How much do dogs cost?

Jesswithwings

Hope you guys can help me. We really want to get a dog - preferably a puppy so we can train it properly from day 1 (whilst I like the idea of adoption, I have very young children and I want to know exactly the upbringing the dog has had before I can bring it into my home). One or other of us is at home all day, so the dog will have plenty of company all the time. Before we commit to getting one we want to be absolutely sure of the costs involved. We would like to get a labrador, preferably KC reg (probably a male so we can stud him out in the future with our friend's !!!!!). Baring in mind the costs of puppy classes, insurance, food, vacinnes, worming and flea stuff, bedding etc how much would we need to budget for? We won't be doing this for several months, its not a decision we want to jump into.

Thanks in advance for your help

Mupette

are you planning to make money from him being a stud,
can you aford the yearly boosters, the worming, the flea treatment, the insurance.

Person_one

Why on earth do you want to breed? Do you have any idea how many labradors are in rescue?

Croatoan

I'll let others more qualified than I comment in more detail, but clearly if you have no idea what a dog costs the last thing you should be doing is studding him out to anyone, let alone your mates.

kjmtidea

They cost a flipping fortune! I only have the one but when you add up food, flea treatment, worming treatment, vaccinations, groomers, pet sitters, insurance or vet tips, not to mention all the toys that you just can't resist every time you pop into the pet shop .

All of these costs will vary depending on what dog you get and what area you are in. Your best bet would be to look at some dog insurance websites, phone around a few vets and see what their costs are and even go to your local pet shop.

Personally I would never stud my dog out (wouldn't get very far because he's neutered :rotfl:) there are more than enough dogs in rescues for everyone .

pinkladyof66

We have a labrador and apart from the intitial costs of a puppy our dog costs us very little - we now pay £13 per month insurance and also his food is about £5 per week as we buy in bulk. Our dog has been ill a few times but is realitively ok most of the time. So we just have food and insurance as running costs. However we spend a huge amount of our time walking him. Our dog needs regular exercise have you thought through who and when you will do the walks as alot of our time is spent walking and caring for our dog.

Caroline_a

You want to 'stud him out'... so you know all about genetic lines, health checks that need to be done, the affects of keeping an entire dog on the dog's health, and what stud work would do to a family pet? Yet you have no idea of the costs?? Have you ever owned a dog before - do you know what 'training from day 1' entails?

Ok I'll bite. Cost to buy a decent health-checked purebred dog - around £500 - £800, vaccinations, around £50 annually (to include kennel cough), worming and de-fleaing, probably at least a similar amount, food for a labrador sized dog around £8 a week (although there are cheaper options), Insurance about £15 a month - but you will have an excess so for any illness based visit to the vet, assume £65, puppy classes around £75 for 6 weeks for the first ones, equipment, such as leads, collars, beds, bowls, toys... probably around £50 to start with, but if you have a chewer you will have to look at replacement, crate around £50 if you choose to crate.

Then there's wear and tear to the house while you are housetraining and the pup learns not to chew.

Have I missed anything out, guys?

kjmtidea

Caroline_a wrote: »

You want to 'stud him out'... so you know all about genetic lines, health checks that need to be done, the affects of keeping an entire dog on the dog's health, and what stud work would do to a family pet? Yet you have no idea of the costs?? Have you ever owned a dog before - do you know what 'training from day 1' entails?

Ok I'll bite. Cost to buy a decent health-checked purebred dog - around £500 - £800, vaccinations, around £50 annually (to include kennel cough), worming and de-fleaing, probably at least a similar amount, food for a labrador sized dog around £8 a week (although there are cheaper options), Insurance about £15 a month - but you will have an excess so for any illness based visit to the vet, assume £65, puppy classes around £75 for 6 weeks for the first ones, equipment, such as leads, collars, beds, bowls, toys... probably around £50 to start with, but if you have a chewer you will have to look at replacement, crate around £50 if you choose to crate.

Then there's wear and tear to the house while you are housetraining and the pup learns not to chew.

Have I missed anything out, guys?

Therapy to recover from having a puppy? :rotfl:

blue_monkey_2

My puppy was very ill last year - we had to pay out £800 and wait 2 months for the insurance to pay us back. do you have that kind of money? If you do choose to get the vet to claim and have the money, most charge £25 or a % of the cash from you for that.

Also have to think that maybe you'll end a 'duff dog' that cannot be studded - we bought a pedigree that ended up having an emergency spay - and then what will you do with him if he is not going to make you any money.

I have to add that our puppy has chewed up loads of things, plus we have bought stair gates to put up so the pup cannot get into the bedrooms - she wee'd on the duvet. People always think and their dog will no do any of these things.

Training is ongoing, not just a 6 weeks course, in the first year you are looking at around £450 for puppy training.

We got a car specifically for our muddy dogs too Does that count as a cost?

blue_monkey_2

kjmtidea wrote: »

Therapy to recover from having a puppy? :rotfl:

I know, tell me about it.

I really do not think I would get a puppy if I had toddlers, they knock kids over when they bound around and eat their stuff if it gets left on the floor - it is a never ending job with foot prints if you do not want your little ones putting dirty things in their mouths.

And then you have to think about getting the kids around on a walk too. It is impossible with mine and not something I gave any thought too if I am honest. I am waiting for my hubby to come in from work and then the dogs are going round the village for a walk as the kids will not go out for a walk in the rain.

Then you might get one that howls all night or when you are out.

We did forget the cost of kennels when away, this range from £15 to £20 a night.

Croatoan

Ask here for expert views.
http://www.champdogsforum.co.uk/
However be warned that their views on backyard breeders or those who just want to make a few quid are unlikely to be as restrained as on here.