March 31st 2006 - How much does your dog cost?

Is this for sport dogs or for working dogs owned by their departments? I'm sure I spend less of my own money than those that own their own dogs. Are you asking how the the departments spend or what we spend out of our own pockets?

ex: my department spends approx $1,000 on food a year, per dog. I usualy buy my own suppliments, treats, toys and some equipment. I usually pay for my own certifications too. They used to reimburse for certs but lately they haven't.

I think I pay about 1200 per jr per dog on worm tablets, jabs, new crates, food(although I now have a deal with the wholesaler), toys, balls I throw by accident in the canal(told you women cant throw), flea meds, sheep oil/fish oil suppliment, treats, leashes etc etc and that times 6 but I love em all

Interesting point, if you know how much your department is spending on your dog, i would say add that amount to the amount you spend personally. I'm more focusing on the total cost of how much a dog costs, rather than what people personally spend or who pays what. So for example if your dept spends $1000/year on your dog and you spend $500, hit the $1500 button

I don't even want to figure it out....could be alarming :lol:

Oops......I clicked $900-1100 without reading what was included. WRONG! I left out claw-clipping trips for one (monthly), Heartguard, flea stuff......supplements........

It's WAY more that I said. Probably close to $1500 if I take an average of the two.

I'm with Susan.....if I sat down & figured out how much it cost to have 2 GSD working dogs I'd probably have a stroke. So I think that I will pass on this weeks poll question since it could be detromental to my health

Considering food, gas for dog stuff travel, tugs, normal vet trips, just did hip/elbow xrays, the obligatory chicken wing stop after Thursday night training, Chinese restraunt after the Saturday training..........Dern........I better not try and figure this out. If my wife finds it out, I may never get to leave the house again. :wink:

Bob Scott said:

Considering food, gas for dog stuff travel, tugs, normal vet trips, just did hip/elbow xrays, the obligatory chicken wing stop after Thursday night training, Chinese restraunt after the Saturday training..........Dern........I better not try and figure this out. If my wife finds it out, I may never get to leave the house again. :wink:

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Or maybe never get back in! LOL!

I never looked at it from a womans point of view! Now I'm REALLY scared! :lol: :lol: :wink:

I will only vote for this if my wife is unable to see what I vote.

AMEN!

It's kind of scary when I stop and think about it. The two young ones will do just fine at a state school.

Woody Taylor said:

It's kind of scary when I stop and think about it. The two young ones will do just fine at a state school.

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Ah-hahahahahahahahaha!!!

Let's see: I spend a lot for a dog not bred by me if it is one year or older, vet fees, OFA and SV fees, raw and high quality kibble diet, treats treats and more treats, marrow bones, training costs with three clubs, gas, dog toys, top of the line equipment, my training field, a new kennel going up, more equipment, dues to USA, breeding fees for studs for my own bitch if not my studs, oh when does it end. Never. But I am single, can do whatever crazy thing I please, and the dogs are my first joy. Parrots right up there too but that is a whole other story and a black sink hole of money and time. I have three intact males in the sport one a 3 and one a BH and ready for 1, a very precocious 12 mo old, two intact retired males, two intact bitches, and two old spayed bitches one worth her wt in gold, Barb 8-[

I don't remember what I said it was before, but I'm damn skippy straight sure it's a hell of a lot more now than it was then what with the recent sky rocketing prices in like everything........grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Barbara V Eichman said:

... But I am single, can do whatever crazy thing I please, and the dogs are my first joy..... [

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Me too. Oh, wait..... after my two kids. :lol:

I work at my dogs vet hospital but still with my discount I spend Tons in vet bills... normal check ups and general flea/tick and other stuff. I also spend a TON on food!
So in the 7 months I have had my puppy he has probably cost me around 4,000.00 easy 8-[

I started adding in "hidden" costs. :yikes: My little dog went to "visit" the neighbors today. That cost about $130 in gas, printing posters, cell phone use and missed work.

I put in 500 - 700. That might be a bit high, since I'm getting used to my new budget as a single mom. However, back when I did what I wanted and didn't keep track, it was WAY over 2,600 per year.

I'm too scared to add it up. But I have heard people argue endlessly over the purchase price of a pup and I really can't understand that. The purchase price, whether $500 or $5000 is a drop in the bucket over the dog's lifetime expenses of owning, feeding, vet bills, club/training fees and trialing and/or showing the dog!!