[Ivanhoe29]

1) What is the breed and sex of your dog?
Labrador Retriever - yellow, female

2) How old is your dog?
5 1/2 months

3) How long have you been a dog owner?
off and on for about 25 yrs. Current dog about 4 mos.

4) About how much money do you spend on your dog?
The price of the dog, initial supplies, vaccinations, spay, toys, treats, training class, food, probably around $3K, but seeing my kids take the initiative in caring for their dog - priceless....

5) Do you keep your dog outside or allow him/her to be inside? She inside when we are home, outside when we are not.

6) What activities do you do with your dog?
Walking, dog park, training, hopeully swimming in the summer.

7) How much time do you spend with your dog?
When we are at home, she is by our side.

8) Are you married?
Yes, just passed 8 years

9) Do you have children?
Yes, 4 and 6 years old.

10) Do you hang out with other dog owners?
Yes, at the dog park.

11) As a dog owner did you have to overcome any significant challenges such as getting obedience training for your dog?
Don't consider obedience training as a significant challenge. Sending my kids to school isn't a significant challenge either.

If I can get my dog to pick up her own poop, that would be awesome.

12) What is your reason for owning a dog?
For some reason, life does not feel complete without a dog. I also want my kids to grow up with a dog.

[onyxdaily]

1) What is the breed and sex of your dog? Female Hound rescue, Male Black Labrador Retriever, Male Saint Bernard
2) How old is your dog? Hound age unknown, Lab 10months, Saint Bernard 6 months
3) How long have you been a dog owner? I've had dogs all my life, but I owned my own and had full responsibility of my first dog 12 years ago
4) About how much money do you spend on your dog? Well, on my 3, if they're healthy, I spend several a hundred a month (food, treats, toys, heartgard, frontline). But there always seems to be something unexpected for an extra vet visit and treatment, such as allergic reactions ($500 ER visit), hot spots ($150), and my former lab had cancer and we spent several thousand $ on her diagnosis and treatment, so the $ spent varies
5) Do you keep your dog outside or allow him/her to be inside? all 3 are inside
6) What activities do you do with your dog? playing with toys, training, and soon to start swimming
7) How much time do you spend with your dog? the boys go to work with my husband every day, as for me, I am with them all other times I am not at work
8) Are you married? yes
9) Do you have children? just my 3 furbabies
10) Do you hang out with other dog owners? most of my friends all have dogs
11) As a dog owner did you have to overcome any significant challenges such as getting obedience training for your dog? a significant challenge for us is dealing with our rescue hound (never had a rescue before). She has many issues, a possible history of abuse, behavioral issues, discipline issues, and others. It is alot of work with her, but well worth it.
12) What is your reason for owning a dog? I absolutely love dogs. Even when I'm having the worst day, I know when I get home, they're there waiting for me with all the love and joy they have, and it makes it better.

[Amaya-Mazie-Marley]

1) What is the breed and sex of your dog?
Chinese Crested Powderpuff - Female
Puggat - Female
Pit bull - Male

2) How old is your dog?
Chinese crested - almost 2
Puggat - 6 1/2 months
Pit bull - 7
3) How long have you been a dog owner?
Around 10 years

4) About how much money do you spend on your dog?
Whatever I need to spend. Dog food, toys, vet bills, grooming etc.

5) Do you keep your dog outside or allow him/her to be inside?
The two females stay inside. Male won't come inside for some reason. The females do go outside often to play and such though

6) What activities do you do with your dog?
Everything I do they do. Go for walks, ride my bike around, car rides to the store

7) How much time do you spend with your dog?
I am home all day long for the most part, so I'm always with them

8) Are you married?
Engaged

9) Do you have children?
Not yet

10) Do you hang out with other dog owners?
Almost everybody I know owns a dog

11) As a dog owner did you have to overcome any significant challenges such as getting obedience training for your dog?
I am in the current process of training my puggat on a few things. One of the biggest things me and my dogs have had to go through was my two females got into some medication that my sister left laying around. They both started having seziures.

12) What is your reason for owning a dog?
I not only own dogs, but I own cats, chinchillas and a rat. I am a huge animal lover and wouldn't survive without animals. Preferably dogs.

Hope this helped!

[jjoseph]

Wow!!! Lot of interesting responses.

I was actually kinda afraid of posting theses questions but you guys are very kind and helpful in giving my group more insight into dog owners.

While reading, I noticed that many of you own multiple dogs which I guess isn't too surprising since you all love dogs so much.

I'm also surprised at how expensive it can get to take care of a dog (let alone multiple dogs).

Once again thanks for all your help

[jjoseph]

Originally Posted by Shalva

ahhhhhh yes the smell of panic is in the air...... my students turn in their final projects to me tomm. and I am sure that they are madly trying to find their articles....

So to bail you all out.....


1) What is the breed and sex of your dog?

I have five dogs......
3 Flat Coated Retrievers,
2 Golden Retrievers

1 GR M age 6
1 GR F age 4

1 FCR F age 2
1 FCR M age 5
1 FCR F age 6 almost 7

2) How old is your dog?

answered up there

3) How long have you been a dog owner?

more years than I am willing to put on this page.....

4) About how much money do you spend on your dog?

to much..... my dogs are all showdogs....
they also all eat a raw diet....
so If i were to break this down for you I would be an outlier ...... (taken statistics yet??? )

I spend roughly $350 on dog food every six weeks
I recently removed a sock from the intestinal tract of a hungry dog $2500
A recent spay due to infection was $1300

When I am showing, a show weekend, including travel, hotel, handler fees, entry fees, food for all, gas etc. can cost me $500 for the weekend. I show my dogs about twice a month for the weekend sometimes more sometimes less depending on the season..... so summer from april to November lets figure $750 in show fees per month... that will take care of high months and low months.

Routine vet care for five dogs...... a few thousand a year..... figuring for shots, titers, exams.... etc...... oh and one of my dogs has epilepsy so that adds money... but ok a couple thousand a year....

you didn't ask about toys and treats but thats not to expensive.....

ok so you do the math I don't wanna think about it, to expensive......



Health clearances and other routine veterinary care.....


5) Do you keep your dog outside or allow him/her to be inside?

My dogs are all pets.... and in the house .....


6) What activities do you do with your dog?

we walk, and hike, we go to the lake and do regular dog type stuff in addition to competition obedience, hunt work, and show stuff...... and the training for those things.

7) How much time do you spend with your dog?

not enough.... lately...... several hours per day.... they are always with me when I am home.....

8) Are you married?

Yep


9) Do you have children?

No Way......

10) Do you hang out with other dog owners?

Yes most of my friends are other dog people...... I actually have fewer dogs than most of my friends


11) As a dog owner did you have to overcome any significant challenges such as getting obedience training for your dog?

ok define significant???? because training your dog and making your dog a good citizen is not a significant challenge... it is a part of responsible dog ownership.....

a significant challenge would be getting my epilepsy dog to stop seizing.....

12) What is your reason for owning a dog?

they are kind, and gentle, and loyal, fun to be around, and overall nicer than most people.

I don't think "significant" was the right word I was looking for more like important or crucial.

Based on some of the figures you have given for the cost of dog food, vertinary care, and competition, your annual annual costs towards your dogs would be well over $9,000

Since you spend so much on your dogs, another question that has come to me is do you get any sort of tax breaks for caring for your dogs sort of like how it is for raising a family?

Thanks for the response.

[Snowshoe]

Originally Posted by RonE

I thought we decided there would be no more name-calling on Dog Forums.

LOL!!!!

And yes, I did actually laugh out loud with a bit of tear action.

I'll have to show that to my BF. He'll get a kick out of it!

[jjoseph]

Originally Posted by Tess&Coco

Will it mess up your stats to have someone from the UK answer?

No, not at all. Actually I think it's good if I can have a few overseas posters answer because I think it can give an idea on the possible differences between US and foreign dog owners.

Thanks for taking the time to help

[SFury]

Originally Posted by Laurelin

I want your sheltie/papillon

Be careful of what you wish for. Look at the little killer! He stole my chair!


Look at his big buddy condemned to the floor...

[Laurelin]

Ahhh! That has to be one of the cutest dogs ever! And your blue merle sheltie is beautiful too. I have to say you have exquisite taste in dogs.

*pats her two shelties and two papillons*

[Shalva]

Originally Posted by jjoseph

I don't think "significant" was the right word I was looking for more like important or crucial.

Based on some of the figures you have given for the cost of dog food, vertinary care, and competition, your annual annual costs towards your dogs would be well over $9,000

Since you spend so much on your dogs, another question that has come to me is do you get any sort of tax breaks for caring for your dogs sort of like how it is for raising a family?

Thanks for the response.

a tax deduction now wouldn't that be nice but alas there are no tax deductions for people who have more dogs than common sense.

I would guess that my dog expenses were rather high..... and that is not a year that I breed right now I am breeding a girl and that and care for the pups can be pretty expensive.

I do make money when I have a litter..... but if I were to put this on a spreadsheat.... and you came up with expenses of close to $9,000 and I am sure that I left things out that I dont think about like training classes did I mention those, the phone bill talking to puppy people, dog dishes to replace the old, new crates periodically, my fence that I had to install and keep repairing..... a car big enough to hold my pack of dogs.... crates to keep at my in-laws house.... canvas crates for summer.... leather show leads and regular leashes and collars.... all that stuff isn't included so if you figure that I am going to have a litter of pups and will get $1200 per puppy..... then if you put that on a spreadsheet I still come out in the red..... and I don't breed every year.... more like every 3 or 4 years.... so lets just say $10,000/year for five dogs......

so over 3 years, thats roughly 30,000 then I have a litter of lets say 8 puppies X $1200 / puppy - one that I keep because I only breed when I am going to keep a puppy, - stud fees, and vet care so another 2,000 roughly so that is 9600 - 3200= 6400...... but now take the 30,000 i have spent over the years that Ididn't breed and subtract the 6400 and that brings us to 24,600
that is how much I am in the red.

my point being that if a person is breeding for the right reasons and cares for their dogs properly and makes their dogs prove that they are worth breeding then you don't make any money. My dogs are a money pit..... I love them to death.... but they need to start sending out their CV (resume).

Dogs for me is a hobby, a very expensive hobby, but I have met some wonderful people and have some great friends who all need some serious psychological help. I am truly lucky to be in a position financially that I can afford to play this game and care for my dogs the way that I think I should.

that was the long answer to a very short question. oh and my significant problem at hand is getting one of my darned golden retrievers to stop harrassing his half brother who lives next door by barking whenever he sees him through the trees.... its like a quarter mile away I dont know how he even sees him but whatever....

the other big problem was like I mentioned earlier.... I have a dog with seizures and keeping him seizure free is always a challenge.....oh yeah seizure free and well fed so he doesn't feel the need to eat socks.

S

[poodleholic]

1) What is the breed and sex of your dog?
Two dogs, both Standard Poodles, Male and Female

2) How old is your dog?
Both are five years old.

3) How long have you been a dog owner?
50+ years

4) About how much money do you spend on your dog?
$500 + each month

5) Do you keep your dog outside or allow him/her to be inside?
My dogs aren't lawn ornaments, they're family members, so they live inside.

6) What activities do you do with your dog?
Walks, canine freestyle dance performances for kids in shelter, tracking, Sunday brunch on the beach with friends, people watching at The Pier, and they accompany me just about everywhere, including to work. My dogs help me with rehab work with rescued dogs (and cats) that I foster until a forever home can be found for them.

7) How much time do you spend with your dog?
18-24 hrs. a day.

8) Are you married?
Not any more. Dogs are better company (and they don't bitch about what's for dinner).

9) Do you have children?
Two in their thirties, and two grandsons.

10) Do you hang out with other dog owners?
Sometimes.

11) As a dog owner did you have to overcome any significant challenges such as getting obedience training for your dog?
Learning to train my dogs. They do chores around the house, bring me my purse, my keys, the phone, their leashes, and so on.

12) What is your reason for owning a dog?
Life without a dog is like dancing without music; you *can,* but why?

[SunSiberians]

1) What is the breed and sex of your dog?
Both dogs are male and Siberian Husky

2) How old is your dog?
One is 1.5 years and the other is 3.5

3) How long have you been a dog owner?
There has always been dogs in my family - but as an adult I've only owned dogs for about 3 years.

4) About how much money do you spend on your dog?
Let's see....30lb of food - $42 (per month)
Toys - $20 (per month)
Equipment - sled harnesses, leash & collar making supplies, dog backpacks, grooming supplies...etc $500 (per year)
Vet - $800 (per year)
So I guess about $1500 a year...wow, where does that all come from?

5) Do you keep your dog outside or allow him/her to be inside?
They're primarily inside dogs - however they have access to a dog door all day long.

6) What activities do you do with your dog?
Hike, kayak, swim, camp, bike, scooter, roller blading

7) How much time do you spend with your dog?
All day and all night, lol. Of course not when I have to go off to my classes. In the winter I take them on errands with me.

8) Are you married?
No.

9) Do you have children?
No.

10) Do you hang out with other dog owners?
Yes, although unfortunately none of my friends are dog lovers, but luckily my family is made up of dog people.

11) As a dog owner did you have to overcome any significant challenges such as getting obedience training for your dog?
Not really. My dogs have all been through basic training classes. I still work with them on things that I feel are practical and important to me and our lifestyle.

12) What is your reason for owning a dog?
Companionship, protection and a general love for the history of domestic dogs.

[Shalva]

Originally Posted by SunSiberians

1)
Equipment - sled harnesses, leash & collar making supplies, dog backpacks, grooming supplies...etc $500 (per year)

I have been thinking about getting a sled for my dogs.... with five soon seven I have figured that would be a fun way to spend NH winters..... I am not sure who I would put in the lead as if they saw a bird to try and chase I might never be seen again.... but it seems like fun.... kinda like skijoring with more than one.
s

[luv4gsds]

1) What is the breed and sex of your dog?
Mini Dachshunds- 1 M, 1 F (both spayed/neutered)
German Shepherds- 2 M's, 4 F's (two females spayed)
2) How old is your dog?
Mini Dachshunds- Male 3 yrs., Female 5 yrs.
German Shepherds- Male 9 months, Male 6 yrs., Female 5 yrs. (spayed), Female 2 yrs., Female 3 yrs., Female 1 yrs. (spayed).
3) How long have you been a dog owner? To many years to count.
4) About how much money do you spend on your dog? $2378 (This is rough estimate)
5) Do you keep your dog outside or allow him/her to be inside? They are inside dogs
6) What activities do you do with your dog? Earthdog, Mondioring, Herding, walks and other playtime stuff.
7) How much time do you spend with your dog? 24/7
8) Are you married? Yes
9) Do you have children? Yes
10) Do you hang out with other dog owners? Yes
11) As a dog owner did you have to overcome any significant challenges such as getting obedience training for your dog? Nope. Now it was kind of a challenge when first starting out training one of my shepherd to help my son with his disabilities (I did not train him had a professional train him).
12) What is your reason for owning a dog? Because the love I have for them and the love they give back.

[poodleholic]

Since you spend so much on your dogs, another question that has come to me is do you get any sort of tax breaks for caring for your dogs sort of like how it is for raising a family?

Only Guide/Service Dogs are tax deductible (for all needed for the care and feeding of, along with training, grooming, and equipment).

[Tess&Coco]

Originally Posted by jjoseph

No, not at all. Actually I think it's good if I can have a few overseas posters answer because I think it can give an idea on the possible differences between US and foreign dog owners.

Thanks for taking the time to help

Good luck with the project. Let us know your results!

I think having dogs in the UK is pretty similar to the US. The order of costs etc is similar. We just don't seem to have dog parks (and pit bulls are a banned breed... ). And certainly NO tax breaks for choosing to share our lives with dogs.