New research has uncovered the true cost of owning a dog, with some of the UK’s most popular breeds coming in at an eye-watering £3,907.60 a year, or £25,849.33 across a dog’s lifetime.

The findings also reveal how the nation is significantly underestimating these costs, with prospective dog owners believing that the average annual bill should come to just over £880 per year – 3 times less than the cheapest breed.

Shockingly, more than one in ten (14%) would even consider returning their pooches if costs were to go over £633 per year.

To highlight the long-term costs of owning a dog ahead of the festive season when a new dog often tops the gift lists, comparethemarket.com has collaborated with Vets in Practice’s, Emma Milne.

Together, they have created a canine calculator that highlights the range of costs incurred when owning different breeds of dog: https://www.comparethemarket.com/pet-insurance/

The new research further showed that dog food alone can cost up to £1,198.75 per year – a startling contrast and six times more than Brits claim they’d be prepared to spend, which was on average £182.44 per year.

Top 10 Most-Expensive Pooches

Top 10 Least-Expensive Pooches

Emma Milne, Veterinary Expert, says: “Having a dog can be one of life’s most rewarding things, and we would never want to deter anyone from purchasing a pup. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, ‘a dog isn’t just for Christmas’ and the harsh reality is there are hundreds of dogs left abandoned every single year. We want to highlight what an important decision it is to buy a dog. Whilst it’s important to understand how much a dog can cost,  we should always remember that life with a dog is absolutely priceless.”

Stephanie Corbett, Head of Pet Insurance at comparethemarket.com says; “With the festive season fast approaching, before buying that new pup for your family, there’s an awful lot to consider first. Whether it’s the cost of pet insurance, food, doggy day-care, or simply the time needed to invest in your dog, the expese of a pet can really mount up.. With this in mind, we have created a handy tool that allows would-be dog owners to budget accordingly. Before taking the leap and bringing a new family member home, careful financial planning and research will stop any nasty surprises.”

Looking at the current economic climate, Brits were also prepared to abandon pet luxuries to save on the purse strings, with just under two-fifths (38%) claiming they’d stop investing in doggy day care, and a fifth (20.5%) admitting they’d buy the cheapest dog food possible rather than opting for premium.

When asked if spending £25k across a dog’s lifetime would deter them from buying, just under two-thirds (60%) claimed yes, it absolutely would.