Patchworkpony
Well-Known Member
For the lovers of this breed can I ask what do you honestly estimate it costs per month to keep an average sized German Shepherd properly, with good food and proper health back up?
German Shepherds
- Thread starter Patchworkpony
- Start date
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
No idea, never really worked it out, their outgoings are my outgoings 
Mine are on a pretty good food which is 80 quid for 30kg from Zooplus every month or so.
Your outlay for hips/elbows/spine/OCD after 12 months is between 5-700 all in depending on vet price, I go for the German grading system as you get more for your money. I spend about 200 on training club fees annually, 50 a week on fuel for going training (and all other travel non dog related).
I'm not seriously competing with a dog at the moment so travel costs are a lot cheaper.
My current kennels were 500 to put up, about eight years ago, airline crates I usually get off FB marketplace and Gumtree etc and were all under 100. Equipment and toys I have accrued over about 30/40 years so it's hard to quantify, a lot of people give me stuff. Van cages were 500 new about ten years ago but I got them free.
Various money spent on trials and seminars.
I've always been very picky about research and choosing my lines and with the exception of one or two dogs over the years, (neither that I specifically chose, they came to me through circumstance) all of mine have been fairly robust/healthy/long lived and haven't cost me too much at the vets.
Mine are on a pretty good food which is 80 quid for 30kg from Zooplus every month or so.Your outlay for hips/elbows/spine/OCD after 12 months is between 5-700 all in depending on vet price, I go for the German grading system as you get more for your money. I spend about 200 on training club fees annually, 50 a week on fuel for going training (and all other travel non dog related).
I'm not seriously competing with a dog at the moment so travel costs are a lot cheaper.
My current kennels were 500 to put up, about eight years ago, airline crates I usually get off FB marketplace and Gumtree etc and were all under 100. Equipment and toys I have accrued over about 30/40 years so it's hard to quantify, a lot of people give me stuff. Van cages were 500 new about ten years ago but I got them free.
Various money spent on trials and seminars.
I've always been very picky about research and choosing my lines and with the exception of one or two dogs over the years, (neither that I specifically chose, they came to me through circumstance) all of mine have been fairly robust/healthy/long lived and haven't cost me too much at the vets.
AmyMay
Situation normal
meleeka
Well-Known Member
Mine is quite small, but she’s has 2 tins of dog food a day, plus dry (she’s also very fussy and won’t have dry only). So that’s around £50pm just to feed her. Lucky for me she’s also very healthy, so vets bills are the same as any other dog.
Cleaning products for my house in the winter is probably my biggest outlay
Cleaning products for my house in the winter is probably my biggest outlay
paddy555
Well-Known Member
insurance with pet plan around £60 pm. I'm not sure I would have any dog now that wasn't insured.
food is however you feed it. ie raw or kibble. Can you be a bit more precise? also I would imagine would depend on the weight of the dog. Mine is a large male, a smaller one would cost less to feed. Raw is expensive if you have to buy it from dog butcher places. Obviously a lot cheaper if you live in a town close to several butcher shops.
Mine lives in the house so no kennels etc. Doesn't have a dog bed as my bed appears to suffice. Other times however many beds I gave him he prefers to lie on the slate floor.
I think grooming is expensive especially for long coats but I do my own.
Other stuff of fuel, training, competing, is dependent on if you want to do any of it or just want to take the dog for a walk normally.
As with everything it depends how much you want to control the budget. I'm afraid I don't. He gets what he wants.
food is however you feed it. ie raw or kibble. Can you be a bit more precise? also I would imagine would depend on the weight of the dog. Mine is a large male, a smaller one would cost less to feed. Raw is expensive if you have to buy it from dog butcher places. Obviously a lot cheaper if you live in a town close to several butcher shops.
Mine lives in the house so no kennels etc. Doesn't have a dog bed as my bed appears to suffice. Other times however many beds I gave him he prefers to lie on the slate floor.
I think grooming is expensive especially for long coats but I do my own.
Other stuff of fuel, training, competing, is dependent on if you want to do any of it or just want to take the dog for a walk normally.
As with everything it depends how much you want to control the budget. I'm afraid I don't. He gets what he wants.
rabatsa
Confuddled
Mine is a bog standard farm GSD. She gets Burgess greyhound and lurcher to eat at about £23/12.5kg. I joined a couple of groups for training so membership fees and lesson fees. She is not insured as a standalone dog but is covered 3rd party on the smallholding insurance. Vet wise she has needed no more than her vaccinations and annual health checks.
Patchworkpony
Well-Known Member
Thank you SO much for replies - really gives me something to go on.
Moobli
Well-Known Member
I have two working line GSDs.
Food is roughly £55 a month for the two (I feed part raw, part dry complete).
Insurance has just doubled
and is now £135 a month for both.
One of my sheps has pannus and her monthly medication costs £82 (it’s a third cheaper online).
Other than wormers and the above eye condition my dogs are rarely at the vets thankfully.
Food is roughly £55 a month for the two (I feed part raw, part dry complete).
Insurance has just doubled
and is now £135 a month for both.One of my sheps has pannus and her monthly medication costs £82 (it’s a third cheaper online).
Other than wormers and the above eye condition my dogs are rarely at the vets thankfully.
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blackcob
🖖
For every 1.5kg bag of dry food my small dog eats, the GSD gets through an 18kg bag at about £50. Insurance is £40/month for 7k lifetime policy but that’s with multi pet and veterinary staff discounts. Hip and elbow scoring would be about £600 plus BVA fee but again staff discount applies. Club sport training £6.50 a session, twice a week so £52/month. One to one specialist training £55/hour. Both plus fuel costs and travel time. No competition fees at present and frankly I could do without knowing, especially including fuel costs. Car caging was £300ish. Already had lots of large dog kit at home collected over the years so can’t help with initial outlay on crates, bedding etc.
MurphysMinder
Well-Known Member
It very much varies depending on the dog and what activities you do with it. My current bitch has shown slight signs of food allergy so she is fed part raw (about £30 per month) and part Millies Wolfheart kibble which is £54 for a 12 kg bag which last about 6 weeks, I use it as training rewards and for a small breakfast. I pay £54 a month for a multi pet insurance for her and another dog. She had hips and elbows done at a cost of £400, she has had just one flea and tick treatment before I went on holiday to Scotland, and I worm count which is about £10, I only do it once maybe twice a year. When I first had her we did several courses of basic training/socialisation which probably cost around 300 in total. I now go man trailing with her which is £28 every month. She has rabbits ears, fish skins etc as treats , maybe another £20 a month. Haven't had to buy beds, leads, crates etc as already had them from previous dogs.
Moobli
Well-Known Member
Having had time to think a bit more the other costs and considerations are lead/collar, crate (if crate training a pup), puppy training classes/more advanced or specialist training, dog bed, dog walker (if required) , worming pills, training treats/recreational treats and toys. Also is your vehicle large enough to carry a big dog safely ie travel box, estate boot with dog guard etc.
Obviously these kinds of things are required for any big dog.
Obviously these kinds of things are required for any big dog.
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
I have a long coat, I find him much easier to keep than the short coats.
Never paid a groomer in my life.
Never paid a groomer in my life.
Moobli
Well-Known Member
That’s interesting.
My experience with the two longcoats I had
was a war on mud, hair matting, daily grooming and tumbleweeds of hair blowing around the house. Getting the blaster definitely helped. The two shortcoats I have now only do the big shed twice a year and hardly drop any hair in between times. I use the blaster regularly on them after swimming and wet walks though which probably makes a difference.
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
Did yours have an undercoat?
Moobli
Well-Known Member
Yes, of a sort. Both their coats changed after neutering too, which didn’t help.
Kunoichi73
Beware... My Plants...
I would agree. The 2 long coated ones we had seemed to shed much less than the short haired one (seems to be the same with cats too). Although the long haired beasties seem to shed in clumps, whereas the short hair seemed to get everywhere. Maybe it's just easier to spot and clean up the hair with long haired dogs?
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
I don't understand, they either have an undercoat or they don't? The type without an undercoat, where the outer hair feels more fine and silky, is considered incorrect due to lack of weatherproofing.
CorvusCorax
'It's only a laugh, no harm done'
Moobli
Well-Known Member
One did, one didn’t.
Kunoichi73
Beware... My Plants...
Given that most of my clothes are black, grey is the last colour I'd choose for any animal!I'll never have a grey dog again if I can help it, they moult horrendously
