BEFORE you bring a dog home, some preparation should be done. As the person responsible for the dog, getting
ready for the dog is your job. By thoroughly reading this section and participating in the homework
exercises BEFORE the dog arrives, you will be more prepared to take care of the dog.
You want your dog to know that you are going to take care of her or him. By planning ahead, and being ready for
the dog in your life, the transition will go more smoothly for everyone.
Some of the equipment for owning a dog that you will have to buy will need to be scheduled into your budget over time.
You may have to save a certain amount of money every month for several months. Actually, with dogs, unexpected expenses
can occur at any time. It is a good idea to save up some money so that you will have a special "dog fund" for those
unexpected expenses.
If you are planning on getting a dog, you can expect to spend about $500 per year on routine expenses, such as the veterinarian,
toys, equipment, supplies, training, and books. If your dog gets sick or hurt, the cost can be from $100 to $500 per
visit to the veterinarian. Some veterinarians will offer a slight discount for service dogs. But when your dog
is sick or hurt, you have to go right then to take the dog to the veterinarian. You can't wait until next week or pay
day. It is a good idea to have a dog "emergency fund" available at all times, so that if you do need to go to the veterinarian,
you have the cash on hand, available on short notice.