The initial cost of a new puppy will vary. Whilst some puppies are free - perhaps advertised in the classifieds or online as "free to a good home". Or through a friend or relative that has a litter they are trying to find homes for. But generally, you will pay something. The cheapest sources, if you're on a budget, is from an animal shelter or a vet who is re homing animals as well. They will generally try to cover the costs of vaccinations and desexing,and probably basic operational costs averaged out, but that is about it. Choosing a puppy this way will have the advantage of helping a disadvantaged dog soul. Animal shelters in the US average about $40. In Australia, the costs are under $100, but vary.

If you have a certain breed in mind when choosing a puppy, your initial costs will rise. In the US, breeds recognized by the American Kennel Club start at around $300. Breeds not recognized by the American Kennel Club are foreign breeds that are not in great enough numbers yet in the US to warrant a listing. These breeds are more expensive, and you'll usually have to pay the costs associated with bringing them into the country as well.

Tiny dog breed puppies will be more expensive than their larger counterparts, even if they are recognized by the American Kennel Association. That's because these small bodied dogs can only carry one or two puppies per litter. The breeders therefore have higher costs associated with each dog, and this is passed onto the consumer. Toy dog breeds like Chow Chows, Pugs, Shih Tzu, Japanese Chin, English Toy Spaniel, and Chihuahua's are examples.

But there is more to choosing the right puppy than finding what you can afford, although that is a start. Your lifestyle, the age of children (if any), the size of your backyard, whether you even have one, whether a breed is nervous around strangers and your circumstances mean they will be more exposed to them. Whether a breed will definitely need obedience classes, and whether you can afford the time and cost of them. Are you an experienced dog owner? Do you have other pets - perhaps other dogs, or cats? Finding a puppy that will get along with your children, pets and friends and relatives, is important.

Some dogs are more nervous or highly strung than others, and may need a quieter environment that is away from children. Others love people and are very gentle and tolerant of children. Some dogs are great with older children but not so with toddlers. And sorting this all out before you buy a puppy is important - both for the well being of your children, and the dog itself. It's shameful on the part of owners not to do research and buy a dog, only to find it hurts a child and is not recommended for families, to end up with the dog being put down because it was put in an environment it should never have been thrust into in the first place.

On the financial side again, other things to consider is whether a breed is prone to health problems, and whether you can afford the potentially thousands of dollars needed over the lifetime of the dog should such problems arise. Large dogs are more prone to hip problems, for example, and to help prevent this, it may be better for them to go on a diet specially formulated for larger dogs and available through the vet. This will be a higher food bill than regular, generic dog food. Larger and more active dogs will also tend to eat more, hence costing more. Then there are the costs of regular worming, flea and tick control.

Another thing to consider is grooming. If your dog has a long coat, or a coat with a tendency to mat, and you don't have the time or the inclination to regularly brush your dog's hair, then you would be better off when choosing a puppy to get a shorter coat breed.

As can be seen, there are initial and ongoing financial costs, and the type of care, to consider when choosing the right puppy.