My dog is not too expensive to keep in food, but she's only 30 lbs. The vet bills were the biggest expense for me when I first got my dog; she was a stray that was picked up by animal control, and even though she didn't look like she had been out on the streets for too long, she still had a collection of health issues that had to be dealt with (the most pricey and dangerous being heartworm).
Then there's the general doggie start-up expenses -- leashes, food bowls, toys, treats and whatnot. But that's the fun shopping!
Time is definitely another factor -- again, especially at the beginning when the dog needs training. But ongoing too -- dogs are pack animals and I feel terrible for the ones who get left alone a lot. Like the people down my street who leave their dog in the backyard 24/7, it seems. Why even have a dog you're not going to interact with? Grrrr... [/soapbox]
So that's my realistic talk. Of course, to me it's all been worth it, seeing as I've had the Best Dog in the World for about eight years now. Lucky me! But if you decide you can manage it, perhaps you can find the Second Best Dog in the World. ;)
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ninetydegrees
no subject
on 2005-11-21 03:47 pm (UTC)My dog is not too expensive to keep in food, but she's only 30 lbs. The vet bills were the biggest expense for me when I first got my dog; she was a stray that was picked up by animal control, and even though she didn't look like she had been out on the streets for too long, she still had a collection of health issues that had to be dealt with (the most pricey and dangerous being heartworm).
Then there's the general doggie start-up expenses -- leashes, food bowls, toys, treats and whatnot. But that's the fun shopping!
Time is definitely another factor -- again, especially at the beginning when the dog needs training. But ongoing too -- dogs are pack animals and I feel terrible for the ones who get left alone a lot. Like the people down my street who leave their dog in the backyard 24/7, it seems. Why even have a dog you're not going to interact with? Grrrr... [/soapbox]
So that's my realistic talk. Of course, to me it's all been worth it, seeing as I've had the Best Dog in the World for about eight years now. Lucky me! But if you decide you can manage it, perhaps you can find the Second Best Dog in the World. ;)