---
title: "Puppy First-Year Costs, Item by Item: ASPCA and PDSA Figures"
url: https://pawmultiverse.com/cost-of-a-puppy-first-year/
description: "The ASPCA puts a dog's first year at $3,221 (2021): spay or neuter $300, first vaccines $300, training $200, insurance $516 and more. PDSA's 2024 UK set-up cost is £415 to £560 plus £69 to £116 a month."
source: Paw Multiverse (https://pawmultiverse.com), free to cite with a link
---

# How Much Does a Puppy Cost in the First Year? Item by Item

Published by Paw Multiverse (A.I.T. Multiverse Consulting Ltd) · Last updated 7 November 2026

**Short answer.** The ASPCA's 2021 table puts a dog's first year at $3,221, then $1,391 a year. In the UK, PDSA's 2024 figures are £415 to £560 to get started, depending on size, plus £69 to £116 a month. Neither includes buying the puppy, or vet bills for illness or injury. [Not veterinary advice](https://pawmultiverse.com/disclaimer/).

## ASPCA (US), item by item

One-time costs in the ASPCA's 2021 update:

| Item | Dog |
| --- | --- |
| Spay or neuter | $300 |
| First vaccines and medical | $300 |
| Collar, lead, harness | $60 |
| Carrier | $50 |
| Crate | $60 |
| Training | $200 |
| Microchip | $20 |
| Grooming tools | $40 |
| **One-time total** | **$1,030** |

Yearly costs:

| Item | Dog, per year |
| --- | --- |
| Food | $300 |
| Routine vet care | $225 |
| Flea, tick and heartworm prevention | $185 |
| Toys | $37 |
| Treats | $60 |
| Health insurance | $516 |
| Licence | $15 |
| Grooming supplies | $28 |
| Kennel or boarding (one day) | $25 |
| **Yearly total** | **$1,391** |

The ASPCA's first-year total of $3,221 also includes professional grooming ($300) and dental care ($500). Source: [ASPCA, Cutting pet care costs (2021 update)](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/cutting-pet-care-costs).

## PDSA (UK)

| PDSA, 2024 prices | Small | Medium | Large |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Getting started | £415 | £531 | £560 |
| Every month | £69 | £83 | £116 |
| Lifetime, at least | £6,200 to £12,000 | £9,000 to £14,000 | £8,200 to £18,800 |

PDSA's start-up figure covers a bed, lead, collar and tag, bowls, toothbrush and toothpaste, a grooming brush, toys, a car restraint, first vaccinations, monthly wormers to six months, and neutering; it excludes microchipping. The monthly figure covers yearly health checks and boosters, flea and worm treatment, insurance, food, toys, poo bags and toothpaste. Source: [PDSA, The cost of owning a dog (2024 prices)](https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/the-cost-of-owning-a-dog).

## What these figures leave out

PDSA leaves out the purchase price, vet fees for illness or injury, special diets, day care and boarding, grooming and training classes. Both are minimums. Sources: [PDSA, The cost of owning a dog (2024 prices)](https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/the-cost-of-owning-a-dog); [ASPCA, Cutting pet care costs (2021 update)](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/cutting-pet-care-costs). For costs by breed and by country: [pet cost calculator](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-cost-calculator/) and [dog cost per year by country](https://pawmultiverse.com/dog-cost-per-year-by-country/).

## Sources

- [ASPCA, Cutting pet care costs (2021 update)](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/cutting-pet-care-costs), read 7 November 2026.
- [PDSA, The cost of owning a dog (2024 prices)](https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/looking-after-your-pet/puppies-dogs/the-cost-of-owning-a-dog), read 7 November 2026.

Sources last checked 7 November 2026. Spotted something out of date? [Tell us](https://pawmultiverse.com/contact/).

## Related pages

[New puppy checklist](https://pawmultiverse.com/new-puppy-checklist/), [the first 30 days](https://pawmultiverse.com/new-puppy-first-30-days/), [annual cost of owning a dog](https://pawmultiverse.com/annual-cost-of-owning-a-dog/) and [pet insurance guide](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-insurance-guide/).

**Feeding a new puppy?** Meals a day by age and average calories by weight, from PetMD: [how much to feed a puppy](https://pawmultiverse.com/how-much-to-feed-a-puppy/).

**Choosing a breed?** Size, lifespan, health problems and costs for 34 breeds: [dog and cat breed guides](https://pawmultiverse.com/dog-and-cat-breeds/).

**What does pet insurance cost?** Average premiums from NAPHIA and UK claims from the ABI: [how much does pet insurance cost?](https://pawmultiverse.com/how-much-does-pet-insurance-cost/)

**Spaying or neutering?** Published prices, the usual age and where to get help with the cost: [spay and neuter costs](https://pawmultiverse.com/cost-to-spay-or-neuter-a-dog-or-cat/)

**Already a vet history?** How insurers treat pre-existing conditions: [pre-existing conditions explained](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-insurance-pre-existing-conditions/)

**New puppy?** The signs of parvovirus and when the vaccine is given: [parvovirus in dogs](https://pawmultiverse.com/parvovirus-in-dogs/)

**Is your pet's food on a recall list?** Check the barcode on the bag against five official registers in the US, UK, Canada and France. [Check your bag](https://pawmultiverse.com/check-your-bag/) · [Recalls this week](https://pawmultiverse.com/pet-food-recalls/this-week/)