Financial cost of getting a Labrador Puppy

Katiehound

Microchipping price is usually reduced if done at the same time as an operation (ie spaying)

Cheaper wormers & flea treatments from online store such as VetMedic- same products. Club together with friends for bulk orders on wormers. Buy on show days such as Crufts for best prices.

Make your own bedding from old polyester duvets, cut in half & hemmed. Use old settee cushions to keep out of draughts

Visit any dog training classes first before signing up. Ask locaql dog owners. Often the first class is free.

Save money on good quality dog food (for adult dogs) by buying food for 'working dogs'- check analysis first- usually the same or similar to regular food but without the VAT. I always feed raw fruit & veg too and avoid anything with colour and additives.

Have fun with your pooch

Katiehound

Spuddle

Poohzee;

It varies from different insurers and different animals - for example

Say if one of my horses got navicular in one of his legs, the insurers payed out £800 for treatment. If it was sorted, because the navicular could come back, they would most likely say either; The lower/whole leg/hoof is no longer insured what so ever

Or

The leg [or even entire horse in some cases] is no longer covered for vet treatment for navicular. Which would mean if the horse got navicular again, it wouldnt be insured at all.

Make sense?

In some cases they just rule out the issue [i.e no more cover for navicular] then if the horse has another problem with the leg, after covering for that treatment, they may then just say, 'sorry, we wont cover the leg anymore' if it is seen as a liability to cost them more money than they should



It is usually a little more relaxed on smaller animals who dont [usually!] require such expensive treatment [if your horse wasnt insured and needed colic surgery, you could be looking at around £15,000 out of your own pocket!]
But i would still always always read through the doccuments before taking out the policy, to see what they will do - also beware, they can still try to do you over. I know someone who's insurance didnt pay out when her horse had a heartattack, because they claimed it was related to an issue that was claimed on one of the horses legs 3 years previously, despite a vet at the time said it wouldnt have been related what so ever!

poohzee

Thanks for taking the time to explain Spuddle, all I can say is I am glad I don't have a horse that needs Colic Surgery!!

poohzee

lifecatalyst wrote: »

& another pic taken in the snow before xmas :-)

How gorgeous is your doggy!!! So beautiful with the snow around too, thanks

poohzee

Katiehound wrote: »

Microchipping price is usually reduced if done at the same time as an operation (ie spaying)

Cheaper wormers & flea treatments from online store such as VetMedic- same products. Club together with friends for bulk orders on wormers. Buy on show days such as Crufts for best prices.

Make your own bedding from old polyester duvets, cut in half & hemmed. Use old settee cushions to keep out of draughts

Visit any dog training classes first before signing up. Ask locaql dog owners. Often the first class is free.

Save money on good quality dog food (for adult dogs) by buying food for 'working dogs'- check analysis first- usually the same or similar to regular food but without the VAT. I always feed raw fruit & veg too and avoid anything with colour and additives.

Have fun with your pooch

Katiehound

Thanks Katiehound, what do you recommend for puupys food wise?

bouncydog1

Hi Poohzee

Long term springer spaniel owner here, hence signature! A couple of things I would suggest you consider are as follows:-

Insurance policy that will cover your pup for life. Our springer is now nearly 16 and on daily medication for arthritis - monthly cost for tabs is c£50. Our insurance premium is c£52 per month (started around £20 and has steadily increased) and they have continually paid out for everything subject to policy excess. The cover is lifetime per condition and is with kennel club. Remember cheaper policies may have lower limits which may be moneysaving now, but not in a few years when you really need the cover.

Seriously consider whether spaying is the right decision or whether you should get a dog rather than a !!!!!. Labs do tend to carry excess weight as they get older and if they are spayed it can be difficult to keep under control.

On the issue of dog poo, dogs that are fed on dried complete foods tend to have poo that is easier to pick up and bag for disposal.

Puppies can work with small children but you as the owner have to put in the training and be prepared to spend the time and energy doing it.

I would also suggest that before you purchase a puppy you really do your research - if buying from a breeder ask for references from other people they have sold to - good owners are always happy to help you.. Always expect to see the puppy in the nest and see what the behaviour of the mum is like. Speak to other lab owners and ask their advice and always seek guidance from your local vet - they may know of a litter that is due and you may be able to see the pups from a couple of weeks after birth.

Also remember that dogs can live for a long time - think about the costs involved in kennelling them if you like to go on holiday - this can add a few hundred pounds to the cost of your holiday!

I hope that this does not sound all doom and gloom - I just get so upset seeing all the dogs that need rehoming, often because they have been aquired on impulse and then the owners find they are too much work, too expensive, damage possessions because they are not exercised enough for the type of breed they are etc.

If you go into this with your eyes wide open you will have a long lasting rewarding relationship with your dog who will really be part of your family - good luck!

BD1

poohzee

bouncyd!!! wrote: »

Hi Poohzee

Long term springer spaniel owner here, hence signature! A couple of things I would suggest you consider are as follows:-

Insurance policy that will cover your pup for life. Our springer is now nearly 16 and on daily medication for arthritis - monthly cost for tabs is c£50. Our insurance premium is c£52 per month (started around £20 and has steadily increased) and they have continually paid out for everything subject to policy excess. The cover is lifetime per condition and is with kennel club. Remember cheaper policies may have lower limits which may be moneysaving now, but not in a few years when you really need the cover.

Seriously consider whether spaying is the right decision or whether you should get a dog rather than a !!!!!. Labs do tend to carry excess weight as they get older and if they are spayed it can be difficult to keep under control.

On the issue of dog poo, dogs that are fed on dried complete foods tend to have poo that is easier to pick up and bag for disposal.

Puppies can work with small children but you as the owner have to put in the training and be prepared to spend the time and energy doing it.

I would also suggest that before you purchase a puppy you really do your research - if buying from a breeder ask for references from other people they have sold to - good owners are always happy to help you.. Always expect to see the puppy in the nest and see what the behaviour of the mum is like. Speak to other lab owners and ask their advice and always seek guidance from your local vet - they may know of a litter that is due and you may be able to see the pups from a couple of weeks after birth.

Also remember that dogs can live for a long time - think about the costs involved in kennelling them if you like to go on holiday - this can add a few hundred pounds to the cost of your holiday!

I hope that this does not sound all doom and gloom - I just get so upset seeing all the dogs that need rehoming, often because they have been aquired on impulse and then the owners find they are too much work, too expensive, damage possessions because they are not exercised enough for the type of breed they are etc.

If you go into this with your eyes wide open you will have a long lasting rewarding relationship with your dog who will really be part of your family - good luck!

BD1

Hi BouncyDog thanks for your input. I didn't know that about spaying causing weight gain.
I dont feel that the post is doom and gloom at all - more like reality. I asked for advice and that is what I have been given! I appreciate that the dog is for life which is why it will be one of the family not just an animal we feed and water.
Thanks for all your comments.

Fire_Fox

Spaying does reduce the metabolism slightly, but what causes weight gain is a simple equation is calories in (diet) versus calories out (exercise). A small imbalance in this over an extended period of time can lead to quite substantial weight gain, you really don't need to be obviously overfeeding your pet. Best thing is to have your dog weighed regularly and adjust portion sizes and exercise levels accordingly. :j What you feed can also make a difference, there is evidence that higher protein/ lower carb diets increase weight loss in overweight dogs.

poohzee

Thanks firefox - I am looking at Orijen if it is suitable for the pup and I think it is low carb.

foreign_correspondent

as firefox says, speying does not cause weight gain, overfeeding does, and your dogs calorific requirements do reduce very slightly after speying. My dog has been speyed and is no heavier now (two and a half years later) than she was before.

Speying alsp prevents pyometra, a fast developing and potentially fatal infection if the womb, which is relatively common in unspeyed b1tches, and reduces the risk of mammary cancers. It also prevents you from having the hassle and mess of seasons (my dogs have always been quite good at keeping themselves clean in season, a friends dog got it everywhere, and all furniture and carpets had to be covered - they decided to spey her after they experienced this once!)

Unwanted matings can also put the health of your b1tch at risk, and add to the numbers of dogs needing homes. Personally, I would always spey unless there were compelling reasons not to regarding that individual dog.

ETA - there is anecdotal evidence that a high protein diet can cause dogs to be hyper - others disagree - you may want to look into this though and make up your own mind! Puppies need the right amount of protein - too much and there are suggestions that growth can become too fast, leading to joint problems - I would read up on this, especially as labs are prone to joint problems - it is a complex area and it may be useful to join a lab forum to ask about breed specific issues