Dogs - what kind of annual budget do they require?

[GeorgianMumto5]

I'm trying to convince dh that a small dog is just what we need. He asked, 'What are their annual running costs?'

So, used car analogies aside, roughly how much do you think it takes to keep a small dog in kibbles, meat, treats, dog-training classes, vet visits, etc.? This is not counting 'setup' costs, such as adoption fees, bed, collar, lead, etc.

I saw someone on here saying they prefer to have a 'dog account', rather than insurance. Is that the way forward, do you think?

By 'small', I mean probably a toy poodle.

Thank you.

Just saw your other thread, I feel the need to support in your battle against DH reminds me of my own DH.

I think £15 insurance (my larger crossbreed is , £8 a month, so £15 should get you a decent insurance for a poodle), £15 food, say another £20 a month to cover vaccinations, and the odd vet visit (assuming no major ongoing health problems and not too many insurance claims where you have to pay the excess up front). Puppy training classes will be around £60 for 6 classes.

I'd say £50 a month should easily cover a healthy dog. If that will sound too much to your DH, just delete this thread and i'll make up some much smaller figures for you

Thanks, Kitsmummy. Feeling slightly sorry for Dh, who is being a bit steamrollered by dd and I. It's doing dd the power of good, though.

My poodle x costs me £13 a month in insurance, is vaccinated on one of these vaccination for life programmes, so, after the initial outlay, there is no cost to pay again, worming and de-fleaing is about £6 a month, food is very little (I buy a pretty expensive food at £40 for a 15kg sack, but I find she doesn't eat anywhere near as much and a sack lasts about 3 months), treats cost about £3 a week as she has a daily denta stick plus sausages to help with recall! Vets fees, I think I've spent about £100 in total in 5 years but I'm aware that I'm lucky in this respect.

I agree. I reckon £50 per month more than covers it for our Springer and we buy expensive kibble and some raw food too. Plus have a scheme at the vets covering jabs, worming, visits, fleas etc.

Actually, the initial outlay of crate, lead, bowls, toys, bed and vaccinations are more of a 'hit' financially than ongoing costs.

Put it in perspective for him-we had guinea pigs and a friend has a lab. We worked out the piggies cost more per month!