Alternatives To Puppy Financing

As you can probably guess, we are big fans of puppy financing. That being said, we know that you might still be on the fence about it.

Go ahead and get your offer for puppy financing, but take a minute and consider some possible alternatives that you might have.

Rescue Dogs

One possible alternative is a rescue dog. Pretty much every breed of dog has a rescue devoted to saving mistreated dogs. Even better, you probably have one somewhere close to you.

The benefits to taking on a rescue dog are numerous.

• First and foremost, you would be doing a good thing. These dogs have either been abandoned or abused and they need a loving home.
• Another benefit is that the dog will likely be house trained and maybe even spayed or neutered. That can save you a lot of time and money.
• Finally, the dog will be much cheaper. The average rescue charges anywhere form 300 dollars to 500 dollars for an adoption fee. When you consider how much full breed dogs cost from a breeder, this can be a steal. Dogs like French Bulldogs, for example can cost 3000 dollars or more, making a rescue dog a steal.

On the flip side though, there are some negatives in adopting a rescue animal.

• The chief one is that you miss out on the entire puppy experience. For many of us, this is something we truly look forward too. Despite the need to potty train them, that first year of life is just too good to pass up.
• Another problem is that rescues are very picky about who they let adopt. This is ultimately a good thing, but it means that you may have to jump through some hoops.
• One more potential issue is that you might get a dog that is timid and untrusting. This can be overcome with time and love, but it might take years or it may never happen at all.

Shelter Dogs

Another alternative to financing a dog is getting a shelter animal. This is similar to adopting from a rescue, but there will be less red tape and the cost will generally be a bit cheaper. It might just be 200 to 300 dollars to adopt a dog from a local shelter.

So, what are the benefits of getting a shelter dog?

• Once again, you will be doing a good thing by taking in a dog that needs you and could use a good home.
• In addition, the price is right, costing only a few hundred dollars. That is a fraction of what you would pay at a breeder.

And the negatives are what?

• The biggest negative is that you are unlikely to get a pure bred animal. If you had your heart set on a pure English Bulldog or a Great Dane, you will probably have to settle for a mix.
• Second, you still might have to deal with some behavioral issues. Shelter dogs are just as likely to have been abused as rescue dogs. This can, of course, be overcome but it will take time.

Saving Money

One final alternative to puppy financing is simply saving the money. Create a budget and open a savings account devoted to your new puppy. Then, simply stick to your saving plan until you have enough money to pay for your new dog.

What are the benefits to saving for your puppy?

• No interest or fees is the main benefit, as you can imagine. Saving money and being patient will help you avoid paying these extra costs.

And the negatives?

• The obvious negative here is that it will take time. You will probably need 1500 to 3000 dollars to pay for your pure bred puppy and that might take you a year to save.