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The doghouse

Worked out today that our Dog costs us circa £200 pm....!!

59 replies

SoHereItIs2016 · 26/04/2016 18:31

And decided to post that here for anyone who is debating/deciding whether or not to buy a puppy or dog.

Breakdown of costs

£36 pm health insurance, likely to double at least over her lifetime (even if no claims, if claims occur then who knows...)
Dog walk half an hour three days per week (whilst we are out in the morning) £120pm
Food and treats £30pm
Miscellaneous, jabs, check ups etc, £10pm

This figure does not include day care for when we need to go away for a day (fairly rare but occasionally necessary or holiday care if we cannot take her with us.

Obviously before we got DDog we worked out roughly how much each expense would be and we have the financial resources, so it's not a problem and she is worth every penny, but my good ness when you add it all up and realise it's around 2.5k a year it really opens your eyes!!!

How people on really low incomes cope with the expense I honestly have no idea!!

How much do other people's Ddogs cost them?

OP posts:
SoHereItIs2016 · 26/04/2016 18:33

Sorry just realised I've posted in relationships 😁I'll get it moved!!

OP posts:
ThroughThickAndThin01 · 26/04/2016 18:34

I love that you have put it in relationships Grin.

Dogs are expensive - and we have two of the buggers.

Re people on really low incomes, I tend to put more dog food in food bank collection bins than anything else.

Lucsy · 26/04/2016 18:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Pigeonpost · 26/04/2016 18:35

That does sound like a lot but I suspect it's the dog walking jacking up the cost. If you are only out in the mornings can she not be walked when you get back?

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 26/04/2016 18:35

Oh x post. I think it belongs in relationships. I love my dogs Smile

SoHereItIs2016 · 26/04/2016 18:40

Hi Pidgeon she is only 8 months and a companion dog breed ( needs lots of human company). Do comes back for lunch at one then I'm back at 2 ish but we felt going that long was too long for her hence the walk. 😀

OP posts:
Madbengalmum · 26/04/2016 18:42

They are worth every penny though!

Lethimbloodygrowup · 26/04/2016 18:49

Sorry but if you cant walk a dog atleast 2 times in the day you shouldnt own a dog, my dog cost me about £75 a month

SoHereItIs2016 · 26/04/2016 18:50

Lethim she is walked for an hour once DP gets home, sometimes three times a day on my days off 😁

OP posts:
dmango · 26/04/2016 18:53

Oh my...you're soo right.
I never thought to add it up but here goes;
£160 a month on dog walking whilst I work 3 days a week.
£25.00 insurance...yep she's a pup so this will increase
£50.00 a month on a raw food diet & treats etc
£50.00 a month on training (although we shouldn't need this forever ...I hope!)
This is just the usual costs without toys/vets/beds/blankets etc that we always seem to be buying and I've just booked dog care for a couple of holidays we have booked which is just over £450....!)
But she is a little poppet and worth every penny but yes if you add it up it's a bit of a surprise although I'm sure it'd be much cheaper if we didn't need the 'care' part but we do so hey ho

KindDogsTail · 26/04/2016 18:54

Lucsy I have heard of fostering dogs, especially old ones and their health care and food is paid for.

www.oldies.org.uk/get/fostering-dogs

You pay for food but not vet bills.

PlymouthMaid1 · 26/04/2016 18:55

I think my collie costs me around 40 quid a month which is about 8 for insurance, 10 for flea and worm tabs, around 20 ish for food. It is paying a walker which bumps it up but if you can't do it yoiurself then it is necessary for a happy dog. Could you get cheaper insurance next time maybe although obviously you my have a much better policy than me. I am with Argos and they seem quite good. Glad youy think you dog is worth it ☺

Lucsy · 26/04/2016 18:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dmango · 26/04/2016 18:57

Lethim...you can actually 'over walk' pups and it's not great for their long-term joint health & me and OP are making sure our digs are walked by paying for the service so a bit harsh to suggest shouldn't have a dog?

LetThereBeCupcakes · 26/04/2016 19:01

I have 2 labs.

Food is £40 a month (will go up as pup grows I'm sure!
Insurance £50 a month
Health plan £30? A month (covers flea treatment, worming, vaccinations, nail clipping etc)
Obedience classes £30 a month
And when DH starts agility again it costs a bloody fortune! But he competes so there are weekends away all over the country.
Worth every penny though. Grin

sonlypuppyfat · 26/04/2016 19:07

£160 to have a dog walked! My mind has never been so boggled

Muskateersmummy · 26/04/2016 19:09

Border collie. She costs currently £41 a month on insurance but have just shopped around and reduced it to £27. And then her food. £40 a month for food. Then worming etc. Occasional kennel stays £10 a night. Maybe once a month

No dog walker, we walk her ourselves.

Rosenwyn1985 · 26/04/2016 19:09

We've got a pug, he's 8, nearly 9 years old and our petplan covered for life insurance is £28 a month. We have made claims, I shop about every year and negotiate. We have a health plan that covers everything else bar food and that is £12.50 a month. Plus food at a tenner, sometimes less (bakers complete chunky food).

We're on a low income, have two children but we manage. We've picked a dog that is suitable for us, he only needs short walks, doesn't require grooming, we had him vet checked as a puppy for any problems. For us we have our dog rather than other luxuries like takeaway's etc. We are lucky that I work around the corner just two days a week and he stays with friends when we're away. But owning a dog, whilst it can be expensive, it doesn't have to be ridiculously so.

LetThereBeCupcakes · 26/04/2016 19:11

Rose I'd love a pug but DH says no. Meanie. Angry

KindDogsTail · 26/04/2016 19:16

Mine is £30 for basic food
About £10 for things like chews
£30 insurance
£5 for worm pills?
Luckily do not need a dog walker.
So £75
Occasional day care would be about £17 per day

That is without the crate and bed £160
Dog training - we have spent about £200 so far
Coat, collars, leads, two harnesses (chewed) about £80
Holiday boarding?

You are right. I had shut it out of my mind before.

KindDogsTail · 26/04/2016 19:21

Lucsy I am glad you could consider it. Did you see though you do need to pay for food. (I had found the link only after getting that wrong and had pressed post without editing. Sorry)

You mentioned you have a disability. If I were a dictator I would prescribe animals on the NHS.

Could you by any chance take other people's dogs in for day care or boarding? You would be considered worth your weight in gold.

LyndaNotLinda · 26/04/2016 19:21

It is v expensive! Hadn't looked into insurance costs before I got him.

I do think some people take pleasure in spending £££ on their dogs though, like it makes them better owners - much as people do with children. In a similar way, most dogs just want your love and time, not your stuff.

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Lollylovesbones · 26/04/2016 19:22

I've own Ddog1 for 2 years and Ddog2 for 18 months on top of similar costs to the above are £4K on re-turfing the large lawn that Ddog1 had annihilated by digging numerous large holes (inc fencing to keep him off the new lawn).
Ddog2 has eaten part of a skirting board and several shoes - about £300 of damage.

Neither dog seems to care.

Lucsy · 26/04/2016 19:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LetThereBeCupcakes · 26/04/2016 19:27

Lucy I'm paying £40 a month to feed 2 big dogs (labs) a good quality food. If you had smaller dogs or just one that would bring the cost right down.

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