Where our numbers come from.

US dollars. Sources checked October 6, 2026. We separate source benchmarks, user inputs and scenarios.

Source benchmarks

ASPCA care-cost table ↗ supplies care and setup defaults. It shows no pricing year; these are not relabeled 2026 local prices. We replace its insurance figure with the newer NAPHIA benchmark, and default dental care to zero.

NAPHIA 2026 report, US 2025 premiums ↗ reports $836 annual accident-and-illness US dog premiums for 2025. Dividing by 12 and rounding gives $69.67; multiplying that input gives $836.04, a four-cent rounding difference.

CareCredit emergency costs, May 2026; 2025 survey ↗ supplies emergency survey examples, not predicted annual bills.

AKC adult breed weights ↗ supports adult size grouping, not breed-specific cost predictions. Ohio State veterinary nutrition guidance ↗ explains food-quantity uncertainty; presets are not feeding prescriptions. CDC pet food safety ↗ informs food safety guidance.

Illustrative inputs

The $40 bag, 20 lb weight, 100/200/350/500 g per day scenarios and $1,000 savings target are not market averages or feeding advice. Acquisition, paid care, housing and dental default to zero because circumstances are unknown.

The math

Spending = annual food + annual care/extras + one-time setup + acquisition + twelve monthly premiums when enabled. Plan total adds savings, shown separately. Ongoing monthly spending removes setup, initial care, neutering, training, acquisition and savings. It is not a forecast of year two.

Limits

No inflation, tax, local multiplier, breed illness prediction, emergency probability or insurance payout is added. Include tax in entered costs. Avoid counting vaccines in both routine and initial care, or shelter-included services again. No advertiser sets the assumptions.