For a pleasant coexistence between four-legged friends and humans, you must train your dog consistently right from the start.
- Experienced dog owners can train the dog on their own.
- If you have no previous experience, you should attend a dog school or work with a dog trainer.
In this way, you develop mutual respect together with your darling. They lay the foundation for a problem-free life together.
Dog schools are usually more cost-effective than individual training because the training takes place in a group. A course of 10 hours costs around 150 euros.
Dog trainers support you in dog training
If you prefer to be trained individually with your dog, the dog trainer is the right choice.
Good trainers focus on you and your dog. In this way, mistakes in upbringing can be avoided right from the start. The dog trainer makes house calls and practice takes place directly during the walk.
An hour of individual training costs significantly more than that in the dog school.
Depending on the trainer, you have to calculate between 40 and 90 euros per hour. There are also possible travel costs for the trainer.
Kennels often offer additional services such as training sessions, dog schools, and dog walking.
Pet passport and chipping of the dog
For trips abroad, you need an EU pet passport, which your veterinarian will issue. On this occasion,n you can consider having your dog chipped.
A small microchip is implanted under your dog’s skin. This microchip contains a unique serial number. This number is entered into the pet ID card.
In this way, your dog is always clearly identifiable. You can register here free of charge as a keeper. Your veterinarian can also enter the vaccinations in the pet passport.
For the intervention of the veterinarian and the microchip, you pay about 50 Euro once.
In Germany, there is no general obligation to have a chip. In some federal states, however, list dogs or dogs of a certain size, age, or weight must be chipped.
In federal states such as Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg, a tattoo is required. Saxony is the only federal state where there is no obligation to have a chip or a tattoo. When traveling to other EU countries, however, a chip is always necessary.
Health care is an important cost
Additional costs arise for the health care of your dog. Annual check-ups and vaccinations are important for the early detection and prevention of diseases.
Vaccinations are recommended against the following diseases:
- distemper
- hepatitis
- parvovirus
- leptospirosis
- rabies
- canine contagious hepatitis
- kennel cough
Here is detailed information on how often a dog needs to be vaccinated.
There is no obligation to have your dog vaccinated. However, you should keep in mind that these diseases could be fatal for your dog. Your veterinarian will be happy to help you with your decision and advise you accordingly.
If you want to travel abroad with your dog, you must have your dog vaccinated in any case. Rabies vaccination is mandatory within the EU. Other mandatory vaccinations vary from country to country. Necessary vaccinations should be clarified before the trip.
Protection against parasites
Ticks and mosquitoes transmit dangerous diseases. Worms can seriously endanger the health of the animal. And fleas are not just an annoying nuisance for both humans and animals.
Therefore, your dog should be regularly protected against parasites.
For vaccinations, deworming and parasite prophylaxis you have to plan between 100 and 200 euros per year. This corresponds to monthly costs of around 8 to 17 euros.
How much does a vet visit cost for a dog?
Preventive treatments are usually only a small part of the vet bills you will incur. Acute illnesses, injuries, or accidents can unexpectedly exceed the budget.
At the veterinarian, the costs are settled according to the fee schedule for veterinarians. An X-ray examination can quickly cost 100 euros, as can a blood count. An operation costs around 1,500 to 2,500 euros, for example, to treat a cruciate ligament tear.
As a dog owner, you should be prepared for such acute cases so that there is no financial catastrophe. Don’t forget to take regular medication if the dog has health problems or chronic illnesses.
Dog Health Insurance
A good way to protect yourself against high vet bills is to have dog health insurance.
You can choose between surgical insurance and health insurance or a combination of both. The monthly costs amount to an average of 30 euros.
The premium for dog health insurance depends on breed, age, previous illnesses, and the agreed deductible. A comparison of the different insurance companies is worthwhile here in any case.
An alternative to this is a savings account. There you pay a fixed amount of 30 euros per month. This money serves as an emergency reserve for unplanned medical expenses. You form your health insurance.
A dog is more than a monthly expense
Of course, having a dog comes with a cost. You should take this into account when making your decision. At the same time, a dog enriches your life tremendously.
However, monthly loads are easy to plan. You should plan a reserve for unforeseen and sometimes high expenses such as the vet.
If you decide to get a large animal, you will incur significantly more monthly costs than with a small dog. Because with a large dog, the higher expenses for dog food have a major impact.
Unfortunately, many people continue to underestimate additional costs that dog owners face and that go beyond purchase and initial equipment.
You should consider getting a dog that is on the breed list. Both the dog tax and the costs for compulsory courses or insurance are significantly higher here.
Plan your dog’s expenses
A dog is a great companion and loyal family member. The monthly costs of 50 to 100 euros are easily manageable with a regular income. Nevertheless, owning a dog is not free, even if it will feel like it later.
In any case, it is important to plan the costs for a dog. Because it is very painful for both you and your pet if your dog has to move out again for cost reasons and ends up in the animal shelter.
In addition, your dog will live with you for many years. This is a long-term commitment that you should think about and plan carefully. If a dog fits into your financial framework, then it is an investment that cannot be weighed with money.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I afford a dog?
If you get the dog from an animal shelter or an animal welfare organization, you can expect costs of around 150 to 300 euros, depending on the age of the animal and whether it is neutered or not.
What is the cost of a dog?
Depending on the animal shelter, this is between 200 and 300 euros. If you go to a reputable breeder, the cost of a puppy is usually higher. They can be between 600 and 1,500 euros; for very rare dog breeds you have to dig even deeper into your pocket.
How much does a dog cost over its lifetime?
The Animal Welfare Association has therefore set up an example calculation for a medium-sized dog that is 14 years old: its owner must spend at least 12,000 to 17,000 euros on it over its entire lifetime. Special costs such as possible major operations or a dog school are not included.
How much is the most expensive dog in the world?
It is fiery red, weighs 80 kilos, and costs,s as much as a villa: the Tibetan mastiff Hong Dong is the most expensive dog in the world.
What is the rarest dog breed in the world?
What is the rarest dog breed in the world? Since there is hardly any statistical data on rare dog breeds, it is not possible to say exactly which breed is the rarest. Some of the rarest include the otterhound, Azawakh, and chinook.
How much does it cost to euthanize a dog?
Putting your dog to sleep: the cost
If you need to euthanize your dog, the costs can range from €100 to €600: Euthanasia process: €20 to €60 Medication: €20 to €50 (depending on medication) Sedatives and narcotics: €10 to €20 (depending on Drug)
How much do the largest dogs in the world cost?
The most expensive dog in the world is the Tibetan mastiff which is one of the largest dog breeds in the world. “Dazhewang”, as the most expensive dog is called, was sold in 2014 for the equivalent of 1.5 million euros. Here you can find out what makes the 90-kilo Tibetan Mastiff so exceptional and valuable.
How much does an old dog from an animal shelter cost?
There is a nominal fee to adopt a dog from a shelter. This is not uniformly regulated, but you should reckon with 200 to 350 euros. The dogs are mostly already vaccinated and dewormed, sometimes even neutered.
Mary Allen