How much does a puppy cost in the first year? The detailed budget
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
A puppy’s first-year budget sits between 1,200 and 2,800 €, excluding the purchase price of the animal: expect 150 to 400 € of starter equipment, 300 to 800 € of food, 400 to 700 € of veterinary costs (vaccines, neutering, parasite control) and the rest in training, pet care and contingencies. Here is the line-by-line breakdown, to be completed with our dog accessories section.
Contents · 5 sections
What does a puppy’s first-year budget contain, line by line?
- Starter equipment: 150 to 400 € (transport, bedding, bowls, leash, harness, toys, hygiene).
- Growth food: 300 to 800 € depending on size and range.
- Vet: primary vaccination and boosters 120 to 200 €, identification 45 to 70 € (often included at purchase), neutering 150 to 450 €, parasite control 100 to 200 €.
- Training: puppy school or group classes, 100 to 300 €.
- Contingencies and replacements: 100 to 300 € (destroyed items, outgrown sizes).
Where can you save without taking risks?
Transitional equipment is the first goldmine: temporary bedding, a simple adjustable harness and basic toys are enough during growth, as detailed in our guide to first-puppy equipment mistakes. The second-hand market also lets you cut some purchases by half or two-thirds: transport crates, playpens and gates resell very well, see our analysis of second-hand equipment. On the other hand, never economise on growth food, on vaccines, or on car safety.
Does size really change the budget?
Yes, massively. A small-breed puppy (5 kg as an adult) eats for 25 to 35 € per month and is cheap to equip; a large-breed puppy (35 kg as an adult) approaches 60 to 80 € of monthly kibble, accessories 30 to 50 % more expensive and doubled parasite-treatment doses. Over the first year, the gap between a small and a large dog easily reaches 800 to 1,000 €.
Should you take out pet health insurance in the first year?
It is the best time: premiums are low for a young animal with no medical history (12 to 40 € per month depending on cover) and youthful accidents (swallowed foreign bodies, fractures) quickly cost 800 to 2,000 €. Compare waiting periods and annual caps, and ask your vet about the breed’s foreseeable needs.
Frequently asked questions
What monthly budget once the first year is over?
Between 60 and 150 € per month for a healthy adult dog: food, parasite control, possible insurance and equipment renewal.
Can you welcome a puppy on a small budget?
Yes, around 1,200 € for the first year, by buying smart and second-hand, provided you never cut corners on the vet and on food.
Is the puppy’s purchase price included?
No: add 200 to 400 € from a shelter, 800 to 2,000 € from a breeder depending on the breed. All our guides are on the dog hub.
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This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Dogs universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
