How much will that Doggie cost?

[SarasMom]

There has been a hot thread elsewhere about $100 Rottweilers. Some have the notion that there are BARGAIN Rottweilers. hehehehe
This topic will NOT be about the initial cost of your Rottweiler, but about the cost of keeping and caring for a Rottweiler for 10 or 12 years. Whether your Rottie was a "free" stray, $25 from a shelter, $100 from a BYB, or $500 to $2000 or more from a reputable breeder, the cost of caring properly for him is not cheap. This information will be here for all the folks considering buying a Rottweiler. I'll start the expense list, and others can feel free to add as necessary. These expense amounts will be minimums, and we'll assume that the potential new Rottie owner has to start from scratch. (No dog supplies from previous dogs owned.)

1) Good quality kibble- $1 per pound.
2) Food and water bowls- $10
3) Leash and collar- $20 (If your dog is a puppy, you will have to buy at least 3 collars.)
4) Training collars and lead.- $30
5) Toenail clippers or dremmel- $10 to $40
6) Brush or rake $10
7) Toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoos, etc.- $30 annually
8) Tattoo or Microchip- $40
9) Licensing fee- $10-???? annually
10) Crate- $70 and up
11) Dog bed- $25
12) Toys- haha, how much do you wanna spend?
13) Fenced yard or kennel- $1000 to ?????
14) Misc optional items like doghouse or doggydoor-????
15) Annual vaccinations or titer tests- $50 and up.
16) Heartworm preventative medication- $60 per year.
17) Flea preventatives or treatments-$60 per year.
18) Obedience classes- $60 to ????
19) If your Rottie is a pet, spay or neuter surgery- $100+
20) If your want a showdog, handler fees and entry fees, etc- $$$$$$$$
21) If your want to breed your dog RESPONSIBLY, the extreme costs of this are listed under other topics.
22) If you think your dog might ever become ill or injured, vet insurance is a nice way to stay out of the poorhouse. $150-$200 annually.
23) If you don't have #22, vet bills for even minor ailments can be very large. Even the healthiest and best cared for Rottie usually has some little necessity for the vet once or twice a year. Just count on at least $100 per year in misc. vet bills. Some pay more for a puppy with health tested parents to try to avoid health problems and expenses. Hmmm, maybe the $500 Rottie isn't so expensive.
24) Vacation-either take your dog along-airline fees, extra hotel fees, OR leave him in a boarding kennel- ($12+ per day).
25) All those misc items we must have, Rottie how-to books, cute little Rottie license plates, Rottie t-shirts, etc. Also, many Rottie owners buy certain vehicles, etc, just to accomodate their pets.

Feel free to add to this list-I'm sure I have forgotten some items. I know some of you are laughing hysterically at some of these low prices mentioned. Depending on where you shop or the region you live, some of this stuff is much higher.

Bargain Rotties? NOT! The initial cost is just the beginning. Want a cheap pet? Get a Goldfish!
Rotties are PRICELESS!

[This message has been edited by SarasMom (edited July 04, 2000).]

[Ken Butterfield]

Well said,
And still some of those things would be considered very cheap at least for me,with healthy dogs!

[damp]

26) Gas - up and down to training (we pay $ 1.14 pr. LITRE about $ 5.70 pr. Gallon)
27) Various club subscription and dog magazines $ 80 a year
28) Statutory liability insurance $ 40 a year.

[rottix2]

Very well said! Speaking from experience, vet bills for such things as ACL repairs and x-rays can add up fast.

29. Don't forget treats!

[2RottieMom]

Great post! Don't forget about homeowners insurance. Some insurance companies will not cover you because of the type of dog you own. If they won't cover you, get your fingers working on phone. If they will cover you and they feel your dogs are a big liability, you may pay more than $500 a year. I'm fortunate that my insurance company did not raise my insurance because of the type of dogs we own.

[AngelBunny]

Because one can't ever be smart enough and there's always something to learn:

30. Books. For instance, Richard Beauchamp's The Complete Idiot's Guide to Rottweilers is $15 + S&H.

[tricia]

Sarasmom:

This is a great post! It really make you think about the money that a pet requires! I don't even notice it anymore as it is a necessity and I would not think other wise. But it really helps to put everythng in perspective for a new pet owner. They are expensive but that unconditional love is all worth it!

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~Tricia & Dakota~

[WillowWin's]

I agree by no means are they a cheap pet..I have over 15k rapped up in Commander alone and he is just 6 this includes International shows , Akc, vet bills gotta keep him in the best of shap :-)training and ect..So like you said wanna cheap pet buy a goldfish or hampster...

Kevin
Kevin

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Willow-Wins Rottweilers

[Monika Malow]

The only things you forgot were bones and treats. I always tell my friends-buying the dog is the cheapest part of dog ownership. The money just keeps flying out the window!!But hey, they are worth every dollar!!!!!!!!

[Orville Story]

Doggie Day Care $30 per day.

[Jean]

And if you happened to live in a country where things for large-breed are either imported(price doubled!!) or you have to have someone fly to the US for a yearly shopping for your rottie, I would say keeping a rottie is not cheap!

[Melina]

This reminds me of something funny that happened to me in Petco a couple months ago. I was standing in line with Kali and the woman in front of me was admiring her. She was complaining to the poor employee that all of her pet fish died and so she wanted to return some of the *used* aquarium equipment, because she had purchased it only a few weeks ago. Blah blah blah, finally the clerk was so frustrated that she gave the woman a store credit. The woman told me she was going to go out and get a puppy just like Kali, because the fish equipment cost her too much money! For a moment I thought she was joking and I started to laugh, but then I realized that she was for real. I told her I was sorry to hear about her fish and told her how much I had spent on Kali since acquiring her. She didn't believe me until I pointed out all the stuff necessary for a dog. And to think she was upset about her $200 fish tank and the $50 she had spent on fish. Lets hope she got a couple new goldfish instead of a puppy.
Everyone should read this list before even thinking about getting a dog.

[MEDIC]

Dont forget we cannot stand to have just one we go out and buy another and double everything.Haha

Larry

[poohbearsmom]

gee medic - that's what i just did! now poohbear has a "mini-me" shredding her ankles! teehee....

[Michael C.]

31. Rogaine........$????