I’m Getting A New Puppy, But I’m Not Sure Of How Much It Will Cost To Care For It Overall.?
August 31, 2009 by admin
Filed under Care & Training Q&As
It will, because of my allergies and mother, most likely be a toy dog breed. I might get a Havanese or Malti-Poo or Shih-tzu, or a breed in the Bichon family. It will definitely be a puppy, and I’m going to crate train and possibly litter box train because it will be so small. So if any of you could give me a general overview on what i’ll need to buy and price ranges and things like shots and what not. And also what I should look for when I find a good offer on a puppy? I have no idea what CKC and AKC registration are.
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I budget a $1000 a year for each of my dogs for vet care,liscense,feed etc. I never have funds left over . There is usually at least one unplanned vet expense. One emergency alone can easily cost well over $1000. Do more research about what bred will suit your lifestyle best.
You need to do more research. I would stay away from CKC. I would go to the shelter and check the dogs out there. You can find some great dogs. Also, alot of pure bred dogs have their own health issues, depending on the breed. Good Luck with your choice.
Look for something in rescue, the adoption fees are much lower and you’d be giving a nice dog a home.
If you live in the States, look up small dog rescue – there are a couple of good rescues that transport from the South, and often have small dogs available. You might also look into Poodle rescue, Maltese rescue…they are available on the web.
Aws for the kinds you’ve named – be very aware that Bichons and things with wooly hair need to be groomed, which is very expensive! You can check with your local pets supply place for their price – just ask for the price on a wash and a puppy cut.
Any combination bred dog is either from a puppymill or from a backyard breeder – you DON’T want to be giving them money. Anything -poo is what I’m talking about …Havanese are a single breed, as are Shih-Tzu, Bichon, Maltese…
If you ask the reputable breeders, who you can look up by findingthe local AKC sponsored club, they may have a young adult dog to rehome. Good breeders take their dogs back for life, no matter what, and then find new homes for them. If they keep two for showing, eventually one goes to be someone’s pet…and is a really nicedog since they’ve been handled. THat is where you want to get one, if you’re actually buying.
But I think you’ll be surprised at what you can find – try looking on Petfinder.com, plugging in your zipcode, and looking for ’small dogs’…
Since you’re not showing, you don’t need an AKC registration – in which case, you really are better off in rescue.
Good luck!
Use Murphy’s law- Add up how much it should cost and then double it.
- You are looking at probably $20 a month for food
- Shots, wormers, licensing in your city is going to be a couple hundred
- Leashes, collars, crate, bed food dishes are going to run you another $150
- Training could cost you $100-$1000
- Vet bills are a complete mystery. Obviously the more healthy the dog the less the bills but it is not uncommon for people to pay thousands to care for their dog
A “maltipoo” is not a breed. It’s a mixed breed. No good breeder would ever intentionally mix breeds, so if you’re seriously interested in this particular mix, please go to a shelter. http://www.petfinder.com has lots of wonderful dogs listed in need of a good home. You may just find a maltese/poodle mix in your area.
There also isn’t a “bichon family”. There’s a breed, the Bichon Frise, but there is no family.
I, personally, do not recommend litter box training, simply because it’s very unnatural for a dog to use it and most dogs do not take to it. If you’re crate training, just teach the dog to use the bathroom outside.
The price range on a purebred for the breeds you’ve listed above are about $800-$1,000 from a good breeder. It’s well worth the money. Caring for a puppy, including shots, supplies, etc. will probably cost you a little more than $1,000 per year.
What do you consider a “good offer”? A puppy that’s only $400 from an irresponsible backyard breeder or puppy miller? To get a quality dog, you’ll need to spend some money. If you’re looking for a purebred, you should learn how to look for a responsible breeder. Check out the breed clubs for a list of breeders. Here’s the link to the American Shih Tzu Club. http://www.shihtzu.org/
There are only a few reputable registries. The AKC is one of them. However, just because a dog is AKC registered doesn’t mean it’s well-bred from a responsible breeder. Registration isn’t the only thing you need to look at. Check to see whether the dogs are shown, genetic tests are completed on the dogs, how many litters the breeder has per year, etc. There are two CKC registries. The first is the Canadian Kennel Club. This is a reputable registry. The other is the Continental Kennel Club and is a scam registry. The only registries I look for are the Can.KC, AKC, and UKC.
As others have said, do more research for sure. You obviously have access to the internet…so you should have no problem finding info. about your potential pup. Also, to take some of the financial pressure off, companies like PetSmart’s Banfield Animal Hospital have implimented a financial program for your pet. You pay an annual fee of $100 and they debit either$15 or $25/month out of your bank account, depending on the plan you sign up for. For $25/mth. that includes all shots and office visits, spay/neuter, tests and screening for disease and other issues….its a great deal! Good luck!
Vet visits can be very expensive. usually when your pet goes for an annual check-up, it can be costly. the shots are expensive. rabies shots are mandatory, and can be very expensive.