Dogs...

[KeepItSimple]

So I'm seriously thinking about getting a puppy. I've had dogs before growing up, so I know how to give them the emotional love they need. I'm worried about the amount of money it will cost, between vet visits, food, toys, all of that stuff. I'm not ignorant, I know it costs a lot. I just wanted to know if anyone could shed some light on exactly how much it actually takes to take proper care of a dog, from a puppy onward.

The dog I'm gonna get will be medium sized and hypo-allegenic, or atleast semi hypo-alergenic. If that makes any difference in the answers.

[Chreees]

You got to buy food, treats if you really wanna show them some love, and toys for them to play with. Costs determine on where you shop and what brand you buy, so it's really hard to give you any certain figures. Like if you buy everything from Wal-Mart, obviously that's your cheapest option. As for vet visits, you gotta have their shots every year, and there's always the chance of other unexpected vet visits if something happens. Vet expenses vary greatly, depending on who the vet is and how much they charge. Also depends on if it's just their yearly shots (my greyhound's shots cost around $60-$80 every year) or if it's something severe like getting a kidney removed (cost my dad $3,000, and my greyhound was given two more years to live, but lasted six more, dying at the age of 12, the average lifespan of a greyhound). So it all just depends on where you shop, what brand of food/treats/toys you're willing to buy them, and what vet you go to and what's the reason you're there for.

[NitetimeReign]

Chris pretty much nailed this one. There is alot of variables to figure in when getting a puppy. Some vets are cheaper but in my personal experience the ones that are cheap tend to treat the animal like a process and not with much care. But even with the variables, it can be very rewarding having a good dog with ya. Hope this all works out for you.

[bellydancerakn]

Well since it is hypo-allergetic I take it to assume that means it doesn't shed? If it does shed then find a good groomer to do a de-shedding a couple of times a year. Trust me, the 50bucks+tip is worth it. I mean unless you LIKE sweeping/vacuuming every other day. Even if it doesn't shed a good groomer is still nice. I mean you can do a simple bathing at home, or go to petco and they have special doggy showers/baths for owners to use for the dogs. But for clipping and a haircut just go to a groomer. They can also tell you things sbout your dog, like maybe he has a problem you didn't know about. Or they can give you training tips. Cultivate a relationship with your groomer. They are very very helpful people.

Also, unless you are an experianced dog owner. Just go to a trainer. Please. It bugs the hell out of me when people cannot and will not control their animals. I used to work in an animal sanctuary so I would see those dogs all the time. You would never let your child scream at the top of their lungs for no reason, or hit people, or pee on the carpet. So why do you let your dog do it?

Read all the dog books you can get your hands on. Dogs for Dummies and anything from Cesar Millan = very good and useful knowledge. Your local library will probably carry them, but it's always nice to have a few copies for yourself.

Cost is really relative when it somes to toys. It depends on breed, size, and general temparment. I used to own a giant rottweiler and we never bought him toys because he would eat them. Now I own a flat coat and spoil him rotten with toys. I probably spend about 10 a month on him for toys, but that is an average. Sometimes I get carried away and spend 50, sometimes he gets no new toys for 3 months.
Tennis balls are always a golden standard. And don't buy the special dog tennis balls, just go to walmart and get a can of them. Also, you don't always have to buy dog toys for dogs. Stuffed animals from the toy department are just as good and half price, esspecially if you find them on clearance. Just make sure they don't have anything like embroidery or lots of smaller plastic pieces.

As for shots and everything, are you buying from a breeder or adopting from the humane society? If you adopt from the humane society they are already fixed and have their first set of shots. If you buy from a breeder, you have to get shots, get deworming, get spayed/neutered, maybe even microchipped. Shots and spaying/neutering can vary largely from vet to vet. One vet here charges 100 for neutering, another charges 60. Also, check with your humane society if there are any programs for financially challenged individuals who own pets. We had one that cut the cost of neutering in half. Others donate dog food or have it deeply discounted. And yet others donate beds and toys.

You don't really have to buy a dog bed. Yes it's nice, but it's more for the human than the dog. Just get an old comfertor and fold it up. Voila dog bed! Mine just sleeps on the bed with me. but when he gets tired of me pushing him around he just lays down on an old ratty down duvet.

Dog food. If your dog is totally healthy then just get pedigree. Cheap and good. Mine has a skin allergy so we have to get him this special all natural Iams, which costs a lot more. Don't get the store brand. You will be tepted by the price, but it basically just tons of nasty grains and almost no nutrients and vitamins. Just get milkbones for treats, you can give them to him whole or you put a bunch in a bag and slam the bag onto the floor a couple of times, voila instant training treats. You can get a huge box of them at costco for like 20 bucks and it will last you forever.

Ummm I'll give you more info when I can think of it. But right now I really need to go to bed.

[Arcane]

[quote name='INCUBUSRATM' date='14 May 2010 - 10:05 PM' timestamp='1273910745' post='468159']
You got to buy food, treats if you really wanna show them some love, and toys for them to play with. Costs determine on where you shop and what brand you buy, so it's really hard to give you any certain figures. Like if you buy everything from Wal-Mart, obviously that's your cheapest option. As for vet visits, you gotta have their shots every year, and there's always the chance of other unexpected vet visits if something happens. Vet expenses vary greatly, depending on who the vet is and how much they charge. Also depends on if it's just their yearly shots (my greyhound's shots cost around $60-$80 every year) or if it's something severe like getting a kidney removed (cost my dad $3,000, and my greyhound was given two more years to live, but lasted six more, dying at the age of 12, the average lifespan of a greyhound). So it all just depends on where you shop, what brand of food/treats/toys you're willing to buy them, and what vet you go to and what's the reason you're there for.
[/quote]
i'm gonna disagree with Chris on some things.

toys and such aren't necessary. in my opinion, the only things required are a food and water bowl and a bed (unless you left him/her sleep in the bed with you). the other thing i would suggest is a dog house or something, he/she can "escape" from the world....

toys aren't really necessary because if you spend enough time with the dog, he won't have a need for toys. although, a piece of rope can keep them entertained for hours.

for yearly costs like vet bills and food....my papillon (small dog) consumed about $40-50 a year in dog food. for vet bills, it ranged from $100 to $600 a year. depending on which vet i went to (had a world class vet when he was a puppy; $100 checkups were not fun). shots are around $40-80 a year like Chris said.

then you gotta plan for emergencies as mentioned. Juno, my papillon, got into some chocolate. vet bills were about $1200 for 2 days of vet care. but, honestly....if they were going to charge me $10,000, i wouldn't hesitate to pay it.


sometimes, money shouldnt be a factor...

[Chreees]

Whoops. Guess I shouldn't have put toys in that sentence under "You got to buy..." Toys are definitely not necessary. I just suggest getting a few from PetsMart or something. Jay's right, though- a piece of rope can keep them entertained for forever. Different dogs like different kinds of toys as well... my greyhound liked squeaky toys so that he could kill the squeaker. The toy was officially dead to him then. Good thing PetsMart had replaceable squeakers so I could rip open his few toys and replace them and sew 'em back up. Then he'd just kill the squeaker again...

Also about the vet bills... Dogs get into shit. You never know when you'll have to rush them to the vet. Like Jay's dog getting into chocolate, my greyhound stupidly chased a squirrel in the backyard into the bushes and he wasn't paying attention and BAM... knocked himself out by running into the wood fence behind the bushes. He ripped open his shoulder... costs hundreds of dollars to get staples and then medicine and then to take care of the infections that followed... Vet bills will spring on you out of NOWHERE.

All in all, they're expensive, unpredictable, but fun.

[delSol_si]

you guys spend $3000 and $1200 on a dog??!?!? damn thats a lot. I would never spend that much on a dog unless I was filthy rich and had enough to wipe my ass with money. Just get a new dog, pretty sure a dog will cost less than $3000. Heck, my parents cat needed some work done and it was going to cost like $300, my mom said "no thank you" and we are just going to let him die when he is done living.

[Chreees]

It's crazy how life works, Tyler... You've got three kind of people. The first kind of people are not willing to pay ANYTHING, not even a dime, for an animal, period, even if it means saving its life (my grandma, who was taught growing up to fear dogs/cats, since her mother was attacked by a dog at a young age). Then you've got the kind of people who would maybe spend a little money for an animal, but not very much, and would more likely than not let the pet die rather than spend thousands to save its life (my dad, only reason he paid to save my greyhound the two times he hit the fence and had to get his kidney removed were because my mom begged him to). And lastly you have the people who would most likely end up spending whatever it took to save the animal's life if something happened (I want to put myself into the second category, but would most likely end up spending whatever it took if my pet was suffering).

[Venger]

we rescued our puppy from the pound. Paid $135 to jailbreak her. Between food,treats and vet we pay about $300 a year.
Ray

[Arcane]

[quote name='delSol_si' date='15 May 2010 - 04:06 AM' timestamp='1273932406' post='468174']
you guys spend $3000 and $1200 on a dog??!?!? damn thats a lot. I would never spend that much on a dog unless I was filthy rich and had enough to wipe my ass with money. Just get a new dog, pretty sure a dog will cost less than $3000. Heck, my parents cat needed some work done and it was going to cost like $300, my mom said "no thank you" and we are just going to let him die when he is done living.
[/quote]
you and your mom should never own another pet again....

[KeepItSimple]

Thats exactly what I was looking for. Since he's going to be so small, he's going to be in the house a lot, unless were with him outside, which will be frequent, but he will most likely be leashed unless at one of the many dog parks around here, so I don't think I have to worry about him chasing down squirels haha. I have no doubt that he will get into stuff, but in not wanting to pay so much for vet bills if he ingests something he isn't supposed to, I think were going to be on tip top acountability with making sure that anything that could hurt him would be up high so he cant get to it. The shot I thought were a lot more. That was what I was really worried about, was the standard vet visits and grooming needed. But from what you guys are saying, I will be able to pay for that no problem. Food and toys also is no problem. I mean I'm sure I will need to cut back a little on spending so much money in other areas, but it's worth it you know.

[Arcane]

the shots will be a bit more expensive for the first year of the puppy's life....not so much the cost, but the amount given....there's quite a bit of initial shots, then afterwards...it's all just yearly boosters.

[Rani]

You're forgetting one thing..... Most shelters have low cost (nearly free) vet care. Call your local shelter and find out how much they would charge you for yearly shots, etc. at their vet clinics which are usually held at least once a week. Chances are it's much, much less than you're hearing here. My shelter charges $24 for the entire yearly package of shots. $0 for a check-up and often medication is free too. If you know what your pet is likely to get into you can reduce temptation by keeping things put away the same as you would for a toddler. I have two Siamese cats, which are notoriously costly in regards to vet bills, and yet between the shelter and keeping things dangerous to them out of their reach, my vet bills run less than $50 a year. I mix the food up, buying cheaper this week, more expensive the next not to save money, but because you never want a pet to get so used to any one food they don't want to eat anything else. So food, litter and treats, run me about $40 a month. For two cats, one of which is almost 30 pounds so she eats fairly well I would say. A single small dog not needing litter would probably run no more than half that, including treats and the occasional toy.

'Rani

[Chreees]

[quote name='KeepItSimple' date='15 May 2010 - 05:57 PM' timestamp='1273964251' post='468228']
Thats exactly what I was looking for. Since he's going to be so small, he's going to be in the house a lot, unless were with him outside, which will be frequent, but he will most likely be leashed unless at one of the many dog parks around here, [b]so I don't think I have to worry about him chasing down squirels haha.[/b] I have no doubt that he will get into stuff, but in not wanting to pay so much for vet bills if he ingests something he isn't supposed to, I think were going to be on tip top acountability with making sure that anything that could hurt him would be up high so he cant get to it. The shot I thought were a lot more. That was what I was really worried about, was the standard vet visits and grooming needed. But from what you guys are saying, I will be able to pay for that no problem. Food and toys also is no problem. I mean I'm sure I will need to cut back a little on spending so much money in other areas, but it's worth it you know.
[/quote]

He/she also won't be a greyhound, so he/she won't get up to 45 mph to knock him/herself out on a fence and require staples.

[Synesthesia]

i just brought my two new kittens to the vet (not quite the same thing as a puppy, but i think initial vet bills for both would be similar) and it cost about $100 per cat. this included the physical exam for young animal ($52), the first vaccination ($9), fecal parasite exam ($36.50), and some other small costs. they still have to go back in for their rabies shot at 12 weeks and then get their spay/neuter procedures (not sure how much those are gonna cost but im thinking its going to be around another $100ish per cat for both...i know females are more expensive to have spayed because they need to be put all the way under anaesthesia, because its a more invasive operation than neutering). plus i am going to have to buy revolution (a parasite killer/preventative) which is $15 bucks a month (its great, they have it for dogs and cats and it works on fleas, ticks, ear mites, and heartworms all at once instead of having to give them seperate medicines...with an extremely low incidence of side effects. i highly recommend you get that for your pup!) so yeah, like everyone is saying, initial vet costs can be a little pricey, but after that you are just going to have to go in yearly for boosters, and then of course if anything unexpected occurs, which hopefully wont be the case.

here's a good tip: there is this credit card called "care credit". i would sign up for it if you can, its great to have because you can use it for both you and you pet. it is wonderful for emergencies when you just dont have the cash to pay for unexpected things. so far my boyfriend and i have used it to get his wisdom teeth out, some root canals done, and our kitties first vet bill. they have a list online of practitioners in your area that accept care credit, and you'd be surprised that there are so many doctors/dentists/vets that will accept it. i think its something like anything over $300 is interest-free for 3 months. here's the website so you can take a look: http://www.carecredit.com/

also, petco hosts low-cost clinics by luvmypet.com, which offer cheap vaccinations and other procedures and medications. other organizations (like shelters) as well as some vets offer low-cost clinics as well, craiglist is a good place to check when and where these are happening. 1800petmeds.com has decent prices too if you need to get meds for your pup.

i know there are other costs involved (food, treats, toys, neccesties like collars and leashes, grooming, ect) but your biggest expense is obviously going to be going to the vet. but there are definitely ways to defray the cost if you know what to do. one more thing: feed your pup a quality food! it's more expensive, but its SO much better for them than a lot of the mainstream brands like purina and iams. i am feeding my kittens wellness, its an all-natural food (they make it for both cats and dogs) and they absolutely love it. the only problem is, a can of friskies wet food costs like 50 cents, the same size can of wellness costs $1.50. but check the ingredients on the mainstream brands, a lot of it is filler garbage! trust me, im not even remotely close to being one of those "OMIGOD gotta eat organic foods ONLY!" type of people, but the things they throw into animal food is appalling....do some reading up online. get them a good quality food if you can afford it. both of my golden retrievers died of cancer, and they were fed purina. not saying it was the food for sure, but both dogs got cancer....they werent related so it wouldnt have run in the family....it seems kind of fishy to me. i'd say better safe then sorry. only feed your animals something you would eat yourself, is my motto from now on

anyways, sorry about the novel of a post, but if you do end up getting a pup i want to see photos! any particular beed you are thinking of getting?

[poncho]

I think a lot of your costs will depend on what breed you have. For example, I found my pitbull on the side of the road. That was free. But since August when I found her, I bet she's cost over $1500 but I spoil her. I buy her Eukunuba food, and sometimes buy her some Bill Jac to mix in with that when i'm at the grocery store. I joke that she eats better than I do and that's prob. true! She has a beautiful coat, is the proper weight, and very healthy. She also eats a good amount to. She goes though one of those 50 lb bags of Eukunuba kibble about every month and a half, so if you break it down by the day its not really that much money. I tried some of the cheeper foods, and she didn't eat them. Plus when i got her, she was kinda beat up looking, so I wanted to give her everything she needed and more to make her feel loved and know i care. And to be honest ever since the day I got her, she's so loving, she really seems to appreciate that I feed her and love her, and take care of her.

As far as toys, as I like to make things myself, I just buy a big thing of rope and make some toys and she loves them. I like to tie knots so its a pretty cheap way to make awesome toys and if you look at the rope toys at the pet store they are simple knots you can figure out.

I also made her collar out of leather, and am going to make her a harness too. I made the leash as well which is just a piece of rope.

The other thing that I have found that's really important is to let her run and excersize as much as possible. I'm lucky to have friends who have dogs and a few times a week we let them run and run because otherwise they are a bit nutty in the house.

She loves the hoof's from the pet store. I dont like the raw hide because she chews them up to fast and eats them and then pukes. But the hoof's are great.

The only other thing too, is make sure you have enough time a day to let your dog out a few times a day. I try to let her out at least morning lunch and night, but most of the time during the days she's with me anyway and she's outside running around with my buddy's dog so the bathroom isn't a problem. But man everytime she shit in the house, it was almost always my fault, so I couldn't get mad at her because I didn't let her out in a timely fashion.

Thats the one other thing then I need to leave. Dont ever get mad at your dog where you yell and scream and hit it. At least not with a rescued dog. I try not to even raise my voice around my dog because she gets scared and then goes and hides. The dogs can't understand everything about you, so when you yell and scream they get scared of you. If you need to yell and scream leave your dog inside and go yell outside, at least with my dog it makes a huge difference.

She is my best friend, sleeps with me every night, and I love to take care of her. She goes just about everywhere with me and is the sweetest most loving creature I know.

But its not for everyone to own a dog, and deff. try to consider everything you can think of before getting one!

[Victim026]

[quote name='delSol_si' date='15 May 2010 - 09:06 AM' timestamp='1273932406' post='468174']
you guys spend $3000 and $1200 on a dog??!?!? damn thats a lot. I would never spend that much on a dog unless I was filthy rich and had enough to wipe my ass with money. Just get a new dog, pretty sure a dog will cost less than $3000. Heck, my parents cat needed some work done and it was going to cost like $300, my mom said "no thank you" and we are just going to let him die when he is done living.
[/quote]

Try over $10k on my Yorkie between 2 seperate vet visits, Blood/Plasma transfusions aren't close to cheap for even a little 6lb dog, although the fact that I had to go to the emergency vets on saturday night didnt help my costs either. If $300 is to much to spend on your cat then you probably shouldn't ever have any pets, I mean you wouldn't just let your child die if it would cost $300 to fix them.

[TheScotsman]

[quote name='Arcane' date='15 May 2010 - 04:23 PM' timestamp='1273958618' post='468221']
[quote name='delSol_si' date='15 May 2010 - 04:06 AM' timestamp='1273932406' post='468174']
you guys spend $3000 and $1200 on a dog??!?!? damn thats a lot. I would never spend that much on a dog unless I was filthy rich and had enough to wipe my ass with money. Just get a new dog, pretty sure a dog will cost less than $3000. Heck, my parents cat needed some work done and it was going to cost like $300, my mom said "no thank you" and we are just going to let him die when he is done living.
[/quote]
you and your mom should never own another pet again....
[/quote]

Going to have to agree with Arcane 100% on this one.

If you don't have the means, desire, or respect to care for them properly, don't own them.


I spent 8K patching a wolfhound that decided to bring a bear home for dinner. It's all part of owning animals.

[KeepItSimple]

I'm thinking about a Schnauzer. I like the look of them, and they are semi-hypoalergenic, which is good from my girlfriend who I live with.

[bellydancerakn]

[quote name='KeepItSimple' date='17 May 2010 - 04:48 PM' timestamp='1274140083' post='468452']
I'm thinking about a Schnauzer. I like the look of them, and they are semi-hypoalergenic, which is good from my girlfriend who I live with.
[/quote]


Miniature, standard, or giant?

They're all pretty small.

[Sam]

I love dogs. I got myself 2 pure bred Siberean Husky's a few months ago and i have to say, it was the best decision of my life. They are playful as can be and they chew on everything but they make me happy when I get home from work. My gf and all my neighbors love them aswell and are as friendly as can be!

[rahl071]

[quote name='KeepItSimple' date='17 May 2010 - 04:48 PM' timestamp='1274140083' post='468452']
I'm thinking about a Schnauzer. I like the look of them, and they are semi-hypoalergenic, which is good from my girlfriend who I live with.
[/quote]

Schnauzers are a bit standoffish... they'll continue to push the envelope over and over as puppies into young adulthood until you call them out and shut them down. They'll do things to piss you off to see if they can get away with it. Don't let them.

Personally, I have two miniature dachshunds, and they're great. they like attention, but they're really fun to play with and easy to train. they also don't eat a lot, and if they're short haired, require little maintainance in the coat department. They also don't cause my allergies to flare.

One thing, if you leave blankets on the couch or in chairs, they are very smart and will wrap up in them; it's a burrower thing. So check before you sit.

Just my .02.

[Rani]

[quote name='bellydancerakn' date='17 May 2010 - 11:56 PM' timestamp='1274165806' post='468483']
[quote name='KeepItSimple' date='17 May 2010 - 04:48 PM' timestamp='1274140083' post='468452']
I'm thinking about a Schnauzer. I like the look of them, and they are semi-hypoalergenic, which is good from my girlfriend who I live with.
[/quote]


Miniature, standard, or giant?

They're all pretty small.
[/quote]

My family owned Schnauzers for many years. Great dogs but the giants are not small by any means and if you check the AKC information you'll see that viciousness is still common enough in giants to be warned against. Miniatures and standards on the other hand tend to be more pet and family oriented. They shed almost not at all, and their coat is managed through stripping, though most owners have just have them clipped because it's easier.

'Rani

[bellydancerakn]

[quote name='Rani' date='18 May 2010 - 07:16 PM' timestamp='1274235397' post='468585']
[quote name='bellydancerakn' date='17 May 2010 - 11:56 PM' timestamp='1274165806' post='468483']
[quote name='KeepItSimple' date='17 May 2010 - 04:48 PM' timestamp='1274140083' post='468452']
I'm thinking about a Schnauzer. I like the look of them, and they are semi-hypoalergenic, which is good from my girlfriend who I live with.
[/quote]


Miniature, standard, or giant?

They're all pretty small.
[/quote]

My family owned Schnauzers for many years. Great dogs but the giants are not small by any means and if you check the AKC information you'll see that viciousness is still common enough in giants to be warned against. Miniatures and standards on the other hand tend to be more pet and family oriented. They shed almost not at all, and their coat is managed through stripping, though most owners have just have them clipped because it's easier.

'Rani
[/quote]


I grew up with a 120lb rottweiler mutt, so anything under 100lb is considered small to me. And yes I did look it up. That's why I asked.

[Rani]

[quote name='bellydancerakn' date='18 May 2010 - 09:12 PM' timestamp='1274242338' post='468602']
[quote name='Rani' date='18 May 2010 - 07:16 PM' timestamp='1274235397' post='468585']
[quote name='bellydancerakn' date='17 May 2010 - 11:56 PM' timestamp='1274165806' post='468483']
[quote name='KeepItSimple' date='17 May 2010 - 04:48 PM' timestamp='1274140083' post='468452']
I'm thinking about a Schnauzer. I like the look of them, and they are semi-hypoalergenic, which is good from my girlfriend who I live with.
[/quote]


Miniature, standard, or giant?

They're all pretty small.
[/quote]

My family owned Schnauzers for many years. Great dogs but the giants are not small by any means and if you check the AKC information you'll see that viciousness is still common enough in giants to be warned against. Miniatures and standards on the other hand tend to be more pet and family oriented. They shed almost not at all, and their coat is managed through stripping, though most owners have just have them clipped because it's easier.

'Rani
[/quote]


I grew up with a 120lb rottweiler mutt, so anything under 100lb is considered small to me. And yes I did look it up. That's why I asked.
[/quote]

I'm with you on big dogs. I love, love, love great big dogs. The bigger the better. My favorite dog ever was a Great Pyr named Gypsy. Snow Queen's Gypsy Maiden to be exact. I loved all 147 pounds of her. I'd yell, "Let's go to bed!" And she'd grab any handy throw rug to the floor at my side of the bed and lay down on it. I'd say 'TV" and she'd stretch out in perfect position to serve as a backrest. "Doggie Doctor" sent her running to my car because she loved her vet and all the attention they lavished on her whenever I took her in for anything. Of course I had a sports car and of course she had to ride shotgun. I think I'll always miss her. She was the best dog. Scared people half to death with her size though.

If I ever buy another house, with a yard, first thing I'm doing is getting another one.

'Rani