Choosing a dog
What are the hidden costs of owning a dog?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
The costs that catch new owners out are usually not the big obvious ones like food, but recurring small items and services: dog walking or daycare when work gets busy, boarding when you travel, replacing chewed shoes or furniture, and dental cleaning under anesthesia later in life. None of these show up in a simple monthly food and vet estimate, yet together they can add hundreds of euros or pounds a year.
Services you did not plan to need
A long work day or an unexpected trip can mean paying for a dog walker (often 12 to 25 EUR or 10 to 22 GBP per visit) or a day at daycare (25 to 45 EUR or 22 to 40 GBP). Boarding while you are away can run 20 to 45 EUR (17 to 40 GBP) a night, and these costs are easy to forget when you are only picturing daily life at home.
Property damage and replacement items
Puppies and bored adult dogs chew, and replacing a pair of shoes, a table leg, or a rug is a real cost that rarely makes it into a first budget. Beds, leads, and toys also wear out faster than owners expect, particularly for strong chewers, and most households replace at least one item a year.
Later life dental and joint care
Dental cleaning under anesthesia becomes common from around age five or six onward and can cost 200 to 500 EUR (170 to 430 GBP) depending on how much work is needed. Joint supplements or prescription food for an aging dog also add a steady cost that a first year budget never accounts for.
Costs tied to bigger life changes
Moving house with a dog can bring its own costs, from pet friendly deposits to a longer term rental search in areas with breed or size restrictions. A dog that develops noticeable anxiety around a house move or a new baby sometimes needs a session or two with a qualified trainer, which is rarely budgeted for at the start but is money well spent compared with letting a problem grow.
Key takeaways
- Dog walking, daycare, and boarding are easy to underestimate before you actually need them.
- Chewed shoes, furniture, and worn out gear add real yearly cost.
- Dental cleaning under anesthesia is a common expense from around age five or six.
- A first year budget rarely captures these, so build in a buffer beyond the obvious basics.