about how much money will go into your new puppy/dog? how much will pet insurace cost and what other things should i be aware of and what other things are crucial to owning a pet?
2007-03-12 10:08:41 · 6 answers · asked by Lacy C 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
The average start up cost of getting a dog, puppy or rescue is around $1200. That will vary based on the type of dog you choose and what shots etc they will require. Certain breeds have particular needs.
Things to consider:
- yearly vet maintenance (usually $200-$300)
- unexpected vetrinary expenses (pet insurance does not cover everything, research the breed and be aware of specific genetic deficiencies, what they cost to fix and if covered by pet insurance. It is recommended to always have $1000 - $2000 in reserve - just incase.
- food (this can vary depending what brand you choose to feed)
- grooming expenses (some breeds require weekly visits to groomer and others only a monthly nail trim and yearly bath)
- clothes and accessories (some breeds require seasonal clothes such as coats and boots)
- flea/tick and heartworm prevention (this will save you in the long run, to treat after the fact is far more expensive) $100 / yr
Hope this is helpful.
2007-03-12 10:18:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Holy smokes!! The other posters are getting expensive dogs.
For the free from the grocery store parking lot type of puppy, you will be doing shots and vet visits, 200 - 300 for the first year, then about 60 or so a year after that. Getting the surgery to fix them 100 bucks, just rough, it's cheaper to fix a male. Food, don't feed the cheapest stuff on the market, it will create health problems that will cost you in the long run. Dog food for a Shepard size dog ran about 25-30 bucks for a large bag and we'd buy a bag about once every month.
I don't know what the vet insurance runs, but it's a great idea to get it because bills for emergency vet trips can go through the roof. My dog got hit by a car and broke some ribs, chipped a tooth and bruised his liver. The vet costs to get him taken care of correctly would have been well over 4,000 dollars if I hadn't got a discount because my sister managed the clinic I took him to and I was a vet tech and could do a lot of the hospital care at home that most people couldn't have done. (placing IV lines, giving med's) It still cost me 2,000 or so to get him taken care of correctly with the medication and tests he needed.
Other things to keep in mind, you can not take off over night anywhere unless the dog goes along or you have a pet sitter. You will need to be home on a regular basis to let the dog out, it will only be able to hold it so long even as a fully trained adult. Be ready to have dog hair every where for most breeds,
in your food, your bed, on your clothes...
Good luck on finding a dog, if you can still afford it after reading this. :)
2007-03-12 17:40:14 · answer #2 · answered by shannon_crystaln 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
VIP Pet insurance costs us $33 a month. It breaks even with all the routine shots that a dog should get anyways. Over the years, we've gotten back about 60%.
2007-03-12 17:17:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I like shopping at petsmart for my dog's stuff. It'll cost around $80 - $100 to get: A bag of food, dog treats, a leash, a collar, 2 dog bowls, shampoos, toys, and a dog house. It depends on what dog you are getting. If it's a puppy then you might need training pads for house training. If you need to train the dog then you may need to get a second training leash such as a choke chain. I recommend learning how to use a choke chain before getting one.
2007-03-12 18:00:09 · answer #4 · answered by sonya813007 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
500-1,000 for shots and stuff total.
2007-03-12 17:21:59 · answer #5 · answered by angelsloveslight 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
get it untill ur ready or could offord everything for him
2007-03-12 17:16:57 · answer #6 · answered by cordova0615 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋