pc28����

Times have changed.

It wasn’t until 2023 when Gabor bought Rambo, also a Samoyed, that she realized just how oversaturated — and expensive — the pet marketplace had become.

“ I’m just looking in my yard and there’s a lick mat on the grass,” says Gabor. “Lick mats weren’t a thing 14 years ago when I brought Zeena home.”

Then came the sticker shock. Prices for necessities and non-essentials, from dog food to pet insurance to grooming, have surged in recent years.

A report last month from online pet care marketplace Rover found the cost of bringing home Spot in Canada is now 17 per cent higher than it was last year.

According to Rover, Canadian dog parents can expect to pay between $1,750 and $4,655 in upfront costs that cover expenses like an adoption fee, breeder costs, pet license and veterinary fees, and all the essentials that come with pet ownership from crates, beds and specialized foods to toys, leashes and poop bags.

Expenses to expect and where to save

Rover says food and treats are the largest monthly expense for more than 70 per cent of dog owners.

Gabor says a bag of food for Zeena and Rambo that used to cost around $80-90 just a few years ago now sets her back around $125.

Dr. Rebecca Greenstein, Rover’s Canadian veterinary adviser, says many vets will recommend a balanced, nutritious and palatable food for your dog.

“What a lot of owners are looking for are exotic ingredients, premium ingredients — that’s not necessarily what’s best for your pet.”

These types of boutique diets, she points out, are also much more expensive.

“The move to a dry pet food can save pet parents thousands of dollars a year,” says Greenstein.

While some canned food is medically necessary, Greenstein says it is not as nutritionally dense as dry food. It also spoils faster.

For the dogs’ lick mats, Gabor stocks her fridge with pumpkin puree, pâté or Greek yogurt, ingredients that she knows will stay fresh over a long period of time.

Auditing your monthly pet budget can help you see where you can cut costs. 

Gabor said raising Zeena gave her a crash course in raising a dog — like being careful when entering a pet store.

“ You don’t need every toy, you don’t need every activity,” says Gabor. “Buy a few things, see what your dog likes, and go from there.”

“Honestly, there are 15 toys, balls, and different things in the yard,” says Gabor. “And the thing Rambo plays with most is the stainless steel bowl.”

Vet care, preventatives and vaccinations can also eat into your budget.

Gabor spends around $1,000 per dog each year on veterinary care, pointing out that vaccination costs have shot up in recent years.

Rover found that 37 per cent of pet parents set aside savings for unexpected expenses like emergency vet visits while 36 per cent use budgeting software to keep expenses down to a dull roar.

Gabor handles the annual checkups for Zeena and Rambo by splitting up their visits to avoid a giant vet bill all at once.

Experts generally recommend insuring your dog, especially as a first-time pet owner.

But costs can be prohibitive: According to Rover, pet insurance can range from , depending on the level of coverage and factors such as your dog’s breed and age.

While insuring their dog is a no-brainer for some owners, pc28����resident Rina Isufaj cancelled the policy on her 11-year-old Maltese, Daisy, several years ago.

“The cost of insuring Daisy is close to $200 a month on the bare bones policy … and it’s not covering any of the routine things,” says Isufaj. 

Instead, she sets aside the money she would’ve spent on premiums in an emergency fund she dips into for routine vet visits.

Grooming is another area where Isufaj has found a way to save — doing it yourself.

At around $100 a pop every three months, Isufaj says grooming expenses can add up.

To save money, she invested in a pair of grooming scissors to trim Daisy at home, opting to shell out for a professional every six months instead.

Always be on the lookout for deals and discounts

Where you can’t cut expenses, shop around for deals.

Gabor comparison shops at retailers like Costco and Pet Valu.

She also recommends shopping at local independent businesses, some of which offer free delivery on orders over a certain amount.

Greenstein says some retailers allow you to sign up for auto-renewal and shipping options on dog food, which can save you up to ten per cent on each order.

“ Ultimately, I think being proactive is the key here … you should have a solid idea of how much you can expect to pay,” says Greenstein. “The decision to bring a pet into your life has to be anchored with a deep sense of financial responsibility.”