I’ve grown up all my life with a plethora of animals around me. Whether it was horses, cows, rabbits, goats, cats and (always) dogs – I learned from a young age what it takes to truly care for an animal. If you’re not familiar with all that comes with being a dog owner, how will you know if you’re ready to add a pet into your family? I’m here to help! Becoming a pet parent is not a responsibility to take lightly, but when you’re truly prepared dogs can bring lots of joy into your life.

Let’s start with the upfront costs:

• Adoption Fees – Your local animal shelter and rescue groups generally have a large selection of dogs needing homes that you can choose from. No matter who you go through, there will most likely be an adoption fee. Generally the fee isn’t very much though, probably averaging about $100 or less. However, oftentimes your pet will already be spayed or neutered once you take them home which is one less thing that you’ll have to take care of later.
• Breeder Cost – If you don’t want to adopt and instead prefer to buy from a breeder there is also a cost to purchase a puppy and these prices are usually very steep since in this case you’re probably looking at a pure bred dog. You will also be on your own for the cost of spaying and neutering your pet when you decide to do that.
• Age of the Dog – Aren’t puppies just the cutest?! I definitely think so, but when bringing home a new puppy, you’ll be in for some extra cost. Just like babies get shots, puppies also need to do the same. There is a series of 4 shots that they’ll need to help keep them safe from catching anything that could make them very sick. You’ll need to find a vet and take them in for these shots. Generally each shot is about one month apart.
• Supplies – If you’ve never had a dog or haven’t had one in a while, you’ll probably need to go out and get all the supplies you’ll need for your new furry friend. Pet beds, leashes, collars (and a tag in case they get lost), food, training pads, toys and anything else you’d like to have for them. This is an upfront cost, but many of these things will last for a while (especially if you’re lucky and your dog isn’t a chewer)

Check back next week for Part 2 where we’ll cover some of the ongoing costs associated with dog ownership.

Of course, this post wouldn’t be complete without some dog photos! Pictured below are my two fur babies, Olive and Willow.