[tenar]

What has your dog cost you through it's lifetime?

I was talking with my mum earlier and she was trying to dissuade me from planning another dog when my old girl dies, as they are just getting so expensive to keep. We are both dog lovers and I have never imagined not having a dog. But the conversation has gotten me thinking, as it is definitely true that we have spent a fortune on this dog in recent years.

I estimate the following costs:

Purebred puppy (from a wonderful breeder): $850 (14 years ago, would be more now)
Setup equipment: $400 (I was a student, would be more now)
Dog school for about 6 months: $300. (Don't remover the cost, guessing here)
Desexing: 300

Food: prob an average of $10/week over 14 years. More in recent years as her needs got more complicated due to poor health.

Vet: $200/year for vaccinations and checkup
$600 in accident/illness care for first few years (minor stuff
$1500/ year for last several years. I'm guessing this, as it has been lots of smaller things due to an ongoing health problem, common in the breed, that has all sorts of knock on effects. I do know its been thousands and thousands, including major surgery and heaps of blood tests.

Transport overseas and back, quarantine. Prob a total cost of $4000. I lived overseas for 3 years, had to take her.

So, assuming I haven't forgotten anything major (I do all grooming, she has never been in a kennel except for quarantine), that comes to:

First year: $2550
Ages 1 to 5: $900/ year approx, 3600 for the 4 years
Ages 6 to 14: $2700/year approx, 17600 for 8 years

Total of around $27750 for her life so far (14 years).
This is for a small dog (mini schnauzer) with a common health problem (canine hyperlipidemia).

What do you think your dog costs you?

[Jellyblush]

My answer is who cares. It's more what NOT having her would cost me. It would cost me my best friend and lots of happiness.

Not trying to disrespect your question - the honest truth is I am scared to think about what it has cost in financial terms!

Food = $15 per week for 150 weeks = $2250
Treats = $10 per week for 150 weeks = $1500
Drugs = $120 months for 20 months = $2400
Adoption fees = $350
Obedience = $320
Training programs = 680
Behaviourist = $1200
Toys inc. expensive food dispensing ones = $300
Kennel = $180
Mats, Beds = $400
Leads, harnesses = $200
Collars = $120
Council tags = $120
Insurance = $59 x 150 weeks = $2006
New back doors x 4 = $2500
New interior doors x 2 = $800
Eaten weatherboards = $1200
New side gate = $680
Walker = 60 pw x 52 weeks = $3120
minding $80 pw x 2 weeks = $160
Misc eaten shoes, sunnies etc = $500 approx
Out of pocket vet = $800
Daycare = $1200
Boarding = $600
Damage to new property = $1000

$23,506 .... I've had her just over 3 years .....

Nah, still worth it

Must be a huge figure for those involved in breeding or training!

[Justaduck]

$190 for the dog
$100 for things to try and contain him in the yard
$500 for a containment fence after others failed
$70 x 3 for new wire each time we have had to move
$150 for a replacement collar for the fence
$350/yr for pet insurance
$800 for when he had a tick prior to insurance
$300 for when he has been sick and kept in the vet overnight
$10 every 6 weeks for a tick collar
$160/yr for wormers
$30ish a month for food
$10 a year for a replacement name tag - they keep falling off
$400 for desexing & microchipping
$45 a year for rego
$20/night for someone to look after him if we go away
$300 for when he jumped onto a chair and it fell back in and smashed a window
$200 for random things he chewed
$200 for toys I have bought him that he has then chewed through & the one that he couldn't he didn't use
$200 for a kennel
$40 for a dog bed
$10 a year on new mats/blankets etc as needed

& then there is the burden of very limited housing options. I bought him when I owned a house. Ex & I split & now I am renting. Very hard to find a house that allows pets...if you add the extra $50 a week for the only house that would take us with a dog...that adds up too

My parents have just spent $1200 on their dogs teeth. Also $300 on injections for arthritis

[tenar]

Jellyblush I'm not at all suggesting that it might not be worth it. Or that having a dog in the family is about the money at all. But I do think it's worth us considering what the lifetime cost of having a pet might be, as far as it can be predicted.

When it comes down to it, if having another dog in our family would cost us a year's worth of my income, we might, for example, decide that it would be better for the family, especially the kids, if I spent another year at home with them instead of having that dog. I think decisions like these are important.

The thing is that 15 years ago, when I decided to get a dog, there was no way of predicting the massive increase in the cost of vet bills that we have seen today. The vets can do a lot more things now, but it all comes at a price. There was also no way of predicting that I would return from overseas with a dog who had been insured when overseas but was now uninsurable in Australia, meaning that we have had to pay for 100% of vet costs since then, and they have been substantial.

That's why I'm asking. Not to be horrified, or even surprised, at people's decisions. But trying to get an idea as to whether our costs are normal, high, or even lower than average for a dog who lives to a ripe old age but has some health problems along the way.

(off to give doggy girl the antibiotics we got at the yet-another-$200-vet-visit on Sunday, plus the $93-for-a-3.5g-tube insanely expensive but very effective eye ointment. <sigh>.

[countrychic29]

On top of the initial outlay for our dogs (one breeder rescue other we purchased)
$1500 for pup ++++ all puppy paraphernalia

I dont like to add up all costs but DH and I worked out it probably costs us around $200-$250 per month for 2 dogs (german shepherds so lots of food) and one cat.
This is averaging out any vet bills, food, new beds, toys, bones.
Our cat alone has cost us $1000 in vet bills in last 3 months (something different everytime)

Oh and did I add the selling house and moving to a property so they could run around and not bother neighbors with their barking ... probably at a cost $150K++ alone.
And yes they move was for us as well, but was brought forward by about 4 years to suit our dogs

[PB2]

The life time cost of a pet is spread out, and does not come all at once. So as long as you can afford the cost at the time - who cares! You could apply the same calculations to the daily cup of coffee at the coffee shop on workdays ( a while ago someone figured that out for a 20 year period and it was huge!), or children or your regular hobby.

if you can afford it now the love and joy cannot be calculated!

[MrsLexiK]

$200 for vaccines! Ours charge $94.10

In the last two months:
$100 vet bill for consult and meds for rash
$94.10 vet bill for vacines
$175 - Kennel stay
$175 - kennel stay
$80 - Vet bill for kennel cough
$21.90 - for antibotics
$195 - for replacement barking collar

$30 - christmas present
$10 a week for treats ($80ish in 2 months)
$15 a week for food ($120ish in 2 months)

So around $1070 for the last 2 months, and he wonders why mum is the one giving him his hair cut and not the groomer.

However these are no where near what a lot of people pay so I am very happy. I do think people need to loook beyond it costing $7 a week in food, but I suppose it is like children there many people who don't think ahead to how expensive it will likely get.

[FiveAus]

A lot of the costs of a pet can be vastly reduced with a bit of creativity.

Upfront purchase cost......young adult pedigree dogs are often much, much cheaper than puppies and can often be purchased for the cost of desexing.
Dogzonline mature dog listings is a good source for these.

Bedding and toys.....op shops and garage sales. Kennels and fencing materials don't need to be new,garage sales and ads in local papers are good places to start.

Fresh meat can be bought in bulk and frozen, kibble is cheaper in larger sized bags. The better quality kibble is often more economical because you feed so little of it.

Flea and worming products can be bought cheaper online than at the vets or pet shop. Buy larger portions and split them up for smaller dogs.

Desexing costs vary greatly from vet to vet, shop around. I've recently been quoted up to $200 difference for desexing a 25 kg female dog.

Food bowls can be bought cheaply from discount stores, or ext to nothing from op shops.

Buy cheap collars and leads for puppies and a good leather set for an adult. It will last the life of the dog.

Access community obedience clubs, they are heaps cheaper than private trainers and lots of fun.

This post has been edited by FiveAus: 05/02/2013, 08:19 AM

[la di dah]

Can I ask what set-up equipment is?

My last dog:

Cost of dog: Free, already desexed and vaxed.
Cost of leash, collar: $20.00 USD.
Food: Less than 10.00 a week.
Porridge to bathe her in for her grotty skin: $10.00 a year?
Frontline: $40.00 quarterly.
Fishoil supplement: $10.00 quarterly? Just regular human-grade fishoil tablets from the drugstore.
No major vet expenses, she was adult when we got her and had cost her previous owners considerably in dental bills but was reasonably healthy and settled for us.
Let's say 25 bucks a year in assorted toys and treats? If that.

Didn't want anything except to be allowed to follow people from room to room and to sleep on squishy furniture. I think half the toys and things were hand-me-downs from the previous dog. Probably saved me at least 200 dollars in gym membership though because for the first couple years we had her she needed lots and lots of walking.

We didn't leave her in the yard so she had no containment costs, and we never kenneled her or anything. Emotional costs and not being able to leave her places (seperation anxiety) etc. were far more "feel the pinch" than financial costs. Despite hardly barking at all, she also can scream exactly like a panicky toddler.

We also missed the cute puppy year and the first 7 years after that.

[MrsLexiK]

Can I ask what set-up equipment is?

I have no idea either, I think I spent $90 at Kmart grabbing some blankets, 2 beds, toys, food bowel, water bowel, new collar etc. I then a few weeks later got a kennel which the dog has used NEVER! so gave it to someone. Perhaps it is the above stuff?