{"id":9492,"date":"2023-08-06T19:51:31","date_gmt":"2023-08-06T19:51:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/isafespend.com\/personal-finance\/savings\/how-much-does-it-cost-to-care-for-a-puppy\/"},"modified":"2023-08-06T19:51:34","modified_gmt":"2023-08-06T19:51:34","slug":"how-much-does-it-cost-to-care-for-a-puppy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isafespend.com\/?p=9492","title":{"rendered":"How Much Does It Cost to Care for a Puppy?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Adding a furry friend to the family is a big commitment, and before making any decisions you need to make absolutely sure you\u2019re ready for it. Depending on where you buy or adopt a puppy it can cost you on average for the first-year $1,270.<\/span><\/p>\n

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For me, my search and savings for my furry best friend started about two and a half years ago. I had just graduated college and knew one day I\u2019d like to get to a place where I could mentally and financially handle getting a dog of my own. Just like many individuals coming out of college, I was slammed with a lot of student debt and was trying to find a job that allowed me to pay the bills. Affording a dog at that point was out of the question. While student loans continue to be a personal struggle for me, with the generosity of my parents I was able to stay at home and forgo the ridiculous rent prices of DC, ultimately helping me save for other aspects of my life.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If someone asked me about my \u201cdream dog\u201d, I would always answer either a corgi, puggle, or a bull mastiff. So when I learned about a puggle puppy looking for a home about three months ago, I felt like the timing was perfect. While I kind of completed the \u201cgetting a dog\u201d steps backward (i.e. I still live at home with my parents), for my situation, it works for us all. I am able to sacrifice a portion of the rent I would be paying for my pet expenses instead. I brought my puggle puppy, Keelie Lovegood, home on August 3, 2018, and man is she adorable.<\/span><\/p>\n

In this article, I\u2019ll talk about the expenses of a new puppy and the creative ways I found to save.<\/span><\/p>\n

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One Time Pet Expenses:<\/span><\/h2>\n

Adoption\/Pet Fee: $450<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

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I got my puppy through a friend, so the pet fee was low. However, depending on where you\u2019re located and the breed of dog, this fee will be very different for everyone. I\u2019d suggest you google and do thorough research from where your puppy is coming from before agreeing to anything. My cousin recently added a Golden Doddle puppy to their family that cost $3,200. For that high dollar tag, their puppy came with a two-year health guarantee.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"buying<\/strong>Leash, Collar, ID Tag: Leash-Free, Collar-$7 ID tag (engraving included)-$12<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

My leash was free because my Grandma had an extra one. The collar I bought from the Facebook marketplace and the ID was from PetSmart. These are essential for keeping your dog safe in case they run away or escape.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Bed: $5<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Honestly, I wouldn\u2019t worry about buying a nice fancy bed at the puppy years because they\u2019ll most likely rip it up. I bought a very simple bed from Walmart to give her comfort but I won\u2019t be upset if it doesn\u2019t last long. Eventually, when she gets older I\u2019d like to buy her a nicer bed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Cute<\/span><\/p>\n

Crate and Travel Crate: $20 combined<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Depending on where you look, a crate can cost a few hundred dollars. Since a puggle is a smaller breed I didn\u2019t need a huge crate, but I got these very cheap on Facebook Marketplace. They\u2019re in great condition and I was able to save a lot of money on this purchase.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Puppy Training: $116<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Keelie isn\u2019t quite old enough for puppy training classes yet, but I\u2019ve found places like PetSmart that offer weekly classes starting at $116. You can also look into local puppy classes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Puppy<\/strong>Groomi<\/strong>ng: Brush-$10, Nail Clippers-$6, Shampoo-$8<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

For grooming, every dog will be different. While some owners may opt to take their pet to a professional, I decided since Keelie has short hair we could handle her grooming. I brush her once a week, bathe her once a month, and clip her nails once every four weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Recurring Expenses:<\/span><\/h2>\n

Food: $25 for 15 lbs bag (lasts 3 months)\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"PuppyWhen I first got Keelie, they had been feeding her Purina Puppy Chow, and while a more cost-efficient dog food, I opted to go\u00a0with Nutro puppy formula. It has\u00a0much higher ratings and in the long run can help to keep your dog healthier.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cleaning Products: $20 for three cans<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Natures\u2019 Miracle. This stuff is amazing! Probably the best decision I\u2019ve made so far because if she has an accident (and trust me it will happen) this product cleans the carpet so well it\u2019s like nothing ever happened.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Vet: $80 monthly (includes all vaccinations and spayed)<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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I went with a local vet, and while there are more frugal ways to get puppy vaccinations and check-ups, I enjoy and trust our vet, so we pay a little more than if we went to the ASPCA or a pop-up clinic.<\/span><\/p>\n