Cost of all things Puppy!

[Locke]

I'm looking into putting my name on a wait list for a puppy due this summer, but I'm worried I'm underestimating costs. I definitely have enough saved, but I would love to have a ballpark figure of all the costs put into the initial buying of the puppy, all accessories, vet appointments and training classes.

I'm estimating it will cost close to $4000...am I close??

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

I've seen a few lists out there but I choose blissful ignorance. Really, you'll be more than fine with 4k though.

 

[Grab]

I realize my vet care is discounted, but I think you'd be more than covered with that amount.

 

[spottyspaniel]

Figure as in a year, or the dog's lifetime? or?

 

[Fran101]

Well

- Initial price of puppy (I just picked an average) $900
- Initial vet appt (personally, I don't do puppy boosters. I go to the vet ONCE with the puppy at 12 weeks to get distemper, parvo & mlv shot (+fecal, office visit, blood test, etc..) about $150 I'm guessing
- Supplies (I have a list on amazon with the puppy basics.. collar/lead/toys/clicker/crate/natures-miracle/longline/brushes/shampoo/foodscale/bowl) and it all came out to about $180
- Food (RAW) $30 is a good start. Ziplock baggies, chicken quarters, turkey necks, liver, chicken breast, chicken heart etc..
Kibble you are look at about $35 for a 15 LB bag I believe
- Tag ($5) Just a cheap petsmart or whatever tag
- Pet deposit (if you live in an apartment) $_____ mine is $250
- Training classes,8 week long group classes usually around $150
- Emergency fund $ _____ . I like to start with a number and then put a % of paychecks/income as time goes on

So I'd say you are more than fine as far as initial puppy expenses go

Figure in BASIC costs lifetime wise
-Food. how many cups a day. how long will it last. how many bags will you be buying.
- Vaccinations. Rabies is a given.
- Training (classes for how long you plan on continuing them)

and then other things like emergency funds, grooming, etc..

- Amazon wish lists are great to start looking at future adult things (you can get a button for your toolbar so you can add items from other sites to the list that you know you want to buy as your pup grows older

 

[Southpaw]

I think you'd definitely be covered with that amount.

....At least I hope so, cuz I'm gonna go cry if they're really that expensive. :lol-sign:

 

[Fran101]

I think you'd definitely be covered with that amount.

....At least I hope so, cuz I'm gonna go cry if they're really that expensive. :lol-sign:

I think many of us as pet owners don't really "feel" the cost we put into our pets.. It's so worth it and so well engrained, like it's a given and we are so used to it that personally, I don't really notice haha because I can't imagine it being any different

but taking a step back and figuring the numbers together is really when you are like :yikes:

 

[Locke]

Thanks for the help. I figured it would be enough, but I've never bought a puppy from a breeder before, and I haven't had a puppy since the early 90s.

Figure as in a year, or the dog's lifetime? or?

Just the first year. I have an adult dog and know the general month to month costs, but puppies are uncharted territory for me.

The initial cost of my puppy will be around $1500, I already have a large crate and a leash...so hopefully I can under $3500.

 

[spottyspaniel]

Thanks for the help. I figured it would be enough, but I've never bought a puppy from a breeder before, and I haven't had a puppy since the early 90s.



Just the first year. I have an adult dog and know the general month to month costs, but puppies are uncharted territory for me.

The initial cost of my puppy will be around $1500, I already have a large crate and a leash...so hopefully I can under $3500.

I have no doubt you will be able to do it within that frame (any leftover and I would place in an emergency fund account for your dogs)

I would give you an estimate, but because of where I live prices here are quite high compared to everyone else.

I easily pay at least $400 a year in vaccinations alone for one dog

 

[anna84]

but taking a step back and figuring the numbers together is really when you are like :yikes:

Why on earth would anyone do this? :yikes: It's depressing and serves no purpose.

It's like when my college roommate tried to calculate how much he would spend on coffee in the next year...he almost died of shock and the coffee was still purchased.

 

[Fran101]

Why on earth would anyone do this? :yikes: It's depressing and serves no purpose.

It's like when my college roommate tried to calculate how much he would spend on coffee in the next year...he almost died of shock and the coffee was still purchased.

:rofl1:

We had an assignment in high school to try to calculate how much money, just in schooling, our parents had spent on us.
Private school tuition kindergarden-high school. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD :yikes:

I went home that day and was just like "YOU PEOPLE ARE CRAZY!!!" :rofl1:

I don't want to know how much I spend on starbucks..I'm a frikin addict.

 

[Kat09Tails]

Kind of puppy will play a big variable in cost both in medical assistance and dietary costs. While I can say sure 4K is a great starter point, I imagine a great deal of that could be eaten in medical costs to tack eyelids or other problems that tend to come up in certain breeds.

 

[Locke]

I have no doubt you will be able to do it within that frame (any leftover and I would place in an emergency fund account for your dogs)

I would give you an estimate, but because of where I live prices here are quite high compared to everyone else.

I easily pay at least $400 a year in vaccinations alone for one dog

Vet costs where I live are also extremely high, as in a cheap visit is $150. However, I plan on following a limited vaccine protocol so perhaps that will cut costs a tad.

The puppy will be a standard poodle, so other than grooming, reed associated costs are low. No lid tacking, etc. necessary!

 

[Kat09Tails]

The puppy will be a standard poodle, so other than grooming, reed associated costs are low. No lid tacking, etc. necessary!

If you do the grooming yourself it'll save you a bundle. Poodle grooming - especially pet grooming really isn't that complicated.

I think you're being pretty spot on in your estimate barring anything wonky.

 

[Cardi4851]

The area my boyfriend and I ended up spending way more money than we had thought was on toys. If we bought some toys for the puppy we of course had to buy one for the other dog (guilt and all that, I seriously doubt the other dog honestly would have cared). The other dog, however, is a toy eating monster. So once she was given a toy which she immediately demolished (we are talking 30 seconds for the mega uber tough toys) she would go into toy killing overdrive and destroy the puppy's toys. Repeat money-sucking cycle. Eventually we got over the "OMG he's so cute and needs every toy we see" phase and now we don't buy anything that squeaks, rattles, or otherwise triggers "toy rage."

 

[~Jessie~]

Oh dear god, I don't even WANT to know! I've done the puppy thing FIVE times and I'm sure the amount is way more than I want to know! Emma was easily a $5000 puppy her first year, with 2 emergency vet visits, neurologist appt, and normal puppy costs.

Like Fran said, it's just an engrained cost. I probably spend about $150 a month on necessities (premade raw, heartgard, flea stuff). Adding up things like toys, supplies, collars/tags, etc... yeah, I'll just ignore those!

 

[Locke]

If you do the grooming yourself it'll save you a bundle. Poodle grooming - especially pet grooming really isn't that complicated.

I think you're being pretty spot on in your estimate barring anything wonky.

thanks! I've had non-shedding dogs all my life, and a standard poodle for the past 9 years, so I really SHOULD be grooming myself, I just don't have an interest in learning how to do it myself, mostly out of fear of butchering my poor dog's coat, and I can't imagine shaving each little toe and so close to his eyes! So scary!! With a new pup, I might be tempted to give it a shot. The face and feet are what scare me.

 

[Sit Stay]

I think you'll be safe with that amount I know Quinn definitely didn't cost me that much to purchase her, get her shots, puppy supplies, puppy class, etc.

 

[spottyspaniel]

Vet costs where I live are also extremely high, as in a cheap visit is $150. However, I plan on following a limited vaccine protocol so perhaps that will cut costs a tad.

The puppy will be a standard poodle, so other than grooming, reed associated costs are low. No lid tacking, etc. necessary!

I do limited vaccines too, if I did all of them I could :yikes:

I think if your willing to do your own grooming it would definitely be worthwhile to invest in quality grooming equipment. If well cared for and kept after there should be really no need to ever replace them.

 

[momto8]

Our puppy we are getting this summer is 800.00, plus the gas to go get him, vet bills won't be too bad since I work at a vet clinic and will get discounts, we've gotten all his toys, collars, tags, coats, bed and crate already (not sure how much all that added up too lol), food will be another story..I don't even want to think about it lol! He will not be altered right away, so that is a bill that we can delay