Just keeping track of prices here!

[MyPemCharlie]

Erin,

I expect, or hope, that your mom is taking a long time to decide on letting you have a dog because she knows that if, at some point in the next 12-15 years, you can't take care of the dog, that she will own the dog. It's not a bad idea for every dog to have a responsible adult to be the dog's godmother or godfather...just in case. Charlie has four godparents, two separate local friends, and two separate family members. If I were in a car wreck and hospitalized (or whatever), I know Charlie would be cared for.

How about signing up with rescue to be a Corgi foster home between now and getting your own pup? You and your mom might be able to get to know a few Corgi personalities, without making the lifetime commitment. It might make your mom's decision easier. Some dog rescue groups here pay for any medical expenses needed (some can't afford it), so you only have to pay for food, bedding, toys, and training gear.

[fogebotom]

I think Chris has a good idea. Though most rescue organizations won't allow you to foster if you are a first time dog person, there are other areas that they might want you to help out in-fundraisers, transports, adoption fairs, etc, before they send a rescue to live temporarily in your home.

Remember taking on a foster dog has some issues all it's own. You need to be able to understand the dog, work with training issues-a big time job, behavioral issues, quirks of the dog, etc. You are responsible for the dog just as it is your own, not including medical.

Volunteer at the local shelter, it's a great place to get experience in working with dogs. And they can use all the help they can get, especially at this time of the year.

Might help show your mom how responsible you can be.

And one more time I will harp on you about this---what plans do you have for training your dog?????? Have you investigated local training centers, clubs, classes?

I'm sorry, but I require each and every dog I place in a home, to have plans already in place for training their dog. I have only had one dog that I removed from a home and that was because they lied and never took the dog to training classes-and low and behold, the dog has many behavioral issues.

[Freppan]

Originally Posted by fogebotom

And one more time I will harp on you about this---what plans do you have for training your dog?????? Have you investigated local training centers, clubs, classes?

I will consider all your ideas, Charlie and foge.

About obedience classes- How necessary do you think they are? My aunt never took her corgi to obedience classes and he's a pretty good dog. I know that it's a good idea, but if it's really expensive, I may have to skip it.

[MattC]

Obediance classes are really good. They are actually more important for the human than for the dog. I would recommend going to a puppy obediance class just for the basics.

Corgis are very smart and they will manipulate you if you let them. They will learn all the tricks rather quickly and with little effort. This is where the obediance class helps the master. The dog trainer is there to answer questions you might have and how to inspire your corgi to continue to "sit , heal, stay, drop it, and leave it". Also, you will see how your puppy interacts with other dogs and how well they follow commands with the other dogs in the room distracting them.

Another reason why obediance classes are good is that they help socialize the dog. Which is really important.

Hi highly reccomend obediance class although I do understand the economic side of your question.

[MyPemCharlie]

Originally Posted by Freppan

I will consider all your ideas, Charlie and foge.

About obedience classes- How necessary do you think they are? My aunt never took her corgi to obedience classes and he's a pretty good dog. I know that it's a good idea, but if it's really expensive, I may have to skip it.

I would say that for your first dog, training is critical. Your dog will be happy to just be a regular ol' untrained dog...and try to take over the household. Basic training trains you how to be smarter than your dog. They should call it "Human Training" and the dog just tags along for fun. LOL You'll learn how to handle basic behavior problems which are not intuitive to us humans.

If you do pursue volunteering with an animal shelter, the shelter will likely give you at least a one day "training" class before letting you work with the dogs. Our SPCA here has several levels of training for volunteers. Blue dog training (dogs anyone can work with), Green dog training (dogs with some temperament problems), Yellow dog training (some advanced behavior/temperament issues). The Red dogs are dangerous and can only be worked by professionals and most likely will never be adopted out (except to professionals).

One of several reasons people are suggesting that you shop for the best breeder you can find is for the dog's temperament. Ideally you want a "Blue dog" temperament (which will still provide a training challenge) and will most likely find it with a better breeder.

My rottweiler would likely have turned into a Red dog in the wrong hands and without professional training, but we went through formal Puppy Kindergarten and two additional group obedience classes. He earned his CGC (Canine Good Citizen) certificate, and I was vigiliant about keeping him socialized (with "rules" when meeting strangers) and reinforced his obedience training his whole life. With my Pem Charlie (who is definitely a Blue dog) I am planning some formal training starting right after the holidays. Even with Yellow dog training experience, I still need the assistance of a group to polish Charlie's "public" training skills.

[fogebotom]

Your aunt may have a good dog without the training, but how many other dogs has she had in her life? Many times the experience of another dog will help you avoid the mistakes a second time around. Does he walk on lead without pulling, doesn't bolt through doors, respects commands given just once, greets people in a friendly manner without jumping and barking. How is he with greeting strange dogs or going in strange places? Sit, stay, down? A reliable come? Can he go to the vet and behave so the vet doens't have to struggle to give a vaccination, take blood or do a physical exam? Can you take away a toy or a treat without getting bit or having the dog growl at you? How about feeding, take away his dish while he's eating? All of these things are taught in puppy and basic classes.

Sorry, as a trainer, I see too many dogs that don't get the right amount of socializing around other people and other dogs. They are nightmares for their owners who have to back track and do a lot more training due to an intial lack of it. My vet loves my dogs because they respect her and are well behaved in any public situation. She constant comments to her other clients when I'm there about being able to work with them without a hassle.

Puppy classes are a must, then a good basic class. If you are wanting to get into agility or anything like that in the future, it's a good thing to start as early as you can.

Check with the local kennel clubs. Lots of time they have inexpensive classes.

And your mother will greatly appreciate a well behaved trained dog, rather then a hell raiser that doesn't respond or even more so, respect your family.

You either pay for it now or later!

[Freppan]

I guess I have no choice then. I know who I would want to go to if this works out. I'll edit post with the cost amount in a moment!

Edit: Aghh! 100 bucks! *sigh* It just got that much more expensive. If anyone knows of any good obedience classes around the Dallas/Ft. Worth/Denton County area that are cheaper, that would be great.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Freppan

Edit: Aghh! 100 bucks! *sigh* It just got that much more expensive.

Get used to it, that's dog ownership.

Debbie

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by Freppan

I guess I have no choice then. I know who I would want to go to if this works out. I'll edit post with the cost amount in a moment!

Edit: Aghh! 100 bucks! *sigh* It just got that much more expensive. If anyone knows of any good obedience classes around the Dallas/Ft. Worth/Denton County area that are cheaper, that would be great.

And that's probably for just one 6 or 8 week group of classes. (Beginning obedience). I recommend you start out with puppy kindergarten and then go on to beginning obedience. And most dogs need one more group of classes after that. Intermediate or advanced obedience. Or whatever that school calls the next session after beginning. So you should times that by 2 at least and prefrebly 3.

Peggy

[MyPemCharlie]

The training expense will be worth every penny. You may also need to increase your vet budget, or add and "emergency vet expense" fund. I just spent $80 at the vet yesterday to have Charlie's baby canine teeth pulled since they didn't get loose and come out on their own. Now if his permanent canines don't move outward to the right place, I'll have to either have them pulled or have an orthodontic device made. Sounds like a few other people on the forum have had the same problem/expense.

Sorry to add to your cost list/budget, but owning a pup is expensive!

[Chip's Mom]

I paid over $1,000 for Chip a root canal and a year later had the same tooth pulled and the Vet threw out the $1,000 tooth. LOL It gets expensive

[MyPemCharlie]

Originally Posted by Chip's Mom

I paid over $1,000 for Chip a root canal and a year later had the same tooth pulled and the Vet threw out the $1,000 tooth. LOL It gets expensive

I was jut this morning reading the archive thread on your ordeal with both Chip's and Dale's canine teeth! Looks like Charlie may be facing something similar if his adult teeth don't realign in the next couple weeks. Yep, root canal with cap, or orthodontics to move the teeth = $1200-$2000 here. Charlie doesn't even have an overbite like Chip and Dale had.

[Chip's Mom]

Be real careful with a root canal and cap. Chip lost his cap about 10 months later and I opted to have it pulled. The root canal was a hard surgery for him and I would have had to have it redone because the roots were still alive. Also with the cap gone, he could have gotten infection in that tooth. They both are fine now but my wallet is alot lighter.

[MyPemCharlie]

Originally Posted by Chip's Mom

Be real careful with a root canal and cap. Chip lost his cap about 10 months later and I opted to have it pulled. The root canal was a hard surgery for him and I would have had to have it redone because the roots were still alive. Also with the cap gone, he could have gotten infection in that tooth. They both are fine now but my wallet is alot lighter.

Well, I wish I had been more insistent with the vet. When I first called to say that he had adult teeth coming in, but the baby teeth were not out yet, the vet said "Don't worry about it. If the puppy teeth aren't gone by 7 months, we will want to pull them." When I picked Charlie up yesterday the vet's office said, "The adult teeth are pretty far in. We should have pulled those puppy teeth a week or two earlier." Now the adult teeth aren't in the right spot. He'll be 6 months tomorrow...glad I didn't wait for 7 months like the first recommendation.

I read that your vet did something similar. "Oh no, it's ok to wait and see.", then a few weeks later it's "almost and emergency".

Anyway, getting off topic of puppy "price list", but dental problem costs can blow anyone's budget! We probably need a separate doggie dental thread.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Freppan

Microchip and registration (Ponder)- 16 dollars
Vaccinations- see below*
Neutering- see below*
Petco dog bed- 13 dollars
Petco dental kong- 9 dollars
Petco pooch pleasers county squirrel- 5 dollars
Petfood- Depends
Doggie toothpaste- 4 dollars
Collar- 6 dollars
Leash- 5 dollars
Nylabone Organic Vida Puppy Treats- 5 dollars
Mesh Muzzle- 5 dollars
Blankie- Use towel
Crate- Borrow from Janna
Car Harness- 6 dollars
Stainless steel bowls- 10 dollars
Petco Tag Reflector- 3 dollars

That's 102 dollars for supplies.

INITIALLY, you'll need to replace the collar as the puppy grows, maybe same with the harness. Treats are not going to last forever, so there will be ongoing costs for those, same as food.

*In Ponder* 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 = 115

Heartworm preventative is another ongoing expense, along with flea and tick preventative. Flea & tick will need to be replenished at a minimum of every 3 months; heartworm every six months.

As for food, it depends on the brand of food. Because of all the puppy food wars going on,
I find it hard to decide. I will probably talk to the vet and breeder. I'll also consult
Peggy and/or the feeding section of the forums on gocorgi.com. It's probably one 20 pound
bag for 2 months or something. That's about 25 dollars every two months. Not too bad.

You might be surprised at how quickly a 20 pound bag of food disappears especially with puppies and feeding 3 times a day initially.

And finally, for the honorary pup himself. This, again, depends on different factors.
I know that I would love any color over none, but I really do want a red headed tri-color
or fawn colored pup. Now, well bred pups around here are usually anywhere from 300 to 600 dollars. Yikes.

$600 would be on the very low end of a well-bred puppy.

I have until June though, so I think I can do it! I am pretty much set on a herradura andalusion pup. Their males are 350 and can be taken home in June!

This'll be steep! But it's worth it.

IF you are thinking this is steep, then I'd strongly suggest waiting. You are getting out cheap.

So... 350 for the puppy, and 102 for supplies, and 115 for vaccines and neutering, which is
568. Then, food every so often. I think I can do it. I KNOW I CAN!

Might be another booster shot, then the annual updates at a year of age. Puppy picks up something, might need another course of de-worming, giardia, coccidiosis ..., picks up fleas potential tapeworm treatment ... lots of contigencies one needs to be prepared to cover.

Debbie