Approximately how much does it cost to have a dog?

[nick1985]

So if you can't convince her to get a dog, are you gonna have to knock her up?

lol

 

[BoomerD]

There's really no one right answer for this.

Food shouldn't be too expensive for a < 40 lb dog, maybe $15-$20/month for a good quality (not premium) dog food. Vet bills are another story. Depending on your local area, getting the dog "fixed" can get pretty spendy. Our vet charges $175+ to neuter a male, and IIRC, $250+ for a female.

Does she have the time for a dog? Does she have the room for one?

 

[BassBomb]

let it hunt for itself and it will cost you 0

 

[Kyle]

There's really no one right answer for this.

Food shouldn't be too expensive for a < 40 lb dog, maybe $15-$20/month for a good quality (not premium) dog food. Vet bills are another story. Depending on your local area, getting the dog "fixed" can get pretty spendy. Our vet charges $175+ to neuter a male, and IIRC, $250+ for a female.

Does she have the time for a dog? Does she have the room for one?

Wow...the couple vets in the Seattle area that I've been to charge $70 or so for a spay...

But yeah, there are unexpected expenses- my puppy ran full speed in to a coffee table leg last night- looked like she broke her leg- had to take her to a late night vet, get xrays etc...luckly the vet was very reasonably priced, only ended up $130ish for the xray, pain injection and pills to take home. (and yes, she's ok =)

 

[alfa147x]

Does she have the time for a dog? Does she have the room for one?

Plenty. Plenty, she lives in a 6 bedroom house with my dad and little sister (who is moving out soon)

 

[alfa147x]

It doesn't sound too bad. My mom was expecting to spend around $5,000 a year (excluding emergencies)

 

[EagleKeeper]

We have a Vet plan thru Banfield (PetSmart) that cost $70/month for our two cockers.
The plan has 3 levels of coverage. This one gets us 30&#37; off care other than preventive.
Grooming for these two are $70 each/month.
Food might be $10/week total.
Boarding costs could be $35/day/dog

The cocker spaniels are fairly high maintenance dogs in terms of grooming.

There have been no additional medical expenses for one over the nine years that we have had him.

The other had some emotional issues a couple of years ago - $1500 worth of test showed nothing physical - we determined that it was separation anxiety from my wife if she dropped them off at a certain Pet Hotel where we would board them while on travel.

 

[alfa147x]

We have a Vet plan thru Banfield (PetSmart) that cost $70/month for our two cockers.
The plan has 3 levels of coverage. This one gets us 30% off care other than preventive.
Grooming for these two are $70 each/month.
Food might be $10/week total.
Boarding costs could be $35/day/dog

The cocker spaniels are fairly high maintenance dogs in terms of grooming.

There have been no additional medical expenses for one over the nine years that we have had him.

The other had some emotional issues a couple of years ago - $1500 worth of test showed nothing physical - we determined that it was separation anxiety from my wife if she dropped them off at a certain Pet Hotel where we would board them while on travel.

Do all dogs need grooming?

 

[FiLeZz]

What the hell do you feed your dog? Caviar?

Great Dane @ 200 pounds....eats you out of house and home.

 

[jersiq]

Do all dogs need grooming?

Yes, but some require much less (Labs for example) than others. You can do all of it yourself, it just obviously takes a greater time devotion for those breeds that are higher maintenance.

 

[rudder]

You can buy a big ass bag of dog food in bulk, expect around $20/month for heartworm/flea pills, maybe a grooming budget. And keep about $4000 around for the vet if some fuckwads dog attacks hers or it gets hit by a car or something. Other than the vet costs it is manageable.

 

[alkemyst]

It's really not the case of how much a dog costs but how much is one able to spend on a dog's care should things go south.

I got my dog last year when he was 3-4 months old. He just turned 1 year old recently.

His adoption fee was merely $70 which included his neuter, shots/tag, microchip and first two vet visits. That was a bargain.

Sadly the first month some owner let their aggressive dog into the dog park and cost me $1000 for surgery. Last month he got bit again at the tune of $600.

He is a happy dog and good boy so for me the risk/costs are worth it. Many had told me that first month they would have just put him to sleep and spend another $70 on a 'new dog'.

 

[rudder]

Do all dogs need grooming?

dachsunds dont. Well at least the short haired variety.

 

[looseratlife]

Well, I havent had dogs in my whole life, but heres the things which most dogs need on daily basis.
Shampoo, food, walking. and may some occasional trips to the vet.
Shampoo and food are definitely gonna cost you something, you can google for the prices. Walking, does your mother plans to do it by herself or does she want to hire some one for it ?
Vets .... DOCTORS CAN BE DAMN COSTLY ..
kab india chode ? mein hyderabadi huu..

 

[alkemyst]

The best way to pick a dog is first search the traits you want then find a look you want.

My Australian Cattle Dog mix is extremely high energy/maintenance as far as walks and exercise is concerned.

I have a nice back yard but that is not going to provide him the stimulation he needs. We do 40min walks in the morning, I see him around lunch time for a 20min stretch (he is crated still) and then at 5:15 we head out to a dog park for him to interact with dogs until almost 8pm or sometimes later depending on sunset and when the ranger shows up to lock the gates.

It's a lot of my free time now, but I think I am more relaxed and much healthier as a result.

 

[alkemyst]

Well, I havent had dogs in my whole life, but heres the things which most dogs need on daily basis.
Shampoo, food, walking. and may some occasional trips to the vet.
Shampoo and food are definitely gonna cost you something, you can google for the prices. Walking, does your mother plans to do it by herself or does she want to hire some one for it ?
Vets .... DOCTORS CAN BE DAMN COSTLY ..
kab india chode ? mein hyderabadi huu..

If you are shampooing a dog even weekly something is wrong.

My dog gets fairly dirty, but a simple hose down and towel dry is all he needs to stay clean and odor free.

 

[looseratlife]

If you are shampooing a dog even weekly something is wrong.

My dog gets fairly dirty, but a simple hose down and towel dry is all he needs to stay clean and odor free.

Naa, I dont have a dog. I used to have a turtle. Then they made it illegal in my country to have turtles as pets. Cause they were becoming extinct..
I am just pulling things off my memory. My grand mom used to have a dog and so did many of my friends..
I am just posting there common feedback.

 

[SphinxnihpS]

I want to clarify my earlier post. I thought this thread was about girlfriends.

$20/month ...cheaper if there are lots of cats and squirrels in the neighborhood.

 

[alkemyst]

Naa, I dont have a dog. I used to have a turtle. Then they made it illegal in my country to have turtles as pets. Cause they were becoming extinct..
I am just pulling things off my memory. My grand mom used to have a dog and so did many of my friends..
I am just posting there common feedback.

in a thread like this, you'd have been better at not posting in it.

Seriously second hand knowledge is a terrible thing in a world of people that just bitch about tHEIR pets.

 

[alfa147x]

Well it looks like my parents are willing to spend the money. They are well off but she just didn't want to be pouring money into it. She is indian so she fits the cheap ass stereotype

Thanks guys!

 

[alfa147x]

We're going to pick the dog up today
Kinda wish I didn't sign the lease for a non-pet friendly apartment, I would pick one up for myself

 

[alkemyst]

We're going to pick the dog up today
Kinda wish I didn't sign the lease for a non-pet friendly apartment, I would pick one up for myself

what dog did you end up with.....pics or get the fuck out

mine after all play all day:

 

[NaOH]

Vet (Initial is $150-200)
25lb bag of premium food ($45/4 months)
Poop bags ($10/month)
Treats ($10/month)

It's been pretty inexpensive for me since my dog doesn't like toys, just walk and give her a 1 3/4 cup of food every day. She's a 15lb dacshund/pom.

 

[alfa147x]

what dog did you end up with.....pics or get the fuck out

mine after all play all day:

Well the dog we planned on picking up that day was already taken :\
But my parents are picking this one up today

My mother is in love with it! Reminds her of a dog that they had back in India

bump for pictures in the OP

 

[alkemyst]

A dog really should be a solo project. Glad it's working out though.