Methodology
Data reviewed August 1, 2026
Two kinds of numbers appear on this site, and we label them differently on purpose.
1. Sourced statistics
Industry figures (ownership rates, total spending, insurance premiums) are quoted directly from primary sources: the APPA National Pet Owners Survey, NAPHIA's State of the Industry report, the AVMA, and the Insurance Information Institute. Each statistic carries its source and year inline. If we cannot attribute a number, we do not publish it.
2. Cost estimates
Breed cost pages and calculators are estimates built from three published anchors:
- Average annual dog food spend: $293 (APPA)
- Average annual routine vet spend: $331 (APPA)
- Average accident & illness insurance premium: $836/yr for dogs (NAPHIA)
We then scale those anchors with documented factors:
| Factor | How it scales |
|---|---|
| Size (food) | Small 0.55 to 0.9×, medium 0.9 to 1.3×, large 1.3 to 1.9×, giant 1.8 to 2.6× the APPA food anchor |
| Size (vet) | 0.9 to 1.8× the APPA vet anchor, rising with body size |
| Coat (grooming) | Minimal $50 to $200, moderate $200 to $500, professional $600 to $1,200 per year (salon every 6 to 8 weeks) |
| Breed risk (insurance) | 0.85 to 1.5× the NAPHIA premium anchor, reflecting how insurers price known breed conditions |
| Supplies & misc | $150 to $350 per year flat |
First-year estimates add one-time costs (initial supplies $200 to $400, spay or neuter $150 to $600, initial vet work $100 to $300) plus the breed's typical purchase or adoption range. Lifetime estimates multiply annual cost across the breed's typical lifespan. Emergencies are deliberately excluded from estimates and called out separately, because they are the tail risk insurance exists to cover.
Corrections
Found a number that looks wrong or has gone stale? Email [email protected] and we will fix it or show the source.