I never had a dog before, is it expensive to have one and is it hard to raise it?

Question

ok, i want a dog and i dont know how much im gonna spend monye on it plus i dont know how to raise it. i would like a small dog.

Answer 1

If you do it right it is quite expensive, but not break-the-bank expensive.

You should always get a dog neutered, for it's own health. I'm English so i have no idea about USA costs for this, but over here it can be done for about £100 for male and £150 for a female.

They also need to be regularly fleaed/wormed - this is not expensive, tho beware of cheap stuff you buy in petshops, it doesn't work so you might as well flush your money down the toilet! The more expensive stuff from vet surgeries works.

It's also a good idea to insure dogs, as you guys in America insure yourselves to be able to afford medical treatment. If you get a large dog it's pretty vital, as it is with a horse!

Finally, all dogs need to be trained. Vet surgeries do free puppy classes, over here anyway!

If all this sounds daunting, I'll just say it's completely worth it. Bringing up a dog is hardly as difficult as bringing up a kid, but it is of course incredibly rewarding!

If you think you can handle all this, go for it, owning a dog is a fantastic thing. But please, do go to a vet with any questions, they're there to advise on healthy animals as well as sick ones!

Hope this helps, Chalice

Answer 2

I recently got my first dog. I adopted him from the local animal shelter and he was already fully trained. Not all dogs will be trained, I just happened to get lucky. I know I would never have had the time or probably the patience it takes to raise and train a puppy. In my opinion, training is important and the responsible thing for any dog owner to do. I keep up with what my dog already knows by taking him to obedience classes that the shelter provides and I also reinforce his training with daily exercises.

As far as expenses go, you'll have one time expenses like a collar, leash, food bowls, a dog house, etc. Then there will be expenses as the dog needs them such as food, treats, and vet bills. The vet bills will probably be your biggest expense.

If you are serious about a dog and aren't necessarily interested in a purebred, you may want to check your local animal shelters. There are so many great dogs out there that only want a good home and someone to love them. The cost of a shelter dog is also usually minimal compared to what you might expect from a breeder.

Good luck and I hope you find a great companion!

Answer 3

Basically since you haven't had a dog before you are talking the cost of the dog, and if you rescue one, Great..
Puppy will need likely at least 2 sets of vaccinations
once you bring him home.. approx $50 each time.
Spay/Neuter..
Crate, depending on the size of the dog... Approx $100-$120

Stainless bowls, dogfood, toys, obedience classes, or at very least, some good books and maybe a video or two.. Leashes, collar.. Fence for the yard maybe?

One thing I might suggest is Pet Insurance.. If you read online here a while you'll see that alot of people buy a dog, and if they aren't careful where they got their dog from, or didn't buy from a reputible breeder, or just had an accident, the vet costs can add up pretty quickly and people can find themselves overwhelmed with the costs. Pet Insurance doesn't seem like it's worth it if you have no problems, but if you do, it can certainly help with the costs.

Answer 4

When I was looking into getting my first dog, I added up all the costs initially, and for my large breed dog it added up to be about $700 initially, the first month. But this included toys, food, food bowls, collar and leash, crate, bed, vet bills for an adult dog (I wanted to adopt an adult dog). Vet bills include vaccines, heartworm prevention, heartworm test if the dog is old enough, fecal check, dewormer. I think that is it. And I also included in this the cost of my dog, I planned to adopt a dog from a shelter, which usually costs around $150. Plus, we live in an apartment, so I added that apartment fees as well. For a small dog, it will cost much less that this.

I can't tell you about raising a puppy, but I adopted a 1 year old pit bull from the Humane Society, and she has been such an easy dog. I have done so much research on dogs, and how to properly care for dogs, that it kind of came naturally. And I did a lot of research on different breeds so that I could choose the right breed for me.

I think it would be best to go to a pet store, and right down all the prices of things you want and need for your dog, and add them up. Then call a vet office and ask them the costs for a 'puppy plan' if you plan to get a puppy. Or for a first time visit if you are going to get an older dog. This will help you cost wise. For raising the dog, I think you should do plenty of research on dogs first, either on the internet, or buy a good book. I think this will get you plenty prepared for your first dog. This is everything I did, and owning a dog has not caused me one problem, it has been easy, and very fun. Good Luck, I hope this helps!!!!

Good Web Site:
http://dogbreedinfo.com/

Answer 5

Decide on the type of dog you would like to have and buy
a book on that breed. You will get alot of information, and
you will know what to expect. Smaller dogs don't eat as
much as big dogs, and it cost less to groom them, and some
visits to the vet are cheaper because of their size also.
You will need to buy a crate, it's for training and for the dog
to sleep in while being trained. Food bowls, a leash and a
colar, some poop bags, and a good dry dog food.
Also some toys and treats. So also don't buy your dog from
a pet store, they cost to much and you don't get any history
on the dog. Go on line and find a breeder in your area,
and when you buy the dog, ask to see the parents. There
are alot of breeders out there that don't charge to much for
dogs. They don't need to be registered if you just want to
have them as a pet. Also, your pet will need lots of love and
your time. Good Luck.

Answer 6

I have had many dogs in my life. At the very least they need to be neutered/spayed and have a 6-way shot (rabies, distemper, and some other ones) and heartworm/flea pervention.

This is not counting the wet and dry dog food, dog treats, dog toys, shampoo, brush, collar, kennel if you go on vacation, etc. You have to have a LOT of time to spend with a dog. Dogs like to socialize so even if you have a big backyard you still need to take it on walks, to the doggy park, etc.

On top of this when they are puppies you have to spend a lot of time teaching them stuff like how to sit, stay, and housebreak them. Some like to bark or nip. Maybe even obedience school. And when they are teething or bored they will DESTROY things like carpet, furniture, etc. They chew up tons of things they are not supposed to and some do naughty things like rip open trash bags and spread trash around the yard, dig holes, and escape and run around the neighborhood.


Now if you have time- and I mean truly have time and patience to teach the dog things, not hit the dog, take it on walks, play with it, teach it not to bark and not to chew then go ahead. Please make sure you have money to get the spay, the shots, replacing things in your house, for food, and for toys.

That being said, I love LOVE dogs and think they are the best buddies ever. But they are more high maitenance than some people realize, and the dog ends up miserable.

If you aren't sure, get a cat.

Answer 7

It can be expensive monetarily, but it will be most expensive in terms of time. You have to train him/her properly, and spend lots of time with the dog when they are young, especially if you are getting a puppy. Puppies are like children, except for the fact that you can put them in a cage and go out of the house for a while. To cut down on medical costs, most insurance companies offer pet insurance, which is just like medical insurance for you or me. It can cut down on your costs if the dog needs surgery or medication, or whatever.
Having a dog is the greatest - my wife and I have two that we rescued from a local shelter, and we couldn't imagine life without them. PLEASE ADOPT ONE FROM A RESCUE/SHELTER!! They are less expensive, and in many cases are better taken care of than those from a breeder/pet store. If you are getting a purebred, make sure they are from a reputable breeder and not a puppy mill. You don't want to know what goes on in puppy mills! There are so many homeless dogs that are wonderful and healthy - they just need that special someone to save them! Good luck!!

Answer 8

Before you get any animal, do your research on that animal first and find out if it is the right animal for you.

You can go to your local animal shelter and/or rescue group and see the many animals that are up for adoption. Many animals are looking for a forever loving home.

If there is a special breed of dog you are looking for, do your research.

You can begin by going to: http://mypetnanny.info/pd/index.htm Select the shelter or rescue group and then find your area. These rescue groups do match people up with pets. Remember they want to make sure that you and the pet are a good match for each other. This is so important. They can also answer all of your questions for you.

Answer 9

The first dog is the hardest to raise, and then it seems a lot easier to raise any others. The cost really depends on what you want. Small dogs tend to run higher in cost because they're in higher demand right now.

Answer 10

To answer your expense question it matters what kind of dog you will get. Also if you get a puppy it would be more expensive than a dog. Also it matters if its a mutt or purebred and it matters if it's a speial kind of bred. For raising it also matters of what kind of bred of dog you get, his/her attitude towards just about everything, gender, and age. So if you get a golden retriver that's young, nice, and seems like loyal he'll be easy to raise than some very small yappy dog.