How Much Does the Average Puppy Cost Within the First Year?

Puppies can cost a pretty penny.
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Pets are expensive even if they're healthy and don't require vet care. During your puppy's first year, the expenses are higher because of the vaccinations needed and the cost of setting up your home for the new arrival. That's on top of what you'll be spending to get the puppy in the first place. According to the ASPCA, you can expect to spend an average of $1,300 to $1,800 depending on the size of the puppy during his first year of life.

Getting Puppy Home

Your first expense is going to be getting the puppy. If you're adopting from a shelter, chances are you'll have to pay an adoption fee. The amount varies depending on where you're adopting from and even the city where you live -- and can range from $50 to a few hundred dollars. Puppies usually are more expensive to adopt, in part because shelters want to encourage people to adopt older dogs. If you buy a purebred dog from a breeder, your expenses will be much higher. For example, a Pembroke Welsh corgi puppy will set you back about $1,000 while the price of a Tibetan mastiff puppy ranges from $2,000 to $8,000. Also consider that sometimes females are more expensive than males.

Vaccinations

Although all dogs need annual vaccinations, puppies need additional vaccines. All puppies need to be vaccinated against distemper and parvovirus at 9 weeks and then at 12 weeks old. They need a third round of the same vaccines sometime between 16 and 20 weeks old. Each round of vaccines can cost up to $100, depending on where you live. In addition, puppies need to be vaccinated against rabies once they turn 24 weeks old.

Other Essential Care

If you adopt your puppy from a shelter, he probably will be spayed or neutered. That could save you a ton of money, as spaying fees can run into the hundreds of dollars. For example, a large dog can cost up to $220 in spaying fees, according to the ASPCA. You also need to account for other expenses, such as deworming and microchipping your pup.

Other Costs

On top of the medical expenses, a new puppy also requires other things. For example, you'll have to buy collars and leashes, toys, food, pee pads if you're trying to housebreak the puppy, bowls and even a carrier or crate. If your pup is going to attend training classes, that's an additional expense -- the ASPCA estimates you'll spend an average of $110 in those training classes. Some cities also have licensing fees for dogs, which can be anywhere from $10 to $50 or more.