Owning a dog in Canada takes a big bite out of your wallet

New data confirms that owning a dog in Canada is expensive.

The annual cost of owning a dog ranges from $3,530 to $4,410, according to a report from HelloSafe.ca, an insurance comparison website.

The upfront cost varies significantly whether a dog is purchased from a breeder or adopted from a shelter, as the estimated cost ranges from $200 to $4,000. Other upfront costs include spaying or neutering, training and a bed and crate.

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Once the upfront costs have been covered, owners can expect to pay another $510 to $3,360 in annual expenses, mostly in food. Other annual costs include tick prevention, toys, oral care, vet visits and poop bags.

An average of  $712 to $1,437 gets spent every year in “additional” costs, such as grooming, dog walking or doggy daycare. Grooming costs $50 to $200 annually, walks cost $15 to $20 each, and daycare averages $32 to $100 per session.

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