₹15,000 a Month on a Dog. People Are Shocked. But This Is Not About Money
Karen Maben | TimesPets Bureau | Mar 27, 2026, 08:14 IST
₹15,000 a Month on a Dog. People Are Shocked. But This Is Not About Money
You might have heard this story. A Bengaluru couple voluntarily spends around ₹15,000 a month on their pet dog. It includes everything. Food, grooming, visits to the vet, toys, or even supplements and treats. It is safe to say that responses of people nearby were exactly what was anticipated, astonished. Some said it’s too much. Some said it’s unnecessary. Some said people have too much money. Some said this is love.
You might have heard this story. A Bengaluru couple voluntarily spends around ₹15,000 a month on their pet dog. It includes everything. Food, grooming, visits to the vet, toys, or even supplements and treats. It is safe to say that responses of people nearby were exactly what was anticipated, astonished. Some said it’s too much. Some said it’s unnecessary. Some said people have too much money. Some said this is love.
But the interesting part is not the amount.
The interesting part is why this is happening more and more now.
There is a new term people are using now — DINKWAD. Double Income, No Kids, With A Dog. Basically couples who both earn, don’t have children, but have a pet that becomes the centre of their life.
And when you literally go through the streets of cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, you will understand that this is not unique anymore. Today, many young couples are adopting pets prior to having children, or even not having children, or even as an alternative to having children in a busy urban setting.
The couple in this story reportedly had premium dog food, supplements, grooming subscriptions, even a dedicated fridge section for the dog’s meals. When asked how much they spend on themselves for groceries, they laughed and said probably less.
That line says everything.
People spend differently on themselves and on someone they love.
When you buy for yourself, you compare prices.
When you buy for someone you love, you compare quality.
This is precisely the case with pets today.
Animals no longer are viewed as pets who live outside the home and feed on residual food. Today, pets in most urban houses are sleeping on beds, being served special food, attending grooming salons, celebrating birthdays, traveling and having a better healthcare than most human beings.
And this is not just emotional. It is also social.
Cities are becoming lonely places. People live far from families. Work is stressful. Social circles are small. Life is fast. In such a life, a pet becomes routine, comfort, emotional support, and companionship all in one.
So when people ask, “Why spend so much on a dog?”
The answer many pet owners would give is very simple:
“Because it’s not just a dog.”
What is really changing here is not spending habits.
It is the definition of family.
Earlier, family meant parents and children.
Now for many people, family means two people and a dog waiting at the door.
Celebrate the bond with your pets, explore Health & Nutrition, discover Breeds, master Training Tips, Behavior Decoder, and set out on exciting Travel Tails with Times Pets!
But the interesting part is not the amount.
The interesting part is why this is happening more and more now.
There is a new term people are using now — DINKWAD. Double Income, No Kids, With A Dog. Basically couples who both earn, don’t have children, but have a pet that becomes the centre of their life.
And when you literally go through the streets of cities such as Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad, you will understand that this is not unique anymore. Today, many young couples are adopting pets prior to having children, or even not having children, or even as an alternative to having children in a busy urban setting.
The couple in this story reportedly had premium dog food, supplements, grooming subscriptions, even a dedicated fridge section for the dog’s meals. When asked how much they spend on themselves for groceries, they laughed and said probably less.
That line says everything.
People spend differently on themselves and on someone they love.
When you buy for yourself, you compare prices.
When you buy for someone you love, you compare quality.
This is precisely the case with pets today.
Animals no longer are viewed as pets who live outside the home and feed on residual food. Today, pets in most urban houses are sleeping on beds, being served special food, attending grooming salons, celebrating birthdays, traveling and having a better healthcare than most human beings.
And this is not just emotional. It is also social.
Cities are becoming lonely places. People live far from families. Work is stressful. Social circles are small. Life is fast. In such a life, a pet becomes routine, comfort, emotional support, and companionship all in one.
So when people ask, “Why spend so much on a dog?”
The answer many pet owners would give is very simple:
“Because it’s not just a dog.”
What is really changing here is not spending habits.
It is the definition of family.
Earlier, family meant parents and children.
Now for many people, family means two people and a dog waiting at the door.
Celebrate the bond with your pets, explore Health & Nutrition, discover Breeds, master Training Tips, Behavior Decoder, and set out on exciting Travel Tails with Times Pets!
