I am an animal lover and want a pet puppy. My husband says that having a puppy would be similar to having ...?

Question

...another baby. He says that there will have to be annual vaccinations, expenses such as emergency vet payments, food, etc. He says that we might stretch our budget, and patience having a puppy. Is this all true? Is it really a hard, expensive job having a 'new addition to the family'?

Answer 1

I have to side with your husband on this one. A puppy is just like adding a baby to the house, as far as the effort involved goes.

You will have to take it outside for a piddle every few hours, even in the middle of the night if you don't want accidents. Not to mention having to pick up the poop. A dog requires regular excerise to stay healthy.

Then there are the vet bills for vacinations, de-worming, micro-chipping and the cost of spaying or neutering them. If your dog has any health issues that develope or an accident occurs then there will be additional vet bills.

Food costs will vary depending on the quality of food you feed it and where you buy the food. Always buy the best quality of food with the best balance of protein, fat and nutrients for the age and breed of dog that you can afford. Your vet will tell you what the best ratio of those are for your particular dog breed. Most dogs eat puppy food until they are at least 8-10 months old, some longer. Larger breeds require different levels of protein, fat and nutrients than smaller breeds because they grow faster. The larger the dog the more food you will have to buy, the more food you buy the more expensive it will be. Our 70lb adult male Boxer eats between $65-$70 of food per month.

You must constantly be aware of how fresh and full their water dish is. In the summer you might need to fill it 5-6 times a day.
Also if you plan on leaving your dog ourside you must ensure that it has access to a shady area to help keep it cool and a dog house to keep it warm. Your dog ultimately should be inside if it's really hot or cold outside.

You will need a crate/kennel/cage in order to properlly train them. Crate training is the fastest and eastiet way of housebreaking your dog. Be sure to buy a crate that is big enough for your puppy to stand up and turn around in. If you get one that is too big it will allow for the dog to poop or piddle in it. Dogs do not like to sleep or eat where they poop. Some crates are now being sold with a divvider that you can install until you pup gets bigger. That way you don't have to buy two crates, one for when it's a puppy and one for when it's grown.

You may want to invest in a steam cleaner for your carpet to clean up any accidents because if you don't remove the stain completly the dog will contiue to use that spot for his/her accidents. Otherwise you could pay a company to clean your carpets. Also a keep a bottle of spot cleaner available so you can treat the area right away so the stain doen't set.

If your dog is a breed that requires regular grooming (such as fur trimming) and you don't know how to do it properly yourself, there's another expense. Also groomers can cut their nails and clean their teeth and ears for you, which is also a must.

Then there are the collars, leashes, food bowls, shampoo, nail trimmers toys, treats and a dog bed. Those will cost will vary, again depending on what you are buying and from where.

If you have a small dog or one with short hair then you will need a jacket, coat or sweater for it in the winter. If you live in an area where there is a lot of salt put on the roads and sidewalks in the winter I would reccommend getting booties also. Without them the salt will dry out your dogs paws and they will chew at them. In addition it keeps them from getting ice frozen onto the fur that is in between the pads of their feet and protect them from anything that might harm them that is frozen in the ground. I spent $300 on stiches for my dogs paw at an emergency vet clinic because he stepped on a piece of glass that was frozen into the ice, now he wears booties everytime we go out in the winter.

You will also need to take your dog to obeidence classes. Be sure to go to a trainer that has a lot of experience with a variety of potential issues. This not only helps you to train them to follow your commands but also allows for proper soliziation. Socialization is really important for a dog. If you don't properly train and socialize your dog you could end up with temperment and aggressivness issues later on. You will need to practise the things you are taught in class regularily at home. The younger or untrained a dog is the more practise you will need to do. With puppies you should practise no less than 3-4 times a day.

If you have a backyard you will need to intall equipment to contain your dog to your property. This could be a fence, invisible fencing, a chain (light weight but strong) or rope that is a long as you can make it without it allowing the dog to get into flower beds, any other areas that you don't want him/her to have access to or onto other peoples property.

You will also have to "puppy proof" the house. Keep chemicals and toxic plants and foods in an area where you are sure the pupppy can't get at them. Some very common household plants are toxic to dogs. There is also a lot of "people food" that is also toxic to a puppy. For example, chocolate, onions and grapes to name a few. If you don't want you puppy to chew things then you either have to again put them out of puppy's reach, put up a gate or constantly supervise him/her. Puppies love to chew on shoes, stuffed toys/animals, coners of sofas and chairs to name a few.

It is also a good ides to purchase health insurance for your dog. Depending on the breed of dog the cost of this can vary but is well worth the expense if your dog is involved in an acident of gets sick.

Most regions have by-laws that require you to register your dog and you will have to pay for this and the tag. In addition to the rabies tag that your vet wil give once the dog is vaccinated it is alsoa good idea to get a tag engraved with the dogs name and your contact information in case you dog gets lost.

If you travel a lot you will either have to find a friend or family member to watch the dog while you are away of you will have to put the puppy in a kennel for the duration of your trip. Costs of kenneling a dog vary from kennel to kennel. Be sure to go to one that is recommended by family, friends and/or your vet. If you plan on taking your dog with you and you are flying, you will be required to have an airline approved kennel and the proper paperwork if you are going to another country. If you are driving it's also a good idea to get the dog a seatbelt or crate to travel in. This will help keep them safe in the event of sudden stops or an accident. You will need to check what a countries requirements are before you travel as they vary. Some countries require that the dog remain in quarentine for a period of time and that will cost you also. Airlines also charge a fee to fly your animal, this cost varies by airline.

Finally there is the cost of buying the dog. Some pure bred dogs can cost well over $2,000. Please consider getting your dog from a rescue organization. There are so many dogs in shelters and in foster homes that need their "Forever Home". Most breeds have a rescue group for dogs that have been surrendered to them for a variety of reasons. The rescue organization will also be able to give you a good idea of what the dogs temperment and of any potential issues it might have at your home. For example if it dosen't like children or cats. These dogs generally have an adoption fee anywhere from$100-$400 but they will come with all their shots up to date, microchipped (usually) and spayed or neutered (if the dog is old enough). As well if you adopt an older dog you will have potentionally skipped over the housebreaking period. Having said that about house breaking, it is not unusual for a dog that has been adopted to have few accidents around the house in the beginning. With proper training this issue can be resolved easily.

Having a dog in your family is a wonderful thing but it does require a lot of time, commitment, money and love. Be sure that you have enough of all of these before you buy/rescue or adopt a dog. You don't want to have to give the dog up because you find you can't care for it properly. Do a lot of research on the breed you are considering, the breeder you are buying from and the vet you will be using. The more you know about the breed the better off you will be and be able to be proactive in preventing issues from developing.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

All true, but a puppy doesn't need a college fund or expensive sneakers or an X-box!

When you have young children you have to be much more careful about the kind of dog you get. An older dog will save you some training time (unless he's already got bad habits!), but people are rarely giving away great dogs. You're usually inheriting their problems and why they got rid of the dog in the first place.

The best time to add a pet is when YOU have the time and energy to properly care for and train it. Find a dog from a private breeder - look on www.akc.org and check them out thoroughly! Whatever breed of puppy you decide on, DON'T go to a pet shop or buy one off the internet!!!! You'll pay top dollar for what is usually a poor quality puppy mill dog. And you'll be supporting one of the cruelest industries in the country. The breeding animals are often kept in deplorable conditions. They probably haven't been vaccinated against contagious diseases or tested for any health or temperament problems or genetic diseases - that costs money and cuts into their profits. A female is often bred every time she comes into heat. When her poor little body can't take it any more, she is often clubbed in the head and tossed into a dumpster or an open ditch. Most puppy mills ship their pups to pet stores at wholesale prices and many pups die before they even get there. These "breeders" have figured out that they can use the internet to ship a dog directly to the customer and thus make more money by cutting out the middleman. If you buy a dog from out of state, good luck getting your money back if there's something wrong with the pup. These people count on you becoming instantly attached to the poor little guy and being willing to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars at the vet to treat whatever is wrong with him.

My all-time favorite mid-sized dog for kids is the English (or Welsh) Springer Spaniel. They require some grooming, but don't shed too much, are generally great with kids and easy to train. Females are a little bit easier than males, but either should make a terrific pet.

The sporting dogs tend to be the best with kids, Setters, Labs and Goldens are usually great with kids but they shed quite a bit and are very boisterous until they are about two. Herding dogs like Shelties can be terrific, but they can be a bit nippy and they tend to bark a lot. Personally, I love terriers but they can be a handful and a half. Wouldn't have one and don't recommend them for families with young kids.

What you need to do is train the pup and teach the kids how to behave calmly around a dog (no running, no teasing, etc)! Nipping and jumping up are dominant play behaviors. Even friendly dogs will steal food from children and knock them down. YOU should keep her on a leash, so if she gets nippy when she gets excited you can correct her.

Get some great books FIRST, so you'll be prepared and know what you're doing...
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
What All Good Dogs Should Know - Volhard
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan

Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on tv.

Answer 3

Having a dog is certainly an additional expense, as a puppy you have many early bills to take care of such as vaccinations and spay/neutering. If you feed a dog correctly, as in no human food, bulk food can be found pretty inexpensively (compared to human food). Puppies also tend to be rough on a house, and that gets compounded by the size of a dog, I've seen Golden Labs who have chewed through large sections of drywall, that kind of behaviour is certainly the minority though.

All that being said, having a dog is much less expensive than a baby. The time you have to put into it, while less than a baby, is still signifigant, regular walking and attention especially as a puppy is required. Sadly, many people who own dogs see them as a possession, not a living creature they have a responsibility to, you don't sound like that kind of person but it's important to remember that your pet has feelings and needs like any living creature.

Finally may I take this opportunity to suggest that if you do get a dog, take a trip to your local shelter. Many loving adult dogs have no homes and are ready made pets, who are already house broken and know what is expected of them. They also have all their shots and are spayed or neutered, you'll miss a few goofy puppy moments, but dogs are really puppies their whole life, you wont be missing much. :) All of my families dogs have been pound dogs, and all have been wonderful additions to our family. If you MUST have a puppy, please research a reputable breeder and buy from them. Pet stores are notorious for using puppy mills, breeders that don't give a damn about the puppies or the mothers. Many people buy "purebreds" from a pet store and have years of expensive vet bills because of poor breeding practices. A breeder who's reputation is sound will insure that the mother isn't cranking out batch after batch of puppies and that the genetic lineage is varied enough to prevent many common purebred diseases.

Answer 4

Even if it grows to be a large sized dog, food expenses will only run you about $10/month or less. You can get a 50 lb bad of Ol' Roy Premium Dog Food at Wal-Mart for around $12. (note: to those that will say Ol' Roy is not a good dog food, my aunt has a 13 y/o lab that will say different).
Having it spayed or neutered will run you around $60-$100.
Annual rabies shots about $20.
Heartworm medicine about $100. (or, go to your local feed store and ask about the heartworm medicine used for pigs and cattle. A $50 bottle will last you several years)

The first year is the most expensive, getting the dog spayed/neutered and getting its puppy shots, but after that, annual expenses will probably run you $200-$300 per year, which isn't that much at all.

The person below me is making it out a lot worse than it is. The only way anyone could spend $70/month on dog food is because they're buying VERY expensive dog food. I have 3 dogs, (75 lbs, 55 lbs, and 40 lbs) and we spend AT MOST an average of $20/month on dog food.
Use a large 2-3 gallon bucket for your dogs water, and you'll only have to fill it once a day.
Grooming needs can be taken care of with a hand mitten or small dog brush, both cost around $5.
Crating? Proper training? It really depends on what type of dog you're getting. Owning a small inside dog is quite different than owning a large outside dog.

Don't get an outside dog unless you have a large, fenced backyard, and don't get a dog unless you'll have plenty of time to play with it or take it walking. It's very cruel when people get a dog, stick it in the backyard, and never give it any attention. If you don't have a large fenced yard, or if you don't think you'll have much time to spend with your outside dog, then consider getting a small dog that you can keep inside.

Answer 5

Puppies are A LOT of work. They are wonderful additions to a family IF you have time for them. At first, they are quite expensive having regular vaccines, purchasing supplies and food, etc. If you have your mind set on getting a pet, you might consider getting an adult dog that already has most of these expenses behind them and is already housebroke. There are a lot of dogs needing to be adopted and adult dogs are just as loveable as puppies and you get to miss out on all the puppy "frustrations"!!

Answer 6

Oh yes it's true. I have 3 dogs myself and one is a 5 months old German Shepard puppy. It's even harder when they are puppies and more costly. They chew things up, get into things, and they eat a ton of food, you have to spend a bunch on toys, potty pads, or other potty training aids, vaccination which with puppies they have to have 6 series of shots, plus if you want to get them spayed/neutered, if something happens you have to take them to the vet, heartworm and flea medication every month, plus time and/or money for training. I mean the list just goes on. It's a ton I mean a TON of work but if your up for it, it's well worth it. I honestly think it's harder than having a baby. By the time they are 6 weeks old they are running around like a 2 yr old child hehe. Good luck!

Answer 7

I think it depends on a couple of things. The type of puppy you get needs to be appropriate for your lifestyle. Some pups are going to need a lot more excersize and space than you can give to them. Other types will be very unhappy if left alone and will become destructive. The other thing to take into consideration is that when you get a pup, it is meant to be a lifelong committment, kind of like having a child. So, be sure that you are devoted to having this responsibility, even after the dog grows up and isn't a pup anymore.

Answer 8

Yes it is expensive in time and effort. Dogs need excercise and attention as well a 5 minute pat.

Vacations are more difficult and expensive as the majority of vacation destinations (in my country at least) do not accept dogs. This means you need to hire a house sitter or take your dogs to a kennel while you are away. In my experience this adds about $40 per day per dog to your vacation costs. If you travel say 3 weeks a year, your vacation is costing you an extra $840.

From our experience (we have a healthy breed so our vet bills are minimal) vet bills are approx $200 per dog per year, flea and worm medication another $200 plus food (premium dry food) which is about $600 per dog per year.

So ballpark per dog the annual cost is around $1800. We have two dogs so our annual cost is double that.

Worth it? Only you can decide - but it does have a number of impacts on your lifestyle, not just financial.

Answer 9

Your husband is right on most of it. Annual vaccinations are no longer recommended. The American Animal Hospital Association's 2006 recommendation's are for a 3 yr protocol. I believe that in time, that will change also as new studies by universities are completed. Web site www.aahanet.org
Dr. Ron Schultz of Wisconsin University published a duration of immunity on all vaccines in 1999. He found that vaccines are good for many, many years. See Wisconsin University web link

Answer 10

Yes. Your husband is right. It's a huge commitment to bring a puppy home. It tuly is like having a new baby! If you love dogs and want one, but are hesitant to commit because of all that's involved, you should go to petfinder.com and look for a rescue in your area and volunteer to FOSTER care for a dog who needs a soft place to fall... a loving home, so that you can see what it's all about FIRST before you jump into getting a dog.

They have puppies as well as dogs of all ages.

I do foster care and have 9 dogs here at all times! It's a labor of l ove!

Answer 11

Having a healthy,happy pet takes a lot of time and devotion.I see so many people get a dog and "oh it's so little and cute" then after the cuteness wears off the dog usually ends up in the back yard on a chain or rope! Nobody plays with him or talks to him or shows them love.I think that is so damned cruel!