What does it actually cost to look after a dog in the UK in 2025? Here’s a realistic, budget-friendly breakdown — and smart ways to keep your dog healthy without overspending.
I’ve paddled through a mountain of UK price lists, vet estimates and owner surveys, and let me tell you this: you can raise a wonderfully happy dog without emptying your wallet. You just need to know where the pennies ought to go, and where you’re simply being upsold by someone who has never met a muddy paw in their life.
So, snuffle in close. Here are the typical monthly dog costs, Pickles-style, straight from the nose.
Average Monthly Dog Costs in the UK (2025)
These are sensible ranges, not the doom-scroll numbers you see plastered across headlines.
Food: £25–£60 per month
Depends on size, appetite, and whether your dog is convinced they’re a living Hoover.
Pickles’ Aside: If it hits the floor, it’s mine. Budget accordingly.
Saving tip: High-meat supermarket brands and reputable mid-range kibble often score just as well as the fancy stuff in independent tests.
Insurance: £25–£60 per month
More if your pup is squishy-faced or getting on a bit.
If you skip insurance, stash a similar amount aside each month. Future-you will adore you for it.
Vet & Preventive Care: £10–£25 per month (averaged)
Think flea and worming, dental basics, booster savings.
Saving tip: Lots of UK vets run affordable monthly care plans that bundle the essentials.
Grooming: £0–£40 per month
Smooth coats are DIY bliss.
Poodle mixes will make you question why your dog gets a pricier haircut than you do.
My groomer gives me a bow. I didn’t ask for the bow…
Enrichment & Toys: £5–£20 per month
You don’t need to buy a toy every week. Cardboard boxes still slap.
Treats & Training Aids: £5–£15 per month
Reward-based training works perfectly well with normal treats. Dogs aren’t running a Michelin restaurant.
Miscellaneous: £5–£15 per month
Poo bags, occasional gear, and lost leads that mysteriously vanish into the void.
Total Typical Monthly Cost: £75–£195
Anything outside these numbers is usually thanks to:
- Vet emergencies
- Designer food
- Fancy grooming
- A dog with the energy output of a small nuclear reactor
How to Keep Dog Costs Sensible (Without Cutting Corners)
1. Choose the Right Food, Not the Most Expensive
Independent UK reviews consistently show mid-range foods scoring brilliantly. Quality ingredients beat shiny packaging every time.
2. Invest in Preventive Care
A booster or quick dental tidy now is far cheaper than emergency drama later.
3. Rotate Toys, Don’t Replace Them
Create a “toy cupboard” and swap items in and out each week.
Pickles’ Aside: Rotated toys become “new” toys. I don’t make the rules.
4. Groom at Home (If Your Breed Allows It)
A soft brush, gentle shampoo and regular detangling can save a surprising amount across the year.
5. Don’t Oversubscribe to Subscriptions
Food boxes, treat boxes, dental chews, enrichment bundles… it multiplies fast.
Pick one good subscription, not an entire postroom of Dog Things.
6. Walk More, Buy Less
Sniffing, brain games, scatter feeding and long rambles cost nothing and solve the kind of boredom-based mischief that leads to pricey fixes.
7. Know When to Spend Properly
Cheap harnesses, bargain-bin leads and flimsy insurance often cost more over time. Spend sensibly on safety, comfort and cover.
Pickles’ Top Tip: Most dogs don’t need luxury, they need routine, clear communication and a good sniff of the pee on the hedgerow or lampost. That’s the cheapest enrichment of all.
Struggling to know which dog to choose? Try our dog breed quiz to figure out which one could seamlessly fit into your lifestyle.