What a puppy costs in its first year

Before bringing home a puppy, it helps to know what the first year will cost. Here is a realistic budget for a medium-sized dog, such as an indie or a beagle, in Kochi. Prices are from our store and from what our customers tell us they pay their vets.

Food is the largest regular cost. A growing puppy eats about 150 to 300 g of good dry puppy food a day, rising over the year. At current prices, budget ₹2,000 to ₹2,800 a month, or roughly ₹28,000 for the year. Treats and chews add about ₹4,000.

Vet costs come next. The course of puppy vaccinations, deworming and the first rabies shot usually costs ₹5,000 to ₹8,000 across the first year. Tick and flea prevention adds ₹3,500 to ₹6,000. Sterilisation, which most vets suggest around six to nine months, costs ₹6,000 to ₹12,000 depending on the clinic and the size of the dog.

Gear is mostly a one-time cost: bowls, a collar and leash, a harness, bedding, a crate if you use one, grooming brushes, nail clippers and a few toys. Expect ₹6,000 to ₹10,000, though you will replace a harness or two as the puppy grows. All together, a first year usually costs ₹55,000 to ₹70,000. After that it settles to around ₹40,000 a year. Set aside a further ₹10,000 for the unexpected, because sooner or later every dog eats something it should not.