Just keeping track of prices here!

[Freppan]

Well, I will probably leave him inside. Part of potty training will definitely include slowly waiting longer and longer between letting him out. I'll let him go outside for a few minutes before leaving for school. On days that my mom goes home for lunch, she can let him out really quickly then let him back in when she leaves, if she would. I'll have to keep getting toys for him to keep him entertained! The cats will keep him company as well.

I forgot about neutering costs. I will certainly add that in when I get home. (I'm at school right now, and it would be a little weird if I was looking up neutering on the school computers!)

And yes, I do need to go to the vet for the rabies shot. Everything I can do myself. As for de-worming, I need to add that too. Any idea how much that would cost?

And yes, herradura puppies do come with AKC papers.

Finally, I already have a brush and comb, just need some shampoo.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Freppan

Well, I will probably leave him inside. Part of potty training will definitely include slowly waiting longer and longer between letting him out. I'll let him go outside for a few minutes before leaving for school. On days that my mom goes home for lunch, she can let him out really quickly then let him back in when she leaves, if she would. I'll have to keep getting toys for him to keep him entertained! The cats will keep him company as well.

Even with a summer puppy and you being home to get a foundation on his/her potty training; puppy is not going to be reliable to be given free reign of the house when you go back to school. Nor will it be safe for puppy to have that much freedom. You'll just be throwing a cherry on top of your Mom's idea that this is a mistake and support all the reasons she didn't want a dog in her home. Need to use a crate.

As for de-worming, I need to add that too. Any idea how much that would cost?

Depends on the de-wormer used and which worms you are needing to treat.

And yes, herradura puppies do come with AKC papers.

Which means exactly what we said it did. You'll also have to pay to send the papers in for puppy's registration.

Finally, I already have a brush and comb, just need some shampoo.

To those you'll probably be adding future supplies such as a Furminator, flea comb, different style(s) of brush, rake, ...

Debbie

[fogebotom]

Regardless if you do your own vaccinations, there is a cost. Syringe, vaccine, etc. Figure $5-10 per shot, three sets as a puppy then yearly boosters. Depending on your deworming program and the product you use-again, $5-10, or more.

How about having an emergency fund? Always need to plan for the unexpected. Torn toe nail, pulling a puppy tooth that won't come out, eats something it shouldn't and gets sick or worse needs surgery to remove it. Granted I've had really bad things happen with my dogs-all just bad luck, but torn ACL then needed her whole knee repaired, Marg who is now walks on a leg worth about a million dollars, dog with kidney stones, etc. Who knows what can happen and when.

And I will harp on this--don't for get obedience classes!!!

[Michael Romanos]

The current trend in New Zealand for vaccinating a puppy is at 6 weeks, 9 weeks and 12 weeks.

[Freppan]

I found a nearby vet that offers microchipping and registration for only 18 dollars. I can knock off quite a bit from the final cost that way.

They also had an amazing deal going on. For $115, I can get: neutering surgery, hospitalization for one night, vaccinations, heartworm test, one dose of heartworm preventative, deworming for hookworms and roundworms, flea and tick treatment, presurgical pain medication, check up and suture removal two weeks after surgery. Sounds great, honestly.

[Michael Romanos]

If someone offered me $50,000 I wouldn't have my Taylor neutured.

[Vannette]

It sure is expensive isn't it Erin? Katie got hit by a car last January 2000.00. And she didn't break anything or need surgery. Just some cracks in her pelvis (1 bad one) and overnight stays. Thank God for credit cards. A couple months later, they both got into a bottle of Armour Etch, you use it to etch glass, I don't remember that cost. It wasn't too much, just one visit to the emergency room to calm me down.
Right now, I'm having a trainer come in at 50 bucks an hour to help me with some behavior problems. And I don't work. Stress.
You are doing such as good job planning for your puppy Erin. Don't get discouraged.
It's time for their shots again...it never ends. LOL

[Vannette]

Why not Michael? Are you going to breed him?

[MyPemCharlie]

The "emergency vet fund" is a good idea. I'm looking at having to take Charlie to have at least two of his puppy canine teeth pulled. Since they still aren't loose, we're looking at office call, anesthesia costs, plus the work. That wasn't in the budget when I got him Labor Day weekend.

Ditto to Vanette -- Thank God for credit cards!

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

The current trend in New Zealand for vaccinating a puppy is at 6 weeks, 9 weeks and 12 weeks.

Same as the US. Those following Dr. Dodd's recommendations begin at 9 weeks.
Vaccination Schedule Recommendations For Dogs

Debbie

[Michael Romanos]

Vannette - I don't want any changes with Taylor's natural personality, character, demeanour, attitude and outlook. i want to retain his 'spark' for as long as possible.

Debbie - I am well into the relatively new programme of annual vaccinations where dogs do not need (and is actually cointer-productive) every drug administered on a yearly basis. Most are now once every three years. A few days ago, Taylor was at the vet for his annual vaccinations and was only given a vaccination for one thing - kennel cough.

[Freppan]

He'll probably get sick/die at a younger age, though, Michael!

And don't worry, theoretically, I plan to keep on saving money after I get all the supplies and the pup. I wouldn't want to lose him over something as simple as a cracked pelvis.

And THANK YOU, Vannette. I'm trying not to lose courage. My mom and I had an argument about it the other day. She was talking about how she didn't think it was that great of an idea. My face must have completely turned in on itself, because she suddenly took an unexpected turn towards sympathy (very rare!). I started to cry a little (yeah, I'm kinda weak), and she was like, "Don't get upset, I haven't said 'no' yet... We'll see how it goes when you watch Imus (my aunt's corgi)."

Since I do great with Imus, I'm sure it will go fine. I've got to puppysit him for a week while my aunt goes to California. Oh... I hope I hope I hope... she has to say yes deeeeaaarrr loooorrrrddd.

[fogebotom]

Wow, 2000 is a heck of a deal. We figured by the time we got done with Marg's accident, almost 6 mos later, it well over 5000. That was with the surgery, xrays, follow up, bandage changes, etc. That doesn't include the replacement of the truck that she was in when the accident happened either. I'll try to post some of her xrays and photos one of these days.

Heartworm, forgot about that one. Since I have a herd and do it year round, I have the vet mix up ivomec in bulk and dose it by weight to each dog.

What else, what else, are we missing??? Honestly I think most of it's covered except your time. There's a high price to pay for that one!

[MyPemCharlie]

Money saving tip on heatworm, flea contol, and intestinal wormer. Advantage Multi does it all in one topical dose per month.

My vet matched the best online price I could find, which was about $75 for almost 2 year supply (about $3/month). They let me get the size for 55-88 lb dogs, and gave me a cc syringe where one tube (4.0ml) should last 3-4 months. Dosage at the dog's weight x 1/2 x .1ml. At 18 lbs, Charlie's dose is .9 ml, which is less than 25% of one of the tubes.

Ivermectin is fairly inexpensive too, for only heartworm, but then you have flea and wormer expenses separately.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by fogebotom

What else, what else, are we missing??? Honestly I think most of it's covered except your time. There's a high price to pay for that one!

Initial price of the puppy is the cheapest part of the deal of going into dog ownership, so I'm sure we're missing something. One problem is we just do so much of this stuff without thinking, it is hard sometimes to itemize.

Debbie