Costs

[Willo]

Well Operation Get GSD is slowly swinging into action, I'm waiting to hear back from a job that will see me working 5 minutes away from home, four days a week. This will obviously mean a drop in pay but a massive improvement in my work life balance. Even with the drop in pay I will still be able to afford to save money and so should still be able to keep a GSD in the life of luxury that they should expect from me. The difference in pay just means I won't be getting the money in my hand to pay out again in petrol that I'm currently doing (I spend a minimum £250 in petrol over a month in my current job!).

But that's not stopping me from worrying that I may be underestimating costs and the last thing I want to do is commit to a dog if I can't actually afford to keep it as it should be kept!

So, what's your monthly costs for your dog and how old are they (so I get an idea of changes as the dog gets older). This is what I'm estimating per month;

Food (I'm unsure whether to feed raw or dry) £40
Insurance £30
Training £30
Vet (inoculations not covered by ins, and worming/flea treatment) £20

I intend to set aside any money not spent into a doggy bank account so that it's there if I should need it. (I also have my own savings account too!)

How much has it cost you for a spay/neuter - I have no intentions on breeding so this is something that will need to be done too.

Is there any other monthly costs I've not thought of (toys and treats are a given - I'll account for that in my grocery shopping!) that I need to account for?

So many questions! I'm not neurotic honest! Just want to make sure I do my best by any dog I get!

Thank you in advance!

[zetstaff]

Only other thing I can think of is some insurers insist on a contribution to vets fees as well as the premium + any excess. And there may also of course be things not covered by the policy.

But none of us can foresee how much these may be.

Otherwise you seem to have it pretty much covered I'd say.

Oh, taking bubba on hol or kenneling etc can also be an expense

Good luck x

[Willo]

Thanks for that - I'll be starting off with savings that are already in the dogs bank account which should cover the first whatever the insurance company state, in fact there should be enough in there to pay for an emergency vet visit/operation without having to even think of the insurance company until after it's done (i.e. I won't be hanging around waiting for an insurance company to decide whether or not they're going to cover me, I'll claim the money back retrospectively).

Holidays are also covered - I dog sit for friends and family when they go on their hols so they have said they will do the same for me :-)

[Beki]

sounds like you have it all covered ...................

Apart from the treat fund haha!!!!! and the toys n goodies hehe!!

If only all owners where this wise and thoughtful there may be less in rescue!!

x x x x

Willo, you could halve the food costs if you feed raw (providing you have a good local supplier). I feed 2 GSDs on just under £10 per week.

Don't forget to factor in the extra electricity per month - hoovering!

[Zak]

We probably do around £100 a month.

£60 Food.
£26 insurrance
£20 treats

thats not including always getting him tins of Tuna cus he wont eat dry on it's own, a never ending supply of kitchen towels although he is getting alot better at going for his business outside now n the odd new toy here and there.

[Willo]

Originally Posted by Anni

Willo, you could halve the food costs if you feed raw (providing you have a good local supplier). I feed 2 GSDs on just under £10 per week.

Don't forget to factor in the extra electricity per month - hoovering!

Ah ha! I'd forgotten extra hoovering costs! Best add a new hoover to the list too!

Thanks everyone, it's good to know i'm not a million miles out with costs :-)

[zetstaff]

Originally Posted by Willo

Ah ha! I'd forgotten extra hoovering costs! Best add a new hoover to the list too!

Thanks everyone, it's good to know i'm not a million miles out with costs :-)

There's a thread on here somewhere about the best hoovers

[jesterjenn]

For my two (both about 35kg, one is 16 months, one is just over 5 years), my food bill is £23 for two months.

Insurance is £34 for the both of them per month.

Toys - they don't really get many as I don't let them destroy theirs, so they last for AGES.

I don't worm unless needed either.

Treats don't cost anything as we get free chicken wing tips and they don't really get any others (They don't get a lot of treats, and the stuff they do get is homemade other than the wing tips, so come out of the people food bill).

I don't take my two training at the moment, but if I did, it would cost about £150 per year per dog.

[Tedsmum]

The initial start up costs of your dog are the worst, new bed, collars and leads, bowls, toys, crates etc.
The on going costs are not too bad. I do not spend £30 a month on training - and I do a lot of training. About £10 - £20 would be what I spend.

Food is extremely variable depending on what you feed.

Will you pay for professional grooming? If so then that must be factored in too.

Kenneling is another considertion. Is it going to be necessary to kennel your dog if you go away?

If you are to start up a doggy savings fund, then put away as much as you possibly can. Things always cost a lot more than you imagine.