How expensive is it to keep a big dog ??

Hi , thinking of getting a dog after many years of saying no and im unsure as to what costs would be associated with keeping a big dog ..
if it helps , we are looking at buying a Siberian Husky ..
I know there’s vet bills, food etc , but what would a dog that size eat in a day ?? … 1 can of dog food , 2 ??

Food etc is really not a lot. I get a big bag of Bakers at the supermarket lasts for ages and cost less than a tenner (can’t remember exactly).

It’s not really the food that costs the money, its doggy care if you’re at work, dog walkers etc. Expect to pay £10 for a dog walker so can get expensive. Also holidays – dog sitters etc.

If you or someone is at home to walk etc then not really an issue. But having said that we’d leave our dog at home for 5-7 hours – just not every day.

Kennel bills can be fun. 3xgreyhounds after a trip to Oz = £600!! 😀

Parents seem to spend a fortune at the vets, at least a couple of grand in the last few years

Buy decent food.

Ours works out at £30 a month to feed a similar sized dog. This doesn’t include treats which at a guess is another £10 a month.

Equipment will also add up each year. Bed(s), toys, collar’s, lead etc.

Ive a big lab and to be honest with food, insurance etc , I’d doubt If he cost us anymore than £50 a month. A word of warning though a lab will be a hell of a lot easier to look after than a Huskie. Though Im sure you have done your homework.

vet bills are expensive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_Husky

Hyperactivity, displaying as an overactive hunting drive, a characteristic of kenneled dogs, is often noticeable in dogs released from their captive environment for exercise — a behavior welcome in hunting dogs but not in the family pet.

Are you sure?

At least you can kennel him/her outside, our cold won’t affect them.

We have a similar sized dog (not a husky)

costwise PER month breaks down as:

food £40 (Not canned food, dry is best for teeth)
Insurance £22 (large dogs = large vet bills)
toys £10 (he destroys loads quickly)
Treats £10
Collars/car harness/dog beds/ = optional £££

Siberian Huskys are ‘challenging’ large breed to own. I know a few owners, (my missus is a vetinerey surgeon) – I looked into owning one a few years ago. They do have a few issues. You may already know these and be fine with them.

1.Huskies have to have tonnes of exercise, but, you cant excerise them off the lead anywhere in public. When they get it in there mind to run, they just go – and dont come back. Ive heard a few horror stories from folks seeing there dog take off into the distance without looking back.

2.Dog proofing your house/garden. Huskies are escape artists, they can easily get over standard garden fences, and dig under ones they cant get over. The owners i know have large confined runs for them, and 7 foot fences around the garden, buried 2 foot into the ground to stop the aforementioned digging escape. If they do escape – see point 1 above.

3. Temperament. They are VERY strong willed dogs at the best of time. And need a very firm hand from day one to keep them inline. Check parents temperament, they can become agressive/destructive if they get bored. And they get bored easily if not provided with the required amount of exercise per day (which is at least 2/3 hours per day – according to the missus)

After looking into all these points and meeting a few owners and dogs, i decided i couldnt own a Husky as i wouldnt be able to dedicate the time required to be fair to the dog. Its a breed that demands exercise and leadership almost constantly to keep it on track.

I think its a dog to own if you do an outdoor based job, that you can take your dog with you all day.

Still thing they are magnificient animals. Good luck, let us know how you get on 🙂

Kid in my class last year had a massive bite mark around his eye caused by a Siberian Husky.

You are obviously after a status dog.

Very sad.

Kid in my class last year had a massive bite mark around his eye caused by a Siberian Husky.

You are obviously after a status dog.

Very sad.

So anyone who has a breed of dog that has previous history for biting a child is after a status dog?? WTF

My 7 year old daughter has been running around with 2 Rotty’s this afternoon so couldn’t disagree more.

We’ve done a few CaniX events (cross country with dogs) and the Husky and Malamute are the most mental of all the dogs there. They need insane exercise and tend to make terrible pets on their own. The only people I’ve seen stay sane with them have acres of land, hours of time and a wheeled sled to run them in the summer. Pretty much an ‘all or nothing’ sort of dog. If you’ve never had a dog before, you’re mental for looking at a Husky. Sorry.

FoxyChick – Member

Kid in my class last year had a massive bite mark around his eye caused by a Siberian Husky.

You are obviously after a status dog.

Very sad.

The OP appears to be doing some ‘homework’ about costs of keeping said dog etc, so I would suggest that implies some level of responsibility? Just because some people keep a particular dog for ‘status’ surely doesn’t make every dog of that breed a status dog?

Jase…cgas what you say.
The OP obviously doesn’t want a run-of-the-mill big dog.

Really hope for your sake, that your 7 yr old doesn’t get bitten.

Who mentioned Rottweillers?
Oh, you did.

Are they status dogs too? 😯

The OP appears to be doing some ‘homework’ about costs of keeping said dog etc, so I would suggest that implies some level of responsibility? Just because some people keep a particular dog for ‘status’ surely doesn’t make every dog of that breed a status dog?

LMAO

From the above comments they sound like a dog that has to work rather than be a pet.

why do you want a husky? tbh, if you knew enough to deal with one you wouldnt be asking the questions

FoxyChick – Member
Kid in my class last year had a massive bite mark around his eye caused by a Siberian Husky.

You are obviously after a status dog.

Very sad.

Judgemental, much?

Judgemental, much?

Not really sure what you mean.

But yes, I am judging that the OP is a T O S S E R after a status dog.

It really is a case of choosing the correct type of dog for your lifestyle. Are you intending to race?

You do realise that they ‘howl’ so that may make you unpopular with neighbours, if you have any!

Edit; you will also need to investigate possible hereditary defects.

^ I’m gonna buy an elephant…what’s that make me?

My new dog seems to be enjoying the fireworks tonight anyway. He’s literally shaking with excitement….

I have a rescue greyhound and pay around £20 a month insurance and decent dry food is aroung £45 for six weeks worth. Tried cheap food but the resulting poos were just too large to scoop.
Great dog, fantastic temperament but shakin’ tonight with the fireworks.

FoxyChick – Member
Judgemental, much?
Not really sure what you mean.

But yes, I am judging that the OP is a T O S S E R after a status dog.
Thanks for calling me a tosser foxychick , really appreciate that !
Status dog ?? .. No idea ..

Don’t forget to factor in worming tablets (lots for husky sized dog) and anti-flea treatment.

Go to farmers suppliers for dog food, cheaper than supermarket, Bakers is really expensive imo, the colours just make you think they are eating meat and 2 veg.

My dog is about the same size as a husky (rhodesian ridgeback) and costs about £100 a month.
Food – £40
Insurance (petplan)-£33
Treats – £30 (ok he’s spoilt rotten :oops:)

You need a big house, big garden and a big bank balance for one of them.

I’ve no idea about the OP’s motives, but people who buy dogs for status are weak minded fools. Shouldn’t be trusted with the responsibility of looking after an animal.

Can’t believe these monthly costs! Is this dry food? And insurance sounds horrendous!

I used to buy frozen pet food that I cooked in the microwave – bits of offal etc. Smell was pretty terrible but it did work out cheaper. Then due to illness changed to Chappie (less rich), which is actually of the cheapest brands.

As for £30 per month on treats, that’s just silly!

never seen a husky that can be let off the lead, which is sad. I would look at another breed tbh.

Lurchers are obviously the best. Our costs about £35 a month to feed plus £25 to insure

Thanks for calling me a tosser foxychick , really appreciate that !

It’s my pleasure.

If I didn’t trust the dogs (and owner) she wouldn’t have been have been playing with them.

I got bit by a labrador when I was little, bloody status dogs!!!

My new dog seems to be enjoying the fireworks tonight anyway. He’s literally shaking with excitement….

Whereas mine is barking at them and gagging to chase whatever they are shooting down (Spaniel)…

FoxyChick – Member
Kid in my class last year had a massive bite mark around his eye caused by a Siberian Husky.
You are obviously after a status dog.

Very sad.

Huskies aren’t known for being aggressive towards humans, although other dogs are a different matter. They’re actually regarded as useless guard dogs because they treat everyone as a long lost friend.

Maybe you should ask your teacher if you can do a project on them?

Insurance is a must.

I can not be bothered to type out the full details, but an old neighbour of my in-laws’ dog went swimming in a burn and swallowed a fishing hook and the cost is 4 grand to get it taken out.

It then transpires that the wee dug has a dicky heart and needs to wear a heart monitor to find out what treatment it needs in the future.

The owners are quite poor, but the 3 year old dog is very much loved by the 7 and 11 year old daughters and they have no insurance…

Talk about being between a rock and a hard place 🙁

Talk about being between a rock and a hard place

Good advice, it will save them 50 quid when they come to put it down…..not very humane though

Friends of mine had a Siberian Husky. Beautiful dog, but not a good pet.

He needed a ridiculous amount of exercise, didn’t cope well with living indoors (they sleep oustide in the snow when used as working dogs) and ate all their furniture when left alone for more than an hour or so.

Big dogs are fine and cost little more to keep than small dogs, just choose a breed that needs less specialist attention.

mate of mine has a lovely husky. gets plenty of exercise and is a very nice friendly dog. looks lovely too. they once left it in the car tho while in the shop and it ripped the seats to bits and I mean all the seats 🙂 so just don’t let it get bored . oh and howls fairly at night

LOL – I fancied a husky, but was deterred by a picture of two huskies sat in the wreckage of their owners’ sofa, looking extremely pleased with themselves.

We got a collie instead – she just chews socks ( always one from a pair!)