Supply Cost Estimation

FOR DOGS

All of the listed prices are estimations that take into account high quality. If you do not expect to purchase high quality items and care for your pets, the total prices will be lower. Please note that costs mainly depend on the size of the dog. A crate for a miniature poodle would be cheap in comparison to one of a Great Dane. Also take into consideration unexpected diseases that may cause more frequent vet visits.   

PUPPIES (Year One):

Vet Care: $200

Immunizations: $150

Parasite Control/Treatment: $125

Spay/Neuter: $100 to $200 based on size and weight

Food: $200

Other (crates, collars, leashes): $250

Year One Overall: $1025-$1125

DOGS (Year Two-Year Eight):

Vet Care: $150

Immunizations: $100

Parasite Control/Treatment: $125

Food: $250

Other: $100

Adult Dog Overall: $725

Dogs passed the age of eight, especially if large, will likely have much higher vet bills because of diseases that may occur simply because of old age. 

Choosing a Pet

If you are interested in purchasing or adopting a new puppy or kitty, you must remember that, while animals are good friends, pets require lots of love and responsibility. 

Cost: Something to always take into consideration is the price of the pet you wish to purchase. Some dogs and cats (particularly if purebred) can cost well over 1000 dollars. For those of us who are not picky about breed or purebreds, there are many needy dogs and cats at the local pound. They cost little to no money to adopt. Many adopters claim that their relationships with their adoptees are more special than those of people who buy their dogs or cats. 

The new pet also needs supplies, so take those charges into consideration. 

Responsibility: There are many components that go into taking care of a new puppy or kitty. Below is a list of questions. If you say "yes" to all of them, you are definitely fit to be a new owner! 

1: Will you be able to devote time and effort into walking (dog), grooming, and feeding your new pet everyday? 

2: Do you have gaps in your schedule to accommodate your dog or cat's need for love and attention? 

3: Are you mentally prepared to get up in the middle of the night to let your puppy outside? Are you prepared to clean up your pet's mess?

4: Can you afford to buy all the necessary items for your pet's well being?

5: Are none of the people in your household allergic to dogs or cats? 

New Pet Checklist

Planning on adopting a new pet? It is necessary to make sure you have all the materials for that pet prior to his or her arrival. Below is a helpful checklist to aid you in your quest to make your home puppy or kitty friendly. 

PUPPY: 

Crate: It is difficult to express how important a crate is. Crate training is a spectacular gift sent from heaven. Puppies like to have their safe home to live in and it also makes traveling easy. Puppies learn not to go to the bathroom in their sanctuary and grow to love their crates. 

Nylon Collar and Leash: Puppies are small and fragile. You don't pick them up by their throat, so why would you buy an uncomfortable metal or solid collar to choke them with? Buy a soft, flexible collar. They are cheap and better for the puppy. 

Water and Food Bowls: Preferably stainless steel. Indestructible.  

Toys: Puppies are famous for chewing on furniture and shoes. Buying a small collection of toys will distract them from such temptations. Recommendations: a kong (time consuming toy), a plush, squeaky toy (leisure toy), a plush soccer or basketball (sport, solid ones might take their teeth out prematurely).

Food: Feed your dog top quality food. Since he or she is a developing puppy, they need to be nourished properly. Puppy portions and food types are different than those of adult dogs. 

Vet: Make an appointment with your vet to make sure your puppy is completely healthy. 

Medications: Buy flea and tick preventative medicines. 

KITTEN: 

Just like puppies, kittens need food, vets, and bowls (referenced above). 

Scratching Post: While this seems optional to many people, even a small scratching post can save your couch from utter destruction. 

Litter: Cats go to the bathroom in a litter box and it is best to train them as soon as possible. Clean the litter box frequently to keep your house and the kitty sanitary. 

Toys: Kitty toys are a little different than puppy toys. Kittens like to chase toy mice around and play with jingling bells versus chew on teddy bears. 

Making a Dog Schedule

In a previous post, we discussed keeping a balanced schedule for a new puppy. It may be difficult to establish a complex schedule for someone who is busy and does not have much time to devote to making a puppy paradise. Below is a recommended schedule to provide structure to your dog's day:

Wake Up by Eight: Waking up one day at six and the next at two in the afternoon can throw a dog's sleeping patterns off. In order to prevent this, try to wake up by eight or nine each day. That way, both the dog and yourself can have a full day. 

Small Breakfast: Breakfast should never be as large and substantial as dinner. Give the dog roughly half of what you would usually give it for his or her evening meal. It is an energy boost to feed off of for the entire day. 

Afternoon Walk or Run (half hour): Every dog, no matter what size, needs exercise and fresh air. A walk should be longer and more intensive if the dog is large in size or overweight. Take him or her for a walk right when you get home from school or work, or around 3 in the afternoon. Provide treats during or after the walk!

Evening Meal: This should be at the same time every night and roughly twice the size of breakfast. 

Sleep by Eleven: While a dog does sleep most of the day, it is healthy to get a full night's rest. Just like eight hours is the perfect amount of sleep for a human, it is the perfect amount for a dog.  

Building a Stable Home

A pet needs a home to develop in. A stressful, intimidating environment that does not provide any comfort or feelings of home can cause a pet to feel uncomfortable. Below are five simple steps to give your new pet a stable home:

Step One: Baby proof the premises. Keep keys, pills, and toxic materials out of puppy or kitty reach! Kittens especially like to climb all over counters and desks. Hide any hazards away. 

Step Two: Slow Integration. Allow your new pet to run around and see and smell your home. Do not pick them up and play just yet. They need to get used to their new environment. 

Step Three: Bond. The relationship between you and your pet within the first few months will make it or break it. If you do not show the pet affection, do not feed him or her, and generally are neglectful, you will never have a good bond with your pet.  

Step Four: Provide Structure. Make a routine for your pet. For example: wake up at seven, morning breakfast, afternoon walk, afternoon treats, nightly dinner, bed at ten. 

Step Five: Pay Attention To His or Her Medical Needs. With pets, it is often difficult to tell if something is wrong just by looking at them. They will not complain and tell you they are sick, so you must be responsible for taking them to the vet if you feel something might be wrong. 

Activities to Enjoy

Just like human children, dogs like to get out and run around. The best way to enjoy activities with your dog is to find their passion. Some dogs enjoy agility: running a challenging course in order to please their trainer. If your dog prefers day dreaming and refusing to obey, there are other options to keep him or her active. Below is a list of possibilities:

-Herding: for the controlling dog

-Racing: for the speedy dog

-Pulling: for the hyperactive dog

-Skateboard: for the balanced dog

-Assisted Therapy: for the calm dog

-Dog Parks (off-leash socializing): for the happy-go-lucky dog

-Dog Camp: for the social dog

Pet Food Possibilities

Have you ever desired to make your very own pet food? There are pros and cons to different ingredients you could mix into your puppy or kitty chow. Below is a list of good ingredients and bad ingredients to include in your concoction. 

Healthy Ingredients: 

-Brown Rice: This is the fibrous feature of the food. It assists in keeping the digestive system running smoothly. 

-Fresh, Quality Cuts of Chicken: Dog food should be roughly 30%-40% protein and delicious chicken or other poultry meats can make up this portion of the recipe. Also, for those of us out there against red meats, it is a great alternative option. Cat food should be roughly 50% protein, so add more chicken than rice and veggies in your kitten's meal.

-Ground Up Carrots: Vegetables work the same for pets as they do for humans. They keep dogs and cats healthy. Through trial and error, I've discovered that my dog's favorite vegetable is the carrot. I would not recommend adding stringy celery. 

Unhealthy Ingredients: 

-Chocolate and Candy: NEVER give your pet anything related to the cocoa bean. While humans may have a subtle obsession with the sweet treat, it makes dogs and cats sick. 

-Fruits: Some fruits might be okay to eat, but I generally steer away from them. They are full of sugars. The worst fruit to feed your pet would be a grape. 

-Molds or Fungi: While this may seem an obvious request, some people do feed their pets mushrooms or unintentionally give them a nibble of moldy bread.

-Garlic and Onions

These are simply recommendations. Every dog or cat has their own palette and can handle to eat a different variety of foods. Happy experimenting!