Is Texas An Expensive Place To Have A Dog?

We all love and cherish our best friends, don't we?

And it does seem that nowadays, we do more to care for our dogs than folks used to. Dogs have gone from denizens of the backyard to having orthopedic beds in the living room.

Of course, how much you spend on your dogs depends on many factors- like your budget, the needs of their breed, and if they have any medical conditions. But did you know that the State you live in matters too?

According to marketwatch.com, some states are much more expensive for owning dogs. Ranking at number 1 (perhaps unsurprisingly) is California, where people spend on average $35,452 during a dog's lifetime.

I know my California grandmother has spent well more than that on her beloved chihuahuas.

Also ranking high are New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington, respectively.

Read More: Do You Know What The State Dog Of Texas Is?

So where does Texas rank? Right in the middle at #25 and $28,109 spent over a dog's lifetime. The least expensive states were Oklahoma, Mississippi, Indiana, Nebraska, and Louisiana, respectively.

For this study, it was assumed the dog was adopted as a puppy. Puppy costs included vaccines, spay/ neuter, preventative medicine, and general supplies which totaled to an average of about $1000- a good case for adopting an adult dog from a shelter.

Then, annual costs were considered, including food, toys and treats, boarding costs (it was assumed at 15 days per year), grooming, pet insurance, an annual vet check-up, and an emergency vet visit with the assumption the owner has insurance.

Of course, many factors will be different for you based on your dog and your lifestyle.

For example, my dog does not need routine grooming, whereas certain breeds like a poodle or Bichon Frisé will likely need much more grooming than average. Therefore our expenses will deviate from the average, at least in that category.

However much you spend on your pup, I think we can all agree that they are priceless.