how much do dogs cost?

Question

just for the dog.... not food, dishes, etc. and i want to know the cheapest u can buy a dog 4. how much? and what type of dog is it? i don't have much money but i want two dogs. pleez help! how much would a cheap dog cost? what breed would that be?

it'll be an outside dog

it'll be an outside dog

Answer 1

You can find dogs that need homes for free or for under $100. However, dog shopping is not the time to try and get the cheapest dog you can. Dogs are expensive and should NEVER be just outside dogs. They are pack animals and need to be around their family. I, as do most animal lovers and animal groups like HSUS and ASPCA, consider people who have outdoor only pets to be cruel. If you can't keep you pet inside with you, then you may not be suited to having a pet.

The cost of a dog is not just acquiring the dog. Our rescue dog was around $150. But, we spend a thousand dollars a year on vet visits, prescriptions, emergencies, food, treats, toys, gear, and miscellaneous things. That's not including the $1000 in vet bills from when she broke her leg. If any of these are an issue, then you can't afford a dog. Vet care can be several thousand dollars in cases of emergency and food for larger dogs can be $100 a month.

So far, you don't sound like you have a suitable home environment for any pet. You can't afford one and you can't give him an adequate indoor home. If you love animals, then volunteer with a no-kill shelter and get it out of your system this way. Simply wanting a dog doesn't mean that it's in the dog's best interest. I'd hate to see you rush into it and then have two miserable, cold, sick, hungry dogs. I really don't think that any reputable rescue organization or responsible breeder would give you a dog if you couldn't provide for it and planned to dump it outside. Please consider this as they are usually pretty good judges.


Good luck to you and please think long and hard about the responsibility of being a pet owner. : )

Answer 2

There is no one cheap "type" of dog. Purebreds obviously cost a lot, but even those can be found for cheap/free if you're in the right place at the right time. Your best bet is to get a mixed breed dog. Check your local papers, visit your local rescues/shelters, etc.

You really need to decide what type of dog is going to work for you though. Big? Small? Active? Laid back? Do you have time to brush a long-haired dog? Do you have room for an active breed? Do you know anything about training dogs? And most importantly, do you have the resources (MONEY) to get the dog the vet care it might need. Dogs can get sick just like kids do and you can't just not take them to the doctor because you're broke. Even the most well-cared-for dog will need vet care and accidents happen. A broken leg, pneumonia, a scratched eye, infected gums... all of these could cost you hundreds of dollars with no warning.

Think it through... research dog breeds (even mutts generally have a dominant breed to them which will determine their needs), then go find the perfect dog at your local shelter. Don't be hasty. Wait till you find the dog that is "meant to be"... you'll know when you find it.

Answer 3

It depends on the breed. A purebred can go for hundreds, and even well over a thousand, dollars. Some crossbreeds can be a bit on the costly side, but that is mostly due to demand, and where you live. I've seen certain crosses go for nearly $500. A lot of people give away crossbreed dogs for free. You might want to check your local papers.

Outside dog? I hope that you don't meant this dog will be put outside and never come inside at all. You must keep in mind that if the weather is inclement, the dog must be sheltered. Not only is it for the comfort and safety of your dog, but it is also illegal in most places to leave a dog outside in bad weather, as it should be.

Answer 4

First buy a cheap dog - pay lots of large vet bills over its lifetime.

Its like buying a cheap car - expect the repair bills

Cheap = bred from poor quality parnets by some backyard breeder who doesn't bother to breed for good health, good temperment and carefully screen for hereditary health problems (and that is NOT a checkup at the vet and costs about $500 -1000 for each dog depending on the number of tests needed.)


Second, why get a dog to leave it outside? You are just asking for behavior problems - constant barking (and the police at your door), digging and aggression.

Third if you can't afford a healthy puppy from good quailty parents who have been screened for hereditary health problems (all VERY expensive if you dog has them), then you can't afford:

(a) a cheap dog who will have large vet bills; or
(b) two dogs

Save your money and get a healthy puppy.

I won't tell you to adopt from a breed rescue - no rescue of any breed will ever place a dog with someone who plans on leaving it outside alone. Doubt any humane shelter will either - they will figure the dog will just end up back with them after it drives the neighbors crazy with barking, gets loose and runs...............

Answer 5

Hmmm... Interesting question. What made you decide to want a dog and why two?? If you are looking for a dog based on price you should not be looking for a dog. Trust me they are very expensive even if you find a "cheap" dog. My first dog cost me $400 and the day after she came home I had to take her to the vet cause she was sick $370 later she was well again but a few weeks later we discovered she had tapeworms and that was another $50 to get her better. You never know what condition your dog will be in once you get him/her home. It is a huge comittment and I set aside an extra $1000 to cover medical expenses for the first year of owning my puppy. Good thing too because so far we have spent a little over half of that. I really think you should reconsider because you will end up dropping your dog off to some shelter somewhere because you simply cannot afford to take care of them. My advice: save up and then reconsider... how much of that savings you would be willing to lose in one day that your puppy was sick??

Answer 6

If you go to a shelter it will probably run you about $100 -$150 a dog, and most of the time its just to cover its medical cost while in the shelter and as for breed you'll have to see what they have when you get there. If you live in a place where is gets super cold in the winter keeping your dogs outside is neglect......sorry to say it but you could have the aspca called on you.....i know i would call....good luck

Answer 7

Uuum, it is unlikely that you will be able to afford to properly care for a dog. I would suggest waiting until you have a steady extra income to devote to a pet. Dogs, not including the initial cost of obtaining one, can cost a lot of money. They need regular vet care (neutering, vaccines, teeth cleaning, etc.), quality dog food, toys, exercise, a crate, city registration, plus many other things. And that's not even counting the illnesses or injuries that will require extra vet expenses. If you really CAN afford to care for a dog and have considered all of these costs, you should consider adopting from a shelter or rescue. These dogs are already neutered, vaccinated and tested for heartworms so you won't have those additional up-front costs. Adoption fees range from $100 to $400 depending on the type of dog, type of rescue and what all is included in the fee.

Answer 8

It depends on what type of dog. Check the classified ads; a lot of times you can get purebred puppies for free. For registered and more rare dogs, such as the Chinese Shar Pei, expect to pay well over a thousand dollars.

There really is no "best" breed. It all depends on you and your lifestyle. Will it be an inside or outside dog?

Answer 9

You have to factor in vets bills, neutering, if you don't have enough money for two dogs, than you won't be able to afford that. Being a responsible pet owner includes shots, neutering, good food, proper shelter among other things. If you cannot afford that do not get the dogs, it would not be fair to them. Whats the purpose of getting dogs if they aren't in the house, as a member of the family. ( I live outside the city and still keep my dogs inside) If you cannot neuter or spay, you shouldn't have dogs, I work in rescue and have seen dog after put to sleep because od lack of homes. Don't add to that by not altering your pets.

Answer 10

there are no 'cheap dogs'.

the first year that U own a dog, ANY dog, from pup to an adopted adult, U spend on AVERAGE abt $1,000.

that's an HSUS statistic; please see their website - it's the Humane Society of the Untied States, in Wash., DC.

also, plz do NOT get 'two dogs' at the same time: it's three or more times as much work, as even a housetrained adult needs a refresher course in a new home, with new people, a new neighborhood, new schedule, etc, etc.

ther should be a minimum of a YEAR between one puppy and a second pup (i.e., dog # 1 is at least one yr old when pup number 2 is introduced to the home),

and a minimum of 6 months between 2 -adult- dogs... with adult meaning 2 yrs or over in age.

siblings do not do well in the same home; they are too much of a size and temperament when they become grow-ups to live compatibly together. so when they reach puberty, they will start to fight... and as they are so similar in size and strengtrh, there's no easy decision between them as to who's the winner. as a result, they keep fighting, ... and it gets bloodier and more ugly.

same-sex dogs can have the same problems, and females in the same home is especially likely to get really ugly and downright dangerous.

if U don't have the money to buy a dog, ?how do U expect to pay for food? training? grooming tools, Even If U Do It Urself, at home? VET BILLS?

every dog needs decent food... and vet care. an every dog deserves to be INdoors, not living in a yard, or on a chain.

did it occur to U that Ur 'outside dog' is at far greater risk of health problems, or even death?

heat-stroke, fly-strike and maggots, flea infestations, parasites inside the dog, heartworm, and dozens of other potentially-fatal problems are common in outdoor dogs.

to boot: here in an urban-burban area, we have had dogs:
* shot with arrows, bullets, darts and paintballs (toxic - the paint goes right thru the skin, and is also dangerous to inhale as it dries; the dogs try to get it off by licking it -a very direct poisoning)

* poisoned deliberately

* poisoned accidentally (lawn treatments, snail-bait, flea-treatments, etc)

* stoned
* stabbed
* beaten
* kicked
* stolen from their yards
* attacked by a dog entering the yard
* attacked by wildlife (raccoons, rats, stung to death by bees, etc)

NONE of these owners 'meant' to kill their dogs... but they died, anyway.

the dogs who were stolen usually were never found again; as dog-fighting is pretty popular here, they may have ended up as 'bait' dogs, or in a fighting pit.

some of the stolen dogs were wanted to 'breed'; when it turned out they'd been spayed, these females were dumped, miles from home, or turned into shelters nowhere near the local shelter their anxious owners were checking;

one F dog who was abandoned after theft came home ONLY because the shelter checked her for a microchip, and the owner's contact info was still current.

PLEASE: > if < U do get a dog, ANY dog, keep them INdoors, and safe; train them carefully and positively, with rewards, not punishment.

dogs deserve better than what's left over of our time and money...
and they do not belong lonely and neglected in a yard, at the mercy of nasty kids, adults, and the weather and wildlife!!

for cheap: get a NIntendo dog. they can be turned off, and kept in a desk drawer; they do not eat, need no vet, don't get walked to potty at least 4 x/day, don't need exercise or socialization !!