Dog costs

STEE

I'm thinking of getting a dog and I was wondering how much would it cost to feed a dog every week ? How many tins of dog food would a dog need per day 2 to 3 ?

Nigzcurran

STEE wrote: »

I'm thinking of getting a dog and I was wondering how much would it cost to feed a dog every week ? How many tins of dog food would a dog need per day 2 to 3 ?

How long is a piece of string?

cocker5

STEE wrote: »

I'm thinking of getting a dog and I was wondering how much would it cost to feed a dog every week ? How many tins of dog food would a dog need per day 2 to 3 ?

The costs of dog ownership far exceeds tins of dog food (sorry don’t mean to sound harsh)

Feeding a dog depends on dog size / weight and quality of the food .. so can be a little or alot (just to point out cheap and low quality food will more than likely lead to health issues)

Other dog costs:
Yearly vaccinations
Neutering
Regular worming
Collar / ID tags
Leads
Grooming (depends on breed/ dog)
Pet insurance / emergency vet care
Medication (if needed long term)
Kennels ( if you go away)
Bedding / kennel
Toys
Treats

...

And I could go on ...

Dahdum

I don’t think there’s any way of giving you an answer to that question. There are so many ‘depends’ - size of dog, breed, the dogs nutritional needs etc. The cost of dog food varies widely.

However if you’re looking at cost of keeping a dog, you need to look at much more than just food - bed, lead, treats, toys, vet, licence, insurance.....I’m sure there are more factors to consider but these are just some.....it quickly adds up.

Dahdum

Cocker has a more extensive list than me.

Knine

Well for a start there is an initial outlay to get the dog & this could be a few 100 to over 1K

Food depends on size of dog/quality of the dog food, how active the dog is. I do buy a lot of treats & toys. Look at Zooplus for prices.

You need a decent collar & lead, ID. I use Dogmatic Leads & collars, not cheap but great quality & long lasting.

If registered, change of ownership fee
Worming/Vaccinations/flea treatment. I only give first vaccinations & then if going into kennels. I don't treat for fleas/ticks that they don't have.

Grooming, For breeds that need a lot of grooming - this is an added expense. I groom my own & an owner can learn to do this. You would need brushes, combs & a nail clippers & for washing beds, I use a horse rug bag for the washing machine. Keeps all the hair inside it.

Neutering/spaying. I don't neuter my dogs & bitches are spayed after their show career is finished & I pay €100 per small breed. There are pros & cons to this.

Crates/beds - though mine go on the sofa. They do all have their own crates & dog bowls. I use waterproof crate mats.

Dog licence

Boarding Kennels costs. - Depends on dogs size. Big dogs cost more

Dogs however give far more back than you ever spend on them.

Choc Chip

Knine wrote: »

I use a horse rug bag for the washing machine. Keeps all the hair inside it.

OMG. What a good idea!

Knine

Choc Chip wrote: »

OMG. What a good idea!

You can get them on ebay or Amazon! Cheap & cheerful

cruizer101

It is a bit of a how long is a piece of string question but that said your can put some numbers on it.

Food will depend on dog size but for example we've a lab who is 35kg ish and we would spend about 50 euro a month on a 12kg bag of food and that is decent enough food not cheap crap. It's worth spending bit more on food.
Yearly vaccinations I can't remember exact figure but between 40 and 60 I think.
Neutering, one of cost few hundred
Regular worming, 100 ml of parazole is 22 and that would do my dog 3 doses. Meant to do 4 times a year so no more than 30.
Collar / ID tags, Leads, not quite one off but not to regular either, say 40 a year.
Grooming (depends on breed/ dog), no idea I just brush mine, but even for dogs that need it you can do yourself
Pet insurance / emergency vet care, don't have insurance myself, it probably is good to get but it's 400 a year ish and we decided to just put some money aside. Insurance is always a kind of gamble anyway.
Medication (if needed long term), this could potentially be pricey but you may not have to at all
Kennels ( if you go away) not sure on price here we have friends and family that can mind
Bedding / kennel, a bed should last a good while so more of a one off expense 100, more if want kennel too
Toys, you do need toys such as kongs, frisbee, tug rope etc your could spend a lot here but I think for 50-100 a year your would have a lot of toys.
Treats, including chews and training treats maybe 10-20 a month

I'm sure some will disagree with some of my numbers but it should give you a ballpark, it is good to do some research into it. Big dogs will generally be more expensive, food, medical, equipment.

I will say there is potential for big expenses with medical, so probably best to expense for insurance.

To finish, and not saying you don't know this, but getting a dog is so much more than the financial aspect. It's big time and effort commitment but very worth it.

Justin Credible Darts

First of all knock that tins of dog rubbish on the head.
Pay extra for the proper food, you will save in the long run on vet bills.

If money is such an issue then , again may be a dog is not for you.
They need attention, walks, and most of us owners that means holiday plans are changed, say goodbye to going out halloween, new years eve and any other night that has fireworks.
They need grooming, cleaning, and to all caring owners become part of the family,

As the post above says, vet bills license, insurance , vaccinations, treats, main food.
I had 2 collies and a huge shepherd at the time, between food, vet bills , licenses, etc the 3 dogs at the time cost us less that my wife and I had then spent of cigarettes.

scudzilla

Cost a fortune, and thats only vets bills.

Brodi is grand but Pip is an idiot, every time we get our bill in the vets close to zero she goes and does something again, i'm sure she's working in league wit the vet to belled me dry, i dunno what their masterplan is but i'll find out :pac::pac:

DBB

Justin Credible Darts wrote: »

First of all knock that tins of dog rubbish on the head.
Pay extra for the proper food, you will save in the long run on vet bills.

How do you know it's tins of rubbish food the op is referring to?
I feed my dogs tinned food. It's not rubbish.

con747

DBB wrote: »

How do you know it's tins of rubbish food the op is referring to?
I feed my dogs tinned food. It's not rubbish.

+1 With a 12 year old Springer and never a problem with tinned food.

gmisk

Get pet insurance.
Allianz have been brilliant.

Do not skimp on the quality of dog food.
As other have said it is much better in the long run.
Lots of good options our fella is on lily's kitchen pretty reasonable, our vet took a look at it and couldn't fault it (despite them having Gain at reception)

Justin Credible Darts

DBB wrote: »

How do you know it's tins of rubbish food the op is referring to?
I feed my dogs tinned food. It's not rubbish.

was referring to the cheap muck.


I thought that was self evident, but guess not to some.

jenneyk19

2000 euro

Justin Credible Darts

Often walking mine I get asked "do it cost much to feed him".

Oddly I never once in my life ever thought about his food cost, I always accepted that like a human, you feed them what they needs and what is right.

As I said earlier i had spent more on cigarettes, spend a few bob on rubbish like chocolate, beer, etc, but dog food was like electricity, it was an essential part of your weekly spending.

Point being if you are a person worried a lot about costs, or like some others on this forum, worried about walking them, or how much hair they might shed, and other things, then a dog might not be the thing for you, as its a comittment you have to be prepared to give for many years.

I dont mean to sound bad, but most dog owners will know where i am coming from

Graces7

Justin Credible Darts wrote: »

Often walking mine I get asked "do it cost much to feed him".

Oddly I never once in my life ever thought about his food cost, I always accepted that like a human, you feed them what they needs and what is right.

As I said earlier i had spent more on cigarettes, spend a few bob on rubbish like chocolate, beer, etc, but dog food was like electricity, it was an essential part of your weekly spending.

Point being if you are a person worried a lot about costs, or like some others on this forum, worried about walking them, or how much hair they might shed, and other things,! then a dog might not be the thing for you, as its a comittment you have to be prepared to give for many years.

I dont mean to sound bad, but most dog owners will know where i am coming from

This post makes me incredibly sad, in a few ways.

We share and learn here. Loving our pets.

Caring for them well, and expertly . Be we millionaires or pensioners. They come first in our lives.

With a caring and commitment that has no price. Is not means tested

Justin Credible Darts

I have said to people that if I was on a boat that was sinking and there was only room for one more in the lifeboat, my dog is getting the spot.

women and children could drown for all I care, I put my dog ahead of the entire human race outside my wife and family, and even then it would be a tough decision.

bertiebomber

1500 to 2000 per annum to do it correctly and to give the dog a decent life

Stihl waters

bertiebomber wrote: »

1500 to 2000 per annum to do it correctly and to give the dog a decent life

This is a load of nonsense, its largely dependent on the type of dog, some dogs can be kept for very little not including veterinary emergencies of course, you could get a small breed terrier that would cost an absolute minimum to keep and still be well looked after

Justin Credible Darts

Stihl waters wrote: »

This is a load of nonsense, its largely dependent on the type of dog, some dogs can be kept for very little not including veterinary emergencies of course, you could get a small breed terrier that would cost an absolute minimum to keep and still be well looked after

I would agree with that in general.


I had 2 large collies (brothers) and never had a single issue with them, and only time they needed a vet was their check ups and vaccinations, and things like teeth cleaning.


My shepherd suffers for allergies and needs more visits, and weighing over 50 kilos a big appetite, his medications are more expensive, even things like hardnesses, a halti, an extra large muzzle ( for vet visits).


In fact my collies together were cheaper to keep that the shepherd

DBB

Justin Credible Darts wrote: »

was referring to the cheap muck.


I thought that was self evident, but guess not to some.

No. Nobody mentioned cheap tinned food. You just assumed that was what the op was referring to, and you did not make it at all clear that you meant "cheap muck"... it read, to me at least, that you think all tinned food is cheap muck.
Which it's not.

Graces7

DBB wrote: »

No. Nobody mentioned cheap tinned food. You just assumed that was what the op was referring to, and you did not make it at all clear that you meant "cheap muck"... it read, to me at least, that you think all tinned food is cheap muck.
Which it's not.

That is exactly what he does think?

DBB; thank you. I was so ….. mad... I signed out...… lol Food snobbery.? . With tinned you read the label and know they are getting all they need.

Pet "ownership" is for all folk eg pensioners, not just high earners.
Something amiss if you are adding up like that.

tk123

DBB wrote: »

How do you know it's tins of rubbish food the op is referring to?
I feed my dogs tinned food. It's not rubbish.

I was going to comment on that too lol. I’d wager that the wet food we feed is better quality than the majority of dry foods people are feeding too..

bertiebomber

Stihl waters wrote: »

This is a load of nonsense, its largely dependent on the type of dog, some dogs can be kept for very little not including veterinary emergencies of course, you could get a small breed terrier that would cost an absolute minimum to keep and still be well looked after

Listen you can do it on the cheap if you want to but i think one should advise a newbie with no experience of the costs in order to discourage them for getting a dog that might end up in rescue within weeks for daring to pee or shed or snap at a bold child.

A real dog person is not going to ask this sort of inane question they know the costs and go ahead this person should get a robotic dog that she can turn off and the costs would only be batteries!

Graces7

bertiebomber wrote: »

Listen you can do it on the cheap if you want to but i think one should advise a newbie with no experience of the costs in order to discourage them for getting a dog that might end up in rescue within weeks for daring to pee or shed or snap at a bold child.

A real dog person is not going to ask this sort of inane question they know the costs and go ahead this person should get a robotic dog that she can turn off and the costs would only be batteries!

What on earth is a "real dog person" please?

And why " discourage" someone asking a genuine question ! It is not inane; it is responsible and sensible.

OP; maybe go to the supermarket and price various kinds of dog food? Read the advised quantities for different sized dogs that are often on the side, or google?

tk123

bertiebomber wrote: »

Listen you can do it on the cheap if you want to but i think one should advise a newbie with no experience of the costs in order to discourage them for getting a dog that might end up in rescue within weeks for daring to pee or shed or snap at a bold child.

A real dog person is not going to ask this sort of inane question they know the costs and go ahead this person should get a robotic dog that she can turn off and the costs would only be batteries!

It extremely responsible to ask the question? You don’t know the OP’s circumstances. They are a beginner and are doing their research before getting a dog - if more people did this we wouldn’t have the welfare issues we have in this country. Everyone starts somewhere and I’d hope people can come here and and ask questions and advice without being made feel they’re stupid or ‘not a dog person’ for asking a question.

Justin Credible Darts

bertiebomber wrote: »

A real dog person is not going to ask this sort of inane question they know the costs and go ahead this person should get a robotic dog that she can turn off and the costs would only be batteries!

I am of the opinion that a guy that asks this question is doing the right thing in getting some groundwork done.


Far better than some kid getting a pup and not being able to look after it and end up giving it away. I do not think the above member asking should be getting grief for asking

Cherry Blossom

bertiebomber wrote: »

Listen you can do it on the cheap if you want to but i think one should advise a newbie with no experience of the costs in order to discourage them for getting a dog that might end up in rescue within weeks for daring to pee or shed or snap at a bold child.

A real dog person is not going to ask this sort of inane question they know the costs and go ahead this person should get a robotic dog that she can turn off and the costs would only be batteries!

I do not ‘do it on the cheap’ and spend less than €250 a year on dog food for two. I spend twice that on grooming. My dogs are small, they don’t eat much. Even combined the costs are only half what you estimate for one dog never mind two. Add in the occasional new bed that never get used some treats and the occasional new toy at about €100 a dog per year and you get €950 a year for two dogs. OP it depends on the size and individual needs of the dog. I will say if money is tight then pet insurance is also a must.

Stihl waters

bertiebomber wrote: »

Listen you can do it on the cheap if you want to but i think one should advise a newbie with no experience of the costs in order to discourage them for getting a dog that might end up in rescue within weeks for daring to pee or shed or snap at a bold child.

A real dog person is not going to ask this sort of inane question they know the costs and go ahead this person should get a robotic dog that she can turn off and the costs would only be batteries!

I dont do it on the cheap but neither do I see the need to spend 2 grand on a dog when its unnecessary

pinktoe

A poodle vs Jack Russell is going to be very different costs. Does OP want a certain breed or just any type of dog?

A breakdown for a long haired GSD.
€50 bag of food does 6 weeks, total 430

Deshed groom every 2 months is 70 and one standard wash in between is 25. Total 570

Various add on food, eggs, tinned fish, treats maybe 250+

Vet bills, once a year includes booster, tears supply of worming and flea treatment and tooth paste, varies on different locations. Total 120

Beds maybe two and year, total 100 or so

License 20

Toys, teddy bears, footballs easily 100 but she is not a toy destroyer so could be a lot higher.

That's 1590 I think as minimum for us.

Random stuff, teeth cleaned and two removed due to being neglected before rescuing 190

Neutering I don't know the cost.

Car seat covers and valeting may apply.

Insurance is optional

Muzzle if needed, lead and collars last for years.

Puppies can be destructive so factor in a crate or replacement kitchen doors (Border Collies)

I think Bertiebomber has a GSD so I'd agree with his estimate for that breed. Obviously a smaller dog will cost less, even Bichons have lower grooming costs AFAIK

bertiebomber

i have 4 dogs and 3 horses so my bills are well calculated and i have had dogs for yonks lots of rescues and i do it welll as i am a firm believer in doing whatever you do well. if you get a dog do the very best for him or her its not rocket science. If the price of a few tins of dog food is important then the other bills will be hard to take.

I use tins of makeral sardines salmon regularly rather than tinned dog food and beef mince and i cook sweet potatoes and kale and celery to add to their dinners As a treat i boil whole chickens for them. Do it well or dont bother maybe op could register as a fosterer and try out having a dog for a period of time that would help the rescues and answer all her / his questions with hands on experience.

Justin Credible Darts

pinktoe wrote: »

A poodle vs Jack Russell is going to be very different costs. Does OP want a certain breed or just any type of dog?

A breakdown for a long haired GSD.
€50 bag of food does 6 weeks, total 430

Deshed groom every 2 months is 70 and one standard wash in between is 25. Total 570

Various add on food, eggs, tinned fish, treats maybe 250+

Vet bills, once a year includes booster, tears supply of worming and flea treatment and tooth paste, varies on different locations. Total 120

Beds maybe two and year, total 100 or so

License 20

Toys, teddy bears, footballs easily 100 but she is not a toy destroyer so could be a lot higher.

That's 1590 I think as minimum for us.

Random stuff, teeth cleaned and two removed due to being neglected before rescuing 190

Neutering I don't know the cost.

Car seat covers and valeting may apply.

Insurance is optional

Muzzle if needed, lead and collars last for years.

Puppies can be destructive so factor in a crate or replacement kitchen doors (Border Collies)

I think Bertiebomber has a GSD so I'd agree with his estimate for that breed. Obviously a smaller dog will cost less, even Bichons have lower grooming costs AFAIK

as the owner of a long haired GS also there is some differences with mine.


I dont get him beds any more, he never used them and prefer a thick blanket., when he is not on our bed.



I and my wife do all his grooming.


he has no interest in toys, but will get well over 6 months out of a leather rugby ball or football, normally puncturing it on the first few minutes, but loves playing with the leather.


but everything else is almost spot on with food , vet, accessories etc, although I do have more than normal vet visits, as he suffers hard from allergies,

also a 60quid bag of food 12kilos lasts a little over 3 weeks

Doctors room ghost

A good quality complete nut mixed with kitchen scraps minus any bones is plenty good for any dog and with adequate daily exercise and access to fresh water all the time you won’t go wrong.

bertiebomber

my belgian shepherd is crippled with allergies i have spent a small fortune on scrapings and tests and now he gets regular ear cleanings & special dry food it must be the breed. In the 60's my mother had a GSD and he was brought to the veterinary college in Dublin fortnightly for his ears, it seems to be a curse on them, what are your dogs allergies?

Justin Credible Darts

Doctors room ghost wrote: »

A good quality complete nut mixed with kitchen scraps minus any bones is plenty good for any dog and with adequate daily exercise and access to fresh water all the time you won’t go wrong.

yep, often after my dinner, any things like steak , bean, fish, rice, pasta or whatever I dont eat I can add to his dry.


In fact even when he is fed and i sat down with a salad of tomatoe, lettuce, etc he will eat that too just because he sees me eating it.

Antares35

Re the insurance, just to offer a different perspective (to take or leave) I always opted to put money aside every month instead of insuring my dog. That way I've a cash reserve there which can be used specifically for anything that crops up. Came in handy a few years ago when she needed the cruciate ligament done at a cost of 850 euro. I know insurance would have paid too, but I just preferred having the cash there and paying it and not having to go through all the paperwork for a claim. Also, I always had a fear that they'd try to weasel out of paying too lol. For example, the vet said even if I insured her after the cruciate was repaired, if she tore the one on the other leg she wouldn't be covered as it's a "pre existing condition" even though a cruciate can just tear, and is not a condition as such. She's pre-disposed I guess. Anyway in a situation like that, it made sense for me to just put the money aside rather than take out insurance because at least I'd have the cash available and not run the risk of a refusal to cover. The only thing I worry about is where there would be a massive claim eg causing an accident because she's not controlled which insurance would cover, but obviously my cash reserve wouldn't!

Few years ago, our cat crawled into the engine and shattered his leg in the fan belt. Huge expense on orthopaedic surgery. Then he went and got the same fúcking leg chewed by a mink. More expense. In hindsight, we should have amputated Point being, you just never know when pets are going to cost money!

Zooplus online is a great place for food. I pay 55euro for 12 kilo of royal canin. A 10 kilo bag is 75euro in the petshop.

Darc19

bertiebomber wrote: »

1500 to 2000 per annum to do it correctly and to give the dog a decent life

That's generally what is accepted as a ball park figure. So unless you have this expenditure available, best not to have a dog.

Here's a good article from the Irish Times
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/personal-finance/in-the-market-for-a-dog-here-s-what-it-s-likely-to-cost-1.4352408

Justin Credible Darts

bertiebomber wrote: »

my belgian shepherd is crippled with allergies i have spent a small fortune on scrapings and tests and now he gets regular ear cleanings & special dry food it must be the breed. In the 60's my mother had a GSD and he was brought to the veterinary college in Dublin fortnightly for his ears, it seems to be a curse on them, what are your dogs allergies?

dont talk to me about ear problems, I have spent thousands in the last 8 years., in you count about 3-5 visits a year.


Every october/november when the real wet weather comes in he starts shaking his head, and rubbing his head so much he makes the spot above his ear bald, in less than 2 days.


back to the vets, buy the ear cleaner, anti biotics, and normally steroids , so the cost rack up. He then gets ravenous on the steroids.


It heals up and then comes back in march. This is twice a year, every year.
The vets cannot work out what caused it, we changed his diet countless times, I even got rid of my cherry blossoms trees and hawthorn tree out my back in case that had any bearing.


3 years ago he started shaking his ear he got a hematoma , so the vet has to shave the side of his head and put rods in his ear to keep it upright, and the poor dog had to wear that cone around his head for over 2 weeks .


A year later he got another hemathoma, and the vet decided that it was pointless having him go through the same procedure and cured him but to this day, his right ear has a bend in it, like scooby doo.


He has another appointment booked for wednesday this week, as his ear again is starting to irritate, so getting in before it gets to bad, so hopefully just anti biotics and more ear cleaner.


The vet won't give me the ear cleaner without a visit so they can charge us more.


I know I sound like i am pissed off, but I care about the dog not the money. as even when he has the problems he is a gentle easy going dog, even if he does look big and aggressive.

Graces7

I had two dogs. JRT Cross and collie. Only ever one vet bill and that was for JRT. Al of E50 .

Fed kibble and raw chicken, what scraps there were which were few enough! No I did not add that up; it went on my grocery bills, as any family would no insurance etc,. home made beds, did not use toys.

It is what you make it. Both were strong and healthy and lived to good and happy old age. It does not have to be as costly as a few here make it; I am a pensioner and loved and cared for the dogs . THAT is what matters.

Tangleytuftles

I'd definitely start by paying extra upfront for a dog who has had health clearances and titles. It's a bit more upfront but its cheaper overall as dogs health tested are less likely to get sick or injured and if they are, you can contact the breeder so they stop the parents from breeding and save others from having a sick dog. You're also paying for expertise, experience and a person to quiz for the lifetime of your dog.
Free dogs, accidental litter dogs and shelter dogs make perfectly nice pets but you also don't know their genetics and for a first time owner I think knowing genes and potential aggression is necessary.

I got a free dog, I love him to bits and wouldn't change him for the world but he's cost me loads extra in food and vet bills than a dog from a reputable breeder who health tests would. He has food allergies, environmental allergies and a weird bladder that keeps getting infected. Back when I had him on dry food and wet food, I could feed 2 whole dogs for the cost of his food(80 to 100 euro) a decent quality food for 2 to 3 months. Now that I've switched him onto raw, he's around 70 a month which isn't the best but its cheaper and he actually eats it. Also lots of vet bills, he vomited on Friday, went into the vet and got a shot plus some anti allergy stuff for his feet and it was 42 euro and that's on a vet plan where I don't have to pay for checkups. There's also flea, tick and worm meds, vaccinations and neutering if you so wish to do so on top of incidentals and checkups, which you need 2 to 3 of for a puppy.

You also need a crate for the dog, good treats, good food, a safe area to potty, excessive patience, lots of toys(puppies get bored easily), good quality chews and the ability to take them out every 30 minutes or so to start.

So for the first year alone, I'd put aside 500 for vet bills as puppies are more prone to illness and accidents. 200 for toys and chews, 60 for the crate. 300 for a dog training course. Plus 300 for incidentals. Then add around 840 a year on food.
That's also without buying a puppy or adjusting for bigger or smaller dogs. This would be expenses for a 20 kilo dog. This is also without neutering as recent studies have shown that altering some dogs before 2 leads to increases joint and cancer issues plus its not my personal recommendation to basically remove the hormones of a seven to 8 year old(human wise, this is what neutering a puppy at 6 months is essentially since they're about 2/3 of the way to puberty) just because I can't be arsed to deal with the apparent misbehaving despite the fact that neutered dogs do the same behaviours and its all about training plus neutering a dog early can lead them to be fearful and since fear drives a lot of aggression, it can be a problem.

Antares35

Some of the healthiest dogs are crossbreeds. It's pedigrees that can have no end of problems, with all the inbreeding and massive exaggeration of traits that goes on.

Tangleytuftles

The issue with crossbreeds and mongrels in my personal experience is that you don't know what issues they'll get(i know many mongrels that have had health issues pop up, just as many as poorly bred purebreds from accidental litters) and less people are willing to do the health testing needed before breeding dogs on mongrels as they assume they're healthier. They COULD be healthier but they can also get health issues from both parents. This is why I stress the importance of going to a REPUTABLE breeder who health tests, compares their dogs against others and knows their breed intimately.
Also, even with badly bred purebred dogs, their issues are consistent and you can plan for them better.
Or get a shelter dog instead of funding backyard breeders and their "accidental" litters.

I'll personally stick to purebreds because no other breed can match border collies and their personalities.

Knine

Antares35 wrote: »

Some of the healthiest dogs are crossbreeds. It's pedigrees that can have no end of problems, with all the inbreeding and massive exaggeration of traits that goes on.

My pedigrees have out lived all my cross breeds. One cross PTS at 4 years due to heart failure, another dying at the moment of cancer. So this is certainly not always the case.

The inbreeding is not anything like inexperienced people think it is. We have very strict criteria to abide by & we do lots of health testing.

Justin Credible Darts

Tangleytuftles wrote: »

The issue with crossbreeds and mongrels in my personal experience is that you don't know what issues they'll get(i know many mongrels that have had health issues pop up, just as many as poorly bred purebreds from accidental litters) and less people are willing to do the health testing needed before breeding dogs on mongrels as they assume they're healthier. They COULD be healthier but they can also get health issues from both parents. This is why I stress the importance of going to a REPUTABLE breeder who health tests, compares their dogs against others and knows their breed intimately.
Also, even with badly bred purebred dogs, their issues are consistent and you can plan for them better.
Or get a shelter dog instead of funding backyard breeders and their "accidental" litters.

I'll personally stick to purebreds because no other breed can match border collies and their personalities.

Although only have the GS now...wife wanted him, we always kept border collies.


As I said earlier in this thread, the last 2 collies (brothers) cost me less than the GS I have now. Collies are so smart they make other dogs seem thick.
Rarely ever had problems that needed the vet, except for the usual check ups, vaccinations, teeth cleaning

AlphaDelta1

Go for middle of the road priced dog food. Don't be fooled by the high price stuff it makes no difference to the long term health of the dog or their energy levels etc... Keep away from the trash in the supermarkets it really is a false economy and your animal will end up costing you a fortune long term vet bills.

bertiebomber

Justin Credible Darts wrote: »

dont talk to me about ear problems, I have spent thousands in the last 8 years., in you count about 3-5 visits a year.


Every october/november when the real wet weather comes in he starts shaking his head, and rubbing his head so much he makes the spot above his ear bald, in less than 2 days.


back to the vets, buy the ear cleaner, anti biotics, and normally steroids , so the cost rack up. He then gets ravenous on the steroids.


It heals up and then comes back in march. This is twice a year, every year.
The vets cannot work out what caused it, we changed his diet countless times, I even got rid of my cherry blossoms trees and hawthorn tree out my back in case that had any bearing.


3 years ago he started shaking his ear he got a hematoma , so the vet has to shave the side of his head and put rods in his ear to keep it upright, and the poor dog had to wear that cone around his head for over 2 weeks .


A year later he got another hemathoma, and the vet decided that it was pointless having him go through the same procedure and cured him but to this day, his right ear has a bend in it, like scooby doo.


He has another appointment booked for wednesday this week, as his ear again is starting to irritate, so getting in before it gets to bad, so hopefully just anti biotics and more ear cleaner.


The vet won't give me the ear cleaner without a visit so they can charge us more.


I know I sound like i am pissed off, but I care about the dog not the money. as even when he has the problems he is a gentle easy going dog, even if he does look big and aggressive.

Snap i am going through all this too the dog is actually belonging to ,my mum who is 70 plus years old and he lives with her and protects her. recently i bought a shampoo called malesab and i dilute some into a small container & clean out his ears and also between his paws i hate to see him shaking his ears and draggging his head along a field to scratch. He gets relief from this a vet nurse told me thats what the vets do sometimes its an anti fungal shampoo for dogs. I keep steroids for him when the ears thicken but i do try to keep ahead of this. It must be a pedrigree dog thing none of my rescues ever have ear issues its an ongoing for life condition.. I suppose we will just keep doing it .

Justin Credible Darts

bertiebomber wrote: »

Snap i am going through all this too the dog is actually belonging to ,my mum who is 70 plus years old and he lives with her and protects her. recently i bought a shampoo called malesab and i dilute some into a small container & clean out his ears and also between his paws i hate to see him shaking his ears and draggging his head along a field to scratch. He gets relief from this a vet nurse told me thats what the vets do sometimes its an anti fungal shampoo for dogs. I keep steroids for him when the ears thicken but i do try to keep ahead of this. It must be a pedrigree dog thing none of my rescues ever have ear issues its an ongoing for life condition.. I suppose we will just keep doing it .

Tried the malesab shampoo,even tried the malesab dry shampoos



His coat is fine, i give him the cod liver oil, he likes his baths. Plenty of fish also helps, his coat is fantastic, but cannot get to the root of the ear problems.


Used the ear cleaner MalAcetic, used the ear drops Surlan.


As I said I have paid a fortune and done everything i can but it happens twice a year.

em_cat

I couldn’t tell you how much our dogs cost us. We’ve an accident prone Pom & a yorkie cross that suffers auto immune & behavioural issues but somehow I couldn’t tell you how much they cost, to me it’s a bit like asking how much does a child cost, or indeed how long is a piece of string.

@ Justin Credible Darts, has your vet given you any indication why it happens?

Justin Credible Darts

em_cat wrote: »

I couldn’t tell you how much our dogs cost us. We’ve an accident prone Pom & a yorkie cross that suffers auto immune & behavioural issues but somehow I couldn’t tell you how much they cost, to me it’s a bit like asking how much does a child cost, or indeed how long is a piece of string.

@ Justin Credible Darts, has your vet given you any indication why it happens?

vet thinks it is the wet grass...I know, a shepherd with a grass allergy...crazy.


but even she ,and the other vet in the same practice cannot be sure. It is disheartening as you dont want them sufferring or irritated.