The true cost of dog ownership

[PaulW2]

Our JRT is 16 this month.... has a French passport

A Jacques Rousseau Terrier?

 

[Peavy]

Humans should not Anthropomorphise animals.

I couldn't agree more.
I can't understand how so easily people compare dogs or cats (or any other pet) with kids, and puts in the same level the loss of a dog and the loss of a child?

 

[Minxy]

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

I won't take your 'advice', or is it an instruction?

I'll do what I do with regard to my lovely furry kiddies, I love them, they love me, end of.

It's actually very sad that you don't appear to have had the same close relationship with your pets that many of use have with ours, so I'm sorry for you.

 

[pxh38257]

Cost of owning a dog or two.
Our first St was a 3 year old rescue which cost us about £28 a month to insure for the first year then steadily went up by about £25 a year On year. When she was about 6 she broke her elbow which resulted in X-rays, MRI scans, operations, multiple visits to the vets at home and down country. Final bill was around £4K which I am pleased to say the insurance company sorted out with no issues what so ever. The year after we were quoted an astronomical amount plus they excluded pre existing conditions so now knowing she had very bad joints it was just not worth insuring her. We set Aside a sum just in case but lost her when she was about 9.
we found that having her was worth every penny and if we could not take her in to a cafe or bar it was there loss as most places we visited had at least 1 pet friendly establishment. We now have another St Bernard purchased as a pup in 2019 and she’s like a 3rd child, spoilt rotten and such a character we always get stopped and she’s known by just about everybody in the town.
The biggest cost in owning a dog is “your time” but the rewards are immense, they take a lot of looking after.
If your trying to weigh up if you can afford one don’t do it, just take a friend or neighbours one out for the occasional walk but remember if it goes to the toilet you have to pick it up and dispose of it correctly.

 

[Gina M]

I couldn't agree more.
I can't understand how so easily people compare dogs or cats (or any other pet) with kids, and puts in the same level the loss of a dog and the loss of a child?

Well I have some news for you. I cried more when my dog died than I did when my dad died.

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[Peter and Julie]

Well I have some news for you. I cried more when my dog died than I did when my dad died.

Can easily believe that, your more or less with them 24/7.

 

[Peavy]

Well I have some news for you. I cried more when my dog died than I did when my dad died.

I wrote about the loss of a child, anyway I respect your opinion

 

[Northernraider]

I wrote about the loss of a child, anyway I respect your opinion

Myy ex wife and I separated 19 years ago , my kids were raised by her and I had them each weekend till they reached their teens then they chose spending time with friends etc over me ...gradually it got to the stage I never saw them or heard from them unless they wanted something. I haven't seen them now in 6 years , no longer kids but adults at 26 and 23 years old .

They're not dead...but they may as well be as they ain't in my life

Do I miss them ?

Actually no I don't, I tend to forget they exsist these days , they didn't just cut me off but their grandparents and aunts and uncles ,cousins etc.

Dogs don't do that


I'll take dogs anyday

 

[Boaty]

The OP is likely a retired accountant (not of the turf) . "True cost" can never be determined solely in monetary terms. Unless of course you are only picking up the tab and not the .

 

[wp1234]

Never felt the need to have one and really can’t understand people’s fixation with them but its all about choices , your money, your life and therefore your choice .

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[Boaty]

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

Dafty here . Was your wife in the tights at the time and is the wife or dog's insurance up ?
Guess the feeding budget must be tight .

 

[Bazzagas]

Well I have some news for you. I cried more when my dog died than I did when my dad died.

So did my wife when we had our 13 year old boxer put to sleep..

 

[Gina M]

Myy ex wife and I separated 19 years ago , my kids were raised by her and I had them each weekend till they reached their teens then they chose spending time with friends etc over me ...gradually it got to the stage I never saw them or heard from them unless they wanted something. I haven't seen them now in 6 years , no longer kids but adults at 26 and 23 years old .

They're not dead...but they may as well be as they ain't in my life

Do I miss them ?

Actually no I don't, I tend to forget they exsist these days , they didn't just cut me off but their grandparents and aunts and uncles ,cousins etc.

Dogs don't do that


I'll take dogs anyday

Your wife should have made sure they kept in contact with you. When my brother left his wife her family tried to turn his daughters against him but we waded in big style and kept telling the girls (they were teenagers) he's your dad he loves you no matter what he has done. They adore him and are now angry at the stuff their mum used to say to them about him. I could not imagine my life without my nieces I love them so much. So many have missed out on so much haven't they Tam it's not just you. But you have your gorgeous dogs and unconditional love from them. You have the right attitude.

 

[Ridgeway]

Mine earns his keep, he’s a chartered accountant in his spare time

We are fairly animalled up here,,, and the cost of the dogs is nowt vs the nags

 

[Silver-Fox]

The dogs never slept on sofa's or beds their place was the floor, Cats had thier place too

That’s where I think they should be as well.

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[Boaty]

Mine earns his keep, he’s a chartered accountant in his spare time

View attachment 854781

We are fairly animalled up here,,, and the cost of the dogs is nowt vs the nags

My son's spaniel cannae count, but like yours the ayes have it .
Off thread but drookit dugs on the floor .
My Borders fine; underfloor heating .
No dog cost. House budget .

 

[Boaty]

My son's spaniel cannae count, but like yours the ayes have it .
Off thread but drookit dugs on the floor .
My Borders fine; underfloor heating .
No dog cost. House budget .

My son's spaniel cannae count, but like yours the ayes have it .
Off thread but drookit dugs on the floor .
My Borders fine; underfloor heating .
No dog cost. House budget .

 

[Boaty]

Apologies for the mess up above. Touch screens for the youth .

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

I think my 2 Jacks have cost a fair bit as the main reason we bought the van was because when my Dad died we had nobody to look after the pups when we went on holidays so with the van it was ideal and that have loved travelling all over Europe

Other daily cost are not even thought about and I have never even worried about what they cost they give much more than what they cost that’s for sure

 

[Langtoftlad]

Cost versus Value

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[Coolcats]

I won't take your 'advice', or is it an instruction?

I'll do what I do with regard to my lovely furry kiddies, I love them, they love me, end of.

It's actually very sad that you don't appear to have had the same close relationship with your pets that many of use have with ours, so I'm sorry for you.

Actually I never said I did not have a relationship with any of the Dogs and Cats, just the opposite, but they are dogs and cats. if you wish to view them as Furry Kiddies that is your right and would never say that animals do not bring comfort or companionship.

This is an interesting take on dogs and cats I subscribe to with regards Anthropomorphise:

ANTHROPOMORPHIZE WITH UMWELT IN MIND

On walks Pump was never satisfied with being on one side of the path or the other: she weaved back and forth capriciously. Holding her on leash I was constantly readjusting my hand on the thing. Sometimes I’d insist she stay to one side of me, and she sighed at me while we both glanced knowingly at the good un-smelled spots on the other side.
Even with a scientific take on the dog, we find ourselves using anthropomorphic words. Our dogs—my dog—make friends, feel guilty, have fun, get jealous; understand what we mean, think about things, know better; are sad, are happy, are scared; want, love, hope.

This way of talking is easy, and sometimes useful, but it is also part of a bigger, more exceptionable phenomenon. As we recast every moment of a dog’s life in human terms, we have begun to completely lose touch with the animal in them. It is no longer the rare dog who is shampooed, clothed in garments, and feted on his birthday. That may seem benign, but it is also part of a de-animalizing of dogs that is somewhat radical. We are rarely present for their births, and many people will choose not to be present for their own dogs’ deaths. We eliminate sex for the most part: we neuter dogs and we discourage the slightest lascivious thrusts of the hips. They are fed sanitized food, in bowls; they are largely restricted to a leash-length distance from our heels. In cities, their excrement is bundled up and thrown away. (Happily, we have not yet taught them to use the toilet ... convenient though we know that would be.) Breed types are described like products, with specified features. It seems as though we are trying to get rid of the animal part of the dog.
If we assume that we have reduced the animal factor to zero, we are in for some unhappy surprises. Dogs do not always behave just as we think they should. They may sit, lie down, and roll over—but then will revert magnificently. They suddenly squat and urinate in the house, bite your hand, sniff your crotch, jump on a stranger, eat something gnarly in the grass, don’t come when you call them, roughly tackle a much smaller dog. In this way, our frustrations with dogs often arise from ourextreme anthropomorphizing, which neglects the very animalness of dogs. A complex animal cannot be explained simply.
The alternative to anthropomorphizing is not simply treating animals as precisely unhuman. We now have the tools to take a more measured look at their behavior: with their umwelt and their perceptual and cognitive abilities in mind. Nor need we take a dispassionate stance toward animals.

Scientists anthropomorphize ... at home. They name their pets, and see love in a named-dog’s upward-turned gaze. In research, names are verboten: while they might help tell animals apart, they are not benign. Naming a wild animal “colors one’s thinking about it forever afterwards,” a preeminent field biologist noted. There are obvious observational biases that are introduced when you name the subject of your observations. Jane Goodall famously violated this maxim, and “Graybeard” became known to the world. But “Graybeard” for me connotes a wise, old man: as a result, I may be more likely to perceive his behavior as indicative of his wisdom than see it as foolishness. Instead, to distinguish individual animals, most ethologists use identifying markings—leg bands, tags, or marking fur or feathers with dye—or look for identity in habitual behavior, social organization, or natural physical features.*

To name a dog is to begin to make him personal—and thus an anthropomorphizable creature. But we must. To name a dog is to assert an interest in understanding the nature of the dog; to not name the dog seems the pinnacle of disinterest. Dogs named Dog make me sad: the dog is already defined out of being a player in the owner’s life. Dog has no name of his own; he is only a taxonomic subspecies. He will never be treated as an individual. What one is doing when naming a dog is starting him on the personality that he is to grow into. When trying out names for our dog, calling words out at her—“Bean!” “Bella!” “Blue!”—to see if any prompted a reaction, I felt that I was searching for “her name”: the name that was already hers. With it, the bond between human and animal—wrought of understanding, not projection—could begin to form.

Go look at your dog. Go to him! Imagine his umwelt—and let him change your own.

It is this last sentence which I subscribe to it is a dog (or Cat) it experiences the world in such a different way to humans let him or she be a dog or cat, that isn't about me not caring for an animal.

 

[Coolcats]

So because you haven't experienced it you decided no one else has and have chosen to ignore the scientific proof I gave. No point discussing the concept further then as you're close minded about it.

Apologies in the delay for responding, I am not closed minded and quite the opposite, and one published paper is a little like a swallow one swallow doesn't make it summer. Within the paper you highlighted was entitled a simple introduction. the authors of the paper did outline the research limitations which is fabulous as it means further research can be carried out to validate or build on this work so I am not deriding it. I also said that all mammalian's produce Oxitocin that doesn't mean 'I love you' as Oxytocin has other uses within the body. that paper also stated

Given the variance in the OT response in our dog (and although to a lesser extent also the human) population, it may be the case, that the standardized social interaction we required from owners in our test conditions in the lab, may have been an OT activating exchange for some dog–owner dyads but not others. Potentially a more naturalistic study, in which owners are asked to interact with their dogs “as they do normally” during quiet times together in their home environment and familiar persons then reproduce a similar interaction in the same setting may result in stronger effects relating to OT release.

Overall, given the relatively few studies currently published on the effect of human–dog interactions on oxytocin levels in both species, the mixed results so far obtained and the substantial differences in the laboratory analyses used, we need to be careful in drawing any conclusions in regard to the involvement of OT release in the human–dog relationship, and its hypothesized role in human- animal assisted program.

Dogs are caring creatures, we can see this in how they care for and bring their young up, how they bond as packs.

But how dogs and cats see the world is so very different to Humans, yes people are attached to thier animals and there appears to be a reciprocal arrangement.

You may have read Alexandra Horowitz work about, The Inside of a Dog what dogs, See, Smell and Know.But if not click on the link it is a cracking read, I quoted from it when replying to Minxy

Another book you may have come across but if not again I can highly recomend it is called an immense world by Ed Yong

 

[Peavy]

Actually I never said I did not have a relationship with any of the Dogs and Cats, just the opposite, but they are dogs and cats. if you wish to view them as Furry Kiddies that is your right and would never say that animals do not bring comfort or companionship.

This is an interesting take on dogs and cats I subscribe to with regards Anthropomorphise:

ANTHROPOMORPHIZE WITH UMWELT IN MIND

On walks Pump was never satisfied with being on one side of the path or the other: she weaved back and forth capriciously. Holding her on leash I was constantly readjusting my hand on the thing. Sometimes I’d insist she stay to one side of me, and she sighed at me while we both glanced knowingly at the good un-smelled spots on the other side.
Even with a scientific take on the dog, we find ourselves using anthropomorphic words. Our dogs—my dog—make friends, feel guilty, have fun, get jealous; understand what we mean, think about things, know better; are sad, are happy, are scared; want, love, hope.

This way of talking is easy, and sometimes useful, but it is also part of a bigger, more exceptionable phenomenon. As we recast every moment of a dog’s life in human terms, we have begun to completely lose touch with the animal in them. It is no longer the rare dog who is shampooed, clothed in garments, and feted on his birthday. That may seem benign, but it is also part of a de-animalizing of dogs that is somewhat radical. We are rarely present for their births, and many people will choose not to be present for their own dogs’ deaths. We eliminate sex for the most part: we neuter dogs and we discourage the slightest lascivious thrusts of the hips. They are fed sanitized food, in bowls; they are largely restricted to a leash-length distance from our heels. In cities, their excrement is bundled up and thrown away. (Happily, we have not yet taught them to use the toilet ... convenient though we know that would be.) Breed types are described like products, with specified features. It seems as though we are trying to get rid of the animal part of the dog.
If we assume that we have reduced the animal factor to zero, we are in for some unhappy surprises. Dogs do not always behave just as we think they should. They may sit, lie down, and roll over—but then will revert magnificently. They suddenly squat and urinate in the house, bite your hand, sniff your crotch, jump on a stranger, eat something gnarly in the grass, don’t come when you call them, roughly tackle a much smaller dog. In this way, our frustrations with dogs often arise from ourextreme anthropomorphizing, which neglects the very animalness of dogs. A complex animal cannot be explained simply.
The alternative to anthropomorphizing is not simply treating animals as precisely unhuman. We now have the tools to take a more measured look at their behavior: with their umwelt and their perceptual and cognitive abilities in mind. Nor need we take a dispassionate stance toward animals.

Scientists anthropomorphize ... at home. They name their pets, and see love in a named-dog’s upward-turned gaze. In research, names are verboten: while they might help tell animals apart, they are not benign. Naming a wild animal “colors one’s thinking about it forever afterwards,” a preeminent field biologist noted. There are obvious observational biases that are introduced when you name the subject of your observations. Jane Goodall famously violated this maxim, and “Graybeard” became known to the world. But “Graybeard” for me connotes a wise, old man: as a result, I may be more likely to perceive his behavior as indicative of his wisdom than see it as foolishness. Instead, to distinguish individual animals, most ethologists use identifying markings—leg bands, tags, or marking fur or feathers with dye—or look for identity in habitual behavior, social organization, or natural physical features.*

To name a dog is to begin to make him personal—and thus an anthropomorphizable creature. But we must. To name a dog is to assert an interest in understanding the nature of the dog; to not name the dog seems the pinnacle of disinterest. Dogs named Dog make me sad: the dog is already defined out of being a player in the owner’s life. Dog has no name of his own; he is only a taxonomic subspecies. He will never be treated as an individual. What one is doing when naming a dog is starting him on the personality that he is to grow into. When trying out names for our dog, calling words out at her—“Bean!” “Bella!” “Blue!”—to see if any prompted a reaction, I felt that I was searching for “her name”: the name that was already hers. With it, the bond between human and animal—wrought of understanding, not projection—could begin to form.

Go look at your dog. Go to him! Imagine his umwelt—and let him change your own.

It is this last sentence which I subscribe to it is a dog (or Cat) it experiences the world in such a different way to humans let him or she be a dog or cat, that isn't about me not caring for an animal.

I had three cats in the past, and I find this very interesting indeed.

 

[AJM2]

I think the original question raised is an excellent one. If only some of the people who decide they have to have the latest craze would do the maths before they purchased we wouldn’t have so many dumped in the shelters. Amazing and so sad how the ‘fur babies’ lose their shine for some people when the reality of food and vets bills start to hit. Imagine how the poor dog feels!

 

[Coolcats]

I had three cats in the past, and I find this very interesting indeed.

I agree it is fascinating stuff

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[Coolcats]

I think the original question raised is an excellent one. If only some of the people who decide they have to have the latest craze would do the maths before they purchased we wouldn’t have so many dumped in the shelters. Amazing and so sad how the ‘fur babies’ lose their shine for some people when the reality of food and vets bills start to hit. Imagine how the poor dog feels!

There has been a large increase I hear, but I guess the other side is for those who get a lot of pleasure from owning a dog or cat would also agree with you

 

[Silver-Fox]

It amazes me how much people will pay for a dog now a days.

Maybe I should of been born in Yorkshire

 

[Gina M]

When my Stanley came to me 16 years ago, he was 3 months old and had been handed back to the breeder as the previous owners couldn't cope with him. We had a dog many years ago before him but I had forgotten just how much hard work puppies are and I struggled at first but within a few days I was besotted with him. I was so lucky to have had 14 years with him 24/7 unconditional love

 

[AJM2]

There has been a large increase I hear, but I guess the other side is for those who get a lot of pleasure from owning a dog or cat would also agree with you

The shelters are packed with many wonderful dogs who were chosen by the wrong owner. You can’t call yourself a dog lover, in my book, if you blindly take one on because it’s cute/it was cheap/some c list celebrity has one, the poor thing gets attached to you and then you give it up because of your own failings, not the dogs, of being unaware of the true cost. A dogs affection is priceless but it doesn’t come cheap. I do however feel for those who have to give one up through no fault of their own, it must be heartbreaking.

 

[Coolcats]

It amazes me how much people will pay for a dog now a days.

Maybe I should of been born in Yorkshire

it’s daft money sometimes but then seeing some of the vet bills and charges it does make you wonder why bother. But then again I wonder how much a dog rescue may charge probably get a bargain if your not too picky.

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