How Much Does It Cost to Feed a Pomeranian
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Thinking a Pomeranian might be the right dog for you, but aren't sure how much Pomeranians cost? In this article, we look at Pomeranian prices and the factors that influence them. The average cost for a Pomeranian ranges between $800 to $2,000 but can get even more costly for champion lines.
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If you're interested in adding a Pomeranian to your family, you'll first need to consider the cost to buy the dog itself. But you'll also need to consider your costs to get all the other supplies you need to provide your pup with a suitable home. There are also ongoing costs that you'll incur while caring for it throughout its life.
Here we'll talk about all of these things, starting with a quick estimate of the Pomeranian price. We will then move on to the factors that affect that can impact puppy costs and other hidden costs that you should be sure to consider when budgeting for your new pooch. We'll finish up by going over a few ways that you can save money and stretch your budget when buying and caring for your Pomeranian.
Contents
- 1 The Short Answer
- 2 Factors That Impact Price
- 2.1 Quality
- 2.2 Faults & Health
- 2.3 Location
- 2.4 Time of Year
- 2.5 Breeders
- 2.6 Rescues
- 2.7 Pet Stores
- 2.8 Coat, Sex & Age
- 3 Other Costs
- 4 Ongoing Ownership Costs
- 5 Possible Additional Costs
- 6 How to Save
- 7 Saving on Supplies
The Short Answer
A Pomeranian can be obtained from a breeder for anywhere from $500 to $6,000, though they are most commonly seen between $800 and $2,000. Specialty Poms like the black pomeranian can cost more.
On top of that, expect to spend at least $1,000 that first year for the initial costs of dog ownership like dishes, toys, bedding, and healthcare, and the cost of raising a puppy. Every year after that, the dog can cost between $1,000 and $3,200.
Note that these estimates don't include emergency care or non-typical costs, like pet deposits, specialty equipment, or non-routine medical treatment. Owning a smaller breed like a pomeranian will be cheaper than owning a bigger breed like an English Mastiff or a Bullmastiff.
Factors That Impact Price
So why is there so much variation when it comes to buying a Pomeranian puppy? Well, because there are a lot of factors that influence it. Among those factors are puppy quality (health), location, where you acquire your puppy, and coat color.
Quality
The so-called "quality" of a dog is one of the biggest influences on price. Quality doesn't necessarily reflect the health, personality, or behavior of a dog, though health does play a role in determining the quality of a dog. Instead, quality refers to how well the dog can be expected to perform in conformity competitions and how well it can be expected to produce other dogs that do the same.
Mixed breeds, or dogs that are a mix of Pomeranian and another breed, are considered the lowest quality group and are more affordable than purebred Pomeranians. High-demand designer mixes, like the Pomsky (Pomeranian-Husky mix) and Pomchi (Pomeranian-Chihuahua mix), will cost more than less desired mixes but are still usually significantly cheaper than even pet quality purebreds. Poms are from the German Spitz family, and they are similar to the original line of dog.
Pet-quality Poms are purebred but have some sort of fault that prevents them from being successful in the show circuit or means that they shouldn't be bred. These dogs can still make excellent pets and are a great deal cheaper than show-quality dogs. They can also still compete in many types of non-conformity competitions such as agility or obedience trials and can be trained as service or therapy dogs.
Faults & Health
Reputable breeders will provide a list of the dog's faults and the results of health testing to help you understand why the dog is pet quality, and will typically either spay or neuter the dog before the sale or require you to do it after you take the dog.
If sold at all (many breeders choose to care for these dogs themselves), pet quality dogs with serious health conditions are generally marked down in cost, but good breeders will have even higher requirements for the home these dogs go to in order to ensure that they'll be properly cared for.
Show quality Poms are the most expensive and can cost even as much as $10,000. These are dogs that conform to breed standards and can compete in shows and be bred to produce more show-quality Pomeranians.
Within each of these groups, the degree of conformity to breed standards, pedigree, and health all influence price. For adult dogs, the more complete health history and the dog's competition and breeding history also affect cost.
Could Pet Insurance Help?
If your pet insurance covers exam fees and your dog needs to be examined, there is a good chance your policy will reimburse those costs based on your policy details. However, if you are a new customer, vet expenses will not be covered until after your policy's defined waiting periods, so signing up once you have an existing health concern is not going to help this time. Pre-existing conditions are not covered by any current pet insurance plans.
This is why it is a great idea to sign up for a pet insurance policy when your pet is young and relatively healthy to ensure you will be covered when you need it most.
Location
Location, location, location matters in more than just real estate; where a breeder lives can dramatically influence how they price their puppies.
For one, breeders have to be able to cover their costs. If an area has a high cost of living, breeders have to charge more to be able to continue breeding. Breeders in areas with more regulations on the breeding of animals will have to price their dogs higher in order to cover the costs to comply with those regulations.
The market in a region also makes a difference. High demand for Pomeranians leads to higher prices, especially if those demanding Poms also have thicker wallets. On the other hand, if there are a lot of competing Pomeranian sellers, that drives the price down.
Time of Year
The "where" is important, but the "when" also matters. In the late spring through late summer, demand for dogs is high as people are looking for canine companions for beach trips, walks, and other warm-weather activities. In response, breeders set their prices higher in the warmer months.
On the other hand, that demand wanes the rest of the year and is the slowest during the winter. In response, breeders slash prices to match the demand and avoid having to hold on to unsold puppies.
Breeders
We keep saying "breeders" here since they're probably the easiest and most popular way to find a purebred Pomeranian, particularly if you want a puppy, but they aren't the only way. You can also get a Pomeranian from an animal rescue. Let's talk about breeders first, though.
As we said above, when you buy from a breeder, you can generally expect to pay between $1,000 and $3,000.
This usually includes registration or the paperwork required for you to register, a health guarantee, age-appropriate vaccination, microchipping, lifetime breeder support, and early socialization. Spaying or neutering is also typically included for Pomeranians intended to be pets, as opposed to showing or breeding dogs.
A breeder with more experience and a track record of high-quality dogs will charge more than an inexperienced breeder or one that only produces pet-quality dogs.
Rescues
Animal rescues are a lot cheaper and adoption fees typically range between $200 and $400, though there are many adoptable Pomeranians for less than $100. Adoption fees typically don't include genetic testing or registration paperwork, but they do often include the costs of spaying or neutering, age-appropriate vaccination, and microchipping.
Rescued dogs don't usually come with a health guarantee, but many animal rescues are willing to help you cover expensive and unexpected medical treatment if you aren't able to afford it on your own.
Pet Stores
Puppies bought from a pet store are typically similarly priced or more expensive than dogs bought from breeders despite the fact that these puppies come almost exclusively from puppy mills and other low-quality breeders.
These puppies are generally poorly socialized and were not bred to avoid health problems. Though there's usually a health guarantee, it often applies only in a limited number of situations and usually only promises the replacement of the puppy that you've grown to love rather than providing it with the necessary care.
Avoid buying dogs from pet stores. These dogs not only cost more upfront, they will also frequently cost you more, both monetarily and in heartache, down the line.
Coat, Sex & Age
Pomeranian coats come in a variety of colors and patterns. Solid coats are typically more costly than multi-colored coats. Among solid coats, rarer colors like black, white, lavender, and blue generally lead to a higher price than common colors like red and orange.
Female Pomeranians typically cost more than males since there is more demand for females.
Adults usually cost less than puppies, but successful show dogs can be quite expensive.
Other Costs
Don't forget that buying your new dog isn't the only expense. You'll also need to make sure that you have all the supplies that are required to take care of them.
This includes food for your Pomeranian, treats, bowls, toys, a kennel, a bed, a leash, a collar, a harness, a tag, potty training supplies, basic grooming supplies, cleaning supplies, and any storage and organizational items you need for all these things. In addition, you need to make sure your home is puppy-proofed before they arrive.
Once you get your Pomeranian, you'll need to cover initial healthcare. This includes a check-up, and any additional vaccines needed. You will also want to consider microchipping and spaying or neutering. You also need to get them into a training class as early as you can. This will ensure that your pup becomes an obedient, well-socialized dog.
All told, taking care of your Pomeranian during the first year of their life can an additional $1,000 to $1,700 on top of the cost of the dog itself. Where in this range you'll fall depends on the cost of supplies and healthcare. It also depends on where you live, as well as, which particular supplies you purchase. There's a wide variety of products available among dog food, bedding, toys, and other supplies.
Ongoing Ownership Costs
Other costs continue throughout your Pomeranian's life. Food, potty bags, treats, grooming supplies, and cleaning supplies need to be replaced as they're used up. Bowls, collars, toys, and bedding wear out over time and must be replaced.
Dogs need continuing healthcare like annual physicals, up-to-date vaccination, and ongoing flea and tick protection. To help you afford all that, you may also want to purchase pet insurance. At an average cost of $50 per month, you can expect pet insurance to run around $600 a year, but get your own quote to see if you could get a better price.
Each additional year that you own your Pomeranian, you can expect to spend a total somewhere between about $1,000 and $3,200 for typical expenses.
That doesn't include emergency medical care or costs that aren't pretty much consistent and universal. These expenses include pet sitters, pet deposits, and or dog walkers. That's what this next section is for.
Possible Additional Costs
On top of all those essentials we just talked about, there are several other things that you may end up having or choosing to pay for. If you live in a rental, you may have to pay a pet deposit or pet rent. In some areas, you'll need to pay a licensing fee for your Pomeranian.
If you don't want your pet alone all day, you'll need to pay for doggy daycare or a dog walker. You may need to pay for boarding or a pet sitter if you travel without your dog. If you travel with them, all sorts of additional things might be necessary, like a car harness, a TSA-approved carrier, and a pet passport.
Emergency vet visits can cost $250 or more and often cost more than $1,000. Other health problems can also cost hundreds or thousands of dollars to treat. If you have pet insurance, that can help offset some of these costs.
In addition, pets sometimes damage our things or homes. You may end up spending who knows how much to repair or replace the damage. Whether it's a few dollars for a chewed-up roll of paper towels or thousands for a knocked-over TV, costs add up. Fortunately, pet-proofing helps to avoid this and Pomeranians are small. This will limit potential damage, but don't underestimate their bravery and determination when pet-proofing.
And finally, if there are any special activities you'd like to do with your Pomeranian, make sure to budget for the necessary equipment. Relatively common special equipment includes booties, life vests, strollers, and GPS trackers. If you plan on showing your Pomeranian, there are costs associated with that as well. This includes grooming, registration, and admission fees.
How to Save
There are ways you can help make sure that you're not spending more than you have to when you get your new Pomeranian. Rescues are cheaper than dogs from breeders. If you do choose to go with a Pomeranian from a breeder, it's worth it to spend more upfront. This will allow you to get a Pomeranian that was bred from genetically tested parents. Pomeranians from breeders will have had a thorough health exam in order to minimize the chance of costly health problems down the road.
Buying an adult is more affordable in terms of the dog itself. But, it also typically allows you to skip paying for potty training equipment and costly puppy medical care. You can also wait until the breeding offseason to buy your Pomeranian. Your options will be more limited and opt for a less in-demand color or pattern.
Don't be afraid to look for Pomeranians outside your area if it has a high cost of living. Make sure you're factoring in the cost of your own travel as well as the transportation of the dog. These are hidden costs that prevent you from actually saving money. Also, never buy a Pomeranian without meeting it and its parents first.
Saving on Supplies
When it comes to equipment, buy puppy supplies before you buy your puppy. This will allow you to compare prices and buy things as they're on sale. Later on, buy in bulk as much as possible. Purchase replacement supplies ahead of when you need them. This way you can hit sales rather than paying full price as replacing supplies becomes essential.
With all that said, saving money is nice. It's important to know what you can afford, but remember that the most important thing is getting a happy, healthy companion. If you take care of your Pomeranian, they can stay by your side for years to come.
The information provided through this website should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease; it is not intended to offer any legal opinion or advice or a substitute for professional safety or care advice. Please consult your health care provider, attorney, insurance expert, or product manual for professional advice. Products and services reviewed are provided by third parties; we are not responsible in any way for them, nor do we guarantee their functionality, utility, safety, or reliability. Our content is for educational purposes only.
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