Question

We are planning on saving to get a puppy in December. I am writing down all the start up expenses I want to save for prior to Dec. Those with puppies, am I missing anything? Collar/leash, license, crate and bed, outside gate (i have a daycare so pup will be in large gated area when kids r outside), treats, food, shampoo, flea medicine, puppy shots (if not already given), toys, nail clippers, dog comb/brush. I amazoned most of this plus cost of the pup/fees and it comes to about $1200. That means we need to save $30/week. Doable! But I am sure I am missing something so help.  

Answer 1

Highly recommend getting a dog in the summer rather than the winter! Wayyy easier to potty train!  

Answer 2

Doggy DAYCARE COSTS! and training. Unless you're an extremely active person with flexible scheduling run home 2x a day and willing to learn how to train. Also, if you travel, boarding/ sitter costs Ps: big fan of insurance. Not so much of banfield plan.  

Comments

@bolo6 pet insurance was the best thing we ever did!  

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@tanta same! My Dobie just cost me $3000 at blue pearl. A) I'll never go there again. And b) thank goodness for pet insurance cause we are getting around 70% back! (Hopefully more) and it's only February!  

Answer 3

You need to plan on anti flea and heartworm meds ( not sure where you live, in Fl it’s a need) , will the dog need grooming? My little dog needs it every two months or she’s a rag doll and out big one needs a good scrub every 6 weeks.  

Answer 4

Obedience school is another one. We are currently going through classes with our pup and it was $150 for an 8 week class

Answer 5

Maybe start a sinking fun if you need to Board the dog and groomer for unexpected situations like getting skunked or coming to your door covered head to toe in mud

Answer 6

Don't forget Insurance nd heart worm meds!  

Answer 7

You could also try an animal shelter for an “older” puppy, 6 months to a year, then the puppy shots would be done, teething will be done, potty trained possibly, and you would be saving a life. The first year of a puppy is usually the most expensive with the 3-4 rounds of puppy vacs, plus all the teething issues (chewing everything in sight), cleaning up puppy accidents on carpet, etc. you mentioned a daycare so you already do that enough.  

Comments

@quigley ~ agreed! We got baby kittens from a rescue (love them! ), but - first 6/8 months of their life they were in and out of the vet ($2k at least in medical bills) ~ by the time they turned 1 their health stabilized and now we just go in for nail trims, shots and check-ups  

Answer 8

You’ll also need heartworm prevention.  

Answer 9

For pet insurance: “Healthy Paws” is great For general shots/unlimited visits/etc: “VCA Animal Hospital” is fantastic

Comments

For VCA we just pay a monthly rate and that includes all their shots, urine/stool tests, and unlimited office visits ($49/month per cat ~ likely a bit more for a dog)

Answer 10

I’m planning on doing the nationwide pet insurance wellness plan for at least the 1st year to get through shots and spay/neutering. Then switch to the regular plan after all that for emergencies

Answer 11

You list looks good but don't forget there are 3 rounds of vaccinations they get as puppies and each time will cost you a little bit. I'm Canadian and I think it was around $150 the first 2 and the third costs more because it's a bigger shot.  

Answer 12

Yearly vaccinations too, plus boarding if you ever go on vacations.  

Answer 13

Training classes!  

Answer 14

The first year is the most expensive. Shots, worms in their poop, training, toys, probably one emergency vet visit. After that the costs become relatively ‘fixed. ’ You can bet on food, grooming/deshedding, flea meds, heart worm meds, annual shots (which you can find for cheap). Also, I’d encourage you to take some time to research rescue groups in your state. We got both our girls at 8 weeks old from rescues. there are plenty out there that save pregnant mama dogs from shelters and mutts generally shed less, are easier to train, have less health problems, better demeanors etc. P. S. congrats on your future pup  

Comments

@christly I agree with this! My puppy ended up having horrible seperation anxiety and food allergies so in the first year I had to pay for triple the training I was planning on plus 4 regular vet visits and an emergency vet visit. We also do a lot of hiking so we get some optional vaccines which we can't find for cheap

Answer 15

Do research and see if your area has a low cost clinic! we have saved so much by going to one. we have 2 pups and have never spent much at the vet. buy food in bulk if you can! aldi has great cheap treats. annnnnd we learned quick that they will play with anything so we but rope in bulk from home depot and make our own toys ahhaa

Answer 16

Vet visits! Not sure where you live but you may want to consider spring time. We got our puppy in December and I will never forget all those cold, dark and snowy days/nights standing outside for the puppy to potty.  

Comments

@citizenry mine was in February in Minnesota. Horrible and I really regretted the timing

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@citizenry I said the same thing. She is in Cali!  

Answer 17

If you rescue, some rescue's take care of vaccines and spay/neutering which helps treywith the beginning costs.  

Answer 18

I know you have toys listed but just keep in mind that some (not all) puppies destroy toys/bones pretty quickly but they need them to stay out of trouble (aka eating your furniture, etc. ). We are fostering an older puppy and I have gone through about $100 just this month in “indestructible” toys ‍♀️. Maybe one day I will find some she really can’t destroy. She also chewed holes in our new comforter while we were sleeping. So just something to keep in mind that those costs may be higher than anticipated.  

Comments

@cita92 omg when I got my puppy he ate chunks out of my area rug, bathroom rugs and every toy we gave him. 3 years later and he can still destroy most dog toys! He’s a 14lb dog (westie poo). But with jaws of steel! Hahaha

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@grillwork right! Even watching her like a hawk she still manages to get into things. And all of the “indestructible” toys are expensive for it to last about 20 minutes ‍♀️. I feel like we would be rich if we could invent a true indestructible toy that actually keeps their attention.  

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@cita92 yes!  

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I plan to buy 1 toy every week until december. that should be enough?  

Answer 19

Vet checks and vaccinations

Answer 20

Check out chewy. com for a lot of this too! And if you got to banfield at petsmart they have a puppy package for $35 a month! Includes shots and wellness checks and the spay/neuter!  

Answer 21

Banfield pet health plan is about 45/month and takes care of everything including 2 teeth cleanings a year, shots, blood work, poop and urine exam and unlimited office visits. I like having a set bill so I know exactly what I'm going to spend.  

Answer 22

Keep saving- more as they age. I have 2 seniors and have spend 2k just this week on treatments. I will do ANYTHING for them and I’m thankful I was able to pay cash and focus on getting them feeling amazing. When @buckner talks about savings goals matching your priorities- I realized my girls are #1 really quickly and I have so much peace of mind knowing I’m prepared to help them stay healthy and comfortable as long as I am blessed with them.  

Answer 23

I love using an xpen. Gives them a large safe space if you can’t have an eye on them. My latest pup destroyed zero things in my house. He just never had the chance. Xpen was the Best addition ever.  

Answer 24

Might be a good idea to have a pet emergency fund Incase you have to take the pups to the vet

Answer 25

Potty pads! Getting them fixed can be expensive too.  

Answer 26

Replacing all the things he or she chews  i’ve bought my one pup 3 different beds and he’s only 1. 5 years old. but it is good to budget a little extra for the things that get destroyed by puppy chewing!  

Answer 27

Dewormer and TOYS. Then when you think that’s enough toys, but three more. Otherwise it’ll be your favorite shoes or someone’s favorite something else.  

Comments

@fridge18 THIS! We actually subscribe to PupBox for the first year because it covers toys and snacks for $29/mo, and I can definitely trust the products.  

Answer 28

Puppy pads

Answer 29

Food bowls, get metal Enzyme spray to get out pet odor after accidents.  

Answer 30

#adoptdontshop #savealifeandadopt #agedoesntmatter

Answer 31

Obedience training

Answer 32

Spay/neuter, microchip

Answer 33

Definitely look into pet insurance. Our dog was 2 when we figured out he had 2 bad knees. $10, 000 later, he’s a healthy 6 year old ‍♀️

Answer 34

Vet bills, get them fixed, city license

Answer 35

Puppy training. Look for trainers on FB, yelp, etc. Research as they may be less expensive than PetSmart or Petco and even better trainers. I researched, called, and found someone who runs training classes at 1/4 price of PetSmart. Has assistants who are volunteer, mostly judges for trials, etc. Best decision I ever made. In intermediate class now and she has just learned to walk by my side off leash.  

Answer 36

Also I highly recommend pet insurance based n my own experience. My aussie was 8 yrs old when I decided to get pet insurance. Happy and healthy, a year later I had to rush him to the vet because he all of a sudden collapsed on our normal daily run. Was diagnosed with cancer. Several tests and overnight stays at the vet culminated in nearly $4k in vet bills. Pet insurance covered a good portion of that. It’s definitely something to consider.  

Answer 37

Start looking for a groomer and boarder now. Also, a doggie daycare that could provide socialization a day or two a week once or twice a month may be worth it. A clicker, leash/collar/tag, KONG toys/filler, crate/cover/mat, bowls, puppy pads (I didn't want these but interceptor made them necessary even though I've never needed them before), training treats, regular treats, food/food storage, stuffies/toys, chewies/toys. 3 rounds of shots (pup should come with the first), a comprehensive exam, deworming, microchipping, spay/neuter, flea/tick, heartworm, lyme, rabies, and unexpected expenses for things like UTIs/ears/eyes depending on breed. City license and registration. A formal trainer. Umbrella insurance (since you have children not your own on site; more CYA than anything). Pet insurance or a wellness plan or a sinking fund. We use wellness plans the first year at $72/mo, and it covers all exams, deworming, flea/tick/heartworm meds, and spay. Insurance would have covered cancer (had it been found sooner) when we put our 7yo down last March. Both could be replaced with a sinking fund if you prefer to pay yourself monthly instead.  

Answer 38

I would also start saving for spay/neuter if you intend to do it isn’t such a large expense when it pops up.  

Answer 39

If it hasn’t already been mentioned, I’d suggest having a separate sinking fund for emergencies, because they WILL happen. We just had surgery on our dog to remove a cancerous tumor from his ear. His surgery was about $1500, all cash flowed.  

Answer 40

Heart worm and tick medication  

Answer 41

You should definitely get puppy training too.  

Answer 42

Training and getting him/her fixed!  

Answer 43

Insurance ?  

Answer 44

Start looking into the food, not all food is good for dogs! Like that you know how much you are gonna spend! And I recommend buying in bulkkk :) Thats just my opinion. You learn so much as you go along  Also for my dogs I buy them the flea medicine every 3 months which is 60 bucks for each! You can start researching a that! :D

Answer 45

Puppy pads as your puppy cant go outside at the beginning x

Answer 46

I have a day care to. I keep my dogs kenneled or other rooms during the day they go out when we’re inside. We just got a new puppy and I’ve been letting him hang with the kids more then my older dog who would Rather sleep in my son room all day. The puppy loves the kids and the kids love the puppy. When the kids start to chase after him I put him away though. Enjoy your new fur baby!  

Answer 47

Get the comprehensive plan at your vet at least for the first year! It’ll save you money, all office visits, vaccines, routine tests and spay/neuter will be covered that whole year.  

Answer 48

Dog food (start researching which ones you’d want now and work it into the budget) treats (you always buy more than you think lol) and heartguard for sure.  

Answer 49

Better start a pet emergency fund. They like to have random things happen about 4-6x a year. Emergency surgery for misc swallowed objects stuck in the intestine are about $3, 500.  

Comments

@wheelbarrow 4-6 times a year!? LOL you must have one mischievous pup. We’ve had one emergency visit in 5 years.  

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@feudalism I have 8 dogs, lol. All different breeds and sizes. I keep my house picked up so I've never had to make an emergency puppy visit except 1x about 6 years ago for a pup with Parvo and about 3 years before that when my adult GSD had a swollen face overnight. But the majority of the pup owners i know have real bad luck with pups eating stuff they shouldn't. I am constantly telling them to keep their pups space/kids space picked up.  

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@wheelbarrow ahhh ok that makes sense. 8 dogs. Lol

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@feudalism yes, we have lots of yard and live in the country. We have breeds ranging from 6lbs up to 80lbs. All female, all spayed and no fights. Lol.  

Answer 50

Please get pet insurance. Trupanion is what we have and we love it!  

Answer 51

Heartworm meds

Answer 52

Spay or neuter

Comments

And microchip

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Agree on both

Answer 53

Puppy training classes. You’ll need to get it socialized.  

Answer 54

Heartworm pills

Answer 55

Flea and tick meds, heart worm protection, updated shots.  

Answer 56

Heart worm prevention and vet bills and worming

Answer 57

We have Healthy Paws. My dog broke her leg and needed surgery. $6k. They paid 90%! It’s so worth it! Especially depending on the breed you get. They sent a check the day after we submitted it.  

Answer 58

Pet insurance. Also check around with vets as some also have puppy plans available. This is what we got for a plan from our vet

Comments

Yep. We pay 105 per month and he gets his toenails done every couple weeks. He gets unlimited deworming and parasite testing done for the entire year

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@galloway8968 agreed! Best thing I did when I got my rescue puppy in October. The vet has a puppy plan for the first year for 44 a month. Covers all her shots plus boosters and rabies, heart worn flea tick , microchipping, dna testing for breed, tooth are, nails, spay/neuter , and unlimited office visits. Anything not included is 30 percent off

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@meet745 $44. That is awesome. Where r u located. I’m in  

Answer 59

Heart worm medication. Training for you pup. ESP. Having children around, it would be very good to make sure your pup is ready for that interaction. A trainer will def be able to help with that. Set your pup up for success! Congratulations!  

Answer 60

Spay or neuter

Answer 61

Pet insurance

Answer 62

Dog dishes

Answer 63

Doggy wipes. poop bags. doggy bowls. doggy food.  

Answer 64

I highly recommend pet insurance! We didn't get it for our lab and we've spent a TON of money on her. You really just never know what's going to come up! When she was a puppy she ate rocks that blocked her bowels and needed an overnight stay at the emergency vet. Now we are dealing with a ton of allergy issues that require expensive dermatologist appointments and special medications monthly. Once diagnosed insurance won't cover it. She also injured her CCL and needed surgery. She's only 6years old.  

Answer 65

Adopt from a shelter, check Facebook marketplace for a kennel. I don't give my dog vet flea meds, I use the peppermint spray from Walmart called Natural Care flea & tick - works great for like $6. 00.  

Comments

@strouse yes that works as well! I hate giving those unnecessary meds. I had a cat who seizured from the flea neck drops and a dog who seizured from the flea pill. No more for my pets.