To follow up on last week’s post I want to get into the nitty gritty of what it actually costs to own a pet. It will definitely differ from dog to dog and owner to owner, but this may give you a better idea (if you’re not a dog owner) of what you’re getting into.
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Initial Costs
Up front costs in getting a dog are pretty significant. First, there is a cost in getting the dog itself. Since Rocco is from Wisconsin we also had to pay for him to fly to New Jersey. If you choose to adopt there are adoption fees and application fees as well.
In addition to that, you will need to prepare for your new dog. I mentioned in my last post all the things Shane and I did while we patiently impatiently waited for Rocco’s arrival. Some things to think about purchasing are:
- Crate, we bought this one
- Bed
- Bowls for food and water
- Food and treats
- Leash
- Collar
- Poop bags
- Toys
- Cleaning products
Finding the Perfect Vet
While you wait for your dog’s arrival, research local vets and see how much vaccinations and check-ups will cost. My aunt and uncle recommended their vet to us and we used her from the very beginning. I was impressed by how nice and caring everyone in the office was and how they walked me through everything as a first time pet owner.
My vet’s office sends postcard reminders for check-ups and vaccinations so I never have to worry about what Rocco needs or when he needs it. The only part I don’t love is that some of the medications are very expensive so I find myself looking elsewhere to purchase them. These are typically things I give to Rocco on a monthly basis like Heartgard and flea/tick prevention where the costs add up quickly.
Pet Insurance
Within the first month of getting Rocco he started having episodes that were similar to seizures. His head and body shook violently, he foamed at the mouth and he was very lethargic. It was terrifying. The vet took x-rays, gave him medicine, kept an eye on him and could find nothing wrong. By some miracle, we found out he was licking the cleaner I used to clean up the poop around his crate (see story in previous post) and it was not organic or pet friendly. Friends – I urge you to carefully read the labels on all of your cleaning products! I bought a product that was for cleaning up pet odors and stains but was actually not pet friendly. There is a difference!
With that said, our first month with Rocco and all of his vet visits was very expensive. I had a free one-month trial for pet insurance so that helped cover some of the costs, but it really got me thinking about whether or not to continue. Pet insurance does not cover normal vet visits, vaccinations, etc. The insurance would only cover situations like the one I explained above or surgeries and things of that nature.
The nerd in me created a spreadsheet to compare what the cost of having pet insurance vs. not having it would be and it just didn’t make sense to get it. We had a healthy puppy and didn’t anticipate anything bad happening (other than my faux pas with the pet cleaner). Instead, we budget a certain amount of money each month to cover costs of food, vet visits, etc.
Training
Training can be another big expense for pet owners, though I honestly couldn’t tell you what it costs to train a dog. Luckily, Shane and I (mostly Shane) did the training on our own. Rocco was a quick learner and overall a well-behaved dog so we saved a ton of money in this area. Repetition and treats are definitely an important part of training.
Grooming
Grooming expenses could go in either direction for pet owners. Since Rocco has hair (and lots of it) he needs to be groomed every three months or so. Grooming him costs as much as a haircut for myself! Though I guess when the groomer has to take care of an energetic dog and cover his entire body it’s worth the money. Just like our vet, our groomer is so kind and caring that we love going to her. Rocco also gets his nails cut at the groomer because Shane and I made the mistake of cutting a little too short once. Sorry Rocco!
Food
The breeder sent a small bag of food with Rocco on the airplane. I transitioned him to a brand the vet recommended by mixing a little of the breeder food with a little of the new food until eventually it was all new. After a few months I could tell Rocco wasn’t really enjoying the new food because he wasn’t eating right away or sometimes he wasn’t eating at all. My friend recommended another brand and Rocco has been eating it ever since.
Rocco went from eating 3 meals a day to 2 at ¼ cup each meal. It seems like so little but for a 10 lb. dog it’s more than enough. We give him dry food with a splash of water. And, of course, he also gets treats! We like to use the Kong treats to keep him busy for a while.
Toys
Last but not least, Rocco’s favorite part, TOYS! Rocco has gone through so many toys. A lot of it was trial and error on my part. When Rocco was a puppy we bought him a lot of squeaky, stuffed animals. We quickly learned the squeaky part is super annoying and that Rocco just shreds the stuffed animal until it’s not a toy anymore. Now, he only gets hard toys that don’t make a sound or toys that are indestructible. These are some of his favorites:
FireHose Squeak N’ Fetch Dog Toys
Nylabone Dura Chew Wolf Bacon Flavored Double Bone Dog Chew Toy
Nylabone Dura Chew Regular Bacon Flavored Bone Dog Chew Toy
Nylabone Original Chicken Flavored Dental Dinosaur Dura Chew Toy
On that note, it’s time to go pick up Rocco from the groomer!
Wonderful advice, I agree with all of it, as I have also had a lifetime of dogs. This is excellent advice for a new dog parent. You are most certainly a very caring and wonderful mother to your dog Rocco. Can’t wait to here about the next chapter in Rocco’s life.