How much do you spend??

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Riz

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Hi everyone - I'm an avid lurker in this section but as I don't own a dog I haven't really posted here before!

I have had my heart set on getting a dog since I moved out of the family home last year into my own place. I've always been around dogs and look after friends ones when they go on holiday. I have the time and energy (i hope!) for a dog and am in the lucky position of being able to take a dog to work with me. My boss has a retriever that comes in occasionally, and we have an office cat, so animals at work is kind of the norm for our office!

I am kind of set on a black lab - I've toyed with the idea of a terrier & ideally would have a rescue, but I've been a bit put off by all of the sites saying terriers need experienced terrier people....which I'm clearly not! Also, as the dog would be in the office with me, I couldn't really have a whirling dervish spinning round all over the place! One of the things I've always loved about Labs is how chilled out they can be - I know they're all different though.....

So what I need to know is how much a Lab type would cost me to feed, insure, worm etc etc a month. What the hidden costs of keeping dogs are (I sadly have experience of horrid vets bills from the horse!), and any other advise for someone looking to get their first dog!!

Sorry it's a long post but I look forward to any help you can give me!! Thanks
 
my cousin just bought a choc lab bitch for just over £200........ depends on breeder, whetehr its Kennel club reg etc but id average a couple of hundred £
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Insurance, again depends, if I went to pet plan for beau it was £20 a month, unfortunatly I am but a lowly student so he is tesco insured for £7 a month, just a case of shopping around and thinking about how much you can realistically spend a month etc

Beau is on James Wellbeloved dried food, a medium bag is £26 and last about a month

Worming, depends where you get it from again. as does frontline!:)

Its a lot to do with shopping around and thinking about the quality of stuff you want to use (as obv better quality = slightly more pricey)
 
We have a 15 week old black Lab.

Purchase price £500 (although we got him from friends so paid £350 but the litter were £500 each)
Insurance £17 per month
Feed £40 per month
Worming £5 per month (average)
Vaccinations £3 per month (average)
Crate £40 (I would say essential!)
Training £22 per month

I would say the above are essential for a Lab puppy. You should be aware that Lab pups are very much whirling dervishes though! Ours probably sleeps for 60% of the time and is crazy for 35%. The other 5% is eating and going to the loo!
 
£500?! Gosh, I have never paid that for any of my labs
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Hows he bred?

My most recent lab cost me £250, breeder was having bother getting rid of pups so knocked a good bit off them. She is working bred and has very good lines
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IME pet bred ones seem to be cheaper than working bred but as I work mine, I go for working bred.

TBH I'm too scared to work out how much they cost me
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Food wise, we get a diet specifically made for our dogs, one that isn't available on the mainland. I let my uncle who parts own them wit me pay for that
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Mine aren't insured
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As soon as it is mentioned they are gundogs the premium goes up. Our worst vets bill was £1000 which was due to a shooting incident, but we have a dog fund. Another big bill was £250 for an eye removal due to cataract and glucoma.

If you decide to go for a lab pup, please ensure parents are hip and eye scored. Also hopefully elbow scored.
 
Expect to pay anywhere from £200-500 for a Lab. As Gina says please make sure the Parent are Hip and Elbow scored.

Most breeds aren't whirling dervishes as long as they get adequate exercise! Otto is a Springer Spaniel, so probably one of the most percieved "nutty" breeds
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However as long as he gets long runs, he will sleep all day long.

Otto is fed on a hypoallegenic working dog food so it is VAT free, a 20kg sack costs £20 and lasts about a month.
He is wormed and treated for fleas every month, I think a 3 month supply of both from the Vet's cost about £50.

He was vaccinated when we first got him, this cost £50 for two vaccinations. He was also microchipped, which was £10.
Then at 8 months he was castrated, which cost £90.

He is insured for £17 a month which is a platinum cover (covers any problems he may have for life) and we have a £60 excess.

Expect lots of bills under £60!
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Boosters cost about £30 every year and if you use Boarding Kennels some can ask that you vaccinate against Kennel Cough, which is around £20.

Think about what you will do with your dog when/if you go away, that may be an extra cost, or if you want someone to walk him during the week whilst you work, again extra cost.
Training classes may be another expense.

 
Acquired taste indeed! Turned out he'd been clipped before, and his hair grew back normal
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I just gave him a short going over and tidy up, he looks fab
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£500?! Gosh, I have never paid that for any of my labs
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Hows he bred?

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He has 46 FT CH in his 5 generation pedigree although to be honest we have no intention of working him and had no idea of how much Lab pups generally cost when we got him! I did make sure the parents were both eye tested (clear) and hip scored (5 and 6)
 
Thanks for all of the replies!!
Happy Horse - your puppy is gorgeous!!!!
My boss got his 2 year old retriever from the dogs for the blind - he had to be retired early due to no fault of his own, so that is a road I may go down, and have an older lab....and also keep checking the rescue sites.
Lots to think about & its helpful to know how much everything costs - I will have to do my sums......
Thanks again!!
 
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