most dogs, or good quality dogs will cost 350-600 dollars

With dogs you have all the items listed above-spaying/neutering, food, etc… But there’s also the little things people (including myself) overlook. Food and water dish, leash, collar, dog tags, and chew toys, to name a few. It doesn’t seem like much at first, but it adds up quickly! Also, it’s good to keep in mind that pets, like humans, can also have medical problems such as allergies. Growing up, we had a lhasa apso/maltese mix who, honestly, was allergic to red meat and wheat. This meant pretty much ALL dog food was out (at least the cheap kind) and he ended up getting chicken from a can and cottage cheese, along with regular vet visits for pills, ear drops, and other things. This is also on top of shots sometimes, because some vets insist you get them shots before they look at them. Also, having a male dog, neutering was a MUST. It’s unfortunate, but without it they’re territorial, constantly fighting for dominance (especially if there’s a male in the house), and you get the ‘marking’ of the territory… Fun! Keep in mind too that dogs are very social animals and are ‘pack’ driven by nature. This means no locking him up all day while you’re at work and investing in either a second dog, doggie day-care, or a dog walker… All more money!

Now, I recently got a male cat, thinking it would be far less work. I’m sure in some situations it is, but I seem to have a knack for picking out the crazy animals! As with dogs, there are a bunch of little things you need. Food/water dish, cat toys (thought mine is happy with tin foil balls, string, and straws, a considerably cheaper option!), litter box, and litter, and anything else you want. Litter seems like a cheap option at first, but if you want a home that doesn’t constantly reek like cat ‘buisness’, I’ve found the best method is to clean it out daily with the scoop and once a WEEK, empty and scrub the box. The litter goes fast, but it’s worth it. And some cats can be extremely picky about what litter they will use (ie: only the expensive stuff! )Collars help, though my cat can’t stand it. Even if you have a house cat it’s a good idea in case they ever sneak out. Just like with dogs, my male cat is territorial and fights for dominance and male cats spray, which is a God-awful thing to smell and nearly impossible to great rid of, making neutering almost a requirement. Also is the issues of claws. Declawing, which is horrible (it’s an amputation, not simply removing the claws) is one option, or there is a product out called ‘SoftPaws’ which works surprisingly well, but is about $20 every 4 months or so (after your cat gets used to them and stops ripping them off. be prepared to spend more the first few times!)

Anyone who takes in a pet is a savior, in my opinion, but I think a lot of pets end up back in shelters because owners don’t think about all these little things at first. Knowing exactly what you’re getting into is important. I hope this helps!

Cost of owning a pet is just one consideration. Your real passion and commitment of time to your beloved pet is another important factor. It is easy to buy or pick up a pet. Abandoning it might be even easier , be it you give it to someone or selling it away. Once you established that love and relation with your pet , you might find cost of maintaning it is just a very small part. Enjoy your hobby of keeping pets !

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

I think we’re going to get a cat first, just to get used to taking care of a pet (and cats don’t need to be walked), before a dog but everytime I look at a sharpei I want to smush around its face. My girlfriend says that Sharpei’s aren’t friendly dogs, like the pair of Scottish Terriers at her parent’s place, but I don’t mind.

I think I’d prefer a smaller dog with its small poo. I’ve seen people walk around with newspaper bags for poo collection, which I thought was pretty ingenius.

1) Make sure you’re not allergic to either. We found we were allergic to cats after spending weeks with one.

2) Cats are much easier than dogs.

3) The bigger the dog, the bigger the poo. Picking up said poo is a pain in the well, butt. =)