The true cost of dog ownership

[PaulW2]

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.

The pricing is really ... interesting.

I spent a bit of time in a vet surgery (admittedly more than 40 years ago )

It's not a hospital with massive overheads, you don't have a specialist orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist and surgical team, nursing staff, hospital wards and the like. Some staff, sure, but all on a much smaller scale.

Yet it costs roughly as much as it costs the NHS the repair a broken leg in a human patient.

 

[Coolcats]

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…

Oh dear it’s not a child it’s a Dog or Cat and should be treated as such. Humans should not Anthropomorphise animals.

The definition of Love is

to like another adult very much and be romantically and sexually attracted to them, or to have strong feelings of liking a friend or person in your family:

Dogs and Cats do not Love as humans do all they see is a pink blob.

Now it may be you like your dog and you feel your dog loves you because of the wagging tale but the dog thinks the pink blob is about to feed it and has found the more take wags the more they get fed.

 

[Thornebt]

Oh dear it’s not a child it’s a Dog or Cat and should be treated as such. Humans should not Anthropomorphise animals.

Anthropomorphise! Had to look that one up!

 

[Speve]

We have always had a dog And part of the reason we bought our motorhome was to be able to take our companions with us, as for cost that does not come into it for us it costs what it costs and they are worth every penny. Rather than an insurance we put money into a dogs fund bank account which pays for what is required
The largest amount we have in fourty years of dog companionship had to pay out, was around £13000 for Lymphoma treatment a couple of years ago for our lovely working cocker “Seve” who had an extra year of quality time with us we have never had any qualms about that as we had the funds available in the dog fund which was depleted after that.
However we now have another companion and his fund is building up quite nicely. We are about to take him on his first European adventure and get his pet passport

 

[bilM]

Anthropomorphise! Had to look that one up!

Me 2

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[PaulW2]

Now it may be you like your dog and you feel your dog loves you because of the wagging tale but the dog thinks the pink blob is about to feed it and has found the more take wags the more they get fed.

What's with the pink blob-centrism? Other blobs have feelings too you know!

 

[Nanniemate]

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.

One of the reasons I cannot have a dog the cost of repairing and healing it if something went wrong
Additionally it's not just financial it's the time they need to be cared for properly . If you do not have the time let alone the money
I was talking to nan elderly gentleman a few weeks ago and although the dog is a well loved and aged for companion he made it clear that if the dog became ill or hurt there was only one option
Animal ownership is a huge responsibility and I know that I'm not responsible

 

[Langtoftlad]

Kerry costs me less than £100/mth including food, health care, liability insurance.

I saw mention about National Trust properties - this hasn't been an issue. Nice walk/explore around the parkland... then she has a snooze in the van while I have a look around the house.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Oh dear it’s not a child it’s a Dog or Cat and should be treated as such. Humans should not Anthropomorphise animals.

The definition of Love is

to like another adult very much and be romantically and sexually attracted to them, or to have strong feelings of liking a friend or person in your family:

Dogs and Cats do not Love as humans do all they see is a pink blob.

Now it may be you like your dog and you feel your dog loves you because of the wagging tale but the dog thinks the pink blob is about to feed it and has found the more take wags the more they get fed.

Tosh.

 

[pagey]

Surely it's cheaper to get a Thai lady than a dog

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[Coastal Cruiser.]

Oh dear it’s not a child it’s a Dog or Cat and should be treated as such. Humans should not Anthropomorphise animals.

The definition of Love is

to like another adult very much and be romantically and sexually attracted to them, or to have strong feelings of liking a friend or person in your family:

Dogs and Cats do not Love as humans do all they see is a pink blob.

Now it may be you like your dog and you feel your dog loves you because of the wagging tale but the dog thinks the pink blob is about to feed it and has found the more take wags the more they get fed.

Sounds like crap to me, if I’m with a load of people why do my dogs go past all the other pink blobs and come to me if we are all pink blobs?
And why do dogs like certain people and not others if they are all viewed the same??

 

[Coolcats]

Tosh.

maybe maybe not but a dog is a dog not a child or human. Treat them well and they can be a good companion but that’s it.

 

[PaulW2]

Oh dear it’s not a child it’s a Dog or Cat and should be treated as such. Humans should not Anthropomorphise animals.

The definition of Love is

to like another adult very much and be romantically and sexually attracted to them, or to have strong feelings of liking a friend or person in your family:

Dogs and Cats do not Love as humans do all they see is a pink blob.

Now it may be you like your dog and you feel your dog loves you because of the wagging tale but the dog thinks the pink blob is about to feed it and has found the more take wags the more they get fed.

It's an interesting question. Leaving aside your definition (which would be a whole different debate), what is it that people do when they have a dog in a particular (non-working, companionship) way?

It doesn't rely on the same reciprocity as some human relationships. That's illegal for starters. And it's not pure utility. That's for farmers.

But humans love art which doesn't reciprocate and which lacks utility. And they worry greatly about aspects of their environment (Charles about architecture, the government about newts and bats, Attenborough about lemurs, many of us about conservatories and wind farms) which just reflect how they prefer their world to appear to them.

So does it matter that my fish see me as an ill-defined pink blob, that my cat hardly cares at all, that my dog only speaks Labradese?

 

[chaser]

Surely it's cheaper to get a Thai lady than a dog

Love a long time.

 

[Hezbez]

Having a dog saves you money because you don't want to jet off on expensive long haul holidays because you would miss them too much.

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[dunnah01]

I hope they cost this puppy seller a fortune in cleaning:

Airbnb cottage near Inverness trashed by puppy seller

The cottage near Inverness was housing a total of 15 dogs and was covered in faeces and rubbish.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[bobnick]

All getting a bit heavy.

 

[Northernraider]

Oh dear it’s not a child it’s a Dog or Cat and should be treated as such. Humans should not Anthropomorphise animals.

The definition of Love is

to like another adult very much and be romantically and sexually attracted to them, or to have strong feelings of liking a friend or person in your family:

Dogs and Cats do not Love as humans do all they see is a pink blob.

Now it may be you like your dog and you feel your dog loves you because of the wagging tale but the dog thinks the pink blob is about to feed it and has found the more take wags the more they get fed.

I bet you're fun at parties

 

[Northernraider]

maybe maybe not but a dog is a dog not a child or human. Treat them well and they can be a good companion but that’s it.

You're correct.

They are far far superior to humans and as for children ... they're just more annoying humans

 

[Northernraider]

Love a long time.

At least 15 minutes anyway

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[Just smiffy]

Lots of opinions but a few mentioned the one thing for me and that is when they die, I had a dog for 16yrs and it did cost me a small fortune in the early years with a lengthy stay at potters bar vet university but it paid off as she lived a good long life until 16, she was from Battersea dogs and she was my friend and was trained to accompany me everywhere without a lead…

I have six kids all grown now and none have died but when she went it must feel similar…

I asked this question as I am responsible and would like to get another and Northernraider has got me thinking and possibly picking a stray when I’m next abroad and hopefully give it a better life…

But….. I am on a small income and I manage my money very well but any unforeseen circumstances could possibly mean that the dog could not have needed treatment and be put down and that would do me in if I had to kill a dog just because I couldn’t afford to keep it and keep it healthy….

I’m not in the best of health now either and would I live for another 10-15yrs…?

Think I’ve just answered myself….

 

[Minxy]

Sounds like crap to me, if I’m with a load of people why do my dogs go past all the other pink blobs and come to me if we are all pink blobs?
And why do dogs like certain people and not others if they are all viewed the same??

Do you smell 'strongly' of ... ?

 

[WESTY66]

Oh dear it’s not a child it’s a Dog or Cat and should be treated as such. Humans should not Anthropomorphise animals.


Dogs and Cats do not Love as humans do all they see is a pink blob.

Now it may be you like your dog and you feel your dog loves you because of the wagging tale but the dog thinks the pink blob is about to feed it and has found the more take wags the more they get fed.

I’m sorry I just can’t agree with you on this, our dog LOVES us all UNCONDITIONALLY that’s not an assumption, that’s just a factual study of hours and hours spent with her and when we return to see her. She’s a guardian, she will put herself in the way of danger (yes it’s a fact we have witnessed many times) may be because of her breed, she is fearless, again because of her breed, but when with us she is the most loving creature we have ever come across, that my friend is a FACT. And there’s not a soul on this earth that will convince me otherwise

 

[WESTY66]

Do you smell 'strongly' of ... ?

He comes out with it sometimes

 

[buzz1]

Im confused.

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.

If you haven’t got a dog your missing out believe

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[Coastal Cruiser.]

He comes out with it sometimes

 

[PaulC70]

^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

Pretty sure only thing on your house policy in the UK is for dog bites on your property and damage to your own property. And that assumes its covered at all, you need to check to be sure.

 

[Silver-Fox]

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

18 years, if only.

Some hang on to the apron strings a lot longer than that

 

[PaulW2]

Lots of opinions but a few mentioned the one thing for me and that is when they die, I had a dog for 16yrs and it did cost me a small fortune in the early years with a lengthy stay at potters bar vet university but it paid off as she lived a good long life until 16, she was from Battersea dogs and she was my friend and was trained to accompany me everywhere without a lead…

I have six kids all grown now and none have died but when she went it must feel similar…

I asked this question as I am responsible and would like to get another and Northernraider has got me thinking and possibly picking a stray when I’m next abroad and hopefully give it a better life…

But….. I am on a small income and I manage my money very well but any unforeseen circumstances could possibly mean that the dog could not have needed treatment and be put down and that would do me in if I had to kill a dog just because I couldn’t afford to keep it and keep it healthy….

I’m not in the best of health now either and would I live for another 10-15yrs…?

Think I’ve just answered myself….

One doesn't want to leave an animal in the lurch and one doesn't want to suffer the loss. That already paints you into a corner doesn't it?

But then that's true for everyone - either the dog goes or you do. (As Oscar Wilde reportedly said on his deathbed, "either those curtains go or I do" ) So everyone is in the same corner.

If the need arises aren't there charities (Blue Cross, RSPCA) that can help out?

Also, if you get a dog that has survived the greatest risks of early puppyhood, and one that isn't from a breed with predictable inherited problems, I would have thought it would usually be ok. Get a dog-shaped dog that can breathe and move in a dog-like fashion and you should probably be ok.

 

[Minxy]

Our dogs are our 'kids', we don't have any of the 'pink blob' ones so the hairy munchkins are our family. They can be a bit restrictive at time, or a flipping nuisance when I'm trying to do something and they insist on saying hello to me! We love them to bits though and certainly would have had a much experientially 'poorer' life by not having them.

They run and greet me as if they've not seem me for months, even if they've only been away for 5 minutes! They love cuddling and will just come not looking for anything except a snuggle, if I'm upset they'll come and give comfort to me and try to cheer me up, they bring me presents ... not always desirable ones though!

We talk to them like we would kiddies, they are our kids ... just a bit hairier than normal! Whilst they haven't actually said a 'word' as such (not like the That's Life "sausages" Yorkie) they do 'talk' to us with their eyes, ears, squeaks, barks, mumbles etc, body language, manner etc and understand us most of the time.

They amuse me, make me laugh, cheer me up and, as they do have their own individual personalities, sometimes they misbehave just like kids so aren't 'perfect' all the time as some people seem to want them to be. They love each other and are a joy to watch when playing, running around and experiencing things. We discover things that without them we wouldn't see so our world has been enriched from having them.

We've never had insurance - having up to 5 dogs at at time it would've been extortionate! We've always paid for medical treatment ourselves and must be quids in by now many times over despite having to pay around £2,500 in bills for Midge in the last 9 months of his life and probably £1,500 for Romy in her last couple of years. Food wise we've never gone in for/bought stupidly expensive 'fashion/fad' food, they have always had a good balanced diet with treats thrown in so it doesn't cost a lot and they have always been very healthy (other than illnesses that we couldn't have prevented) so how we look after them works too.

They can be tying at times but no one is truly free to do what they want all of the time and the benefits of having them far, far outweigh the negative - the only real downside is that they haven't yet mastered how to make the morning cuppa!

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