Hidden Costs of Owning a Dog

Owning a dog is very rewarding. They are always happy to see you, they are loyal, and they do not care what clothes you wear or what car you drive as long as you feed them and love them. A new dog can bring you and your family great joy for many years, but you have to be prepared for the hidden costs associated with owning a dog.

The first costs in owning a dog can be found when you pick out the one you want. If you buy a pure bred dog from a breeder, be prepared to pay a large amount of money, at times in the thousands of dollars. Dogs can also be gotten from an adoption agency or a humane society. Often these also charge for you to adopt a dog. It is much cheaper to get a dog from a humane society than from a breeder and you get the added benefit of knowing that you have saved that dog. Even free dogs are not really free and you must be prepared for the initial costs of a dog after it is brought home.

Immediately after you receive the dog into your care, or very soon after, it should be taken to your local vet to be brought up to date on all of it's shots and for a general check-up. At this time you may also want to buy flea and tick control and heartworm prevention medication. These are monthly medications that can run up to 40 dollars or more a month per dog. If you find they are too expensive at your vet you may buy them in bulk online and save yourself quite a bit of money.

When you bring your new family member home it is best to already have food available. Food bowls and water bowls will have to have been bought and filled with food and water. You have the option to feed your dog cheap food but many people want the best for their dogs and high end dog food can become expensive very quickly. Add to the dog food the cost of treats and toys and bones, especially for puppies that are teething. Puppies especially will need toys for learning and for play. A puppy without toys of it's own to play with will quickly find something of yours to chew on.

Some dog owners prefer to keep their pets kenneled while they are gone. If this is so then you must think of the cost of a kennel, a pad to go in it and toys to keep the dog occupied while you are gone. Kennels can run pretty high, especially larger kennels for larger dogs. You may also have to fence in your yard so that your dog has room to run. In order to take your dog for walks you will need a good leash as well as a good collar.

All of this is just for your new dog. These costs will continue as you replace old toys and bones (and a pair of shoes or two), and vet bills and monthly medications will regularly take money out of your pocket. Before you get caught up in those puppy dog eyes, take a look at your finances and make sure you can afford to get caught up in all the big and little things that a dog needs.