£1,700 – the annual cost of owning a dog ( and only if it’s well-behaved)
WE ALL know a dog is not just for Christmas. But the cost of having a canine companion should not be underestimated. Here is how costs such as vets’ bills, boarding fees and grooming all mount up.
BREED AND SIZE MATTER
A PEDIGREE dog is the most expensive to buy. But one of its key advantages is that an owner should have a clear idea of what they are getting in terms of temperament, behaviour and health risks.
Costs vary across breeds but some of the most expensive include the rottweiler, Tibetan mastiff and English bulldog. These cost up to £ 5,000, £ 4,000 and £ 2,000 respectively.
‘Crossbreeds’ – dogs with parents from different breeds – are usually cheaper. But ‘designer’ breeds such as labradoodles, a mix of labrador and poodle, can still be pricey, starting at about £750.
A ‘mixed breed’ dog – mongrel – is a mix of three or more breeds or of unknown heritage. They tend to have fewer genetic health probl ems t han purebreds and are cheaper to insure.
WHERE TO BUY
BUYERS l ooking for a puppy should only purchase from a reputable breeder – although many people do not. Research by owners organisation The Kennel Club shows that one in five people who buy a puppy spend no time at all researching where to purchase it from, putting themselves at risk of falling prey to ‘puppy farmers’.
These are high volume breeders motivated purely by profit, with little or no regard for a dog’s health and welfare. Puppies bought this way are often separated from their mothers too soon, inadequately socialised, and may not be wormed or immunised.
Caroline Kisko, secretary of The Kennel Club, says: ‘Puppies with all manner of health and behavioural problems are being sold via the internet, pet shops or social media to people who do not know their true background. Buyers then pay the price in veterinary bills and heartache as they watch their beloved pet suffer.’
RESCUE DOGS FOR LESS
WANNABE owners can cut costs by buying from a rescue or rehoming centre. Pets become homeless for all sorts of reasons – not just behavioural problems. Some people move house and find they cannot take their pet, while others find they no longer have enough time to look after them.
Alyson Jones, head of rehoming development at animal charity Blue Cross, says there are many benefits to rehoming a rescue dog. She says: ‘At Blue Cross, all pets are vaccinated, micro-chipped, behaviour assessed and neutered before they go to their new homes.
‘These costs can run into hundreds of pounds, but to rehome a dog through Blue Cross costs just £160. Taking on a pet through a rescue centre also comes with reassurances you cannot get if you risk buying a pet online where you often know nothing about its background.’
COSTS MOUNT
THE Pet Website estimates the additional costs of buying a puppy can easily reach £200. They include spaying or neutering (£60 to £180) and vaccinations against diseases including canine distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and leptospirosis (£30 to £60 for initial injections).
Puppy training costs about £10 an hour for group lessons or £40 to £50 for private training. Owners will also need to buy equipment such as bedding, toys, a cage or crate and a collar and lead.
By law, all dogs must be microchipped and registered by age eight weeks. A micro- chip contains a unique code that holds your pet’s details.
A breeder or rehoming centre should micro-chip a dog for you while some animal charities do it for free. Owners risk a £500 fine if a dog is not micro-chipped. Research from the Dogs Trust gives an idea of the ongoing costs of owning a dog. These include on average per month: £35 for dog food, £ 30 for grooming, £ 30 on insurance and £12 on treatment.
Average annual costs include £40 on vaccination boosters, £100 on toys, £ 210 on boarding, £ 20 on replacement collars, leads and bedding and £75 on meeting any insurance policy excess. That is a whopping £1,700 a year just to own your beloved pet.
Grooming costs depend on the breed. Designer breeds such as cockapoos and labradoodles have woolly curly coats which can mat easily and require regular grooming. Rachel van der Vliet, owner of dog parlour Pipkin’s Palace in Chatham, Kent, says investing in the right brush and comb can save money. She says: ‘If you brush your dog correctly at home you can avoid any nasty surcharges at the groomer’s. They will charge extra for matted dogs and may have to shave the dog short to prevent discomfort.’
LEGAL MATTERS
THE onus is on an owner to control a dog in public and breaking the law can cost you dear.
There is an unlimited fine or even a prison sentence of up to six months if a pet dog is dangerously out of control. Should a dog injure or kill someone the penalties are more severe.
There are also on-the-spot fines for failure to clean up after a dog. The penalty varies depending on the local council but may be as much as £80.
Some councils have stricter rules on dog fouling and make owners carry a poop scoop and disposable bag when they take their dogs out walking.
INSURANCE
PET insurance can seem an unnecessary extra expense. But it only takes a simple accident or short illness for the vet bills to start spiralling.
According to the Association of British Insurers, the average pet insurance claim in 2016 was £757.
Pet insurance premiums vary depending on postcode and a dog’s breed and age. Breeds with a history of medical complaints will be the most expensive to insure.
Pet owners can choose from four main types of cover: accident only; per condition with a time limit; per condition; and lifetime cover.
Lifetime policies are designed to pay for any chronic or recurring condition during the pet’s lifetime up to a set limit as long as the policy is renewed each year.
Non-lifetime policies might not cover dogs once they reach a certain age or those with pre-existing medical conditions.
Some policies include public liability cover in case a dog causes an accident or injures another dog or person. Others provide theft cover and may meet the cost of advertising for a missing pet.