The true cost of dog ownership

[Just smiffy]

The true cost….?
Insurance
Vets
Damage
Missing out because no dogs allowed
Like taking the tunnel instead of a ferry
Etc
Etc
Etc…..

What’s it cost for the lifespan of say 12-15yrs…?

 

[PP Bear]

.

 

[WESTY66]

The true cost….?
Insurance
Vets
Damage
Missing out because no dogs allowed
Like taking the tunnel instead of a ferry
Etc
Etc
Etc…..

What’s it cost for the lifespan of say 12-15yrs…?

You could ask Tam Northernraider

Then times it by 4

 

[PaulC70]

Im confused.

Insurance
Vets
Damage
Missing out because no dogs allowed
Like taking the tunnel instead of a ferry

Is what it is, need to insure little choice just shop for the best not the cheapest.
Vets just get a payment plan thing, covers everything
Damage, what damage?
Missing out? Never have, its not missing out, its about choices.
Tunnel rather than ferry i dont get, yes tunnel is dearer than ferry but I use the ferry. Lots cheaper.

 

[poppycamper]

The true cost….?
Insurance
Vets
Damage
Missing out because no dogs allowed
Like taking the tunnel instead of a ferry
Etc
Etc
Etc…..

What’s it cost for the lifespan of say 12-15yrs…?

Toooo much.. reason we don't have one..or as seems the case for lots of motorhomers these days, two, three or even four!!!

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[PaulC70]

You could ask Tam Northernraider

Then times it by 4

x 3 in my case

 

[scotjimland]

Can you put a 'cost' on having a loving companion .. ?

never thought if it .. in my view, the pros far outweigh any cons ..

Do we put a 'cost' on owning a motorhome .. or justify it as it gives endless pleasure..?

just like owing a dog .. we don't need to justify it as it gives immeasurable pleasure

 

[Tombola]

I have 4...nik,nak,paddy and wak. And only ever take 2 at a time... But I'll work out costs for just one
Say couple of quid a day, in food, treats. Haircuts, washes, bedding, bowls..toys,.leads,doggy scopp bags. £700ish

Even just 2 trips a year on tunnel. (usually only take 2 dogs) £90

Plenty camps site charge extra for dogs £3.00 say 15 per year =£45.00

Pet insurance.. £10 per month.. =£120.00

The pet passports and jabs etc one offs £??

12 year life span your looking around 12k minimum. (my Jackie's can go 15 easy)

The the final jab if required

Worth every penny.... For me. Defo..they bring fun, excersise, companionship..love, and yes mischief.
Got. Refused at port Merrion cos of no dogs once
Kids on the other hand..

 

[gus-lopez]

Like taking the tunnel instead of a ferry

I always used the ferry with my dog

Missing out because no dogs allowed

Never go anywhere the dog isn't allowed

Insurance

Never had any

Vets = jabs & rabies about 50/60€ per year . anything else as it occurred,if it did.

 

[irnbru]

The undevoted love they give you is uncountable in ££££s if they bring happiness to your lives. I'd give a million to have my dog back....well maybe not cos I don't have a million but you get the picture

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[Northernraider]

The true cost….?
Insurance
Vets
Damage
Missing out because no dogs allowed
Like taking the tunnel instead of a ferry
Etc
Etc
Etc…..

What’s it cost for the lifespan of say 12-15yrs…?

I don't have insurance

No damage

Don't miss out , my dogs go most places with me.

Haven't used the tunnel in a few years ,I just use the ferry.


So it's only really food , treats etc, and vets when they need vaccinations updated every few years .

I expect as they get older there will be additional costs.

 

[old-mo]

For the love and devotion they give, Does it really matter..

Like everything, work out approximate cost and go from there...

If you cannot afford one, Don`t get one...

 

[Cal54]

I had insurance up until 3 years ago. It was extremely adventurous as my Jack Russell had a CL rupture and the total cost for meds and surgery was approx.£4000. I paid just the excess of £200. Unfortunately a year later the little fella had the same injury on the other rear leg and my insurance company wouldn’t pay out. The policy specified they would only cover the same injury once. In my mind I assumed that meant the same leg - not so. Admit it was my fault for not understanding the policy fully and I therefore incurred the cost. Never did I consider not having the surgery, he is my constant companion after all. However I no longer bother with insurance and just set money aside each month. Although my dog cost me just £200 when I bought him 9 years ago, it never crossed my mind that £8000 of vets bills for 2 injuries was irrational.

 

[Chris]

Well our new dog has been very expensive.

On top of what we have paid for him ( labrador) our insurance has gone sky high since he swallowed a pair of my wife’s tights.

The op cost over 4K and now the insurers are making us pay big time.

Plus we have to feed him

 

[InvictaMoto]

Never really thought about total cost.

Insurance goes up every year as they get older. Sadly no NCB.

Ferry or tunnel. Depends on when in the year for costs. Prefer Tunnel as live nearby. But use ferries as way cheaper and 15 miles to Dover.

Some places we can't go with him, but we take it in turns.

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[PaulyP]

Over 50 years of having dogs I’ve never had insurance, had two shitz-tsu’s, then two boxers and a lab retriever, then two pugs and now two french bulldogs, at todays rates I would have paid out about £50,000 in premiums, vast majority of vet’s fees would be below the excess of usually £100/200 so you would not be claiming, in all that time I once paid out £2500 on one of the boxers in the last two weeks of his life just to confirm he had a brain tumour, he was 12 1/2 years old so insurance premiums would have been rediculous even if they would have covered him, the only other large payment was £1550 for boas surgery on one of my frenchies 12 months ago, I would either have the money or use a credit card rather than pay insurance.

 

[poppycamper]

Sons a vet ( Veterinarian surgeon, not retired forces )
Obviously he ( has to ) promote pet insurance through his surgery but will quietly admit that to us that in 99% of cases it is not required..
He does however go on to say that if it gives his clients "peace of mind" then it is indeed worth it..

 

[TheBig1]

When in the rescue we were assessing a new family to rehome a rescue dog, one of the questions was can they afford it. At a minimum they had to be able and willing to spend £50 a month on the dog. Now I would guess that needs to be nearer £100 for the first dog and about half that for any other dogs in the home. Done on a shoestring budget you would still need an average £50 a month with all the care needs and feeding

 

[ceejayt]

The true cost is the one they don't tell you about when you get your first dog - the absolute gut wrenching heartbreak when they go to the dog bed in the sky

 

[Otter Spotter]

Main cost is the heart break when they finally go, it’s like losing a child but worse because usually it’s you who tells the vet to kill them

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[Bluemooner]

We had always had dogs until the last one passed about 8 years ago, we don’t want another one yet as it would be hard work in Spain etc (we do walk friends dogs) but the cost off keeping one would be a lot less than I pay to go and watch football.

 

[VXman]

We do holiday cover for 'socialisers' of dogs belonging to a local 'medical detection dogs' charity. Lovely well trained dogs, food and all other necessary items provided free.

It's like having grandkids staying for a while.

All the fun, none of the responsibility.

 

[PaulC70]

Last time we had a dog put down was about 70 quid so not too bad (financially).
Insurance wise I think a lot are forgetting about third party? ie, IF dog causes an accident YOU can be sued for it?

 

[PaulC70]

Last time we had a dog put down was about 70 quid so not too bad (financially).
Insurance wise I think a lot are forgetting about third party? ie, IF dog causes an accident YOU can be sued for it?

Different with cats of course.

 

[bobnick]

If i could pick the poo up i would have one tomorrow, i can't so as someone said it's about choices.
Contrary to belief i do like dogs and pet them when occasion occurs.
But 1 no more.

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[Carpmart]

Its not the cost, it's the restriction they create....

We had to say goodbye to our dog of 16 years at the start of August '23.. We still talk about her everyday and miss the companionship, love and routine she provided us. However, it's really freed us up from responsibility on our travels. We can do what we want, when we went, for as long as we want now...

 

[steve69]

I love dogs. But they have to belong to somebody else. Too much responsibility for me to actually own one.

 

[steve69]

The true cost….?
Insurance
Vets
Damage
Missing out because no dogs allowed
Like taking the tunnel instead of a ferry
Etc
Etc

Now apply your question to having a child instead. The cost of that for 18 years or longer will terrify you.

 

[Helen Ariel]

Yes it's very expensive especially in the UK now with vets bills and insurance rising massively.

Like others say it's a bit like asking what price for having a child? Can't really value it that way though certainly having a dog instead of a child has saved a fortune not something to rush into though and they certainly do limit what you can do particularly when traveling in a motorhome because you can only ever leave them a few hours and have to think about temperatures if traveling in summer. That's why now our beloved Beech has gone we are having a long break to really get the most out of motorhoming dog free for a while. The money we save can go to help charities that rescue dogs in poorer countries until we are ready to adopt one ourselves.

 

[brynric]

You forgot one cost… the emptiness when they leave you.
Beth has been gone nearly six years and I still shed a tear now and then.
Lucky has been gone even longer but he still returns in dreams now and then. And the advantage is that he can talk.

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