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Cost of keeping a dog, food etc?
CraigJ - 3/1/08 at 07:17 PM

Me and are lass are thinking of getting an English springer spaniel soon and i was wondering how much dog food costs nowadays.

My parents had spaniels when i was a kid so i know what to expect of the breed but i have no idea how much they will cost per month/food wise.

Any advice will be great.


twybrow - 3/1/08 at 07:22 PM

Why is it Spaniels always smell of dog? That means your house and you will also smell of dog...!


tjoh84 - 3/1/08 at 07:23 PM

i got a lab on science plan £44 for sack lasts about 6weeks plust 12 a month insurance and vet bill cost me 350 last month for xrays of hip as walk odd to find out she has hip displacment so 3 every 3 month 50 for vits to help


theconrodkid - 3/1/08 at 07:24 PM

my hound,s food is about £1 a day plus treats,corse there could be vets bills,someone/somewhere to look after him when you go away,the furniture he will wreck if he,s a pup....so it could be a fair amount.
on the other hand they are called "mans best friend" for a very good reason and i wouldn't be without mine


David Jenkins - 3/1/08 at 07:27 PM

We had a general-purpose mutt until last year, probably about the same size as a springer.

He was a fussy eater so we fed him on Eukanuba, which was recommended by the vet (bit like the Hills Science Diet stuff, but our dog wouldn't eat that). Fairly expensive to buy the bag, but portions can be quite small so a bag goes a long way. It's cleaner than canned food, much cheaper, and he lived until he was over 15 so it can't have been far wrong! I think it worked out to around 25 - 30 pence per day. Oh - and the poo is less offensive too...

The really BIG expense comes when you take it to the vet - we're talking private medicine here! Annual inspection and injections will cost between £25 and £50, ailments always seemed to cost us over £25 once the medicine was included, and so on. If you are unfortunate enough to have a dog with a chronic problem - as quite a few pedigree dogs do - then be prepared for big bills! Pet medical insurance is a blessing, although there is quite a substantial excess for each claim.

HTH
David

[Edited on 3/1/08 by David Jenkins]


peterparsons - 3/1/08 at 07:29 PM

I've two Labs, The 15kg bag of food lasts 3 weeks and costs £12
Make - wait for it - SKINNERS !
its a working dog food so it's VAT free...


CraigJ - 3/1/08 at 07:30 PM

quote:
Originally posted by twybrow
Why is it Spaniels always smell of dog? That means your house and you will also smell of dog...!


I dont remember any of the spaniels we had smelling lol, nothing a good bath wont sort. plus were getting a pup and it will be kept clean, Cream carpets in every room

im very house proud for a bloke lol.

I'm aware of vet bills that are inevitable in the future, the dog will be insured, already had quotes for less than £10 a month.


mark chandler - 3/1/08 at 07:58 PM

Buy from a farmers shop, Scats etc and its VAT free, I get Chuddlies original, £10 per sack, last 3- 4 weeks on a young retriever and Cocker.

The real cost is Vets, but it does keep you fit. IMHO the best springers come from Welsh farms.


andybod - 3/1/08 at 08:05 PM

and dont forget spangles are all nuts and can walk/run for hours without even breaking into the slightest pant dont think they mature till there about ready to die on a posotive note we have an american cocker spangle and he's great never had any problems with him really good in the house i would reccomend using a cage to tain/housebreak a dog we started with one and our dog was clean in the house really quick and we havn't had any problems with him chewing things around the house we stopped usinghis cage at about 10-12 months he now has run of the house as for costs he is a fussy eater he wont eat dry food and we have to regularly change his tinned food with treats we spend under a tenner a wek hope this helps


hillbillyracer - 3/1/08 at 08:06 PM

Whenever there's discussion about how much our little dog costs (an SAS Jack Russell) there's always the comment that smiles are worth £1.
So add up how many times they make you smile in a day & subtract it from how much they cost you per day.
We owe the little bugger thousands now!


cossiebri - 3/1/08 at 08:07 PM

Don't know it's the wifes dog!!
got her a beagle puppy for xmas(well for nov) reckons about £10 a week on food/treats etc, vet bills and other 'needs' around £200 so far (lead/bed/toys coat etc)


onzarob - 3/1/08 at 08:08 PM

Our lab Puppy, now 6 months old and 22kg. She eats a 15kg bag in 6 weeks cost around £40ish. Pet Insurance is £150, 50 excess and £7500 of cover

But don't forget worming tablet £8 every few months, Injections about 50 a year.

Walking in the woods, when its raining...priceless

[Edited on 3-1-2008 by onzarob]


onzarob - 3/1/08 at 08:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by andybod
and dont forget spangles are all nuts and can walk/run for hours without even breaking into the slightest pant dont think they mature till there about ready to die


Quote from the wife 'Labradors are Born half trained, Springers Die have trained!!'


coozer - 3/1/08 at 08:37 PM

We have a small terrier and we feed him with Tescos Premium Complete dry stuff. Once you open the bag its the same stuff as Bakers for half as much.
£4/3kg that lasts about 4 weeks. Mind he does get a Sunday dinner the same as us!
he also eats all the left over stuff and despite having a bit in mange in the past hasn't cost us too much over the last seven years. However he has brought a smile and made us laugh loads, especially when he burps!






[Edited on 3/1/08 by coozer]


TGR-ECOSSE - 3/1/08 at 08:52 PM

Locost option


JUD - 3/1/08 at 09:06 PM

This is our mutt...

Description
Description


Much bigger now though, and enjoying chewing stuff.

Food is the least of your worries on expenses. The most frequent recurring expense we have are; shoes, pot plants in the garden, underwear(!), socks. Not attacked anything expensive yet and he has just past one year old.

As said before, vets are very expensive. Insurance is OK, but there are always the small things that need to be paid for that don't qualify; working, dietary issues, minor injuries (fights, barbed wire etc).

However the single biggest expense we will have is changing one of the cars for a "dog friendly" hatch or estate. We currently lug him in the back with the kids (in a dog seatbelt harness thing), but that is less than ideal!!


This is a more recent shot - now weighs in at 32kgs.

Description
Description


For anybody interested he is a Labradoodle - don't ask, just think of Top Gear Dog and you will get the general idea.

As for the original post - go for it, we wouldn't be without him, regardless of how many pairs of the wifes grundies he has munched!

Cheers

Martin


cidersurfer - 3/1/08 at 09:22 PM

£8 per month for Supagreyhound, but usually has a tin of something to mix in with the dry food, so another couple of quid per week, plus treats, I reckon about £1 per day is right. Oh and she has her own bank account, we stick a DD into it and she's got £190 at the mo for the vet! My dog against your kit anyday, b#gger me they're quick! Oh, and she's 28kg...

Gypsy
Gypsy


[Edited on 3/1/08 by cidersurfer]

[Edited on 3/1/08 by cidersurfer]


richard thomas - 3/1/08 at 09:27 PM

Not wanting to sound as if i am giving 'suck eggs' advice 'cos i read that you've been involved with them before, but...

Having had a springer previously I would never consider another unless i was either:

A - Retired

B - Permanently unemployed

C - A Farmer

D - Looking to become either A, B or C.

Bloody hell they (springers) are a massive commitment! Mine was a good one from a working background, and well trained but I just struggled to give it the work it needed. My mate still keeps them, does a lot of shooting etc, and he's out ALL weekend with them. AND all weeknights. And they need it. I always swore that springers shouldn't be allowed to be sold as 'household' pets, if they don't get the work they go insane - literally!! We now have a 'soft' spaniard - a king charles - and he's bad enough!!

Mind you, if you can give them the commitment, they are FANTASTIC dogs - I just give everyone I come across looking at one the above advice, please don't be offended, my intentions are genuine.

Anyway, back to the point - a 6kg bag of 'Bakers complete' lasts about 3 weeks and costs a tenner. It's a dry food, and keeps well - no smell neither. Only thing is i find it made it bulkier than when it was on tinned meat....

All the best,

Rich


Thinking about it - 3/1/08 at 09:27 PM

A 3 1/2 year old retired racing greyhound was our choice.
Working dog food mix @£10 - £15 15kg 22% protein
Daily intake:
Breakfast
Two rounds of peanut butter on toast.
Main meal
500g mix usually topped with a treat of chicken, pilchards or pasta.
Biscuits as treats and reward.

Cost about £100 to kit him out.
Came with six weeks pet plan but costs about £12 month. Don't forget the £60 excess, flea and worming treatments.

He is great, no trouble and loads of pleasure is had from him.

0-40mph in 3 seconds (6 strides). Locost performance!!

[Edited on 3/1/08 by Thinking about it]


David Jenkins - 3/1/08 at 09:44 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Thinking about it
Daily intake:
Breakfast
Two rounds of peanut butter on toast.
Main meal
500kg mix usually topped with a treat of chicken, pilchards or pasta.



500kg a day - he's a big eater!


Thinking about it - 3/1/08 at 09:50 PM

David, I have corrected it 500g it is. Thanks.


David Jenkins - 3/1/08 at 09:53 PM

You're welcome!

BTW: I've heard that retired greyhounds make good pets - isn't there some charity somewhere that 'de-tunes' them so they're not too hyper around the home?


Thinking about it - 3/1/08 at 10:03 PM

David.

The person that de tunes it is the new owner. Me. you do get lots of guidance. as good as gold in three weeks.

He came through the Retired Greyhound Trust, there is one affiliated to most race tracks. In our case www.rgtperrybarr.co.uk

As a pet he is great with a lovely temperament. they don't need loads of walking after all they are sprinters. But will go all day at a steady pace. Well recommended.


cidersurfer - 3/1/08 at 10:09 PM

David
There are a growing number of greyhound charities in the UK. I've taken the liberty of putting a few links below;
http://www.greyhoundrescue.co.uk/
http://www.retiredgreyhounds.co.uk/

Approximately 10,000 greyhounds retire from racing each year, typically between three and four years of age. Many never make the grade or retire at a much younger age as a result of minor injury. A great many owners will adopt greyhounds into their homes or arrange for them to live out their retirement at a kennel. You can usually find a few at your local rescue centre and they'll know the local 'suppliers' anyhow. Ours is 4 years old, we've had her just over a year and in that time, with encouragment, her prey instinct is now such that we can let her off the lead on the beach and in the woods. She has no road sense at all however!


onzarob - 3/1/08 at 10:42 PM

quote:
Originally posted by JUD

However the single biggest expense we will have is changing one of the cars for a "dog friendly" hatch or estate.


I got the same issue to be sorted

oh and a Pic

The Dog
The Dog


cidersurfer - 3/1/08 at 10:47 PM

Awwwwwwwwwwww! He'll be worth it...


Bitten hero - 3/1/08 at 11:42 PM

Hi i got three dogs-1 jack rascal!1 mad english springer-mad- and a _------------st bernard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BIG-16.5 STONES OF DRIBBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! food cost, 30kg breaders dog food(cheap same as others) three weeks £16.00.but bernard has about 50 pigs ears as well £15.00
one springer should not break the bank.
go for it they are worth more than the cost just for the smile!!!! also avoid tinned food as the flys like it more than the dogs


MikeRJ - 3/1/08 at 11:58 PM

quote:
Originally posted by CraigJ
quote:
Originally posted by twybrow
Why is it Spaniels always smell of dog? That means your house and you will also smell of dog...!
Cream carpets in every room

im very house proud for a bloke lol.


You don't want a dog, and especialy not a springer then. They are grade A nut cases which can eat furniture in the time it takes to go and make a cup of coffee!

We have a ~12 year old mutt, and to be honest I can hardly wait for the day he expires. Horrible thing to say I know as I normally love animals (and had 2 cats and a beautiful English Collie before), but he is just a thoroughly unloveable dog, which unfortunately I inherited with the Mrs (she doesn't like him much either, but he's an ex-scouse street dog which might explain things!).


martyn_16v - 4/1/08 at 12:11 AM

quote:
Originally posted by cidersurfer
Gypsy
Gypsy




I went to a greyhound trainers place a few years ago, one of the ones that looks after all of the dogs for Wimbledon. We went in at 'nap time', and every single dog (a couple of dozen) was fast asleep, legs sticking up in the air. It was one of the oddest things I think I've ever seen

As has been mentioned, don't under-estimate quite how much effort an active breed can take. We've got a Jack Russell, they're only a kind of middle of the road breed, but you know when you haven't worn him out enough. Usually he'll jump up on you and get right in your face, giving it the old 'I want to go out, shall we go out, have you been out? Let's go out, can we go out, I've got an idea, fancy going out?' routine. Plan B generally follows soon after, such as this attempt to hurry up my tea drinking


Description
Description


Wouldn't change him for the world though


David Jenkins - 4/1/08 at 08:51 AM

quote:
Originally posted by martyn_16v
'I want to go out, shall we go out, have you been out? Let's go out, can we go out, I've got an idea, fancy going out?'


Think of the donkey in Shrek - that'll give you some idea!

Someone brought a jack russell into the garden of my local pub one summer - it walked in all sensible while on the lead, then ran around the garden full-speed in a big circle for a half-hour or so while the owners had a drink, then walked out all sensible on the lead again! Tons of character, but you don't want to be around one when it's bored.


DarrenW - 4/1/08 at 09:24 AM

Ive been feeding my retriever on Dr John silver - big mistake. Food well cheap but vets bill due to bad skin was not. Now on decent food (im using beta @ £22 a bag from wholesalers) and all is well again. Food last easily 4 weeks so quite cheap.

If you cost everything you probs wont get a dog. Insurance can be good idea to avoid hidden vets bills. Our local vet is also a hospital and does there own specialist plan with various levels.