Cost of owning a dog

This is something I get asked a lot. "How much does it cost to own and keep a dog?" It's a tricky question, since each dog is as different as each human. The dog needs food, insurance, equipment, vet care and so on. If it's also a working dog or a sport dog, it may also need a fee to enter competitions.

A dog needs a collar, maybe a harness, leash, food bowl, water bowl and bed. That's the minimum of required equipment for a dog. These are reasonable cheap, if not choosing from the high end. If it's a puppy, you may also want to invest in some chewing toys for the sake of your furniture. 

When it comes to food, the key word is to get a good food from the start, so you don't have to pay the price you saved in buying cheap food in vet bills. Consult with your vet or a professional within the dog community to find a affordable food which also is good for your furry friend. There's a lot of fill-in food on the marked, which's not ideal for a dog. 

Insurance are a tricky bit. All dogs should be insured to make sure you don't sit there with a bill higher than you can afford. It's still a risk however, but with an insurance is more likely to get help if it gets to overwhelming. The price of insurance are variable, so you have to compare each offer to find a insurance that fits your pocket and dog. Some insurance companies make their prices after what kind of breed/mix the dog is. For instance a sheltie are more likely to get a cheaper insurance than a english bull dog. Be careful to read through the conditions of the contract, or else you may get it thrown back at you when you need to use it.

So to vet care. A dog needs to get vaccinated multiple times through out their lives. How often and how many depends on where you live and the regulations in the country. Contact your vet to find out what kind of vaccines your dog need and how often he needs shots. Dogs get easily hurt during play and work, therefore a buffer each month are something to consider. What to expect in vet bills depends on what sex the dog is and what breed. Some breeds are more frequently to the vet than others. Keep in mind that a dog may get allergies, joint problems or similar, which's expensive to treat and last for a long time. You also may consider if you gonna castrate your dog. Castration cost, but it may prevent illness such as pyometra, cancer, infection in the reproduce organs. Be aware that some countries such as Norway forbid castration unless there's a medical condition involved.

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