Cost of getting a dog (+K^) like always.

first_rodeo

Active member
A girl i know breeds puppies, she knows me and would allow me to have one.

This would be my first dog that is mine, not my family's.

They are Rott x BullMastiff puppies

Im wondering what would be the costs associated with getting one of the dogs?

I cant use experience to guess cuz our lab came from canada for $2800 and we only feed her organic non chicken food. Plus we spoil her just as much as any of my siblings.

 
you do realize it's a dog, right? don't think it gives a shit what you feed it. it eats vomit and poop and rotting animals like it's its job.
 
I rescued a lab from a kill shelter down south. It cost me $400 and he was completely up to date with shots and neutered.

Food for a 70lb lab costs me about $30-40 a month using blue buffalo dry

Dog walker in boston costs $23/hr(!!!) although I only use it a few days a week when I can't make it home from work. I easily spend close to $200/mo on dog walking alone

Medical costs not including potential injuries run about 200-300/yr

There are also tons of intangible costs such as having to wake up an extra hour before work (5:45) in order to take him out for an hour walk/play time. Coming home during my lunch break to play with him almost every day. Not being able to go out after work for drinks or other activities because I need to go home and play with him.

Also not being able to just take off for a weekend unless I've made plans for his care like parents/friends/dog sitters

I know I'm forgetting more than a few things but don't just focus on the monetary cost of owning a dog..they are a HUGE responsibility

good luck
 
I also rescued him when he was 2 years old, somewhat housebroken and trained. A puppy is going to take the time and responsibility factor and multiply it by 100. While those fuckers are cute and stuff...they are such a hassle and are exhausting when they can't sleep through the night and piss/shit everywhere.
 
The crate, toys, leash, and other stuff like that cost me ruffly 200. The vet bills for all his shots and neutering were 5-600 in the first 6 months.
 
You forgot time.

Time=Money. Lots and lots of time equals lots and lots of money if you don't have lots of time to spend with the dog.
 
My border collie is 2 and she has cost me over $7000 to date. She's priceless though as all dogs should be.
 
Maybe call a few vets and ask what they'd charge for initial exams, puppy vaccines, neutering, and heartworm prevention, since as with anything it will vary depending on your location.

That said, I used to work for a vet office and it was priced out this way. This is in SLC, Utah:

$45 for the initial exam

$13.50 per vaccine (puppies get DAPP 3 times, rabies once, bordatella once, and you will need to go back every few weeks for those. So $67.50 total. Rabies and DAPP will be done again in a year, then every 3 years after that. Bordatella vx should be given every 6 months.

-We also gave puppies two doses of dewormer called Pyrantel (you can't start them on Heartgard right away) but I can't remember the cost of that. I believe it was only a few dollars.

$45 for Heartgard for a large dog for a 6 month supply, plus the necessary heartworm test was $10 if you did it at the same time as buying the Heartgard, or $30 if you didn't buy the med then. That needs to be done yearly.

-Neutering was around $200 and is recommended to be done around 6 months old. If there are complications, such as cryptorchidism, it would be more. Spays are also more expensive, especially if she's in heat at the time. There were also certain options you could do that would be "add-on" fees, for example, using a laser instead of a scalpel was an additional $30.

-Microchipping was $30, we always encouraged people to do it but you don't have to.

-We also recommend having the dog's teeth cleaned every few years or so for most dogs. Some dogs naturally have great teeth (big dogs more often than small dogs), but most really, reallyyy don't. This was around $400. Price will vary depending on whether any teeth need to come out, and if so which teeth (some are much more difficult to extract than others), and if the owner wanted any of the additional add on options.

Then you'll have your puppy supplies, look on the Petco website or something to get prices for those. Crate, dog dishes, bed, leash, collar, tags, toys, food, treats, etc.

Also don't forget costs of veterinary emergencies which can get STEEP (I've seen many people who had to euthanize their dog because they just couldn't afford a massive vet bill). Unless you're extremely lucky, something WILL eventually come up, hopefully something not too expensive!

There's also miscellaneous costs, such as paying to have people dog-sit if you go away, unless your parents will do it for you. I usually pay a friend like $10/day to watch my dog while I'm gone. (Our vet office also had a boarding kennel which was $25/day.)
 
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