Picking up our new puppy next week and I'm feeling anxious....

[Leapoffaith00]

It's because I'm a single parent and worry something financial may crop up. Not sure if I'm over worrying. I work part time and have no concerns re him being looked after etc. I just worry that an unexpected vet bill may crop up. I worry if the car may break down or the heating systems may break too. That's normal isn't it? As a single parent with one income. I just don't have any savings and have lived this way for 10 years being single. Always managed though.
Please can someone reassure me that everything is going to be ok. Surely tgere are lots of single parents on low incomes have a family pet?

The pup will be loved and youll manage. Ignore the scaremongering

Love doesn’t pay vets bills or pay for a behaviourist or buy food.

You can love a dog and still make sure that you have put enough thought into what you are doing.

Dogs don’t deserve someone ‘managing’ they should have the best we can offer them because it’s our choice to bring them into our lives.

We took on a rescue dog, who was 4 when we got her. The only vets bills we ever had were the cost of neutering, her annual boosters and monthly flea/worm treatment plus the cost to have her put down 10 years later.

Her food went onto the weekly food shop so we didn’t notice that.

Enjoy your new pup 🐶

Yes some dogs will manage all their lives without an emergency vet visit, but you never know which ones these will be when you choose your puppy! That’s the whole point, risk is involved and you have to be realistic about that.

In the last puppy class I run a couple turned up with a rescue pup which they adored. A few weeks in the puppy had a mild lameness (always worse news when the lameness affects a puppy, is mild and prolonged). At first they said they’d wait and see, but the puppy kept coming in lame so I recommended an ortho vet (as they would save money by getting expert advice directly). They waited another few weeks before finally taking her.

The ortho vet suspected some kind of elbow dysplasia but couldn’t diagnose further without at least x-rays. The couple decided they couldn’t afford the x-rays and they would wait and see. The vet gave them anti-inflammatories. Somehow the dog stole all the medication and ate it at once. This was now an emergency situation but they couldn’t afford another vet visit so they took the puppy for a drive until she vomited - luckily the puppy suffered from car sickness. Now they couldn’t afford to replace the medication either.

So although they love their puppy and they are trying their best, their best is just not good enough. They are allowing the puppy to suffer without proper veterinary help and even put its life at risk from treating it themselves.

The pup will be loved and youll manage. Ignore the scaremongering

Love won't pay for food, insurance and medical care, though. If they get injured, or eat something toxic, or get hurt somehow, you need to be able to get them medical care. Even if they're insured, you still need to pay the excess, and many visits fall just under the excess amount too, so there's no point claiming for them.

It's all very well saying "well, my dog has never cost me a penny in a decade" but lots of peoples dogs DO cost them a lot of money. You can't tell at 8 weeks old whether you'll be one of the lucky ones or not!

But for every story of a dog that’s needed numerous trips to the vets there’s plenty that haven’t. I’m allowed to share my experience just as you’ve shared yours!!

I'd be leaving the dog where it is and putting what you would have paid for him in a rainy day/emergency account.

But for every story of a dog that’s needed numerous trips to the vets there’s plenty that haven’t. I’m allowed to share my experience just as you’ve shared yours!!

Of course. But the problem is, you don't know which kind your dog will be, so it's best to be prepared for the worst. If your dog doesn't cost you anything except insurance and food - fantastic. But what will you do if it needs regular vet trips, special food and extra training?

Cockerpoos are not easy, simple dogs like people think...they are boisterous and need a lot of training.

They need a lot of time with their owner and constant stimulation - toys, training etc.

Do you truly have the time for this?

Your kids will unlikely be walking pup unless you have got the training to a tea because they will push the boundaries.

Pup will be expensive, you need insurance, constant commitment and will constantly have to buy extras for them.

You say you have no money...can you afford the extra £40 per month for food?
The cost for chews, toys, training classes, yearly vaccines, to have pup neutered, cost for a good harness and lead, bedding, grooming will all add up....and that's not taking into account illness or injury.

As others say it's better to lose £150 than realise once you have pup that you cannot give them what they need.

I also wondered if you're on a tight budget what you will do when dog needs something, but your little one also has a need....who misses out?

So the 700 plus is for 2 dogs.

Puppies still aren’t as cheap as some are saying- mine’s main expense has been the stuff he’s chewed. School shoes, my glasses, the car seat belt...despite trying our best to keep things away from him it only takes a few minutes and something is damaged!

If you really think you can’t afford a puppy there is nothing wrong with backing out. The breeder will find another person. I backed out of our 1st one as I got in a complete panic about it all. I was glad I waited until we were definitely ready, prepared and our circumstances were right.

And don’t get a dog just because your children will be upset if you don’t.

It does children absolutely no harm to learn that sometimes you have to make difficult decisions for the right reasons.

In all honesty she sounds unwell - I'm not sure being angry will help

Oh bugger. Wrong thread - ignore me

OP you can cope, it just needs budgeting.
Your pup needs to come on your list of essential household expenditure.
So that's just below bills,food and car etc, and above things like phone contract, netflix, haircuts, kids toys and so on. That may seem harsh, but getting a pet is a huge commitment. I cut my family's hair myself now, may seem extreme but it can save £30 a month!
You can get a cheaper phone contract, cut back on non-essential expenditure for DCs, cut back on trips & meals out, cut back on holidays (as that doubles up expenditure as you'll need kennelling).
Disposable income comes AFTER DDog's costs have been taken care of.
But they will be worth it ten times over x

And the expense will depend on how much time you have to give. Obviously, if you are the one walking the dog twice a day, grooming and teaching the pup, costs will be much lower.
Our Dog cost about £100 a month, (£40 food, £20 flea/worm/toys and £30 insurance) so it can be done more cheaply.

You have chosen a mix of two active breeds. Very likely from a puppy farmer.
Your dog will likely need to see a groomer regularly.
You should budget for training etc.
If you leave the dog whilst you work you may end up with damage!
My dog had an ear infection. Cost over £800.

You really don't have to spend loads but if they injure themselves it can get very expensive very quickly. Our dog fractured its leg after landing badly when leaping about in the park. Thankfully we have good insurance but the £6k treatment was only just covered. Then because of the claim our insurance went up from £30 a month to £50.

Having said that some people get lucky and dog rarely goes to vet!

OP, it's a well-known fact that MN hates cockapoos.
Ignore all the doom-mongers.
I have had one for the last 8 and a half years, and have met many others through groups. They're fabulous dogs, and as with any other type, training is key.
Good luck.

Christ I can’t believe how much some people spend on their dogs..

OP vaccinations are a must and this should be yearly (though some people don’t agree with that, I’m going by what my vet says)

A lot of vets have a monthly scheme which covers flea/working, nail clip, health check etc. Some for as little as £11 a month.

Behaviour classes aren’t a necessity. There’s lots of good resources out there to help you train your dog.

My dogs favourite bed was £5 from Home Bargain.

Look on allaboutdogfood.com for help with good quality kibble within your budget.

Get the best insurance you can, lifetime preferably with high vet fees. It helps.

I also have a poodle cross who is absolutely fine, hasn’t needed any additional obedience training or anything nor has she destroyed a lot. Think she may of chewed my DC teddy thinking it was her toy. That’s it.

Believe it or not there is some positives to buying a dog, it’s not all doom and gloom as this thread would lead some to believe.

Start a little savings pot for any unexpected emergencies. It’s normal to be anxious.

Shop around for insurance too OP, could use cash back websites to sign up so you can start a little pot for things that crop up unexpectedly.