Rover calculates the cost of owning a pet in 2022.

Rover calculates the cost of owning a pet in 2022.

We all know that owning a dog may be costly, but the total expenditures are significantly lower than having a human kid. But how much does it cost to have a pet? Rover has the solution!

We learned how much keeping a pet can cost us in a recent press email we received on behalf of the Rover True Cost of Pet Parenthood Report for 2022. However, it is not all the information they offered about being a dog parent.

Rover was able to compile information on the realities vs expectations of being a pet parent, the influence of inflation on the cost of being a pet parent, and even how certain breeds can cost more or less than others using data acquired from over 1000 pet parents in the United States. Basically, if it comes down to how much it costs to be a dog parent, this research has us covered.

What did Rover discover about the cost of pet ownership?

Let's start with reality vs aspirations. According to Rover, most pet parents plan to spend less than $500 on their dogs. However, the fact is that the typical upfront cost for our dogs may range from $1050 and $4480! (That is a significant difference.)

From adoption costs to items, you may require as a first-time pet parent, the list of expenses appears to be practically limitless. (Remember, they need immunizations, injections, and other things!) As a result, instead of $500, some pet owners are spending $4480 on the first expense of taking home a pet.

Next, consider how inflation is affecting pet parents, or at least what they claim to be noticing right now. Apparently,

71 percent of dog owners said they've observed rising pet-related expenditures as a result of inflation. Another 73% are concerned about how much prices will continue to climb over the course of their pet's life.

And, given how simple it is to detect growing prices across the board (whether it's food, clothing, or activities), we're not surprised that pet parents are also experiencing rises when it comes to their furry (or not-so-furry) offspring.

One of the most intriguing things revealed in this survey is that pet parents prefer pets to infants. In particular, it was established that,

Because of the lower total expense, 10% of pet parents choose to have a dog to have a child. This is especially true for Generation Z (23 percent) and Millennials (22 percent ).

Of course, we can't help but notice that certain breeds are more expensive than others. Dr. Rebecca Greenstein, B.Sc., D.V.M., provided her opinions in the report on how a dog's breed might affect how much it costs. "At its most basic," she explained, "it may be about size, and size is a significant regulating element in expenses." Medicines, for example, are dosed depending on body weight."

On the list of most costly breeds, it appears that the Golden Retriever takes the crown (and your money) for average monthly expenses. The German Shephard, Australian Shephard, Goldendoodle, and Pit Bull are the next most costly breeds. The Labrador Retriever is just below that, on its own tier.

While they didn't cover every single breed available, this is still a superb selection of several extremely popular breeds. And it serves as a reminder that even the most popular breed of dog may be pricey at times.

So, when it comes to planning your next puppy, or even your first dog, it may make more sense to find out whether the puppy you desire will also come with a significant monthly cost.