Money Matters

[Konotashi]

Craigslist is always one of the first places I look for a good deal on supplies of any sort. I got a Ferret Nation 142 cage (which is a $200ish cage) for $90 in awesome condition!

I just like to overestimate how much I'll need so that I don't make my goal $____ when I needed $____ more. I just like knowing I have enough. I'll keep my goal at $3,000 and put the rest in a vet fund. (Not only for the dog, but for my other pets as well).

Earlier I was thinking how I would be able to raise a puppy being in school and having a job, but then I realized that by the time I save enough money, I'd be a senior - going to school for only 4 hours every day (five hours max), then coming home to hang out for a little while, then go to work.

I tried to get my mom to apply for veterinary care credit and she wouldn't. She needs to, especially with 3 older dogs, one being a lab, and 2 French bulldogs which are known to have respiratory issues.

[Chicagocanine]

Don't forget puppy classes! It is very important to get the proper socialization for a puppy during the critical socialization period of 8-12 weeks, and puppy kindergarten classes help a lot with meeting the needed socialization goals.

[zyppi]

And... when you figure you can afford the above, figure your time.

A GSD needs a lot of your time.. for training, for play, etc... Will your job allow you the time to fit this breed into your lifestyle.

If you like to go out a lot, be away from home (places where you cannot take your dog), if your friends won't want your dog around, reconsider.

This is a breed that can't be bought and forgotten.

Just sayin' ....

[WayneMeganGSD]

I just want to make sure I'm reading this right. $80.00 a month towards your GSD? In 10 months you'll only have $800.00. I suspect you're living at home, and you don't have any bills. Car insurance, phone bill, Internet/cable, food....

Sounds pretty reasonable with what you're trying to accomplish.

[Raziel]

A little advice, you can never fully be prepared to own a dog.
I have a job & have very few bills to pay(car insurance cell phone bill electric, food, but its still hard.
Ready? lol

50$ for food every week.
an average of 100$ a vet visit
Leashes, collars maybe 50 $ a month
frontline, heartguard 30$ a month
NOT to mention the unexpected.
My dog was limping & also his gland was swollen.
Xrays & pills-around 400$
Anti biotics 80$

Dont forget playtime & training!


But if I want something (shoes, makeup) it HAS to wait.
Just make sure your baby always comes first!
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!

[doggiedad]

how old are you? do you live at home? i was willing to spend
$3,500.00 for a pup. after lot's of research ( just looking around)
i found a pup for $1,800.00. plus $200.00 to ship. he has all of the pedigree you could want ( so i think ).

we started putting away $25.00 to $50.00 a week away
for a pup. we could afford to take care of the pup
once we had him.

the first years and the last years are the most
financially stressing ( so i think). include the price of your pup
plus future med bills and supplies in your calculations. figure how out how much you can spend for a pup. don't be cheap in this area.

stay with the Forum. there's lots of info here.
well it's 10:15 pm here. my GF and I are going to
take the dog to this area we know about and let the dog
run around for awhile. we're going to play some retrieve
games.

good luck with your pup (when you get one, ).

[Konotashi]

I'm positive I can make time for a puppy. lol I don't have a social life at all outside of school, except for two people. Last weekend was the first weekend I spent with other people in well over a year. First place I went to when we got to the mall? The pet store! Of course I had to drool over the GSD puppy.... Next year I'm going to be at school for a maximum of 5 hours every day, and if I get a job and keep my same work schedule, I'll have more time to spend with a pup. I don't need to pay bills - just gas money. (I'm so thankful I have such an awesome mom!)

I've been looking around and there are several neat dog parks around here! There's one with a lake and an agility course. My friend (one that I have somewhat of a social life with) takes their lab Titan to the dog parks all the time, so I'm sure we could go together. That would be so much fun! I was thinking about puppy classes at Petsmart or something. It seems fun! When I go in there, I watch their classes when they're in session. I'll start paying closer attention to those. I love watching the dogs play in their 'hotel.'

After I'm done getting stuff for the pup initially, most of my money that I don't spend on the food and stuff will be going straight into the vet fund, since I don't go out and buy myself anything, really. And asking for gift cards to Petsmart and such won't be out of the ordinary for me. This year was HARD for me to think of anything I wanted for MYSELF for Christmas! My mom was so happy when I used some of my Christmas money for ME this year.

I wouldn't even consider getting a puppy if I didn't have the time for one. I was a bit concerned about that, but then I realized that there was no way I would be able to get one this year going to school full time. Not only due to time restrictions, but I can't save that much money that fast. LOL

[JerzeyGSD]

If you want to save money I would definitely say look for a dog at a shelter because it doesn't seem like it's the smartest financial decision to buy a $1,000+ dog. Just resist the desire to buy a puppy from a backyard breeder.

Vet bills are very steep, esp. at first. You're going to need to start saving now. I would highly recommend looking for a local shelter that can spay or neuter your puppy because that will save you A LOT. My vet charged $400 while the local shelter only $40, but we waited too long and couldn't get int until months after we wanted to get her spayed so we had to settle for the ridiculous vet price. UGH.

I got Jerzey's crate for $10 at a tag sell, which is awesome. Crates are WAY expensive so start scanning tag sales and see if you can stumble across anything.

Food can be as expensive or as cheap as you want it to be. I, personally, cannot afford a completely grain-free kibble so I feed the highest quality food they sell at Petsmart (Blue Buffalo) but there are debates as to whether or not going expensive with the kibble will save you money in that the dog can eat less of the food and will be healthier. It's up to you.


When it comes to toys Jerzey generally had something hard (like a bone), something soft/plush and a rope toy. I found that this helped when she was teething to have a variety of hardnesses but I never had too many toys at once because it just gets expensive. Plus, she was content just chewing on a piece of wood and for the longest time that WAS her toy... just a thick piece of wood.

I just feel like you can NEVER EVER predict the expenses that will come with a puppy because you never know what is going to happen. I wouldn't try to get too committed to a budget of I'm going to spend this much on toys and foods and vet bills because that probably won't work and then you'll just get flustered. I would just save as much money you can until you can get your parents to allow you to have a puppy and then actually find one, which can take time.

[Mandalay]

I am also going to recommend pet insurance. I pay $30 a month for Mandalay, but I figured that even after 10 years when I will have paid $3600, if she need HD surgery...I'll at the very least break even. Chances are, I'll need it sooner (I honestly don't even know how she made it through the 1st two years without needing it).

[trudy]

Here is my advice, I raised 3 daughters, you should be concentrating on saving money for your education. You love German Shepherds, call some kennels and see if they are keeping any pups and would like some help with training and socializing. Call training facilities and see if they know any seniors who would love to have an assistant train or walk a dog, how about special needs people.
I know it seems like forever but I promise you time will pass quickly and it will be time to go away to school and there are very limited places to take the dog with you so you are leaving it home with mom. If you love the breed so much keep learning, volunteer or work with someone with them, but remember you can learn lots from all breeds, and go to school and get a real good educations o when you have the time and the money there will be no reason you can't have 1 or 2 or 3, they are addictive.