, bedding, and crates would be some of the most significant expenses before getting a puppy, but these were surprisingly a tiny fraction of Lady's overall costs.
Week 9 Total: $1,226 (Animal Hospital, $975; Vet, $146; Walker, $105)
I woke up one morning to Lady throwing up her food from the night before. Given how much I pay for insurance coverage, I played it safe and brought her to the emergency room. I thought whatever it was, the doctors should catch it as early as possible.
Fortunately, after testing for an obstruction and running some other tests, they did not find anything wrong with her and Lady went home with me a few hours later.
Unfortunately, I paid nearly $1,000 for the emergency room fee, ultrasound test, and supportive treatment. To my horror, my American Kennel Club plan declined to reimburse me a single cent, claiming that it was for a "recurring incident" that is only covered once per period.
Week 10 Total: $212 (Health insurance, $112; Merchandise, $14; Walker, $86)
I've heard from more than a few dog owners that the puppy years are by far the most stressful and most expensive, and three months in, I definitely agree.
Luckily, I'm a more confident dog mom each day, and settling into a regular routine with fewer surprises. Lady's monthly expenses include $60 for food and treats, $450 for dog-walking services, and $20 for miscellaneous items like doggie bags, toys, and bones.
This spending diary also doesn't capture the hours of uncompensated assistance, training, and guidance I've received from my parents, boyfriend, friends, roommate, and all the dog parents I meet around the neighborhood who graciously share advice and support.
Sure, having a puppy can come with lots of unexpected and brutal costs, but it's in exchange for infinite, unconditional love.
Total costs
Jessica Frisco is a healthcare quality improvement specialist, community activist, and dog mom living in Brooklyn.
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