Original Article: https://www.dogster.com/lifestyle/teacup-pomeranian-cost

Having any dog of any size requires the right finances for sure! However, you might think that having a Teacup Pomeranian would be cheaper than having a full-size dog. While there are definitely perks to having a smaller animal, it isn’t necessarily a certainty that you will be paying any less in the long run.

In this article, we aim to explain exactly what you can expect with a teacup Pomeranian and how you can budget.

Bringing Home a New Teacup Pomeranian: One-Time Costs

When you bring home your teacup Pomeranian, you can obtain them in a few ways. First, you can get lucky and have one for free if someone is looking to rehome theirs. You might have seen an adorable post from a rescue or shelter, or you have been researching reputable breeders.

Free

Getting a teacup Pomeranian for free sounds like a dream! It can happen in several different scenarios, one of which would be if a person fell on certain hardships and absolutely couldn’t keep their dog so they asked you if you would like to have them.

Another scenario would be if you found a dog that seemed homeless, tried diligently to find an owner, and ended up deciding to keep the dog. It is very unlikely that you will find a teacup Pomeranian for free, but it’s never impossible!

Adoption

There are tons of dogs that fill the shelters every year. Some are puppies, others are seniors, and any age in between. If you’re interested in giving a dog another opportunity at a forever home, you can look locally or on sites like Petfinder for a teacup Pomeranian specifically.

You might be able to even find a mixed or hybrid combination this way. Adoption processes can be a little lengthy and vigorous, but they are worth it in the end! After all, all the vetting is done for you; you simply have to pay the application fee and jump through any hoops that the shelter requests to bring your little guy or gal home.

Breeder

Another option for getting a teacup Pomeranian, and possibly the most obvious, is buying them from a reputable breeder. Steer clear of any fishy breeding businesses that seem to be doing it for the sole purpose of profit and don’t care about the dogs. Often, signs would include minimal descriptions, pushy sales, and lack of information.

Always look for a reputable breeder, who is prepared to answer any questions you have, offers puppy contracts, and even requires deposits, as these are all signs of a good breeder that cares about the dogs. Unfortunately, you will be paying a higher cost with a breeder, but quality is key.

Initial Setup and Supplies

The initial supplies can be pretty expensive, but a lot of them are one time purchases. Others, you won’t have to replace for several years or months.

List of Teacup Pomeranian Care Supplies and Costs

How Much Does a Teacup Pomeranian Cost Per Month?

Overall care costs per month can vary drastically from dog to dog. It depends on so many factors, such as your budget, willingness to spoil, particular health issues, and other unknown variables. So, the overall monthly expenses vary drastically, even within the same breed.

Here is an overview of some numbers you can expect.

Health Care

If you get a puppy, healthcare is a must from the time you bring them home. Before you get them, it is very likely that your breeder or adoption agency will have the animal fully vetted.

You will have to follow up with routine vaccinations, growth monitoring, and possibly spay or neuter or microchipping, depending on if it hasn’t been done to date. After that, you only have to pay monthly costs if your dog is ill or requires recurring treatments.

Food

Diet is an incredibly important aspect to owning any dog. While you should always work with your vet to determine the best recipe, you have a lot of price differences between certain types of dog food.

For example, even in the world of dry kibble, you can get a $10 bag versus $100 bag of dog food for your pooch. Wet canned food varies slightly in cost as well. More and more pet owners are turning to other options that are more species friendly these days as well.

Fresh dog food options are usually companies that offer subscription-based services, especially tailored for your dog and delivered right to your door. Naturally, you’re going to pay less with these services than you would for, say, a Great Dane, but fresh food options are never what you would consider cheap.

There are also other options to liven up your dog’s food bowl, especially if you have a picky eater. Some people feed their pets raw or homemade food. We highly recommend doing this under the direction of a veterinarian if you are interested.

When you’re making your own foods or selecting raw diets, prices will always be a little high, but depending on the type of meat you choose, it can get very pricey. Make sure to not cut corners and offer your pet a high-quality, protein-rich recipe.

Feeding your dog better will eliminate the risk of developing health issues, keep their weight under control, and help them thrive.

Grooming

The fluffy, full coat of a teacup Pomeranian is likely one of the things that drew you to the breed. It makes them look like little miniature teddy bears, and who wouldn’t love to have one snuggled up next to you?

However, this type of coat comes with a lot of responsibility. They will require routine grooming that you can do on your own at home or through a professional. If you opt for a professional, things can get pretty pricey, and the actual cost will depend on the specific groomer.

If you do it at home, the grooming supplies might cost a little upfront, but will definitely pay for themselves in the long run.

Medications and Vet Visits

Realistically, you only need medication on a routine schedule and not always every month. You will go to your vet for things like flea treatment and parasite prevention. If your dog is ill or requires multiple trips to the vet, that’s where things can get pretty pricey.

For example, if your teacup Pomeranian develops diabetes, you will have to get resources from your veterinarian to keep their sugar in check. If your dog eventually develops cancer, they will require

recurring treatments and therapies for this as well.

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance might be hard to wiggle into the budget, but it can be very beneficial to do so. Often, many families find themselves in very tough situations where there’s an emergency injury or illness that they’re unable to treat.

Emergency vet care can be extremely costly and they often request the funds upfront. Many families can’t afford this, and many animals are euthanized subsequently. Pet insurance provides a nice layer of cushion for scenarios just like this.

You can shop around for different options, finding one that matches your budget and your needs. It is not a requirement, but it definitely is a good layer of protection. You can implement it to keep your little one safe and your pockets full.

Environment Maintenance

You’re going to want to keep your dog’s surroundings clean, especially when they’re a puppy. They might be small, but they can be very messy and destructive. It is important to consider what you will need to spruce up the space so you aren’t caught off guard.

Example:

Entertainment

Your little teacup Pom will definitely want to be entertained! Whether they prefer squeaky toys or chewable treats, they will need to have something around to keep them busy. Depending on their activity level and destructiveness level, you might need to buy more or less for them in a month’s time.

You can also opt for services like BarkBox. This is a specially tailored little box that is delivered to your door on a monthly basis. There are several more than just this particular brand, but the idea is the same.

It can be a really good way to condense spending and guarantee that your pup has new exciting items to keep them busy every month.

Total Monthly Cost of Owning a Teacup Pomeranian

As you can see, there are a lot of variables for the total monthly cost of a teacup Pomeranian. Some things, like food, will always occur every month. But other things like grooming and healthcare may only occur every few months or only a couple of times per year. It just depends on how many extras you want to buy for your pup every month, if they get sick, etc.

Additional Costs to Factor In

There are so many factors to take into consideration when you’re totaling up costs. You can pre-plan all you want to, but you can only plan for so much. There is a good chance that you will spend either more or less than what you initially budget, and that’s perfectly fine. You’ll learn as you go.

Here are some less talked about expenses that come along with owning a dog.

Pet Sitter

There will be times that you’re not around to take care of your pet. Whether it is an emergency travel situation or you’re taking a family vacation and simply can’t take your pet, you’ll need a back up plan.

Luckily, there are more options now than ever. You can take them to a boarding facility, a doggy daycare, or even hire a private pet sitter to come to your home and care for your pet. The cost of each of these services can vary depending on the length of time, the area you live, and the particular facility’s rates.

Emergencies

Emergencies happen to the best of us. Whether your dog swallowed part of a rope toy or was in some type of accident, it can happen. Sometimes it can catch you off guard if you are not prepared.

Emergency surgeries and treatments can be very costly, so you will need to have a back up plan in the event something like this happens. Unfortunately, with emergencies, many of these things are not foreseeable.

Damages

Even little tiny dogs like a teacup Pomeranian can be quite destructive. Whether they’re ripping up the seams of your carpet or chewing at your trim, they can create a mess!

Even if you think you can trust your dog, you might leave work for a day and come home to find that your house is a mess. Damages can certainly happen, and can be very  costly to fix.

Behavioral Training

Your teacup Pomeranian will certainly be your baby, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be well-behaved. If you are having trouble handling your little dog with issues such as excessive barking, destructiveness, and other behavior-related issues, you might need a professional trainer.

If that’s the case, you will have to find a trainer with the rates and the goals that you have in mind. Every trainer will have different rates and some of them specialize in certain areas of behavior.

Definitely make sure to do your research and don’t just select a trainer based on price. You’ll want the training to stick, so you have to look for excellent reviews as well as an affordable price.

Owning a Teacup Pomeranian on a Budget

If you are on a budget, you might wonder if you can afford bringing home one of these little cuties. No matter how much you want to, there’s that idea in the back of your mind that maybe you just don’t have the time, energy, or resources to manage it.

Having thoughts like this actually ensures you will probably be a fantastic pet parent. So, try to worry a little less. There are always ways to cut corners. But we want to be clear, there are some areas that you should never compromise with.

Some of these include ensuring your dog has appropriate shelter, nutrition, and hygiene. Otherwise, you’re free to save a few dollars where you can.

Saving Money on Teacup Pomeranian Care

DIY

You can find just about any DIY project online. Whether you’re looking to build your dog their own doghouse, make them their own bed, or take some recyclable goods around the house and make toys, you can cut corners. Not only is it a fun way to spend your time, but it can significantly reduce the financial and environmental impact of buying brand new things.

Buy Secondhand

You can also look on online marketplaces or in secondhand stores. People are getting rid of their stuff all the time. Whether you need an invisible fence, a kennel, a crate, a pet GPS system, or anything in between, you can shop secondhand.

Mobile Clinics

Mobile clinics can help you save a ton of money! They don’t offer a complete set of veterinary services, but they can help you out quite a bit with the primary things. They can offer vaccinations, parasite prevention, and spay and neuter surgery.

On top of mobile clinics, rescues and shelters also offer low cost vetting options. You can get these same services at a more reduced rate, cutting out fees and many other expenses you get at a traditional vet.

Auto-ship Options

You can save yourself a few bucks a month by trying out auto-ship options. Whether it’s dog food, supplies, or something different, you can usually get certain supplies on an automatic shipment system. Often, companies offer a lower cost in these situations, even if it’s just a few bucks.

Conclusion

Now you understand how much a Teacup Pomeranian can cost on average and ways you can reduce the impact of the financial burden. We advise you not to cut too many corners, as your pet’s health is very important. However, there are ways you can save in some areas and ways you certainly should!

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Featured Image Credit: love_studio, Shutterstock

Source: Dogster