The good news is that after the first year of expense, the next few years are usually cheaper. Many dogs go for years just needing food, routine vet visits/shots, and flea/heartworm preventive. The last years of your dog's life, however, may well rival the first year in expense as you cope with geriatric illnesses.

To get some examples of actual costs, we asked four Petdogs-L list members what they spent on their dogs for the first year. Three are puppies from shelters. Gabriel had typical puppy expenses, but he's fed a homecooked diet, which costs more than commercial dog food. The second puppy, Judy, had medical problems, plus she lived in the Washington DC area--very high vet prices. Number three, Samson, had an uneventful puppyhood from the financial standpoint and lives in an area with average prices. The fourth dog, Chase, was obtained from a breeder at a year old, and his expenses are fairly typical for an adult dog's first year. All the owners pointed out that their figures don't include the household items their dogs destroyed that had to be replaced!

The amount you spend on a dog can vary widely...some of it is elective, but expenses like unexpected veterinary visits are not optional for a responsible dog owner.

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