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We’ve all been there. You see pictures of an adorable puppy, it’s family happily playing with it. You think “I want a dog.” Well, there is much more to purchasing and owning a dog than just cuteness. I recently purchased a dog and honestly, I was not completely prepared.

The first thing to consider is the initial price of purchasing the dog. Buying a purebred dog from a reputable breeder can run from 500-1000 plus. Animal shelters are a great place to purchase dogs as the charge is often very low 40-60 in many cases and many times they come housetrained, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered.

The next thing you need to consider is vet costs. If your dog isn’t vaccinated you will need to pay for them. You will also need to pay for spaying/neutering unless you want little puppies running around. And then there are the unexpected vet bills. I’ve had my dog for 3 months and in vet bills I’ve paid over 600. Don’t forget the cost of dog food, toys, and accessories.

Finally and possibly the biggest thing to consider when purchasing a dog is “does the dog fit into my family and lifestyle?” Research different breeds and find out their activity level and temperament. Also consider your living arrangements. For example, if you live in a studio apartment on the 20th floor of an apartment building, a Labrador retriever is probably not the best option. Just as if you have small children a toy breed might not be good either for it’s own safety. Also remember to look in to the dogs activity level. If you live a very active lifestyle, why not purchase an active dog to be your companion?

Well, these are only a few considerations when buying a dog. Happy dog purchasingTake a look here to learn more: PETA using the White House website to push an extremist agenda