The puppy price is the trailer. The movie is food, vet care, gear, grooming time, training, and the walks you cannot skip. Budget the movie.
Numbers vary by region and breeder, so I’m not going to make up a receipt. These are the costs that actually hit, plus the ones people forget until month two.
Upfront
Breeder or adoption fee. First vet visit, vaccines, fecal, microchip if not done. Spay or neuter later unless already included. Crate, harness, bowls, cleaner, starter toys.
The gear I started with is in the Owner’s Kit.
Monthly-ish
Good puppy food adds up fast (notes on Food). Training treats too; mine are Kai’s go-to treats. Waste bags. Whatever preventatives your vet recommends. Replacement toys from the toys hub when things die.
Periodic
Sick visits at the vet. Training classes if you want structure. Grooming tools as the coat comes in. The Maxpower undercoat rake is an amazing product at a great price. Gates if you need to block rooms. Our Regalo puppy gates came after Kai came home.
The cost people skip
Time. An under-exercised Aussie gets expensive in chewed shoes and lost sleep. Training hours are part of the cost.
Where cheap gets expensive
A cheap puppy with no health conversation can turn into the most expensive dog. Ask breeders about testing and support. More gear is on Gear, and Gifts is for when someone else is paying.
Save without cutting care
Rotate toys instead of bulk-buying. Train at home in short sessions before paying for private lessons. Buy an adult-size crate once and use the divider. That’s what I did with Kai’s MidWest iCrate. The divider is what made crate training work. Great quality, and one crate instead of three.
Paying for health answers early is cheaper than paying for surprises later.
For walks I use the Freedom harness. It works well. It isn’t chew-proof, but it comes with a chew warranty for a small replacement fee. Read the Training notes before buying another gadget.
The real question is whether you can fund the weekly life this breed needs. Places to start: Owner’s Kit, Gear and Gifts.
Budget the boring line items
Enzyme cleaner, replacement leashes when he chews one, crate mats, nail tools and the odd emergency vet visit. Plan for them and they stop being surprises.
Don’t bargain-hunt on food or preventatives. Gear is where you save, by buying once. My picks are in the Owner’s Kit and on Gear.