doodle expenses

[Jen W]

I just figured out that in the 5 months that I've had my Irish Goldendoodle I've spent over $2,700 on her.

• $550 at the vet
• $867 at the pet store on food and toys
• $556 on training classes
• $768 on daycare and grooming (lumped together b/c she gets groomed at daycare).

 

Holy cow.  I have got to find a way to walk into the pet store and walk out only with food instead of with food and 12 new toys.  Might have to order it online to avoid the temptation of the toy aisle.

She only goes to daycare once a week for socializatin (and so I can vacuum) but that might have to end.

Training classes are not optional though, that's a long term investment.

 

How much is your doodle running you?

[Heather]

I'm with You Lori....LOVE IT!!!

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

Me too:)

[Heather Martinez]

Wow! It adds up fast!

-Food and treats ~$65 per month or $780 per year

-Toys - I usually buy toys only for special occasions since he already has so many, so I would estimate $50 per year

-Pet Insurance - $392 this year

-Grooming average $80 every two months or $480 per year

-Do it yourself dog wash - average once per month at $14 or $168 per year

-Boarding - $35 per day and assume we are out of town for 14 days per year (broken into smaller chunks) + extra for dropping off and picking up around the vacation days comes out to about $700 per year

-Vet - I budget $250 every 3 months or $1000 per year. If he had a big expense that would be covered by insurance.

-Medications (Hartguard and Advantix) - estimate $180 per year

-Training - we'll do a canine good citizen class this year - estimate $200

TOTAL = ~$3950 per year

[Jennifer and Jack]

I think it is extremely important for people to realize how much a dog costs or can cost up front.. Really I had no idea, my mom just said the other day, besides for the fact that she fell in love if she knew before she fell in love how expensive a dog was she wouldn't have gotten one... My mom has considerable more money then me.

I think people need to know.. 

Jack besides for paying for him, which I didn't because he was a gift just in the first year

I don't know exactly how much money I spent... but he had his first well visit the day after I got him, all his puppy shots, neutering and supplies where at least $1000.00  I was also given a puppy shower where his basic needs were met.

Bigger crates..

the unexpected ear infections that don't meet deductibles plus the medications

Insurance now $50.00 a month

Lab work for any problems that come up, Jack has low cortisol.

I know just in the four years I have had him, because his insurance has paid $500.00 a year in boarding fees, if I didn't have insurance that would be $2000.00 right there.. They pay for my mom to watch him ..

Food.. I can't count how much money I spent on treats and food.... His small bag costs $17.00 that lasts about three weeks plus wet food $37.00 a month..

I don't go overboard with leashes and collars put probably... $30. a year

Front Line $60.00 a year

Heart Guard Same

Toys.. He doesn't have to have the amount he has so I won't count that

Poop Bags... $10.00 a month

Car Seat $120.00 one time investment.... that broke btw

Day care.. He went four times a week I don't believe in leaving a puppy home alone and so he went when I worked full time... $50.00 a week

Dog walkers when I am gone for the day.. $25.00 a pop

Yearly shots and or titers with blood work and check up $200.00

Training about $1000.00 total he is four years old. 

Now we do a lot of maintaining....... no more crates, no more training, but the other stuff still stands...

A dog is not cheap, it is a huge, investment, emotionally, physically and financially..... I wish more people would realize this and then maybe there wouldn't be so many ad's on CL of people dumping their dogs, or worse yet what I see here is not treating them and then they get heart worm and don't treat that either.

I went nuts when Jack was a puppy buying stuff... but even now that I do the essentials and a little extra it is very expensive.. Luckily for me, My mother covers most of Jack's costs and when he needs something extra, I go without because of my working situation.... Before Jack I had pedicures, manicures, massages, the best lawn you could find... Never had roots showing and I ate out a lot . 

Lets just say these things don't happen anymore, mostly because my income was cut to a fraction of what it was.... but Jack has not gone without one thing and I wouldn't trade it for the world... 

[Kyoko]

I agree. Especially if people wants dog that require grooming, they really need to know how much expenses the dog is going to require. The cost of caring jumped for me since Pinot Grigio has been with us.

I think we spend about $1500 / year in grooming, about the same on food, may be $500 on vet, about $600 on heart guard and flea treatment. ( this one is from top of my head. I don't even know how much the stuff is really...) $180 every 2 months on training, so $900 per year, plus toys , and other accessories for may be about $300... So total of about little over $5000 easy... I don't even have pet insurance any more, nor do the day care...

[Enid Ferner]

I too am a minimalist... So far we haven't had to have Millie groomed, she's an F1 with a muppet like coat that isn't overly long. We bath her ourselves at home. Her stuffies come from the thrift store and she's happy with one or two favorites. Her "tug of war" ropes come from my husband, who just cut a couple of lengths from his boat rope for her. My daughter donated her old slippers to her, Millie loves them. I don't have to use daycare as somebody is usually home, and we really don't travel a lot so we haven't had to kennel her yet. I feed her raw, not sure what that costs, maybe $60 per month? She was recently spayed and has all of her shots, which of course wasn't cheap. I do not use flea products unless we have a problem, and we've been flea free for a very long time now. (Which is amazing considering we have 3 dogs and 4 cats!). I did a short term puppy class with her which cost $60....other than that I do my own training. She's an easy dog though... I'm lucky! Anyway, she's a content and well looked after little dog, I truly don't think you have to spend a ton of money to make your dog happy. But, if that's what makes YOU happy then that's O.K. too!! :)

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

I'm on $4200 for my 2 for the year and I haven't really purchased any new toys because they already have a ton.  That does include almost $2000 in vet bills for Ollie though.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

I really haven't added it all up, and I think I'd rather not know. There's not much I would or could change anyway.. With two, its a few thousand for food, vet, flea and heart worm meds, insurance, grooming supplies. I do or make everything else, do own grooming, bathing, training, treats, and they get very few toys, as they destroy most things. So they are as low maintenance as is possible being two well cared for, well fed doodles.

[Kyoko]

Yeah, It was kind of surprise to me. I knew I was spending some amount of money especially for grooming, food and training, but to have a number on it, got me thinking.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

The only reason I know is that I'm an anal accountant and have a really kick a$$ spreadsheet to keep track of where all my money goes  :)

My number didn't include grooming either because I also do it at home.  I can't even imagine how much it would cost to keep 2 doodles groomed by a groomer.  Yuck!

[Lonnie & Libby Lu]

You have me scared, I don't think I will add up what Libby cost us a year!  She is worth every penny of it though and if I had my way, we would have another Doodle:)

[Seamus & Haidee]

Food & Treats ......$876  

Doggy Class .....$650 

Dog Walker .......$780 

Groomer..........$480 

Vet & Insurance ...$700 

Unconditional Puppy Love.....Priceless