Nido

This is exactly what I did with my Cocker, and now nothing phases her at all, takes it all in her stride. Superb dogs, excellent choice

Mine costs so little I don't even think about it, just annual jabs and that's about it. I cut her hair myself with a set of dog clippers, that was the only real expense before I got those. Because of my work I spend a lot of weekends away, and she stays with friends quite happily, I'd much rather have her with friends than in a kennel (plus it's cheaper!!).

If you get a bitch then make sure you have her spade if you are not going to breed, they can suffer from cancer of the womb otherwise.

Superb dogs, wouldn't change my decision for an instant

Snazy

Im making a habit of this, but I have to agree again
That said, Tuvaaq has a lot of winning blood in his lines, but are all strong working dogs too. Not pretty dogs so much.

Just take a look at all the Crufts scandel to decide on show quality dogs, and breeding eithics.

Tuv is really starting to get the same build as his dad now, which im delighted about.

ike

Devildog

Bravo

2 Rotties.

Ongoing Costs

Insurance - £70 per month
Food - say £50 per month
Innoculations, etc - £40 per year (not every year)
Uninsured vet visits falling below excess - say £100 per year
Toys and ancilleries (the odd new lead/collar, etc) say £100 per year
Say £1,700 a year in total.


One off's

Changing car to one that takes two of them safely £5,000
Costs of selling flat and buying house with garden, say, £10,000
Dog "proofing" garden on a DIY basis say £2,000
Dog beds and bedding, initial outlay on leads, collars, ancilleries, say £300
Crate - £100

In other words, our dogs have, in some way or another, cost us a fortune, but I would do it all again in an instant.

For books - Jan Fennell is worth a read. For other help - watch The Dog Whisperer on TV. That guy knows his stuff.

As an aside - jeesus, some dogs with issues here

My dogs crap in sensible places, either in the back garden which is gravelled or way off the beaten track - so even any residual crap after collection is well away from areas in which people will be, and they wouldn't dream of eating what they had just deposited.

BTW - that is a sure sign of completely innapropriate house training where the dog learns that to crap inside is bad (rather than learning that to crap outside is good) The eating is a way of hiding the offence.

Snazy

lol DD im glad im not the only one mate.

Scooby went, Mondeo went, Picasso arrived lol....

PS, no pooping inside here

Devildog

In fairness, the car and the flat would have been changed at some point anyway - dog no 2 just speeded up the process

Whatever way you look at it, its not cheap.

Snazy

Oi I mentioned crates too lol.

There are loads on the market, and for the dog size you are looking at, even a really decent one is only gonna set you back 70-80 quid.

Dog crates are good if you are going to make the most of it, and be really persistant with training, using it for the right reasons etc.
If not, and you already have an area you can use to "secure" the dog, like the said utility room, and have no plans to get a second dog, its not always worth it.

That said, its one of those things that if the dog is used to being in a crate, you have a mobile place of safety for the dog for when you visit strange places, travelodges etc.

Being a non crater, I will leave it there. We have the crates, and they get used, but not to their full usage.

Julz1983

The crate we got was for Jack Russell, King Charles Spaniel sizes etc, its more than enough as it is only used while we are out of the house, the food and water goes in it and some toys and his blanket and he's more than happy to be left for a few hours, he's only 5 months old now and is learning quick. I did leave him a bit longer one day and he did do a pooh and must have got worked up so it was everywhere, well everywhere in the cage itself and all over him so it was stinking but it could have been worse and been the carpets etc if he wasn't in a cage, a bath and everything else thrown in the washing machine and the cage disinfected was done easily and quick enough.
Search online as you don't want to pay daft prices, I'll look through my e mails by tomorrow and post the link where I got mine, very good prices.

Devildog

Hi mate,

Crates are IMO invaluable if used properly. It should never be a "cage" where the dog is left for excessive periods of time during the day, and should be seen as a safe retreat for a pup rather than a punishment, effectively a kennel.

If closing the pup in at night, make sure it is big enough to provide for a bedding area, space for a water bowl and space for a toilet area.

Ours was really only really closed when we were unable to keep an eye on him during the day. He was pretty settled at night and house trained after ten days or so, and so it was effectively a day kennel for him.

All in all, makes for a happier experience for both if used properly. Safer for the pup and stops any damage.

Every dog is different, though, and I suggest there are no hard and fast rules as to what works and what doesn't.

Snazy

With crates, you can go for anything from a wire crate, with cover, to the ABS ones, both have their advantages and disadvantages.

Snazy

Spoken like a pro Could not have said it better, seeing as we dont use one lol

Julz1983

I find them great for training purposes and to let him have his 'safe haven' while we aren't around, I never use it for him to sleep in at night or to be put in there just to get peace and quiet, I find it awful the amount of people who have dogs but they are closed in a room or cage/crate because the owner/s work all day, what is the point in having a dog? Our dog definately has someone here throughout everyday of the week, mind, I think he gets too much attention sometimes!

Jye

Well done Bob

I'd never own a dog if it it meant having to leave it in all day. This seems the absolute in 'I want now' selfishness imo. The excuses I've heard lately from people trying to justify why it's OK to leave their dog in from 8.00am to 6.00pm, are quite frankly unbelievable.

Even those who have decent gardens to let the dog roam about in just don't get it.

Luckily I'm in a position where I either take him to work, (not a problem as my job now involved traveling round various parks and open spaces doing surveys), or leave him at home with the GF as she now works from home.

mykp

it depends on how many toys, trinkets, doggie bling or vets bills we get/have.

we have two dogs and insurance is £24 a month for both
food is about £50 because my wife insists on giving them goats milk!
Treats about £5 a month

dont forget to factor in the hidden costs of pet ownership like flea care.

mykp

oh! another hidden cost.

Boots as you'll need a decent pair with all the walking you'll be doing

ash002004

iTrader: (1)

I have a young Staff bull terrier pup, apart from the initial things like a cage, worming medicine, vaccinations, first big bag of food, beds etc he doesn't cost that much a month.

only things we buy now are just toys and the occasional new bed as the bugger chews up bloody everything!

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

I have no idea what my dog costs to run. She gets a massive sack of food (currently on James Wellbeloved) which gets replaced when it runs out but I couldn't tell you how much it costs

Other than that there are the odd vets bills that come under the £50 insurance excess, doggy toothpaste (she has them cleaned nightly and LOVES it ), toothbrushes, doggy shampoo (T-Tree ), a few treats here and there, a fireworks CD (to get her used to the noise - fail), a Kong, other indestructible toys when the previous indestructible toys get destroyed, a car seat protector, car seatbelt and bowls (I'm always forgetting to take them when we go away

The poo bags are supplied free by the local council and I pick them up from either the vets or Post Office when I'm passing

Every year her Granny buys her a new bed for Christmas

ash002004

iTrader: (1)

I use nappy bags instead of doggy doo bags, smell much better