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How much is that doggy in the window? More than you may think.
New dog owners can expect to shell out $1,200 to $2,000 in the first year, and as much as $14,500 over their pup’s lifetime, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. And that’s just for routine costs. Emergencies will happen — and they will be expensive.
Budgeting for the expected costs, and saving for the unexpected, will protect your pet and your pocketbook.
“A good rule of thumb is the bigger the dog, the bigger the budget,” said Sarah Javier, president and executive director of the Animal Protective Association of Missouri.
FOOD
This cost is obvious, but often underestimated, especially when it comes to larger dogs. Owners of Labradors, shepherds and other big dogs should expect to spend $400 a year, on average, for premium brand dry dog food, according to the ASPCA.
How to save:
—Use autoship. Online retailers like Amazon and Chewy, which sells pet products, will knock a few dollars off the food bill if you opt for automatic shipments.
—Don’t overfeed. Feeding your dog too much can have a ripple effect. Not only will you have to buy more food more often, but you’ll also have to deal with medical expenses if your dog is overweight. Not sure how much is too much? The portion guide printed on your dog’s food label is a good place to start.
GROOMING
That fluffy Golden-doodle will require regular grooming. The same goes for any breed with a long, thick coat. Dogs with shorter coats — Labs, dachshunds and others — still need regular baths, brushing and nail trims.
A standard groom at Petsmart costs from $30 to $130, depending on the breed.
How to save:
—DIY groom. Baths, nail trims and haircuts can all be done at home. The ASPCA’s dog grooming guide has detailed tips for owners.
BOARDING AND WALKING SERVICES
Busy pet owners will inevitably need help caring for their pooch. If you don’t have someone to call on when you’re not home, you’ll need a dog walker and pet sitter from time to time. A 30-minute walk with Wag, a nationwide dog-walking service, is about $20. Overnight boarding with Rover’s large network of pet sitters typically runs $25 to $35 a night, but can be as high as $75 in some places. Local walking and boarding services are also available in most cities.
How to save:
—Buy in bulk. You can often purchase a package of walks or boarding stays at a lower rate.
DENTAL CARE
A professional teeth cleaning costs $200 to $300, on average, but can vary depending on where you live. Your dog’s dental health will determine cleaning frequency, but annual exams and cleanings are generally recommended.
How to save:
—Regular brushing. Brush your dog’s teeth at home with a pet toothbrush and toothpaste to cut back on the number of professional cleanings. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends brushing at least three times a week and has a video tutorial.
VACCINATION
Puppies need a round of immunizations in their first year, and when they’re older, they’ll need regular boosters every year or few years. These vaccinations are necessary to prevent more serious, and expensive, illnesses. A round of vaccinations for your puppy costs $75 to $100, on average, according to the American Kennel Club.
How to save:
—Adopt. Your adoption fee typically includes the first round of vaccinations, along with other medical services, like deworming and a spay or neuter.
—Vaccination clinics. Local chapters of the Humane Society and similar organizations often run weekly or monthly clinics where vaccinations are offered for a fraction of the usual cost.
EMERGENCY CARE
Unexpected vet visits — for injury or illness — will happen no matter how careful you are. And the resulting bills can cost pet owners thousands of dollars.
“You absolutely must plan for emergencies,” said Vicki Stevens, senior manager in the companion animals division of the Humane Society of the United States. “Start saving right away, so you have a little cushion for emergency care.”
How to save:
—Pet insurance. Similar to human health insurance, pet insurance can help defray the cost of expensive medical treatment, including for chronic conditions like cancer or arthritis. Most plans reimburse 80 percent of eligible expenses after you meet your annual deductible.
Need help paying for services? The Humane Society maintains a list of organizations that offer discounted services or financial assistance.
This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website Nerd-Wallet.

Officials from major oil-producing nations are expected to agree this week to boost output, but just how much they will open the spigot — and the effect on oil prices — remain wild cards.
Ministers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and non-OPEC nations led by Russia are meeting Friday and Saturday in Vienna, and it could be a difficult and uncomfortable gathering. The cartel's largest producer, Saudi Arabia, wants higher prices but hears President Donald Trump, leader of its most important ally, lobbying openly for lower prices.
Analysts expect the group will consider an increase of somewhere around 1 million barrels a day. That may seem insignificant in a global supply of 98 million barrels a day, but critically it would reverse reductions that the same countries approved in late 2016, helping push crude higher by more than 50 percent.
Benchmark U.S. crude hit its highest level in more than three years in May, but U.S. and international prices have eased since then in anticipation that OPEC will approve more drilling. On Wednesday, U.S. crude closed at $65.74 a barrel, down from a peak of nearly $73 last month, and Brent crude, the international standard, closed at $74.61, down from $80.
The U.S. average for gasoline stood at $2.87 a gallon on Thursday. Patrick DeHaan, an analyst for GasBuddy, a gasoline price tracking service, said a middling OPEC increase — more than 600,000 barrels per day — would make it less likely that Americans will pay an average of $3. A big OPEC deal— adding more than 1 million barrels — could cause prices to dip into the $2.60s or $2.70s this summer, he said.
Any production increase would help offset a decline in output by Venezuela, an OPEC member consumed by economic and political crisis, and the prospect of reduced exports from Iran — OPEC's third-biggest producer — now that the U.S. is in the process of re-imposing sanctions over that country's nuclear program.
Oil demand has been rising faster than expected, pushing prices higher despite a big increase in U.S. oil output. The International Energy Agency, which represents consuming nations, expects demand to grow more slowly in the second half of this year partly due to rising oil prices — but still 1.35 million barrels a day higher than the same period in 2017.
Some analysts believe that Saudi Arabia needs a Brent price closer to $90 to cover its domestic spending but is feeling pressure from the United States to head off rising prices by boosting output. Russia may be happy to pump more oil and settle for prices in the $60s, according to Tamar Essner, chief energy analyst for Nasdaq.
There are other considerations than dollars and rubles.
"This is not going to be a decision just based on market analysis and supply and demand," said Daniel Yergin, the vice chairman of research firm IHS Markit and author of several books on the energy industry. "The geopolitical factors will play in a lot."
Yergin said Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates support the current, tougher U.S. policy toward Iran, Saudi Arabia's rival for influence in the region, and so will want to support Trump's call for lower prices. Trump has used Twitter to complain about high oil prices — and blame OPEC — twice since April.
Iran's oil minister, Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, questioned this week whether OPEC is united enough to reach any agreement, and said Trump had politicized the debate over oil prices. OPEC, he said, "is not an organization to receive the instruction from President Trump and follow it."
Other energy ministers, such as Iraq's Jabbar Ali Hussein Al-Luiebi, have expressed more optimism about an agreement.
If OPEC members and Russia agree to pump more oil, that will reduce global capacity for spare production — reserves of crude that can be brought online quickly. And that poses its own risks.
"If the volume of spare capacity goes down then the market gets much more vulnerable to supply shocks," said Essner, the Nasdaq analyst. "A host of geopolitical events around the world could really stoke prices higher."
Essner is betting that the Vienna meeting will yield an agreement to boost production by 500,000 to 800,000 barrels a day, far below the 1.5 million barrel figure floated recently by Russia's oil minister, Alexander Novak.
Phil Flynn, an oil analyst with The Price Futures Group, expects a deal for around an extra 1 million barrels a day. And he thinks prices will rise anyway.
"The market is going to say, 'That isn't enough,' and 'How quickly is it going to come online?' That's when we're really going to resume the price increases," Flynn said. He expects $80 crude by year end, $100 by 2020.

Candy Fleet defeated M C Bank 13-9 in Morgan City Recreation Department softball action at Cypress Park April 19.
Londin Celestin led Candy Fleet with a 4-for-4 perfor-mance.
Other top Candy Fleet hit-ters were Ansley Graham, Julianna Prestenbach and Ava Ho, all 3-for-3; and Catherine Nobles, 3-for-4.
Bella Guarisco led M C Bank with a 3-for-3 perfor-mance.
Other top M C Bank per-formers were Janiya Jones and Bella Fangue, each 2-for-2; and Mia Stephens, 2-for-3.
Sweet Tarts 8,
Uncle J’s Boats 3
Sweet Tarts defeated Uncle J’s Boats, 8-3, in action April 19 at Cypress Park.
Hannah Fryou and Jenna Fraley each finished 1-for-1 to lead Sweet Tarts.
Bree Mitchell and Mattie Acosta each finished 2-for-2 to lead Uncle J’s Boats, while Emily Orgeron was 1-for-1.
Red Hots 3,
Uncle J’s Boats 0
Red Hots defeated Uncle J’s Boats 3-0 at Cypress Park April 18.
Charlie Ann Fuhrer led the Red Hots with a 1-for-1 performance.
Other top Red Hots offen-sive performers were Karlee Alleman and Kayla Brous-sard, each 1-for-2.
Mattie Acosta led Uncle J’s Boats with a 1-for-2 performance.
Snickers 5, Sweet Tarts 4
Snickers defeated Sweet Tarts 5-4 at Cypress Park April 18.
Emily Metrejean led Snickers with a 1-for-1 performance.
Alayia Howard and Jadence Madise each added a 1-for-2 performance for Snickers.
Kallie Rabalais led Sweet Tarts with a 1-for-1 perfor-mance.
Red Hots 4, Snickers 3
Charlie Ann Fuhrer col-lected two hits and Red Hots defeated Snickers 4-3 at Cypress Park April 17.
Fuhrer finished 2-for-2.
Other top Red Hots offen-sive contributors were Karlee Alleman and Braelynn Andrus, each 1-for-2.
Alaya Howard led Snickers with a 1-for-2 performance with a triple, while Aireianna Granger was 1-for-1.
Skittles 8, Candy Fleet 2
Caroline Mancuso and Li-yah Blanco each collected three hits and Skittled de-feated Candy Fleet 8-2 April 17 at Cypress Park.
Mancuso and Blanco each finished 3-for-3.
Jordin Jackson added a 2-for-2 performance for the Skittles.
Stella Jones, Violet Busse, London Celestine and Jaraja Gray each finished 1-for-2 for Candy Fleet.
M C Bank 4, Skittles 2
Bella Burbante had two doubles and M C Bank de-feated Skittles 4-2 at Cypress Park April 12.
Burbante finished 2-for-2.
Other top M C Bank offen-sive contributors were Mia Stephens and Janiya Jones, each 2 for 2; Ella Chauvin, 2-for-3; and Bella Guarisco, 1-for-2.
Caroline Mancuso, Paisley Barbier, Amber Swiber, Ella Fryou and Liyah Blanco led Skittles as each finished 1 for 2.
Red Hots 12, Snickers 8
Red Hots defeated Snickers 12-8 at Cypress Park April 12.
Charlie Ann Fuhrer and Avery Graham led the Red Hots as each finished 1 for 1.
Izear Willis led Snickers with a 1-for-1 performance while Katie Aucoin, Jalayiah Smith and Brynn Robicheaux each finished 1 for 2 for Snickers.
Uncle J’s Boats 12,
Snickers 3
Uncle J’s Boats defeated Snickers 12-3 at Cypress Park April 11.
Kumari Nadar led Uncle J’s Boats with a 1-for-1 per-formance, while Mattie Acosta and Elizabeth Legen-dre each were 1 for 2 for Uncle J’s Boats.
Emily Metrejean and Alayia Howard led Snickers’ offense. Metrejean finished 2-for-2, while Howard was 1-for-1 with a triple.
Alaya Hayles added a 1-for-2 performance for Snickers.
Red Hots 10,
Sweet Tarts 2
Red Hots defeated Sweet Tarts 10-2 at Cypress Park April 10.
Jewel Blanco, Lucy Kin-cade and Avery Graham each finished 1-for-1 to lead Red Hots, while Charlie Ann Fuhrer, Karlee Alleman and Sanaa Bailey all were 1-for-2.
Hannah Fryou and Emma McCollough led Sweet Tarts as each was 1-for-2.
Uncle J’s Boats 11,
Sweet Tarts 6
Uncle J’s Boats defeated Sweet Tarts 11-6 at Cypress Park April 10.
Abbi Foreman led Uncle J’s Boats with a 1-for-1 performance, while Elizabeth Legendre was 1-for-3.
Hannah Fryou led Sweet Tarts with a 2-for-2 perfor-mance, while Jenna Fraley was 1-for-2.
Skittles 8, Candy Fleet 1
Amaezyn-Grace Chisley collected three hits and Skittles defeated Candy Fleet 8-1 at Cypress Park April 10.
Chisley finished 3-for-3.
Other top Skittles offensive contributors were Caroline Mancuso, 2-for-3 with a double; Liyah Blanco, 1-for-2 with a double; Harlee Scott, 2-for-2; and Ella Fryou, 2-for-3.
Catherine Nobles led Can-dy Fleet with a 2-for-2 per-formance, while Violet Busse and Ansley Graham each finished 1-for-2.

June 14, 1960- June 18, 2018
Georgie Marie Dupuy was called home to be with the Lord on June 18, 2018 surrounded by her loving family at the age of 58.
Georgie’s pride and joy was her family whom she made lasting memories with, whether it was traveling, camping, or just spending time together. Georgie was an avid gardener who spent countless hours putting her green thumb to work. When she wasn’t spending time with her family or in the garden, you could find Georgie watching her favorite shows on the Investigation Discovery channel.
Those left to cherish Georgie’s beautiful memory are her husband, William H. Dupuy Jr.; three children, Nicole Percle, Tiffany Romero, and Shane White and husband Mickey White; brother, Ronald Faul; and six adoring grandchildren, Katelyn Percle, Lily Romero, Darian White, Blake White, Daniel Percle and Layla Hatch.
She joins in heaven her parents, Curley and Lelia Marks Faul; sister, Geraldine Merckling; and two brothers, Donald Faul and Daniel Faul.
The family requests that a time of visitation be observed on Friday, June 22, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. until time of services at 1:00 p.m. at Hargrave Funeral Home. Georgie will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Cemetery.
Arrangements under the direction of Hargrave Funeral Home.