What costs do I need to consider before getting a dog?

[wangle99]

Decided our family needs a dog, been umming and aahing for a while so now looking into it properly.

What costs apart from obvious food do I need to think about. I've always had cats so don't really know what dogs need ongoing.

Thanks!

worming
teeth cleaning
ear cleaning
fleas
boosters
replacements (collar as grows, bedding etc)
treats (for training)
toys
training toys/leads
lead
collar

That's all I can think of right now!

annual booster about £30 + check up with Vet about £25, worming tablets, flea treatments etc.
Insurance as vet bills are expensive- depends on breed, age & where you live.
Kennels when you go on holiday about £9 a day
Bedding, toys etc you can spend little or loads
Food - depends on size of dog - cheaper if you feed them on dry complete food

These are all probably similar costs to a cat just a bit more.

food, toys, initial vaxinations plus annual boosters, nutering, kennel costs, replacement bedding, worming, flea treatment, collars/lead, pet insurance, and replacement shoes/clothes/toys/whatever the dog destroys in it's first 18 months of being - if it's a big dog it will be able to inflict a lot of damage on household items.

Time for yourself and the looking after the dog when you need to be away from the house for long periods or holidays. Kennels get booked up quickly and family never want the animal.

Could add cost of training classes too. Well worth finding a good one. In lots of ways the biggest difference (IMO anyway ) between having a cat and having a dog is not so much the financial cost but the level of interaction they need. I had cats before having dogs and it's a whole different ballgame (I do love cats too!). You need to put a lot in but it's worth it as you get so much back.

ditto the training,it's makes sooooo much difference to the family if the dog is trained to be sociable.

I pay for my dog to be trimmed and washed every 8 weeks,£25.00,but she's quite big.

Also bear in mind that if you get pet insurance it is only worthit in the early yrs,as soon as my dog has had an ailment (and she's had plenty) that particular type of condition is no longer covered.So it was worth it when she was younger ,but she's 11 now and basically it's too expensive to have her covered.

I have 2 siberian huskies. They cost around say £10 a week for food,( not too much for 2 dogs!)But we feed both dry food and meat. Would be a lot less if we just fed biscuits which would be fine for them and better for their teeth. they are brushed regularly but dont need specialist grooming. Theyre injections are about £40 each a year. And flea stuff is relatively cheap. The eldest went to puppy school, but youngest didnt and shes fab. Very loving and well beahved. We are with petplan for insurance which is a lifelong cover that will cover the same illness all its life. Expensive at £17 a month each though! Halifax do a cover for £6 a month prob less for smaller dogs.

So for the size of the dogs we have - they dont cost as much as you'd think. Obviously you can spend a forune on them! ( i admit i have! ) but there really is no need.
And they are worth every penny! and more!

Forgot to add training them to be sociable can be done by yourself and your family( and neighbours dogs!! - no need to pay! And it helps to maintain a good bond with them.

I agree Mia84. Only thing I would say is that especially for a first-time dog owner training classes are a very easy and regular way to meet other dogs of all sorts in a controlled environment and get tips from experienced people.

2labs. yeah i agree, but for costs sake i mean! Kai enjoyed his puppy class

What are your 2 labs called?

The good thing about puppy socialisation classes are that you can normally take them when they have had 1st injection as long as they are carried into hall and out of hall. All the puppies will be at the same stage and normally only about 5-8 per class. Our local vets does them in a large room at the vets

Can agree with wannabe74 about the replacement of destpyed items!!! Ours include a dining room table

ooh i was thinking of getting a dog too, my son is a bit scared of them, but i think he will be fine when he gets used to them, my dad never let me have one (he thought they should be kept outside). the dogs i see are so expensive though.

Thank you so much for your advice! It's all greatly appreciated.

DH wants a retired greyhound as they are supposedly good with children and grateful to be cared for. (Obviously we will look into this).

Kennel isn't a problem as we live next door to PIL who have a dog themselves and would quite happily care for any dog we have if we went away (which we don't really do very often).

House seems to NEED a dog now, hopefully you know what I mean!

southeastastra - I was terrified of dogs until my DP got one - on the premis that I would have to have nothing, nada, zilch, zip to do with it. I subsequently realised it was because I didn't understand dogs at all. I do now. The only thing I would say to you, is you say that the dogs you see are expensive. The initial cost is often nothing to the outlay in future years, sometimes especially if you buy "expensive" (pedigree)

sorry to butt in but my bil keeps greyhounds and they are lovely dogs BUT if you get a retired one you do have to be careful of letting them run free if there are any little dogs or any other small prey type things 'haring' around if you see what i mean...they're trained to chase.... you can, of course, muzzle them and it depends where you live and where you walk them, other dogs might not be a problem. they are beautiful, esp when they get up some speed.

I agree, i lost my greyhound 2 years ago, he was a pleasure... had him registered as a Pets As Therapy dog, used to take him into hospitals for people to fuss.... he was aslo available on perscription to help cure phobias of dogs as he was so soft..... Deffinately worht getting it insured.... as you never know what life they have really had, mine ended up with artheitous, which didn't cost me a penny in the end cause of insurance. I am just getting a new dog now, a toy poole, i had had enough of a big dog, they take over your living room and can clear a coffee table in one swipe, and get up onto your worktops and eat YOUR lunch, whereas little ones don't stand achance of reaching !! LOL

xXx good luck, dogs are a pleasure.

hmmm - retired greyhound for a first time dog owner sounds a bit of a high risk strategy to me. No offence to greyhounds (or their owners) but you have to be aware that greyhounds that have been used as racers have probably not had the family household socialisation and training that you'd need for a family dog and may take a lot of expert care, training and attention to help them adjust.
Do look into what it would involve very carefully.

we've spent a fortune it seems since getting our puppy 4 months ago:
puppy - £500
crate - £50
bedding - £40
food - not sure, but LOTS as he has to have hypoallergenic food
toys - £50
food bowls - £20
car guard - £40
insurance - £15 pcm
puppy classes - £50
jabs, flea prevention, worming - £100
edible treats - £20
odour neutraliser, grooming tools, shampoo etc - £40
puppy mats (for peeing on) - £30
collars, leads etc - £30

I feel faint!

I wouldn't go for a greyhound for all the reasons already stared - we have a English Springer Spaniel, they have loads of energy, brilliant with children and look really cute, If you like exercise they are fantastic dogs!!!

how about a retired guide dog? I'd love one of those. At least you know with them that they are of a completely reliable character.