The true cost of dog ownership

Coolcats said:
Personally I don’t think dogs love humans, or cats for that matter
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What is love?

There is a very strong bond between a dog and owner. The dog is a dependent and the owners largely treat them as a child, with the dogs responding accordingly!

No stronger love than parent/child…
 
Bluemooner said:
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.
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And a lot enjoyable than watching your lot 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂⚽️
 
ceejayt said:
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
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We also said goodbye to our first dog,a golden retriever of 16 years,a couple of months back. The heartbreak and pain was indeed so much to bear-we still feel it on a daily basis,but would not have missed the privilege of sharing our life with her for the world. We only managed one trip of 12 weeks with her in our new camper,which we are so grateful for.

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When we decided to get a dog we knew it would change our lives. We had stopped our clubbing weekends, which we came to fairly late, in our 40's, we didn't think too much about the cost. Now we have two dogs the insurance is £2,000 a year, I have just ordered dog food £120 for 36 cans, on top of that we have vet bills, the excess for the insurance is £250 for one dog and £250 or 20% whichever is greater, for the second dog, due to her age.
We also don't get away in the winter because although we can be warm and snug in the van we can't do anything indoors, National trust etc. so think careful before getting a dog.
Having said all that dogs do bring much to our lives. We go for walks several times a day which we enjoyed but it's unlikely we would do that without dogs. We have met many more people, since our move, than we would if we didn't have dogs.
 
Odd job said:
When we decided to get a dog we knew it would change our lives. We had stopped our clubbing weekends, which we came to fairly late, in our 40's, we didn't think too much about the cost. Now we have two dogs the insurance is £2,000 a year, I have just ordered dog food £120 for 36 cans, on top of that we have vet bills, the excess for the insurance is £250 for one dog and £250 or 20% whichever is greater, for the second dog, due to her age.
We also don't get away in the winter because although we can be warm and snug in the van we can't do anything indoors, National trust etc. so think careful before getting a dog.
Having said all that dogs do bring much to our lives. We go for walks several times a day which we enjoyed but it's unlikely we would do that without dogs. We have met many more people, since our move, than we would if we didn't have dogs.
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On the walking side I’m with you on that, do approx 5/7 miles a day, 10 miles yesterday, lots of people stop to talk and make a fuss of them, they are well trained in fact I can‘t walk past my local without them dragging me in there. 😂😂
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PaulC70 said:
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?
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^Normally covered on a house policy though.
Here in spain they introduced 3rd party liability for dogs last year.most house policies cover you but new standalone for a medium sized dog is around 50€/year
 
Quite a few of my friends have dogs. One of them pays £250 per month in vet insurance. To me that is more like a small mortgage!

I've got a fish pond instead. You don't have to take them for walks. No pet insurance required. You can go on holiday and don't even have to get someone to feed them. It's a great hobby. Building a pond is a mixture of construction, gardening, electrics and plumbing.

We've all seen koi carp for sale for hundreds of pounds but you can buy them small and watch them grow (slowly). Or there are occasionally people giving them away due to them growing and causing the size of the pond to be overpopulated.

So there's my vote. Don't get a dog. Build a pond and get some fish. I know you can't cuddle them and their personalities may not be on the same level of dogs. But it's great to sit in the garden in the summer with a beer and watch them gracefully swimming about devouring the food.

I should mention that the set up costs for a pond are quite high especially for koi as they need a fairly large pond and a good filtration system as they are twice as polluting as other fish.

Now is the time of year to start planning. Do the research and planning, obtain the equipment (whilst it is still in stock and not affected by the Suez Canal problems), then dig the big hole when the weather warms up.

Maybe you will still want a dog but your dog will also be mesmerised watching the fish swimming around.
 
In the same vein as Thornebt I recommend a Budgie (or preferably 2 because they get lonely on their own) as a cheap pet. The last one we still have cost £15 to buy from the breeder, and zero in vet bills, approaching age 13. The biggest problem was finding a reliable person to look after our budgies while we were abroad in the van. He always travels with us in the UK.

I do miss the dog. Sadly, he developed diabetes, and needed daily jabs (by me) of Caninsulin and careful balancing of his special diet and exercise. The vet had written him off, but I managed to extend his life by about 18 months and he was a brave and happy dog despite going blind. The Caninsulin, urine test strips, syringes and needles cost over £100 a month, and that was 25 years ago. I dread to think what it would all cost at today's prices.

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Costs a lot less than having kids 🤣🤣🤣🤣 and they don't cause so much hassle.

We got one in 2022 after being several years without one, plus points are better times at park run (cos I can't keep up with him), more exercise, fun, and companionship. Minus points they are a tie and do restrict some things but we get round most like visiting places by going separately or leaving dog indoors or in MH (ventilated with a fan and roof open if needed), certain costs for food, insurance etc.

Overall we probably wish we didn't get one but he's part of the family now so we give him the best life we can. We get ferries (4 or 5 hours) or tunnel, he's a good traveller and loves walkies, doesn't poo at home and we leave him if needed.
 
I love my dog and money does not come into it my son has cost me a lot more and still is. The only big pay out was when i broke his back leg when he was 10 weeks old my fault I stood on him that was £4000 to get fixed. Ferrys not a problem Newcastle Amsterdam with a dog cabin. If eating places don't like dogs it's there loss I will spend my money somewhere eles mind you most places take dogs now. My dog how could not love him.
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Hi.
Have our 6th dog.... As above " Joined at the hip to all of them " ( Pic on the left. Sassy dog just down the lane from Molly Tuckers field site East Prawle ? ) This one who owns us now,comes from Mira rescue centre. (Outskirts of Praia de Mira ) ,wanted an older dog,picked a Grey muzzled medium size dog out.... NO...She picked ME. :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO: . Old chap said she was 9yrs. Went back Sat morning to go ahead.. Lady said 6yrs.... Not to bad.( WELL..one day someone IS going to live forever !! (y) ) She did not want to get into the m/ho so was Launched in and came home with us.
NO way was she getting into the m/ho.... Enter Chicken pieces and cheese and............ Now you cannot get her out,they come with you in the Metal cold food locker ... Result.

Walkies ? You get two walks for the price of one, the one you do and the one you do following the dog and seeing what they see,as said above,great for meeting people while out together and " Drinks " I have posted before,i can leave home with Mira for a walk up through the woods and back through the next village and be " Unsteady " on my feet,due to " Test tasting ? " the locals home made wines. SHE..knows the way home via the woods or lanes... THATS training for you.:ROFLMAO::drinks:(y).
Tea Bag.
PS The cost ?.......... Jennifer does money.....:h:
 
bilM said:
The only big pay out was when i broke his back leg when he was 10 weeks old my fault I stood on him that was £4000 to get fixed
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We never had insurance until our dog needed cruciate ligament surgery on both back legs at £5,500. So after that I got insurance, it was lucky as the dog then got cancer and had £12,000 of treatment. Sadly we still lost her but she had another good year. Both our current dogs have had leg problems and needed operations (we now know it's very common in this type of dog) so the insurance has paid us far more than we have paid them
 
Just smiffy said:
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…?
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One of those lifestyle choices where one doesn't necessarily calculate every cost/benefit point? Maybe a bit like motorhomes or children? :LOL:

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Some of the figures thrown about on this thread would scare the beejesus out of you. If I'd read something like this thread before I took on my first rescue dog I would have run a mile. And missed out on 6 years so far of companionship and fun.

I try not to think about illnesses etc in the future its depressing. Vets are like lawyers these days and only interested in the money. I think pet insurance is partly to blame for the crazy prices vets charge.

So up to this morning I had homed 3 dogs , this morning I've taken on a 4th , a female pup that was roaming the streets. I hope I've saved her from a life scavenging and having litter after litter of unwanted pups. Like my other 3 ill give her the best life I can afford and manage to do ... and I'll hope for the best outcome. I won't dwell on the possibility of future illness or high vet bills and I'll enjoy the present that's full of fun , and love. And I'll cross those bridges if/when I come to them.
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Northernraider said:
Some of the figures thrown about on this thread would scare the beejesus out of you. If I'd read something like this thread before I took on my first rescue dog I would have run a mile. And missed out on 6 years so far of companionship and fun.

I try not to think about illnesses etc in the future its depressing. Vets are like lawyers these days and only interested in the money. I think pet insurance is partly to blame for the crazy prices vets charge.

So up to this morning I had homed 3 dogs , this morning I've taken on a 4th , a female pup that was roaming the streets. I hope I've saved her from a life scavenging and having litter after litter of unwanted pups. Like my other 3 ill give her the best life I can afford and manage to do ... and I'll hope for the best outcome. I won't dwell on the possibility of future illness or high vet bills and I'll enjoy the present that's full of fun , and love. And I'll cross those bridges if/when I come to them. View attachment 854175View attachment 854176
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Hi Tam I have given you a hug, it’s a manly Shoulder to Shoulder hug 😁
 
bilM said:
I love my dog and money does not come into it my son has cost me a lot more and still is. The only big pay out was when i broke his back leg when he was 10 weeks old my fault I stood on him that was £4000 to get fixed. Ferrys not a problem Newcastle Amsterdam with a dog cabin. If eating places don't like dogs it's there loss I will spend my money somewhere eles mind you most places take dogs now. My dog how could not love him.
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Lucky dog, living in Aberdeenshire and going to Nordkapp, what more could a dog want.
 
We got 2 westie pups a few weeks back. Apart from the astonishing cost of pups (I’m on beans toast.) total cost is not even worried about. They become family.
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chaser said:
What I can never understand is how do these beggars on the streets keep them.
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And many poor countries have many dogs. Stray dogs, yard dogs, mangy dogs, feral dog packs.

It's expensive because we make it so. If you never went to a vet or grooming parlour and fed the dog table scraps it probably wouldn't be prohibitively expensive.
 
fat haggis said:
We got 2 westie pups a few weeks back. Apart from the astonishing cost of pups (I’m on beans toast.) total cost is not even worried about. They become family.
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Hi.
fat haggis said:
We got 2 westie pups a few weeks back. Apart from the astonishing cost of pups (I’m on beans toast.) total cost is not even worried about. They become family.
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Hi.
Reading down your intro...... " Exp. Village Idiot " .... Even though you have had them for only a few weeks.... Look into their eyes in the second photo............ THEY KNOW.. :ROFLMAO: :ROFLMAO::ROFLMAO:;):h:. " Hands full ? " Will be the least of your worries..... ENJOY.
Tea Bag.
 
bilM said:
I love my dog and money does not come into it my son has cost me a lot more and still is. The only big pay out was when i broke his back leg when he was 10 weeks old my fault I stood on him that was £4000 to get fixed. Ferrys not a problem Newcastle Amsterdam with a dog cabin. If eating places don't like dogs it's there loss I will spend my money somewhere eles mind you most places take dogs now. My dog how could not love him.
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Is that a Vizsla?
 

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