Bought a Dog … Now I am Poor

So Mr. Juicefairy and I thought since we are getting married we were ready to have little ones running around our feet.  No, of course not kids (I like being selfish and I think I am going to keep it that way for a long time).  We bought a puppy!  And English Bulldog to be exact (you can see our cutie pie above).  Mr. Juicefairy is an ex-Marine which may explain his small obsession with bulldogs.

We realized of course with every major purchase you should do your research. Just like you can look up the total lifetime cost of ownership on a car we should be able to calculate something like that for a dog, right?  Here are a list of things that Mr. Juicefairy and I considered into our “cost of ownership” of our new puppy so could decide whether we could afford to provide it with the best home possible.

1. Cost of the Dog - If you adopt a dog from a rescue or the Humane Society (which I highly recommend) the cost of a dog varies but is usually pretty affordable (somewhere in the $20 - $100 range).  A lot of times these are dogs that came from other homes so they may already be up to date on shots, be microchipped and be neutered.  All of these costs will have to be factored in if they aren’t done before you buy the dog.  Mr. Juicefairy and I, for our own personal reasons (which I will not go into here on this site), decided to buy a pure bred dog from a breeder.  This is usually a more expensive way to go.  I won’t share how much our puppy cost but you can Google a bulldog and get an idea.  Pure bred dogs you can generally take home around the age of 8 weeks and may some their shots but usually there are more needed after the dog comes home with you.
2. Vet Costs - Dogs will need a vet visit as soon as you get them.  Depending on where you get the dog from it may anything from an average check-up and fecal exam (under $100) to needing all of their shots, possibly medications and neutering (at about the age of six months).  After these initial visits you will most likely go only once or twice a year and spend an average of $100 - $300 a year.  Of course there are always dogs that may need extra care.  Just like a human, you can’t predict health problems and emergencies and these things should be factored in when deciding if you can afford a dog.
3. Food & Treats - Depending on the dog you can expect to pay somewhere between $20 and $60 a month for food.  Some dogs have food allergies as well and may need more expensive brands with different types of fillers.  Treats are a must if you plan to train your dog.  Trust me, a treat is a big motivator.
4. Toys - You will need to stock up on some toys of varying hardness for your dog to chew, otherwise expect them to use your shoes or furniture.  I have heard bulldogs even like to chew on drywall so ours has plenty of chew toys.
5. Beds & Crates - If you are planning to crate train your dog you will need to purchase one before you get your dog.  The larger the crate the more expensive and the size depends on how big your dog will be.  Our crate was about $60.  A pet bed is also a nice thing to have for your dog, but probably not a necessity.  We bought one a Ross (a lot cheaper there btw than a pet store) for $12.
6. Leashes & Collar - It is important to have a collar on your dog with an ID tag. You want to be prepared in case your animal gets lost.  A leash is also a necessary item to have.  While you can train your dog to walk without a leash, most places have leash laws that you have to abide.  I think we spent $40 for a matching collar and leash.
7. Grooming - The amount of grooming necessary is based on the type of dog you have.  This is an important factor for most people in making the decision of what type of dog they want to own because of cost and time spent.  This could cost anywhere between $30 (basic nail trimming) to $500 a year.
8. Flea and Heartworm Prevention - Your dog will need Flea and Heartworm prevention starting at about 10 weeks.  These are monthly applications that are necessary to keep your dog healthy.  You can buy the applications in bulk (6 months or 1 year of applications) and expect to pay around $30 - $80 a month depending on the weight of your dog.
9. Obediance Training - Not all dog owners take their dog to an obediance training but we chose to take our dog to Petsmart which is $109 for an eight week class.  We think it has helped us a lot as first time dog owners.

So now for “total cost of ownership” peteducation.com has an article claiming that the average cost to own a dog per year (not including the first year) is $1,386.  The doctor that wrote this article guesses he will spend $12,468 on his dog over it’s 14 year lifetime.  So think carefully when before you decide to buy a pup and make sure you are willing to shell out the cash.  I have no regrets about getting my puppy and think she has made life just a little fuller … but I sure do miss that extra spending money I had.