It was a steamy, hot, day in northern Florida when my wife (then girlfriend) and I set out to the local flea market in our college town. She discussed how she wanted a dog for months, not just any dog, but a Boston Terrier. She played with a few at the pet stores in the area but they came with a hefty price tag, $1200! So she put the search on hold for a while as $1200 is a lot of money for a college student, or anyone for that matter. We got out of the car and walked up to the rednecks playground, the flea market. We went just for something to do, no specific purpose. We checked out the trinkets such as belt buckles, electronics, and fake purses. All the things that not a single person on this earth needs to be buying. It was a place anyone could get their fix of the finer things in life. As we were walking down the sidewalk (which I think was a dirt path), I heard my wife gasp. As I turned to see what she was looking towards, I couldn’t believe my eyes. A lady with a cigarette poking between the gap in her front teeth was holding a Boston Terrier puppy, showing him to a customer.
The puppy’s eyes were barely open, he look malnourished and overheated in the hot sun. We stood and watched as the customer held the puppy for a while then gave it back to the cigarette lady, who placed him back in the blistering hot outdoor cage accompanied by other puppies. “We have to save him” my wife said, then ran over to the cigarette lady to see if she could hold the puppy. As he was pulled back out of the cage, he looked as though he was completely drained. My wife held the puppy and asked how much the lady wanted for him. She stated he was $400, then my wife looked over at me and said “Should I get him?” I was reluctant to say yes, given his condition, and was nervous he may not make it through the night. I also felt terrible for the little guy, so I said what all indecisive boyfriends say, “Whatever you want, it’s your choice.” She said “I’m getting him”, and told the lady she would go get the cash from the ATM a few stores back. We rushed to the ATM and returned to give Mrs. Cigarette Lady the money. She took what seemed to be an eternity to count the wad of twenty-dollar bills, and yet again pulled the puppy out from the oven of a cage. She handed us the puppy and we headed to the car. My wife held him in her lap as we started the car, blasting the A/C, his eyes still barely open. The car began to cool down as we pulled out of the parking lot, and what seemed to be instantaneous the puppy came to life. He sat up and looked at my wife with his giant eyes and started playing with her curly hair. “Look!” she yelled as he was licking and playing with her. “Let’s call him Eddie!” (She had already picked out the name when she was on her initial search for a dog.) We were so relieved that we had saved this 4 pound puppy from a heat stroke (even if we did overpay).
Here is Eddie after some cooler days..
Laila our large dog is a year younger than Eddie, we also got her as a puppy. I wanted a boxer for quite some time and looked at many options. I researched for over 6 months during my last semester of college. When summer rolled around, I was ready to find my boxer. I looked online and finally found a breeder with whom I was comfortable and had fantastic ratings. We made the trek out to the countryside, about an hour and a half away. We drove down a long dirt road and pulled into the last house on the right. I wanted a female since Eddie was a male and the litter had only one. I had a hunch she was the one I would buy. When we walked up to the massive kennel where the litter was, Laila stood out. She was the most wild, energetic, and silly, of all the puppies. She immediately jumped in my lap when I sat down and began licking my face. I knew she was the one I wanted (maybe not the best choice to pick the wildest but it worked out) and I let the breeder know. We then got to meet her parents and see where all the puppies sleep. We were thrilled with how nice the breeders kennels were and the fact that they only had one litter per year. Now I bought her before I watched my spending, so don’t hang me for how much I spent on her…$700 (Not the most cost-effective investment, but she pays dividends in licks, so we’re okay). We took home the 11 pound boxer puppy and had ourselves an adventure ahead.
Laila has what they call in the business, separation anxiety. She is also a boxer, which are notorious for being furry balls of energy. This led to what can only be described in one word when she was left alone… destruction. Early on she would do “cute” things like find a piece of toilet paper and rip it up. As she got older she would grab entire rolls and shred them to pieces like the Charmin Bear stole her lunch money. She ripped a hole in the couch, tore up the garbage, and literally ripped down an entire door. We then thought we had the best solution, so we crate trained her while we were away. Little did we know we didn’t just have an escape artist on our hands, but a barking Houdini. She would find ways to squeeze out of her crate and destroy any inanimate object in her path until we got home. She even learned to open her crate from the inside! I thought to myself, I’ll just get a book on puppy training and that will solve our problems, but she ripped that up as well. Though comical now, these are Cap X expenses that most people don’t account for when getting a puppy. She has since been trained (positive reinforcement) and is now the angel of the family.
So you got yourself a puppy.. Now you have to buy stuff.
Puppies are loads of work, much more than anyone realizes. They also have a price tag above your adoption fee or breeder price due to the amount of time they consume. I’ll break down a bare minimum of what you’ll need for a large or small dog. Most people will get fancier than this, because for the most part, dogs are emotional choices.
Large Dog:
Crate – $75 (Preferably with a divider so you can make larger as the puppy grows.)
Food – $33
Chew Toys for Teething: $25
Puppy Pad for Potty Training: $20
Dog Bed: $30 (or you can make one out of old blankets and towels)
Training Treats: $5
Clicker:$5
Collar: $10
Leash$15
Total: $218
Small Dog:
Crate – $25 (Preferably with a divider so you can make larger as the puppy grows.)
Food – $15
Chew Toys for Teething: $25
Puppy Pad for Potty Training: $20
Dog Bed: $15 (or you can make one out of old blankets and towels)
Training Treats: $5
Clicker: $5
Collar: $10
Leash$15
Total: $135
But wait there’s more! You have to get their yearly shots and puppy vaccinations. Each dog was the same price, around $300 initially, which is average. You then have to spay or neuter your pup which is another $150. We also microchipped our dogs in case they ever get lost, someone can take them into the nearest vet and they can scan a chip that they place in their back leg. This chip will reveal all the information needed to get the dog back to its owner (Address, Phone number, etc..).
So now we are spending the big bucks just for start-up costs. If you adopt (which I highly recommend), expect your adoption fee to range from $0 to $300.
Large Dog:
Price: $700
Supplies: $218
Initial Vet Bills: $300
Spay/neuter: $150
Micro Chip: $50
Total: $1,418
Small Dog:
Price: $400
Supplies: $135
Initial Vet Bills: $300
Spay/neuter: $150
Micro Chip: $50
Total: $1,035
Training
Another aspect to being a good dog owner is training. Beyond a positive increase in your furry friends behavior, you will also have a mentally stimulated dog, which is a happy dog. Early on I went to a training class at our local big box pet shop. I paid $200 for four classes (something I still regret to this day) that taught my dog a total of zero commands. This was not the trainer’s fault, I just was not willing to put in the work outside of class. I assumed the dogs would magically get the lessons down once a week!
I’m going to let you in on a little secret, there’s a magical land in cyberspace that can give you the same benefit, if not even more, than your high-priced, budget crushing, trainer can give. It’s called YouTube (Shhhhh). There are so many positive reinforcement trainers out there, that provide all their content for free! We all know free is my favorite number, so once i started using YouTube, I was more inclined to teach my dog at their own pace (which is another important aspect of training). Positive reinforcement combined with clicker training is my go to method and the only way I think anyone should train their dog. My favorite trainer is Zach George and Pamela Marxsen who use these methods specifically. You can buy a clicker at your local pet store, or amazon, for around $4. Please, I beg of you, start this early and your life will be so much easier.
The Case for Adoption
There are so many dogs out there in shelters that need a home. I highly recommend considering adoption before you buy a puppy. If I knew what I know now, I would have definitely taken this route, and will do so going forward. Beyond the growing need for homes, adoption is much better on your wallet. Most shelters will have the dogs initial vet visits done before they can be adopted. This includes spay or neuter and initial shots. This can save you $400 in vet bills! That’s not all folks (in a Bob Barker voice), you don’t have to pay the large price tag of acquiring your pup. You just pay the adoption fee which can range from Free to $300 depending on the facility from which you adopt. This can save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars! Rescue organizations are another great way to adopt a puppy, as they pull dogs from shelters and give them foster homes until they find their forever family. These are great organizations that have the same cost saving benefits as shelters.
So to sum it up, puppies are not cheap. They are extremely hard work requiring discipline, stamina, and time. If you are already a very busy person, I would not recommend getting a puppy, unless you have the time and money to give your dog the attention it needs. It can be extremely rewarding in the end, as my dogs are now my best buds. Adoption is the best route; there are too many animals who need a home. If you have the time, energy, and money, to take on a puppy, then good for you. They are great teachers in what true happiness, loyalty, and selflessness can be!
Cheers!
Andrew
(Dedicated to Sam, my childhood rescue dog.)
Andrew is the host of The Personal Finance Podcast, a show that is changing the way you think about your money. His primary goal with the podcast is to bring as much value as possible to his listeners.
Andrew's favorite free financial tool he's been using since 2014 to manage his net worth is Personal Capital. Each month he uses their free Investment Checkup tool and Retirement Planner to track his investments and ensure that he's on the fast track to financial freedom.
His favorite investment platform is M1 Finance, a site that allows him to build a custom portfolio of stocks for free. It has no trading fees and is his preferred way to invest without having to lift a finger.
- Who is Eligible for an FHA Loan? - November 10, 2020
- How to Write a Check: A Step by Step Guide (With Examples) - November 6, 2020
- How to Buy Vanguard Index Funds - October 14, 2020
Great story!! in the last 17 years our family has adopted two dogs and rescued one. The first two were adoptions from Puppy Foster Care and this past March we rescued our shihtzu Winston from abandonment. I think the feeling of rescue is the Best!!
I agree! Adopting is the best/most rewarding route to go. Thanks for reading!