Cost of a pup

I just found a great article that I think all should consider before Labrador ownership (actually works for all dogs). Basically, it covers some of the basics of what you should be prepared for when you have a dog, this isn’t the great bit though. The great bit is a cost breakdown for the dog, it factors into it not just the dog stuff, but the loss in deposit if you rent, the destroyed and chewed things, the landscaping your garden will more than likely need after the ‘little cute one’ has a not so cute moment.

I thought I would do a break down here of Dillon’s total running costs to date, it really brings it home when you look at the 8 months total costs. I’ve roughly done and rounded it up but the figures are pretty accurate.

• Food / training biscuits : £100
• Veterinary care - vaccinations / worming / chipping / flea : £110
• Toys / leads / training aids / collar + id tag : £70
• Bed / crate : £10 (crate was luckily donated to us)
• 2 Duvets chewed and destroyed : £50
• 3 Bed throws chewed and destroyed : £30
• Rental deposit (there is no way getting it back after the puppy chew mark tide in the kitchen / lounge / various other rooms : £400
• Curtains : £20
• Training classes : £30
• Anti-chew spray / anti-wee spray : £20
• Cost of Dillon originally : £450
• Insurance : £15 a month (roughly as both dogs are done together) : £120
• Dog gate : £30

Grand Dillon total for 8 months : £1440

If that isn’t an illustration that owning a dog is not cheap I don’t know what is. Of course this is a puppy and for Barley you can take off most things so she’s much lower on costs. It does bring it home a bit that you have to think about the negative and positive things a pup will do.

Labradors are active dogs, they are also known for being chewers and Dillon certainly has proven the fact. I still think the anti-chew sprays that say it works for 99% of all dogs are referring to the 1% being Labradors. It is a fact of puppy ownership that something will get chewed on at some point, what extent is up to you and the dog. It happens to even the best dog owners and you have to just see it as part of your dog growing into a pal for the rest of it’s life.

Dog’s are a wonderful companion but you have to go into ownership with your eyes open, this list just proves that the ‘hidden’ costs of dogs are the ones that mount up.