Doggie Questions!

So now that most of our home improvement projects are done, DH and I started looking at getting a dog. Just wondering - approximately how much $ per month do you think you spend on your dog? (food, vet bills, etc) We've both had dogs before but we were living with our families - so we have no idea of the actual cost.

Also in looking, we've found a lot of dogs that are ACA registered, not AKC. From the limited research I've done, it seems like a lot of dogs registered through ACA come from puppy mills and I def don't want to promote that (or spend $$$ on a dog that's not a purebred!). Does anyone have any info on AKC/ACA differences? TIA

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Posted by MrsDrinkh20

SO exciting! we are looking into all of htis as well! What kind of dog are you looking to purchase?

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We really want a golden retriever (well really I want a golden and DH just wants a dog, so I was able to convince him to get that one. ) We had one when I was growing up and she was the best dog ever!

I feel bad bc every other pet I've ever had I've adopted or gotten from a shelter, and I like doing that, but now it's just stuck in my head that this is what I want!

We got our dog at North Shore and its 175 puppy adoption fee plus 75 for neuter that you get back once you get him neutered.

Then the real money starts. Because he was a shelter dog he has every puppy thing you can imagine. He had worms, mites, kennel cough. Then there is all the shots. I have paid probably 1-2K in vet bills. Now that it is all taken care of we probably wont have a vet bill til next year unless something happens.

Then food, treats, toys, beds (cause he has chewed 3 of them) probably 500+.

We also have him in school that is probably another 250

So I have spent a small fortune on him so far.

Well a puppy usually isn't registered at all. Most good breeders will allow you limited AKC registration after they are spayed or neutered.

The cost is going to depend on the size of the dog. (and how much you spoil them)

On necessities... food, treats, etc I think we probably spend about $50 a month. I tend to buy her to many toys and things. Plus she has a bed in every room in our house. MIL spends a lot more because Candy goes through a can of food in 3 days. CJ, my in-laws yellow lab goes through a can and a half a day.

VET BILLS:
As for vet bills. You will have an initial check up, be prepared if something goes wrong... Candy had giardia so that cost us a lot more then expected and its very common in puppies.

Her original checkup was about $50 plus a $29 fecal examination.

Vaccines for Candy were about $113.

Then you have to buy Interceptor which for 2-10lbs is about $2 a month. And if you want to use Advantix, which I don't for a 1-10 lb dog its 1.00 a month.

Then you have to count the spay or neuter. I believe Candy was about $150.

Before I bought Candy I called two vet offices that were recommended to me and I talked to both about the costs of purchasing a dog that weighs in about 6 lbs. They walked through all the initial fees with me, including estimating the spay or neuter, the vaccines and the vet bills. Of course I didn't count on having to battle the parasite which ended up costing me about $250 more then I had counted on.



Buying: We bought Candy from a pure bred breeder. We did our research on her. Do not buy from a pet store or a puppy mill. Get it from a breeder. It costs more but its worth it to know what you are getting. If you can't do that then get a rescue dog. Also don't ship a dog. Find a local breeder even if it means taking longer to get it. Make sure you meet the parents and its best if you meet the puppy. Usually they will let you meet and pick your puppies about a month before you can take them home. Candy chose us when she leaped into my lap on her initial visit. Her father was a fabulous dog and her mom seemed to have a good disposition, so I took her. This is even more important with a large dog that are prone to bad dispositions, like a Rottweiler or a German Sheppard. My dad's friend had 3 Rotties and they were all sweet as can be because they picked the dogs based on the dogs parents.

We paid $1800 for Candy because Papillons are still rare breeds. But other then giardia (which is hard to control with any puppy) she was healthy and we knew where she came from so its worth it. My inlaws bought a Yellow Lab for $900 pure bred English lab.

A pure bred female usually costs more then a male.

We have a purebred golden. She is awesome. The first year is the most expensive (assuming nothing goes wrong healthwise during puppy years), with spay/neuter, vaccines, etc. I recommend getting pet insurance. We looked into it and did a lot of research, and used Pet's Best. It does not cover everything, but will cover a percentage of your costs, and is good in case the pet has an injury or accident down the road.

All of the start up costs are expensive, too - crate, dog bed, toys, etc.

And be prepared for them to chew on things. Bailey ate some of the carpet in our condo. Ooops.

Luckily, she does not shed, so that is exciting and unexpected for a golden. That is why I didn't want a golden - the shedding (I always had labs growing up), but she is so awesome. And great around kids. Oh, and she doesn't bark. I have heard her bark about 5 times ever (she is a year and a half old).

When we first took home Jake we spent about 400 for food bowls lease bed crate toys etc. Since december he has gone to the vet at least once a month sometimes twice... Each visit was at least 75 bucks and some where as much as 150.

He just recently was changed to adult food and roughly it costs 60 bucks for the month. He getd treats and toys between 20-30 bucks a month

U also have consider if u are gonna spay or neuter it could cost 500 bucks ! 

You also have to consider if u are gonna get a fence... Thats a very big expense

Good luck!   

We have 2 puppies under 2 years old.

Rocco (A mini pinscher- will be 2 in July) was found on the side of the road by a neighbor and we took him...It cost us about $400 the first time we took him to the vet (he had fleas) but then I stated taking him to a local pet shop that has a vet come in and do discount pet vaccinations. The shots cost me about $39 each...they dont charge you an office visti...which saved a lot of money.

When I neutered him I went to friends of animals...friendsofanimals.org and got the certificate...that saved us a ton when we got him neutered.

Maxie (a pit bull mix- 5 months) we found on petfinder. She was at Little Shelter in LI. We had to take her to their vet which was annoying because it was very far out east and we are in queens...but they paid for the majority of her things...They paid for: her 1st two vaccinations, spaying, and she had a doodie prob...It cost us $175 donation and then the last checkup...

All in all it hasnt cost us an overwhelming amount of money...but the dogs eat us out of house and home...They are on Merrick which is organic and the big bag is like $30 and the cans of food are like $2.50 each....

The monthly cost for our dog varies. We decided to get a rescue a lab/hound mix-Adoption fee, microchipping and dog licence $185. The Humane Society of New Rochelle is awesome and gave us his training crate, first leash and collar and 5lbs of food- Our first vet visit was free as well but he need a couple of tests and they cost $85. He was also already neutered and vaccinated so we save the cost of these items.
The first two months were the most expensive. Dog bed, toys (kong), brush,nail clippers, treats were essentials for the first few weeks. The cost for these items varies depending on the choices you make some dog beds are $100+. The food is $55/month (although we get a little more then a month from a 33lb bag). We had to try a couple of different foods and ended up with a holistic dog which is a little more expensive but does not have all kinds of corn (dogs have a difficult time digesting corn) and grain fillers.We have had to buy 3 different types of collars b/c our dog pulls for a total of $45. New leash after Cody was skunked $15.
Flea prevention: $40/ 3 months
Heart worm prevention: $42/6 months.
Vet costs: $65/visit PLUS the cost of any tests or vaccines required. Our dog was limping DH took him to the vet and the tests and medicine cost over $300.
Pet Insurance: $28/month
Dog training: $154/8 weeks
Bottom line dogs can be expensive especially if you get a puppy that may chew furniture, clothing and rugs. You also have to factor in the unexpected cost of illness and injury.

we gota puppy Jan 1. he is 7 months old right now.

lets see..as other said, the first few months are the most expensive because of shots and spay/neuter.

his first check up which included the beginning of his shots was about $250.
finishing up his shots along with clearing a parasite he had(needed meds and a fecal test) was about another $200 something.

tomorrow i am dropping him off to get neutered and thats $240.

as for food...i buy the big sacks of food as oppose to the small bags. it used to be about 25 per bag but i just switched him to one thats a little cheaper ($18) and we buy that maybe every 3 weeks or so.

toys ugh. he DESTROYS every kind of toy you can imagine. so its usually 20-30 a pop on buying him new ones and thats every 3-4 weeks.

oh dont forget the flea and heartworm protection. heartworm is over 100 per year

also, if you are travelers, dont forget about future boarding expenses. it cost us $400 to board him for 2 weeks when we were on our HM

Nice!!! Dogs are the best!!!
I do not know the difference with the kennel associations, sorry, but I can tell you between food, groomer, treats and the vet my dog costs about $25-$50/month. He is about 25lbs. He gets ear infections regularly (the floppy ears are prone to them) so of course that raises the price per month. He is the LOVE of my life, although I cannot let DH hear that.....

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Posted by LadyDuda81509

how funny! dh and i were just talking about puppies too!! we want a french bulldog! prob wont happen tho, cuz i want babies more! LOL and DH says its one or the other

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Pick a baby! You are SUPPOSED to baby a real baby and he will yell at you like my DH for babying a dog!

i am not sure but not a lot - maybe 20 bucks a month and we paid him off lol so now i got rid of the $60 a month bill for him.

for the first 6 months he was at the vet a lot just because he was a baby and got neutered so i would say maybe we spend $500 on vet bills if that

we got him when he was 3 months and he will be one in july

i should add that my dog had all his shots but the rabbis when we got him

if yours doesnt your vet bill will be pricey

oh i forgot to add we had enrolled our pup into puppy classes and that cost us $99.

and depedning on the dog..you may have a grooming bill