IT COSTS ALOT OF MONEY TO OWN A DOG

ORIGINAL: mudpuppy

certainly emergency vet charges can add up quickly, and getting pups equipped, vaccinated and neutered is costly, but it's pretty cheap to just maintain an adult dog isn't it? All you really need to buy is food and heartworm tabs.

 
 
If you look back to all my costs... those are for an adult dog.  Just because she is an adult, doesn't mean she doesn't get new toys.  It also doesn't mean occasionally she will need a new leash or harness.  Also, puppies eat less food than big adult dogs.  So, basically, all you save on by having an adult dog is the spay/neuter and puppy shots, but you still have regular vaccines, meds, etc. ... and sometimes moreso because many people give more supplements and need more meds as the dog gets older too! 
 
I wouldn't get a dog expecting to spend a lot as a puppy and then significantly less each year after... I don't think it would be a safe assumption!  Plus, once your pup has all the necessities, you find other stuff you want/need such as a portable crate, things for agility, etc.  I personally spent the last half hour looking online for a dachshund keychain for myself!

I already made my list, but I spent about $535 at the vet today for my puppy's spay & having 2 teeth extracted, plus my cat's exam, Advantage and allergy medication.   Pets are so expensive!

certainly emergency vet charges can add up quickly, and getting pups equipped, vaccinated and neutered is costly, but it's pretty cheap to just maintain an adult dog isn't it? All you really need to buy is food and heartworm tabs.

If you have a hairy dog, you're going to be paying for grooming, or equipment. Many of us bathe our dogs pretty regularly. Good shampoo adds up. Many dogs require yearly dental cleanings, and lots of folks vaccinate, or titer, yearly. Any formal training costs money.

I think that first year is definitely the most expensive, for the average dog. For Emma, it was a cheap year. She's special like that. For Teenie, I had most everything already. I did buy her a collar, harness, and two leashes, so she'd have her own. She's outshrunk the collar That's ok, though, b/c I have a few dozen random collars, and she usually walks on a harness. Other than the vetting that she needed, she's not been expensive, at all. Well, comparitively speaking.

With vet bills, you can certainly HOPE that you'll only be there for routine things like yearly exams and shots, but you never know.  It doesn't take much of an illness or injury before you really have a huge bill to deal with.

Joyce

I use Microsoft Money to track our finances, so I can see exactly what we've paid in the last year for our fuzzy babies. I was shocked when I saw the number--$5200 since April 2005 between 2 dogs and a cat!
The big expenses that I can remember:
$250 for Loki plus $300 plane ticket to bring him home from Colorado
$100 adoption fee for Odin which included microchip and neutering
$340 for 1 year Puppy Wellness plan at Banfield, which included all shots and neutering
$180 for two large crates
$600 for training classes
$350 for xrays, etc after Loki swallowed rocks
$200 for stiches when Loki and Odin were getting to know each other
$100+ for beds/doggy blankets
$80 or so per month for food
$40 per month for flea/heartworm medicine
Who knows how much for treats and toys
But they are SO worth it. [] I'd pay anything to give my babies what they need.
 

I'm not going to make a list of how much I have spent on the dogs... because honestly I really don't want to know![sm=crazy.gif]

I have spent ALOT!!!!  But every penny is worth it, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  Anyone who thinks that owning a dog doesn't cost a lot of money is very naive. 

I am glad that this topic was posted.  I think that there are way too many people who get dogs and think that all they have to do is love them.  While loving them is a really good start, you have to be able to provide for your dog.  You have to be able to take them to the vet if need be, not wait around because you dont get paid for another two weeks.

I just got back from the store--$105 on Nature's Variety dog and cat food, Wellness Canine supplement and the freeze dried chicken "treat of the day". I spent $25 more on their food than on mine!
 
It really does cost a lot to own a dog, if you do it responsibly. But I can't imagine a better reward than seeing their sweet faces every morning and knowing they are healthy and happy. Besides, we've spent so much money on our dogs that someday when we have kids, they'll already have so much to play with! []

ORIGINAL: Xebby

ORIGINAL: welovesammy

 Our philosophy is "Whatever Sammy needs, Sammy gets!".  It's since changed to "Whatever Sammy needs and WANTS, Sammy gets!". []  We've had Sampson for 1.5 months.

Adoption fee:  $120
1st vet checkup:  $286.11
1st visit to PetSmart:  $224.98
Grooming/Grooming supplies:  75.xx
Meds for underlying issues:  $37.00
Training (Beginner's--starts in a week, THANK GOD!):  $110
Advantage:  $63.xx
Crate, toys, misc.:  $175 (estimate)
2nd Dyson ([]):  Too Much
Kodak Gallery (a couple 5x7's and wallet sized pics of him hehehe):  $18

I'm sure there is more that I'm forgetting, but I just had to find the receipts for that stuff!  We don't count really.  We just do and buy.

Now if your counting that I guess I should include:

The digital camara I bought to take pics of Gizzy: $130
My cellphone that has a camara built in: $70
Non-digital camara: $60
+ film $50 or more
Developing fillm $100
My compture to see the digital pics $1200
(also used to come here to talk about my dog)

Yep there goes anouther few thousands to the dog. She's the only thing I ever take pictures of.

 
Hahahahahaha!  Do you send your film to online places?  You can get some really great pics fast and for half the price as taking them to a store. []  I know what you mean about the pictures--our family had a photoshoot last night of the kids, Sammy, and I.  Hubby was the photographer and Sammy posed real nice. []
 
This is an awesome thread.  It all adds up, but there is no expense too great for our doggies!