Stupid resident tricks: getting a dog

[ScientistPhysician]

One of my spouse's co-residents is enamored with the idea of getting a puppy. She lives alone and will have limited time to spend with her pet, and has woefully underestimated how much the dog will cost her. With BID dog-walks (yes, she wants to have 2/day, which I agree with in this case), it's going to cost her $30/day. Did I tell you most dog walkers don't work on the weekends? I have no idea how she's going to manage that, but that's a problem for a week from now (she's getting the dog over the weekend).

 

I tried to explain the dog is going to cost at least $500/month, which is about 15% of her take-home pay. Kiss your Roth IRA contribution goodbye (and all the glorious compounding she would have had from a contribution in her mid 20s). Actually, it's worse than that because she has to make the initial payment for the dog (of course it's a $1500 designer dog from a breeder) plus all the vet bills for the first year (~$1000).

 

The advice of this blog is to live like a resident.  It seems some residents still need some education about what that actually means.

 

[FIREshrink]

right! also, don't get married and definitely don't even think about having children until you are forty because they, too, cost money. and if by that time your biology doesn't cooperate with the whole procreation thing, just consider yourself lucky! now you can retire at forty five. Alone, and rich, just the way I and Leona Helmsley like it!

[ScientistPhysician]

Ever heard of the slippery slope fallacy? Having a kid is a completely different equation than having a dog. Give me a break. She can't afford the dog, and it's going to live a sad life, alone as a puppy in an empty apartment.

[Dreamgiver]

I understand your philosophy, but perhaps the dog is the only thing that will keep her sane...my biggest beef with this is not how she chooses to spend her money but the fact that the dog will be mostly alone. Dogs are highly social animals. I also think it would be wiser to adopt from a shelter.

[Phoenixdown99]

It's important to take care of your physical and mental health as a physician, but also to be fair to the animal. Perhaps an older dog or a cat? Also, if the puppy is not well trained (which takes a lot of time) it can end up becoming a problem dog.

[Phoenixdown99]

It is ALWAYS wiser (and kinder) to adopt from the shelter. So many animals need homes.

[Hatton]

Ok.  I love dogs.  I have one in my office at my feet as I type this.  A puppy is just not compatible with any kind of intensive residency.  A puppy does not need to be left in a crate all day.  Dogs are expensive.  I have spent $13000 on mine in the last year.  A kitten would be fine for a resident or even an older dog.  I agree about adopting from rescues is very rewarding.  BTW the reason I spent so much on my dog is expensive vet surgery (TPLOx2).

[Craigy]

Yeah, paying for dog walkers, wow.  But she can swing it.  Far worse things to spend money on, IMO.

But so many women that age love to get dogs, which either a) ruin their social lives or b) end up neglected.  Or some combination of both.

Also, seems like she won't have time for the dog, but what kind of resident is she?  If she has some sort of cush psych residency she might have plenty of time.

[G]

hatton1 wrote:

Ok.  I love dogs.  I have one in my office at my feet as I type this.  A puppy is just not compatible with any kind of intensive residency.  A puppy does not need to be left in a crate all day.  Dogs are expensive.  I have spent $13000 on mine in the last year.  A kitten would be fine for a resident or even an older dog.  I agree about adopting from rescues is very rewarding.  BTW the reason I spent so much on my dog is expensive vet surgery (TPLOx2).

Click to expand...

My TPLOs were ~$4k each.  I confided to the vet that I had considered vet school, but I was glad I didn't go to vet school because if I did, I couldn't afford to take my dog to the vet.  He was not amused with that observation.

As others have pointed out, for most, residency is spent in the hospital or even in other cities.

Also, while a cat requires less attention than a dog, a cat is clearly not a dog.

I think the best plan would be finding a boyfriend/girlfriend with a dog.

[FIREshrink]

I bought a dog during medical school. Then I bought another. I even kept them through medical school and residency. Loves of  my life.

Yes, I did have one of those "cush" psych residencies. I tried not to work on Mondays. Though I did have to take call once in a while.  

 

There is more to life than just money.

[Hatton]

G wrote:

hatton1 wrote:

Ok.  I love dogs.  I have one in my office at my feet as I type this.  A puppy is just not compatible with any kind of intensive residency.  A puppy does not need to be left in a crate all day.  Dogs are expensive.  I have spent $13000 on mine in the last year.  A kitten would be fine for a resident or even an older dog.  I agree about adopting from rescues is very rewarding.  BTW the reason I spent so much on my dog is expensive vet surgery (TPLOx2).

Click to expand…

My TPLOs were ~$4k each.  I confided to the vet that I had considered vet school, but I was glad I didn’t go to vet school because if I did, I couldn’t afford to take my dog to the vet.  He was not amused with that observation.

As others have pointed out, for most, residency is spent in the hospital or even in other cities.

Also, while a cat requires less attention than a dog, a cat is clearly not a dog.

I think the best plan would be finding a boyfriend/girlfriend with a dog.

Click to expand...

My TPLOs were $3100 and $3300.  She runs like a puppy.

[ScientistPhysician]

Traditional IM resident. PS her hubby (also a resident) lives in another HCOL city over an hour away, they are paying 2 rents.

[AnotherSecondOpinion]

While I agree that financially (and logistically) it is a terrible decision, she probably already has her mind made up that this will bring joy to her life.  You've already given your opinion, there's really not much left to do than sit back and watch it all unfold (and maybe walk the dog occasionally also).

[Dr. Mom]

Big animal lovers here.  We had 3 cats and a dog in residency.  My daughter wants a dog, but looked at the price of dog-walkers in her city and reconsidered.  She researched cats that are most like dogs (not joking).  She came up with ragdoll cats which are super expensive.  But, she found a ragdoll rescue organization and got an older cat.  We visited recently and darn if the cat doesn't act like a dog.

[StarTrekDoc]

Better than a baby.

Puppies are high demand too though and no way to start off that long term relationship, high risk of that dog ending up in a shelter itself. ????