The High Cost Of Owning A Dog In Montana

How Much Will You Spend During Your Dog's Life?

My dear friend Skip Walters once said this about dogs: "There's just something about petting the outside of a dog that makes the inside of a person feel good," and I'm not sure if truer words have been spoken.

As much as we love our dogs, it's well known they can be expensive, but how does Montana stack up against other states in America for cost?

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How Much Does A Puppy Cost In Montana?

When it comes to owning a dog, there is a lot more to it than just buying the dog—everything from food, toys, crates, and vet visits, just to name a few.

There is good news, however, when it comes to the expense of owning a dog in Montana, we are ranked #2 for the cheapest cost of buying a puppy.

That is according to the website New Market Watch, which says on average, we can expect to pay around $900 for a new puppy, just $1 more than Wyoming.

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Montana's Rank For Lifetime Cost Of Owning A Dog

While it might be pretty cheap to buy a dog, we climb pretty high in the rankings for the lifetime cost of owning that dog.

New Market Watch used 11 different metrics to determine the rank of every state in America, and you can see their methodology here.

When it comes to our lifetime cost for owning a dog, we rank #19, and you can expect to spend roughly $28,886 over their life.

If you ask me, they are worth every penny.