The True Cost Of Getting A Dog In Chile
Truth be told, it was my partner - not me - who wanted a dog. I put off getting one for years and years due to our traveling and constant relocation. When we finally added Bourbon to our family, he truly completed it. Fortunately, Santiago, Chile, is one of the most accessible places to have a dog. People here seem less phased by dogs barking than other places, that's not to say Bourbon barks, but by God, our neighbor's dog does. Since I got Bourbon in February 2021, I have saved every receipt to produce an accurate picture of how much it costs to get a dog in Santiago.
**Note that I got Bourbon on February 23, 2021. The total amounts are only for the 4.5 months since then.**
Finding Bourbon
Once I decided that if I was going to get a dog, I needed to do it, I joined a Facebook group, "SOS Perros y Gatos perdidos de Chile." This group is dedicated to helping find homes for dogs and cats on Chile's streets. This is how I was able to get Bourbon for free. He was born in Maipu - the far West side of Santiago - and the mom's owner was giving the puppies away for free. She posted to the page that she had free puppies, and I responded. I do have friends here with purebred dogs, and the costs on that vary. Interestingly enough, they have all found their breeders via Facebook as well. One interesting thing to note whether the dog is purebred or mixed, white dogs are VERY popular here. However, almost all dogs on the street tend to be black or brown—just something to keep in mind if you are looking for a particular color.
Cost: $0 CLP/ $0 USD
Food
I believe that an investment in good food is an investment in your health. This thought extends to dog food as well. When I first got Bourbon, his coat was dull, and he was a bit sluggish. So I went to a store called Best For Pets (I’ll admit the name got me), and I purchased the most expensive food they have - naturally, now that’s what Bourbon loves the most. Immediately I noticed a change in Bourbon’s demeanor and his coat. I usually buy his food from Orijen or Brit. An 11kg / 25.25 lbs bag of food will generally last me about a month and a half at this stage.
Cost: $415 CLP/ $554 USD
Collars/Leashes
When the lady handed me Bourbon, he didn’t come with anything. The first matching collar, harness, and leash I bought him were cute and tiny, and not cheap. I was an excited new dog mom; what can I say. Since that initial matching set, I have purchased three collars, three leashes, and two harnesses. Fortunately, these are not hard to find here. There is an excellent store called Miniso that sells Japanese imports and is a cross between the home section of Ikea and a stationary store. Recently they have started carrying dog items, and it has changed the game for me. Collars are $3 CLP / $4 USD each and leashes are $5 CLP / $6 USD. Now that Bourbon has slowed down on growing a bit, I have had to buy him the more expensive harness from the pet store. It was the only way I could get one that fits! I still use a walking leash from Miniso; however, I did invest in a nice running leash that I love. It depends on your lifestyle, how big your puppy gets, and how many of these you have to purchase. Never feel like you need to break the bank on these items.
Cost: $115 CLP/ $153 USD
Beds/Houses
Bourbon has three beds and a dog house, yet he is sleeping on the floor in front of the door as I am writing this. The first item to talk about - the dog house. The one we have now is the second one. The original house was purchased in a hurry the same day I got Bourbon. It was only $13 CLP / $17 USD and was the perfect size for him. While it worked for the first three months, I upgraded him fast when he hit his growth spurt. The second and most current house was $85 CLP / $113 USD and is the biggest one that I could find commercially. Dog beds, on the other hand, can be found everywhere. The first one Bourbon received as a gift from a friend of mine. The second bed was purchased for my partner’s office, and the third was purchased for the living room. The beds are only expensive as they are big, which means the smaller the bed, the smaller the cost and the more options you’ll have. The next bed I buy for Bourbon - he has now outgrown all three - will be a queen-size mattress. Seriously.
Cost: $157 CLP/ $209 USD
Bourbon’s first house
Vet
I find the Vet here to be very reasonably priced. The Vet I use is called Veteneria Premev, and the doctor Natalie is bilingual. This has helped when Bourbon has been sick, so I can make sure that I understand everything. Not to mention that she responds very quickly to any WhatsApp messages that are sent. Each consultation is $21 CLP / $28 USD. If there is time, she always cuts his nails too free of charge. Each vaccination is $26.30 CLP / $35 USD as well. The one time that Bourbon was sick, I purchased some of the medicine there, and then I walked a few doors down to the pharmacy to pick up the rest. Premier was suggested to me by a pet store, and I am so glad that they were. They are incredible with Bourbon there. Bourbon is the only dog I know that when you say, “Do you want to go to the vet?” He gets excited.
Cost: $207 CLP/ $276 USD
The first vet trip
Grooming
Bourbon has only been to the groomers once, and he loved it. Right now, he is shedding quite severely - the vet reassured me that this is primarily due to the arid climate here - so I have not had to take him in for a trim. I did buy some excellent dog shampoo and nail clippers to do some essential maintenance at home. For those times that I want him to get taken care of, I send him to Hotel Pet Resort. They are a one-stop-shop for everything. Since I don’t have a car and finding a taxi to take a large dog can be challenging, they came to pick him up for the cost of $27 CLP, bathed him, clipped his nails, etc., and dropped him back off at the house. I was impressed. I now use them every time.
Cost: $63 CLP/ $84 USD
Getting picked up to go to the groomer
Boarding
Since February, Bourbon has gone with me everywhere. I have not boarded him; however, I know when I do, I can go with Hotel Pet Resort. They are $15 CLP / $20 USD a day. There are loads of options here and prices that vary appropriately.
Cost: $0 CLP/ $0 USD
Training
Training is one area where I feel like I have saved some serious money. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, all the in-person classes in my neighborhood are on hold or are at capacity. Fortunately, I found the YouTube channel “Zack George’s Dog Training Revolution.” This channel goes through everything in easy-to-follow steps. Thanks to Zack’s videos, I was able to teach him to shake (with both paws), kiss, jump, lay down, crawl, bark on command, and even close doors. It was not easy to say that teaching him was easy but, it sure pays off in the long run. I have also been able to potty train Bourbon at home via Zack’s videos. I still buy pee pads since we were in strict quarantine; it’s something Bourbon is now used to, and he still uses at night from time to time overall though he will sit and whine by me until I take him out.
Cost: $102 CLP/ $136 USD
Bourbon showing off his “sit”
Toys
My home has seen many a toy come and go. I have purchased everything from the pack of three tennis balls for $1 CLP / $1 USD to the $23 CLP / $31 USD “indestructible” chew toy - it didn’t last three weeks at our home. Toys can be found very cheaply here, but you get what you pay for. In the end, the two Kong toys, a rope and a baby alligator, have stood the test of time and a growing puppy. I will say I have purchased more toys than I had initially planned due to us being in phase one of our quarantine. We were unable to leave our homes during that time, and I wanted to keep Bourbon stimulated so he didn’t develop a sudden interest in chewing the couch instead. Thankfully it paid off.
Cost: $84 CLP/ $112 USD
Waiting on me to throw the ball in the park
Treats
Oh, man! Treats are my kryptonite. If I see anything that looks new and delicious at the stores, I usually snag it. I am so lucky that Bourbon is incredibly driven by food. This has made training him so much easier. However, all those treats don’t come cheap. As I mentioned before in the food section, I believe that an investment in good food is an investment in your health. This thought extends to dog food and their treats as well. Bourbon gets the best treats, and I have them assigned out so that he gets specific treats for certain activities. The same treats I use when we walk aren’t the same as training, and they aren’t the extra special ones he gets when he has to take medicine. It keeps it varied for him. I love keeping some on me all the time so he can give little kids a “shake” it’s pretty cute and probably wouldn’t happen without an incentive sometimes.
Cost: $177 CLP/ $236 USD
Total: $1320 CLP/ $1762 USD
I hope this helps give you an estimate of how much it costs to get a dog in Santiago, Chile. If you have any questions, please reach out! Like most places, Chile can be as expensive or as cheap as you want; however, small investments now pay off in the long run for both you and your puppy.
