Sweden: How Much Does a Dog Cost?

How Much Does a Dog Cost?

Are you eager to get a dog but unsure of what it actually costs? In this article, we go through how much different dog breeds cost to buy and what it costs to own a dog each month.

A purebred puppy in Sweden usually costs between 12,000 and 15,000 kronor. Mixed breeds are usually cheaper.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of dogs in Sweden in recent years and there are now over 950,000 dogs in the country. The prices for different dog breeds vary greatly, both in purchases and running costs that you pay every month.

Prices for Most Common Dog Breeds

All dogs in Sweden are registered with the Swedish Board of Agriculture. This applies to both purebred dogs with pedigree and mixed breeds. In total, there are over 950,000 dogs registered. Below is a list of approximate prices for the 10 most common dog breeds in Sweden.

• Labrador – from approximately SEK 15,000
• German German Shepherd Dog – from around SEK 10,000
• Golden Retriever – approximately SEK 17,000
• Jack Russell – approximately SEK 12,000
• Rottweiler – approximately SEK 12,000
• Border Collie – around SEK 11,000
• Chihuahua – around SEK 15,000
• Cocker Spaniel – approximately SEK 16,000
• Cavalier King Charles – around SEK 12,000

How Much Does a Dog Cost?

A purebred puppy in Sweden usually costs between 12,000 and 15,000 kronor. Mixed breeds are usually cheaper.

When you calculate costs for a dog, it is easy to forget costs that you pay every month, such as. dog insurance. Roughly speaking, it is usually assumed that a dog during its entire life costs approximately SEK 150,000 to SEK 200,000, depending on the dog’s breed and lifespan.

The age profile of dogs varies according to their size. Smaller dogs usually live longer than 15-16 years, medium-sized and larger ones are usually 10 to 13 years old and some larger dog breeds are usually only 7-8 years old.

First Year: Most Expensive

In addition to the cost of buying the dog, you can expect higher costs in the first year. The most common costs are dog food, equipment such as leashes and dog beds, dog insurance, and vaccination costs.

If the dog also gets sick or becomes ill, you can count on higher costs in connection with the veterinary visit. It is therefore good to have a buffer for unforeseen expenses.

A common extra cost the first year is a dog course. You can count on approximately SEK 2,000 in the cost of a dog course. Regular courses the first year is a puppy course and the second year it is common with an obedience course.

Below we have listed the most common costs for a dog the first year. Many of the costs vary depending on the dog breed. We have started from the most common dog breed in Sweden, Labrador.

Cost               Year 1    Year 2

Food:              6500 kr   9000 kr
Necklace and leash: SEK 400 SEK 100
Food and water bowl: SEK 200
Vaccination:         600 kr     600 kr
Dog insurance: SEK 3,600 SEK 3,600
Poop bags: SEK 300 SEK 300
Ball pliers: SEK 100
Dog bed: SEK 800
Puppy course: 2000 ISK
Course in obedience: SEK 2,000
Membership Dog Club: SEK 400 SEK 400

How Much Does a Dog Cost Each Month

Expect your dog to cost at least SEK 1,200 every month. Exact costs are governed by the breed of dog and your choices.

It is important to calculate what a dog actually costs each month. It is easy to just count on the initial costs of purchases and think that they are not much more than food that costs late each month. In general, you can count on the following costs for a medium-sized dog such as. a Golden Retriever every month.

Food cost

A medium-sized dog eats for about SEK 750 per month. The choice of the brand affects, of course, you can in most cases come down to SEK 500 per month and there are those who spend over SEK 1,000 per month on food. Read more about the best dog food.

Dog insurance

Dog insurance with basic protection costs about SEK 300 a month. Here you can read what the dog insurance costs for different dog breeds. Also, read our comparison of the cheapest dog insurance.

Veterinary visit

The choice of dog insurance affects how much you pay at a veterinary visit. If you exclude all costs and visits, including vaccination, veterinary visits usually cost around SEK 300 per month.

Fur care

The dog’s fur is usually cut about 3-4 times a year and total costs for fur care, including buying shampoo, usually amount to about SEK 300 per month.

Dog daycare

Dog daycare is expensive. If you plan to leave the dog at a dog daycare when you are at work, you can expect to pay around SEK 3,000 per month.

Toys and sweets

Expect about SEK 100 a month for toys and sweets.

The Most Expensive Dogs in Sweden

Although the most common dog breeds usually cost between around SEK 12,000 and SEK 15,000, there are dogs that are ten times as expensive.

Most individual dogs with a high score are rarely regular companion dogs. These are dogs that have a task in life that makes them extra valuable. It is often a matter of the dog having a long training, that it has competition and show merits or that it is an attractive breeding dog.

The most expensive group of labradors is e.g. well-trained guide dogs who have undergone a long training and they are also carefully selected with great demands on good parents.

Agria Djurförsäkringar has produced a top list of the most expensive dog breeds in Sweden:

• Boston Terrier
• Labradoodle
• English bulldog
• Pomeranian
• French bulldog
• Pug
• Malinois
• Rhodesian Ridgeback
• Dobermann

5 Tips For You Who Are Going to Buy a Dog

Take out dog insurance

In many cases, the breeder has an insurance policy that you can take over. Otherwise, draw your own. Here you can read what dog insurance costs for the most common dog breeds. It costs a lot to go to the vet. If you do not have the dog insured, you can incur high costs.

Choose dog breeds with care

Which dog breed is best for you and your life? Spend a lot of time when choosing a dog breed. Do not just choose based on appearance and which dog you think is the nicest. There is a big difference between different dog breeds. Read about different dog breeds and their typical traits. Do not let price be the deciding factor, but choose a dog breed that suits you and your life.

Choose a healthy puppy with healthy parents

Before you buy the dog, you want to meet the puppy’s mother and preferably father if possible. The puppy will probably be angry with his family when he grows up. Ask the breeder questions.

How to find a dog

The best website for finding a dog is köpahund.se. There you will find breeders and current puppy litters, as well as information about different health programs that are available for the desired breed. All breeders on the site are approved by the Swedish Kennel Club. It does not have to be wrong to buy a dog at Blocket, but in that case, be careful and check that the breeder is approved by the Kennel Club.

Set aside time for the puppy

Make sure you have plenty of time to take care of a puppy before buying a dog. A puppy may leave his breeder at the earliest at eight weeks of age. It is then small and helpless and you will need to spend a lot of time on your dog. Save a vacation or arrange for you to be home a lot the first few weeks so you do not have to leave your puppy alone.