A dog for a pet? Yay or nay?

I would first suggest you do a lot of research to determine the breed of dog you want to get. Some breeds are not so great for young children. Some breeds have high energy and will need a lot of room to run, lots of walks, a large fenced in yard. If you don't have the space in your home or the time for walking a dog, you'll want to stay away from high energy breeds like labradors and golden retrievers, etc. You'll also want to stay away from breeds prone to health problems, as they'll get really costly with vet visits. As long as your dog has no health problems the only expense is feeding it, getting it a few toys, and it's regular vet check ups which cost about $100 or so for shots and all that, and those should only be needed once a year. You'll want to make sure you have some money in savings should there be a need to bring it to the vet for some other reason, such as if it gets sick or something. I have a black lab, and he's been getting a lot of ear infections, which can happen with dogs with floppy ears like his as the dirt and moisture accumulate and cause problems since his ears don't air out. We don't have a ton of money so I've been trying home remedies but they aren't working. He'll be needing another vet visit this week for more medication because he's digging at his ears so much that he's making himself bleed, so I've got to get that taken care of.

you can and should do some reserach and determine what breed you want for your own family and Im sure there are ways to cut down on the expense of owning a dog. We had a Heinx 47 dog and l ittle expense and a purebred dog and too much so it pays to research a bit but having a dog is just wonderful for the whole family.

If that dog has to be kept in a kennel all the time then that is not recommended. A pet needs to have space to play around and needs company.

I;d say dog is good and infact for older people it is even better. I personally don't see the point in getting cat because they are not that handy or loyal like dog. I guess but it depends on choice.

You are smart to think about financial responsibilities that come with dogs but they are good companions for kids

Look at the size of your house; how much time can you devote to the dog and its need for exercise and training. Can you talk to a dog trainer for guidance? Are you prepared for patience cause a puppy is a baby and is not physically able to be perfect in the bathroom duties department for a while. Dogs live sometimes to 15 years old- are you ready? I have dog allergies and share life with two crazy and some what trained pooch gals. I hope you get a bundle of joy. Just be prepared. You'll be adopting a whole lot of wow!!

A dog is a big commitment. Yea sure they can be cute, friendly, a fuzzy friend, and protector of your home. But you need to do alot of thinking on this. Do you go on vacation at all? If so do you have someone who can watch the animal for you or do you have the money to spend for kenneling? You can't gurantee your child will want to walk the dog 2-3x a day... if you have winter by you are you willing to go out in the cold for 30 min to walk it? Do you have a fenced in yard? or willing to pay for invisible fence + training? Who's going to scoop the poo? Is this person going to be willing to pick it up as they walk the said animal? Nothing like walking around the block and picking up fresh dog poo... P U! They also have personalities like any animial and may not attach to your child but to someone else in the household (our dog attached to me because I fed him and took him out) or even be an anti social animal ? I have a cat that hates the kids but likes adults can't make her like who she doesn't want to. How much are vet check ups? shots? dog tags? food? And of course research the breed, look into personality traits, health issues, longevity....

My dog is almost 10 years old now and it is one of the best choice I made, having a dog.

having a pet it definitely costs money and it's not about the food aspect but also about the visits to the doctor because you can't let him like that if he gets ill. if you're willing to get a pet you must be prepared for whatever comes in the way

I have both a dog and a cat, I buy Blue Buffalo Wilderness chicken grain free for both of them, the dog food costs me about $50 a month, I don't have insurance, but the vet visits have cost less that $40 a year, Ally(my dog) stays indoors much of the time which helps to prevent fleas and ticks, she weighs about 50 lbs. She is obedient and is a good protector. Generally the smaller poodle types or long haired types get to be a little more expensive, they require gooming, Ally is a short hair. Ok, I hope that helps a little. In my book Ally is priceless.

Dogs do not really cost that much and if you want a dog the expenses are worth it,.

I have two dogs. One very large one and one very small one. I don't actually spend that much on them at all. I do spend a little more on the smaller dog because every 3 months I buy him a grain for flees to keep him from getting them. He lives indoors most of the time but at different times he is in and out all day long. Yes you do pay for shots for them and not sure where you live if you'll have to pay a licence for them or not. Personally I don't find them that expensive if you keep them healthy. It will depend on what you want to feed them too. I buy meat scraps from our store which is rather cheap to feed them and a lot less expensive than canned or dried food and better for them too I think.

I love dogs, my mil has a Maltese but I think some can be high maintenance! They are worth it though! We have four cats! :)

There will be addition to rent (if you are renting). They usually charge a safety deposit plus an additional amount each month per pet. Then you have to think of shots and heartworm pills (easily up to 200 a year). If they are longer haired, there will be fur treatments, upkept flea prevention and any other specialized cleaning supplies for your home. Then, kennel fees if you want to go anywhere and can't take the dog for the time.

I like dog, if my religion allow me to pet dogs, I will. But my religion forbids me to pet them..*no offense please*...

they do cost a lot, i think you need to have at least $20 extra per month, and that does not include the food. the first few months of a puppy is the most expensive, got to have some shots and all

@Sarah3020,Agree.I have no pets.If ever I like to have a dog as my pet,I would like to keep it comfortable with what I give it.And it may cost dear.