So, you want a dog. I mean, who doesn’t want a dog. As I have written before, I’m a crazy dog lady. Bailey and I met because of our dogs. When we see our parents (both sets) they always ask how our dogs are doing. At a party and have nothing to talk about? Bring the conversation back to dogs. They are the great force that unites us. (Wo)Man’s Best Friend.
We bought a bigger house to try and spread out. Nope. My two are laying underneath me while I write this. I create a makeshift office outside on the deck every weekend so my dog, Riley, can be outside…because she won’t go out there unless I’m out there and then pouts if we are inside. Whatever, I’m the boss around here. (Not really)
Bob and I have had a couple of meetings this year where the question of getting a dog has come up. So, we’ve been having the “life with a dog” cash flow conversation. Because according to Bob “Everything is about cash flow”.
What does cash flow look like with a dog? It depends…
- Breeder vs Adopt
- Puppy vs older
- Grocery store food vs Pet Store Food
- Do you work all the time or are you home?
- Who keeps the dog when you travel?
- What kind of coat does the dog have…will it need grooming?
- Dog trainer
- Annual vet appointments
- Random vet appointments
- Vaccinations
- Dental cleanings
- Flea/tick treatment
- Heartworm pills
- Treats
- Toys
- Beds
- Car seat liners
- Leash and collar
The deal is, you gotta figure out what your dog ownership is going to look like and then plan for it and make sure your cash flow can support it.
Let’s look at what it costs to go all in your first year of getting a dog – breeder, quality food and not that Old Roy junk, lots of care because you work full time and like to travel – so the works:
Dog purchase: $500+
Puppy vaccination: $1000
Spay/neuter: $400
Dog trainer: $500
Doggie Daycare: $2000 (approx. $40 per week)
Grooming: $600 (approx. $50/month)
Dog food: $480 (approx. $40/month)
Boarding costs: $300+ (based on (2) 5-night trips)
Flea/Tick/Heartworm: $600
Dental cleaning: $300
Random vet visit: $300
Toys/Bed/Treats/Leash/Collar/Stuff: $500
Grand Total: $7,480
Can your cash flow handle $623/month?
Let’s look at an adopted dog, no grooming, you work from home but have care when you travel and quality food (sorry, I’m not letting you buy that Old Roy junk)
Dog adoption: $200
Dog trainer: $500
Dog food: $480 (approx. $40/month)
Boarding costs: $300+ (based on (2) 5-night trips)
Flea/Tick/Heartworm: $600
Dental cleaning: $300
Random vet visit: $300
Toys/Bed/Treats/Leash/Collar/Stuff: $500
Grand Total: $2,880
Can your cash flow handle $240/month?
Besides being physically ill looking at these numbers, just know mine go to daycare 3x a week, eat hand-crafted-holistic-no gluten-humanely raised-fair trade food (OK, it's a little extreme) and I have two of them; I love my dogs and wouldn’t trade them for anything.
It’s important to think long and hard about your finances and getting a dog. A couple of tips –
- Have a dog emergency fund - $500
- Vet visits are no less than $300. Riley had an upset stomach the other week and after 36 hours, she was still throwing up so off the vet we went. Two shots, blood work and $350 later, she was back to 100% the next day. Dave Ramsey preaches this. It’s Baby Step 1 and the foundation for his process. If you have a dog, the dog needs an emergency fund outside of your family emergency fund.
- Hypoallergenic dogs have to be groomed.
- Yeah, you don’t want a shedder but all those “oodle” breeds must see a groomer…ideally once a month. So, grooming plus tip needs to be in your budget.
- With a shedder, lint rollers and vacuuming a couple times a week is low-cost.
- Get ready to work with your dog and exercise
- One way to save money on trainers and dog care is to be able to work with your dog on training as well as exercising. The more you let your dog use their brain, the better behaved they are.
- Socialize your dog
- The more experiences the dog has when they are young, the more flexible they can be. If you can take your dog with you anywhere, that saves money.
- Don’t buy crappy food.
- Just go for the good stuff. The stuff at the grocery store is convenient but it’s saw dust. It’s the same with humans – the better the dog eats, the better it’s health.
When did I know Bailey and I were meant to be? When we shared our dog stories. Both of our dogs where found roaming the streets and then posted via email and social media. We both saw the dogs and had to have them. For me, the first night I had Riley, she threw up all over my house and a Parvo scare and $1,000 later, she was as good as new. For Bailey, he picked up Buddy who had one back leg shorter than the other and $2,500 later, Buddy had a new leg. Some “free” dogs we picked up.
There are no “deals” when it comes to dogs. Have an emergency fund, a plan and a budget and then make that call to the breeder or head to the Humane Society. You’ll never regret it.