How Much Does A Rat Terrier Cost? Price With Other Expenses
Rat Terriers are small and cute, but they are tougher than they look. These guys are very active and playful; they will instantly brighten your day. Most potential Rat Terrier owners hesitate about how much does a Rat Terrier cost and what is the Rat Terrier price.
So, how much does a Rat Terrier cost? Rat Terriers’ price can vary depending on several factors, such as the dog’s pedigree, lineage, age, location, and the breeder’s or seller’s reputation. The average price range for a Rat Terrier puppy from a reputable breeder can be anywhere between $500 to $1,500. However, it’s important to note that prices can go higher or lower depending on the specific circumstances.
It’s crucial to prioritize the health and well-being of the dog over the cost when considering purchasing a Rat Terrier. Reputable breeders invest time, effort, and resources into breeding healthy and well-socialized puppies, which can contribute to a higher price. They also typically provide necessary vaccinations, health checks, and registration papers.
Alternatively, adopting a Rat Terrier from a rescue organization or a shelter can be more affordable. Adoption fees usually range from $100 to $300, depending on the organization and the dog’s age, medical condition, and other factors.
Remember that owning a dog involves additional costs beyond the initial purchase price, including food, grooming, veterinary care, supplies, training, and potential unforeseen expenses. Budgeting and preparing for these ongoing expenses is important to provide a happy and healthy life for your Rat Terrier.
Ultimately, the cost of a Rat Terrier can vary, so it’s recommended to research reputable breeders or adoption options in your area to get a better idea of the specific costs involved. Let’s get started!
How much does it cost to buy a Rat Terrier? Puppy’s price and adult Rat Terrier price
Bringing home a new furry friend is an exciting event. But before you do so, you need to fully understand how much you need initially, as well as the monthly budget you need to set aside for your new friend’s wellbeing.
If you don’t, the finance incurred by the dog might catch you off guard. His expenses should never burden your family, or you might struggle with your dog.
But if you’re fully prepared in advance, you can arrange the necessary funds for your dog. Supplies, training, medical, and grooming are some you need to consider other than the buying cost of the dog.
Normally, a Rat Terrier pup costs an average of $300- $1500. This price depends on a few facts.
- Pedigree and the bloodline
Pure-bred puppies have very high prices. A pure-bred puppy with a pure bloodline can even cost as high as $2000 – $4000.
- The breeder’s location and reputation
If the breeder has a reputable history of breeding champions, he will price his litter higher. The location of the breeder, too, plays a part in the puppy’s price. If he’s far from you, the price will be a little higher if he’s delivering your new friend to you.
- Litter size
If the litter is small, the breeder’s average price is not profitable. Therefore, the smaller the litter, the higher the price will be and vice-versa.
Apart from these, vaccinations, training, and fur color affect a great deal on the price of a puppy. If in case you’re thinking of buying an adult dog, you will likely consider an adoption.
The cost of adoption considerably does not cost as much as the price of a new puppy. Adopting a Rat Terrier will cost you around $300-$400.
- Appearance of the Rat Terrier puppy
Appearance plays a major role when it comes to pricing a Rat Terrier puppy. Shape of the ears, length of the tail, coat colors, body size, length of the hair and hair type are some concerns. Also, Rat Terriers with brindle coats and miniature Rat Terriers are more expensive.
Costs of supplies for a Rat Terrier
If you’re bringing a pup home for the first time, dear friend, you have a long list of supplies to buy.
Food and water bawl, the collar and leash, ID tag, bed, toys, brushes and grooming sets, shampoos are only a very few of these supplies.
If this is your first pet, you will have to buy all those supplies brand new, and it will set you back an average of $350.
After the first year, this cost will comparably reduce and fall around $50-$150. Anyway, the excitement of owning a new puppy will make you buy the very best of everything.
After all, this puppy will be your best friend for his whole life, and he deserves the very best.
How much will it cost to feed a Rat Terrier?
An adult Rat Terrier who’s around 10 kg usually consumes about 50 – 75 kg of dog food for a year, while a puppy consumes less.
So, on average, to feed a Rat Terrier pup it will cost you around $100-$150. For an adult, it can go up to $250.
But we can’t forget about the treats now, can we? For treats, it usually costs about $150 annually. And many people forget to include this when calculating how much does a Rat Terrier cost.
Remember, these prices ultimately depend on the food brand you’re using.
What is the medical cost of a Rat Terrier?
Another cost that you should take into consideration is the medical charges. You will notice that this is the largest figure in your list of costs while you find out how much does Rat Terrier cost.
The cost will be a little higher during the first year than the rest of the years’ medical charges. Be ready to spend around $600 in the first year of the puppy’s life.
After the initial year, the cost will be around $450 a year. Additionally, you must plan out whether you’re spaying/neutering your pup. If so, that procedure will bill you $150- $300 extra.
Moreover, besides the necessary vaccinations coming up yearly, few other health problems are common among the Rat Terrier population.
Even if we don’t know that our beloved dog will get sick with these health problems, it’s better to be prepared.
Some of these medical conditions you must be aware of are epilepsy, dental issues, heart conditions, and allergies. Sometimes those conditions can set you back several grand.
These are sudden and take place at the most unexpected times. For this, you could consider following pet insurance. It will help you get through sudden situations without any complications.
The rounded-out price of an average annual insurance plan will be around $600. You can find plans starting from $200 up to a few grands.
Total cost to raise a Rat Terrier
So, we’re at the last level to find out how much a Rat Terrier costs. You must consider all the variables such as puppy’s price, supplies, training, medical, food and treats, grooming costs, pet license, and the microchipping charges.
Altogether you will get an average of around $3500 for the first year. That’s average, but how much does a Rat Terrier cost for real?
Even though the average is at $3500 a year, you must expect it to go as high as $5000 for the first year depending on the prices of your area, especially the medical charges.
And if you were ever to consider optional options like spaying/neutering and pet insurance, expect your average first-year cost to rise around $4100. After that, the yearly cost will gradually drop to about $1500 annually, with an average of $125 a month.
The lifespan of a Rat Terrier is around 15-18 years. Yes, they have an exceptionally long lifespan. Your best friend will shadow you for nearly 2 decades. How great is that?
So, how much does a Rat Terrier cost for 15 years? While the average boils down to $20,000, the maximum can rise high up to $35,000 without any optional expenses.
But if you opt to go with spaying/neutering your puppy and pet insurance for 15 years, it will be around $ 50,000. Even if that figure as a whole will look like too much, that’s the cost for 15 years. After all, you cannot neglect your pet’s basic needs.
Have fun with your new dog! Stay tuned with us for more interesting posts about Rat Terriers.
