How much does a dog cost per month? Honest numbers for 2026
A dog is the best investment you'll ever make — but it is a real investment. These are the actual costs per month and per year, without sugar-coating.
In this article
One-off costs: the first year is the most expensive
Before your dog has eaten a single kibble, you've already spent money. Purchase prices vary hugely: a pedigree pup from a good breeder easily costs €900 to €2,500, while a shelter dog usually involves a few hundred euros in adoption fees.
| Cost item | Indication |
|---|---|
| Purchase (breeder) or adoption (shelter) | €300 – €2,500 |
| Crate, bed, leashes, food and water bowls | €150 – €400 |
| Puppy vaccinations and first vet visits | €100 – €250 |
| Neutering or spaying (optional) | €150 – €450 |
| Puppy course | €100 – €200 |
Indicative amounts; prices differ per region, vet and breeder.
Since November 2021 the Netherlands also has a mandatory identification and registration scheme for dogs (I&R hond): every pup is chipped and registered. A pup from a Dutch breeder is already chipped — you make sure the registration is transferred to your name.
The fixed monthly costs
Recurring costs depend mostly on your dog's size: a big dog eats more, and medication and flea treatments are dosed by weight. The Dutch pet information centre LICG estimates — depending on size — hundreds to over a thousand euros per year in care costs, excluding daycare or walking services.
| Cost item | Small dog | Medium dog | Large dog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food | €20 – €40 | €35 – €60 | €50 – €90 |
| Pet health insurance | €10 – €25 | €15 – €35 | €20 – €45 |
| Vet reserve (annual shots, dental, unexpected) | €15 – €25 | €20 – €30 | €25 – €40 |
| Deworming, flea treatment | €5 – €10 | €8 – €15 | €10 – €20 |
| Toys, chews, poop bags | €10 – €20 | €10 – €25 | €15 – €30 |
| Total (excluding care services) | ±€60 – €120 | ±€90 – €165 | ±€120 – €225 |
Average estimates based on LICG guideline amounts and current Dutch prices. Grooming costs (for long-haired breeds) come on top.
The costs almost everyone forgets: care and walking
The biggest surprise for new owners isn't the food — it's the calendar. If you work at the office, your dog needs exercise and company during the day. And every holiday is a care question. These are realistic items to budget for in advance:
| Service | Rate | Example per month |
|---|---|---|
| Single group walk | €16 per walk | — |
| Walk plan (1–5× per week) | €55 – €265 per month | 2× per week = €105 |
| Private walk (30 min) | from €22 | — |
| Daycare | €24 per day (from €21 with a 10-day pass) | 1 fixed day a week ≈ €96 |
| Boarding (holidays) | €28 per night | 2-week holiday = €392 |
Our own rates, everything included (pick-up & drop-off within Wassenaar, photo updates). Rates vary by region and provider.
If you work three days at the office and take two weeks of holiday a year, care easily adds €100 to €250 per month. Not the same every month — but an item to budget for honestly before getting a dog.
All current rates for walks, daycare and boarding are on our pricing page.
See all prices →Saving smart without short-changing your dog
- Choose a plan instead of one-off services: a single group walk costs €16, while a plan brings that down to €11.55 per walk.
- Buy food in bulk and watch for offers — but don't keep switching brands; that's hard on digestion.
- Learn to clip nails and maintain the coat yourself; grooming visits become maintenance instead of repair.
- Prevention is the cheapest care: healthy weight, good teeth, an annual check-up. Obesity is one of the most expensive (and most avoidable) health problems in dogs.
- Compare pet insurance annually — coverage and premiums differ a lot, and switching is usually possible each year.
Frequently asked questions about the cost of a dog
On average around €100 to €250 per month, depending on your dog's size and how much care you need. A small dog without care services can cost around €60–€120 per month; a large dog with weekly daycare heads towards €250 or more.
The first year is the most expensive: on top of the monthly costs you pay the purchase price (€300–€2,500), supplies (€150–€400), vaccinations and possibly a puppy course. Expect €1,000 to €3,500 in total in year one, depending on the breed and your choices.
It depends on your buffer. A single operation easily costs €1,500–€3,000. If you can't absorb that, insurance (±€10–€45 per month) buys peace of mind. If you have solid savings, putting a fixed amount aside monthly is a fine alternative.
In Wassenaar a single group walk with us costs €16; with a plan you pay €55 to €265 per month (from 1× to 5× a week), which works out from €11.55 per walk. Pick-up & drop-off and photo updates are included. Rates differ per region and provider.
Boarding with us costs €28 per night, everything included — so €392 for a two-week holiday. A second dog from the same family gets 20% off, and stays of 7 nights or longer 10% off. Nationally, kennels and home-boarding hosts usually charge somewhere between €20 and €40 per night.
Sources
For this article we used, among others:
- LICG — guideline amounts for the cost of a dog
- Government of the Netherlands — mandatory identification and registration for dogs
- Our own rates and hands-on experience as a walking and care service in Wassenaar
Read next
Want to know what care costs for your dog?
All our prices are simply online — no hidden fees, no weekend surcharges. And the meet & greet is always free.
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