Thinking of adding a furry friend to the family? According to the ASPCA, the first year of owning a dog can add up to as much as $1,843! Here’s a look at how I was able to cut the cost of my dog’s first year by over 60%!
1. Adopt from a shelter to save hundreds on microchipping and vaccinations.

When you adopt from a shelter, you’re not only saving money, you’re saving a life and giving back to the organization, helping other dogs in need. When I adopted my dog from a local shelter, I saved hundreds right away because I didn’t have to worry about spaying, microchipping, or vaccinating him—the shelter did it all free!
Microchipping a dog will cost you around $50, while the first round of vaccinations is about $70. The average charge of a neuter/spay procedure is $220. When you adopt from a shelter, those fees are already taken care of!
Total savings: $340
2. Get over $270 in coupons with a PetSmart Puppy Starter Kit.
Total savings: $270
3. Attend a vaccination clinic and keep your pet’s shots up to date without the vet exam fees.

Stores like Petco offer vaccination clinics at certain times each month. All I had to do was call my local store for information on dates and times.
The average annual recurring medical costs (vaccinations) for a large dog are around $260. Depending on what vaccination package you select from a Petco clinic, you’ll spend up to $81 for a basic package (healthy dog/puppy pack + rabies).
Total Savings: $180
4. Get your puppy’s nails trimmed for free at PetSmart.

Total savings: A complete meltdown and lots of tears from accidentally clipping too much off.
Related: How to Make Dry Dog Shampoo
5. Find better patterns and prices for beds at Ross, T.J.Maxx or Marshall’s.

This black Greek key dog bed pictured above (bottom right) is only $19.99 at T.J.Maxx. A bed with a similar pattern and size is $109.99 at PetSmart.
Total savings: $90
6. Don’t buy the bleached bones from pet stores—ask a butcher.

One Dentley’s Nature’s Chew stuffed bone (9.3 oz) is $10.99 at PetSmart. My local butcher sells bags of bones at $3.98 per pound. Treating your pup to two of the PetSmart bones per month sets you back $263.76 in a year. Buying a 1lb bag of bones per month from my butcher costs me only $47.76 annually.
Total savings: $216
7. Buy subscription services like BarkBox through Groupon.

A three-month subscription purchased directly from BarkBox.com is $72. Groupon.com sells BarkBox subscriptions at a discount of as much as 28% off. Stack those savings when a 20% off “goods” coupon rolls around, and purchase a six-month subscription for $44.80!
Total Savings: $27.20
8. Buy puppy leashes and collars at the dollar store.

A small nylon adjustable snap collar is $7.49 at Petco, and a simple nylon leash is $9.74. The same combo at the dollar store? Only $2.00!
Total savings: $15.23
The figures above are based on the average pet care costs of a large dog according to the ASPCA.

Related: Get Your Groupon On: 10 Tips to Ensure a Successful Groupon Purchase
