Dog Maintenance Costs

[mike2766]

I've been involved in some interesting conversations this week regarding the pro's and con's of purchasing and starting a puppy verses purchasing a started or finished dog. Looking just at the financial aspects of the question one must consider the cost of the pup, the cost of feed,vet, facility/utilities, etc. and of course putting a fair value on training.

My question is how many of you serious dog folks have calculated your annual dog ownership costs, ie. feed, vet, facility/utilities, etc.? Just curious what you come up with for your operation and how it might vary across the country.

All input appreciated.

Mike

[mcbosco]

Are you asking about the economics of owning one dog or a commercial or hobby kennel?

[mike2766]

Either way, I'm interested in what one dog costs you to maintain for a year.

[mcbosco]

Hmmm,

Care Items:

$400 for food, or roughly $4.25 per lb of body weight
$40 for fleas, ticks, heartworms. That is one 3 vial pack of Frontline and one tube of Ivermectin gel (this i just started recently, saves at least $75 a year, assuming 12 month Heartguard)
$165 for normal Vet, that would include annual hearworm test and check-up. I haven't vaccinated him since the round ending at age 1. I also pro-rated rabies in that. So far no other Vet bills over the past 3 years of bliss.
$250 for boarding, 10 days @ $25.

So direct-care expenses are $850 roughly.

As for other stuff, like collars, beds, brushes, nail clippers, etc. I tend to spend more upfront for something that is high quality or can be returned. I have one Kuranda bed that is 13 years old, as an example. I would also never buy and OTC product like ear or eye cleaner that I can make myself. Items like this are pretty substantial hidden costs. I take the same approach with other related supplies like boots, jackets, etc. I like to buy things once and milk it. "Value" to me is more important than cost.

[mike2766]

mcbosco,

Thanks for the response. I'm sure the numbers vary for every owner/kennel, but I find it interesting to see what others are doing.

My wife is a vet tech here in our local clinic so I get all of my vet work at cost. Vet work really varies across the country. I think vet and feed are fairly easy numbers to get a handle on but the facilities and other misc. costs are a little more tricky.

Other opinions?

Mike

[jlp8cornell]

Other opinions?

Basic care:
$525 for food
$140 Dasuquin joint supp
$45 for annual vet exam.
$25 I do my own vacs except rabies. Get DHLPP free but buy Lymes and Lepto
$30 for 8 months of Iverhart. I get this at cost. (I go longer then normal because it is cheaper then blood test)
T= $765

I am not adding in the treats, raw bones, dog show entries/gas, obedience private and group lessons, private bird training lesson, NAVHDA membership fees, and items that were bought once like e collar, coats, crates, etc.
Now that total would be a whole other story!
Jen

[ezzy333]

Food $150 per year
Vets $25 1 trip every three years
Ivomec$ $5 small bottle of 1%
Rawhide$30 bones to chew on
Collars, Combs, Brushes, and E-collar $25
Misc. $25

Total $260 Per year.

[mike2766]

ezzy,

Just curious, what are you feeding that you can get by for 41 cents a day? Do you do annual vaccination boosters?

Thanks
Mike

[ezzy333]

Feeding Diamonds Hi Energy Right now but used the Premium for a couple of years. I only feed a cup or a little over to two of the dogs and about two and a quarter to the other one I am guessing. A bag lasts for about a month for the three of them. I have never done boosters as a regular practice and I use Ivomec for heart worm and don't do annual checks for those either since I can use the Ivomec the year round. Also have never had a worm problem since I started using it so have had practically no expense there. I did have to treat for fleas this year for the first time in many years. Think my son's dog had them that we kept for him for a few weeks. Unless some emergency comes up the only trip I make to the vets is to get the rabies shots every three years and I do make one trip with new puppies when they are 5 or 6 weeks old. The rest of the shots or procedures I do myself. The one dog that got hit by a car made a few trips at that time but the 4 year old has been twice I think and the 2 year old has been twice counting his puppy visit. All three had to get their rabies this year so we made the trip for the first time in a couple of years.

Ezzy

[Brittguy]

This makes buying a finished dog sound pretty cheap, because hopefully you know what you are buying. Depending on what your requirements are , you could go through a couple of puppies and waste 3 or 4 years looking.It is also sometimes hard to let a pup go after the family has become attached. That is how small kennels start

[mike2766]

brittguy,

I think you hit the nail on the head. I sell started and finished dogs and I believe anyone that does their homework (and the math) will see that dogs are an investment and are not without expense. A completely finished 3-4 year old dog at $4000 that does everything the average owner/hunter could want and more is really quite a bargin. Couple that with the fact that many prospective owners lack the ability to ever finish a dog properly and it makes the older dog even more appealing.

Thanks to all for the input.

Mike.

[ESetterLove]

brittguy,

I think you hit the nail on the head. I sell started and finished dogs and I believe anyone that does their homework (and the math) will see that dogs are an investment and are not without expense. A completely finished 3-4 year old dog at $4000 that does everything the average owner/hunter could want and more is really quite a bargin. Couple that with the fact that many prospective owners lack the ability to ever finish a dog properly and it makes the older dog even more appealing.

Thanks to all for the input.

Mike.

dang! who knew! That's a Great Price for an "out of the Box" Gun dog!

The fact that I have paid over $5000 and still don't have "your type of dog" is a telling clue. My dog's are not some "investment" But I don't intend to field trial like you suggest. I am just the "average ownr/hunter"

A dog that that gives you goosebumps, takes your breath away when you watch it work, cuddles with you at night but is a machine in the field, has a point that makes your heart soar.......= Priceless!

Money should be no object when you walk the walk with a Great Gun Dog!

[Mountaineer]

....My question is how many of you serious dog folks have calculated your annual dog ownership costs, ie. feed, vet, facility/utilities, etc.? Just curious what you come up with for your operation and how it might vary across the country.
All input appreciated.

Never have done so.....I've had dogs arrive as pups, 4 year-olds and 8 year-olds.
"Serious", of course, could just as easily be in a one-dog kennel but I expect you mostly mean the question to those who make, or want to make, or think they make, a business of their pleasure.
Kinda like figuring out what I paid per pound for that first wild turkey...I don't really want to know or, more exactly, I don't have to know because the return has been worth every cent of the initial investment and maintainence.
Everyone wants to save a shekel here and there but bean-counting a birddog is not for me.