What does a dog really cost?

[crackers]

My kids have been bugging me to get a dog for a couple of years now. We're at the point where we think they're old enough that they can start to take care of it and so we are considering buying one. What I need to know is how much does a dog really cost? We plan to get the dog at the pound so we don't expect there to be much expense and actually getting it except for shots and the pound fee, so what I really need to know is what can I expect to pay for food and possibly medical attention? Anyone who has a dog who could give me a rough idea of what they spend per month on it would be a real help. Thank you.

[riverwed070707]

Pets can be as cheap or expensive as you choose to make them. I have two big dogs. We spend about $40/month in food. Annual shots are about $150/dog. Treats/toys/etc aren't signficant enough to even track. I have friends who spend as much on dog entertainment as they do kids.

[breathemusic]

I think the cost of a dog depends entirely on the size of the dog and your own personal living situation. Big dogs eat way more food. Also do you plan to buy preium food or just the regular stuff? Do you have a yard and plan to get a dog door (or have an outside dog) or does someone actually have to be home at regular intervals to let the dog outside to do its business? Do you travel a lot? Cause that means you either need to have a trusted neighbor/family/friends who can check up on the dog, or you have to kennel it, or get a pet sitter, or travel with the dog. So there are a lot of factors to consider.

[feh]

You'd probably get better info on a forum/site dedicated to pets. That being said...

definite costs

• cost to acquire the dog: $0-2000
• dog license: will vary; maybe $15
• annual exam & shots: $100-200
• food: will vary greatly depending on dog and what you buy

potential costs

• boarding or dog sitter when you are away
• fencing
• toys, bedding, etc.

Non-monetary investment: time. Dogs need attention and exercise. How much of each will depend on the dog.

[auron]

I got my puppy (choc lab/pit mix) last August and budget $500/mo for her.
Keep in mind:
-I buy very high quality food for her
-She likes to eat anything and everything and thus has been to the vet on a VERY regular basis
-I take her to dog daycare while I'm at work ($340/mo)
-I'm taking her to training classes

Depending on vet bills, daycare (or no need for), and how much you spoil your dog; expect to spend [B]at least[B] $80/mo to $100/mo avg (food & annual checkups) and realize there will be incidental costs.

[terces]

Vet costs vary depending on the area you live in. I would call a couple recommended vets in your area to see what they charge for an exam and shots. Also if you live in an area where heartworm and fleas are prevalent, they'll need to be on preventative medicines. Also make sure the dog you get is spayed/neutered

Besides the shelter, check with your local rescues regarding adoption. I foster dogs and we are able to give the potential family more information about the personality and character of the dog which helps make a better match. (I have a wonderful foster right now if you live in the Houston area )

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Figure even if you cheap out when they are young, when they get old and nearly die then they really rack up the vet bills. I call my dead dog 5 figures of money at the end. He was probably around $100/month until then with food, meds, etc. But then the chemo, etc? I never totalled the bills because I was too scared to see what we spent. And yes i know he was a dog. But trust me the longer you have them the more you invest the harder it is to just let go.

[snafu]

Costs can depend on breed so you need to have the kids research issues and be very careful in your initial selection. The kids need to fully understand their responsibility. All dogs need a serious amount of exercise even when the weather is awful or the kids have preferred activities. We had our sons sign a contract that listed the rules. The bottom of the page said the dog would be given to someone who would offer better care so both kids took that threat seriously. Expect to become totally attached to your dog just don't tell the kids.

Some dogs are prone to genetic defects and easily run up huge vet bills. Some breeds need professional grooming so bi monthly 'beauty' cost upward of $ 40. It is a good idea to have the kids train the dog in obedience school as a well trained dog is a joy and kids are much easier to manage when they understand the principles and experience the frustration of having instruction ignored. An untrained dog can be a huge liability if they bark excessively, jump on people and furniture, mark territory, not return on recall, do not obey command and morph into family alpha.

We feed our dog raw dog food because it is absorbed very efficiently; very little waste results in tiny poop.

[crackers]

Thank you to all that have responded. How important is it to give the dog training classes and approximately how much does it cost to get? This is something that I had thought about, but it would seem to be important.

[crackers]

Does anyone have an estimate on what I should budget for dog training classes?

[auron]

Does anyone have an estimate on what I should budget for dog training classes?

Expect to pay anywhere from $130 for a Petco level trainer up to $230 for a top APDT per 8 week group class +whatever you spend on treats/equipment for the class. Generally, theres a puppy class, an intermediate class (puppy/adult beginner), and Canine Good Citizen prep class.

[snafu]

We started with a good dog training book from the library. The kids and I did a training session every day. We repeated the same lesson until puppy 'got it' before moving on to the next. It was b-o-r-i-n-g but everyone has to be consistent.

We had to buy a specific training lead and collar from the pet store to join an outdoor puppy class in an off-the-leash park in our community. I think the trainer charged $ 8. per puppy per hour and there were more than 20 participants. He used both hand and voice commands concurrently and we got a lot out of it although others didn't like the lack of individual instruction/correction/assistance.

We have several K9 training services that charge $ 1,000. to train your dog for a week but I don't know if that included the kennel costs.

[YLTL_Dan]

This is what we spend on our dog:

- $77/mo on food and treats
- $50/mo on allergy pills and the occassional staph infection
- around $500/year on pet sitting

I've completed some research on this as well and according to the US Census Bureau, the average family spends $58/month on pets... but that's not exclusive to dogs. In addition, Americans will spend an estimated $52.87 billion on pets in 2012.

[bjl584]

My dog (Chocolate Lab) cost me $325 to buy. He eats around $20 of food a month (that's the 44lbs bag at Walmart.) He also gets some random chew toys along the way at about $7 a piece. They last him a few months. I buy the nylon chew toys. He also goes to the vet once a year fot a checkup and shots. Figure around $100 for a visit. I've also had a few emergency vet visits for the times he got sick. That was also around maybe $100 per visit. I bought him a big indoor pen for $120, but that will last his whole life.

That's really about it. He is a great companion, and I feel that he is worth every penny. I have his picture set as my avatar.

[sagremus]

I would like to give you a perspective on pet ownership that is unique. I have two cats. One cat we adopted from a rescue, and the other cat was from a friend. The other cat was only supposed to stay with us for 6 months. However, as things tend to happen, she has become a permanent fixture in our home.

I know cats are a little different from dogs, but I wanted to make you aware of our situation. The cat that was given to us from a friend developed chronic health issues about a year after she came to live with us.

The initial vet bill was about $120. The next vet bill, which required a variety of tests, cost us $350. She had to be hospitalized for a day and that cost us another $250. After her health problem was identified, she was given medication and medical supplies that cost us $50. She now requires vet visits and blood work every 6 months at approximately $150 each time, and about $20 in monthly medical supplies for her condition.

Here is our expenses for our animals from my records:

Male Cat (from rescue):
--Shelter Cost of Adoption: $100 (he already had most of his shots, was neutered and declawed, and was microchipped)
--Yearly Vet Visit: $52 (the vet visit was free because we adopted him from a shelter, and they gave us a courtesy visit. $52 was for additional vaccines and a prophylactic de-wormer)
--Litter: $16/month for both
--Food: $20/month
--Toys: $50 total
--Supplies: $50 total (found his carrier and some bowls at a thrift store, however his collar and tags cost the most)
--Renter's Deposit: $350

Female Cat (from friend):
--Cost: Free, since she was given to us; already spayed and declawed, needed her shots
--Vet Visits: $904.93 total
--Microchip: $56.50
--Medical Supplies: $20/month
--Food: $20/month
--Toys: $50 total
--Litter: $16/month for both
--Supplies: $50 total (litterbox, tags, collar; she came with a carrier)
--Renter's Deposit: $350
--Euthanasia/Bural Serives: $350-500 (she will eventually die of her chronic health condition)


Some hidden expenses are vet bills, carriers/crates, tags and registration (cats don't need to be registered with the city, but dogs might?), and supplies. Also, the cats have been destructive despite both being declawed and we now must replace the blinds in our apartment. Finally, you must factor in the cost of your pet's death/bural fees.

I hope this information has been helpful. I would recommend rescuing an animal from a shelter, as adult animals are usually spayed/neutered and up to date on their shots. If you choose to purchase a pure bred or a puppy, you will have to factor in addition cost for the animal as well as any costs associated with spaying/neutering and the series of shots required by your city.