Large Dog Breed Owners, Can You Help a Girl Out?

[All American]

Getting to the point.

On average, how much does your dog eat each week or month? In other words, how many bags of dog food do you go through in that amount of time? If you are comfortable making it known, about how much do you spend on dog food each month/week? (Sorry to ask such a personal question, but this is the final hurdle of committing to a purchase.)

We have the space, time, and desire for a dog (Greater Swiss Mountain Dog if that helps/you're wondering). I just want to be sure our budget would allow for the amount a large dog would eat.

Thanks for any and all help.

 

[sjams]

I have a golden retreiver and a small dog and we buy plain old Dog Chow from Sam's about every two months. It runs about $15 per 55lb bag. My golden eats 2 cups (I have a 2 cup measure in the can) 1x a day and the little dog eats 1 cup a day. Hope that helps and if you have any more ?'s let me know!

 

[Lanshark]

I have an 80 pound golden and a 40 pound Aussie. We go though about 50 pounds of food a month. We buy a high quality food at about $35 a bag.

Now figure in the cost of Heartworm pills HEARTGARD each month.
Also figure in the cost of a flea/tick preventative FRONTLINE.

Go to a pet supply website and find out the cost of the HEARTGARD and FRONTLINE for a dog of that size. We spend more in those two than we do the food.

Once you have all of that figure in the cost of vet visits. My dog's yearly shots and exams run about $150 each. If one of them get sick it us usually about a $100 vet visit.

Not trying to discourage you but make sure you figure in ALL of the costs.

There may also be grooming costs. My dogs are indoors so we have them clipped down. If I didn't I would be vacuuming up enough fur to make a new dog each day. Having them both clipped is around $100 every three months.

 

[lclark0621]

We have a 75-80 lb German Shepherd & a 70 lb Siberian Husky. Together they go through about a 20 lb bag of food every week and a half or so. They also get a holistic diet of meat & organs.

Our Great Dane is only 11 weeks old. She goes through a 20 lb bag every 2 and a half weeks or so. She is also on the holistic diet.

We are currently feeding our dogs Nutro Large Breed Adult & Large Breed Puppy. We try to stick with the "human grade" foods (wellness, solid gold, nutro, etc).

My dogs get sick of the same food over & over, so we have to mix it up from time to time & switch brands.

Giving them natural food is very good for them also. The mean & organs is very healthy & natural for them.

 

[All American]

No discouragement here. I know it is alot of work having a dog. I grew up with huskies and malamutes, and I just fed the dogs and helped clean up after them. My parents handled the finances and trips to the vet. Now, it's my turn.

Thanks for saving me a trip to Sams. I was wondering how the dog food there.

As for the Frontline and Heartgard (which reminds me---obedience school), yep. Slipped my mind. Thanks for the reminder. I just went and checked out prices, and it should be fine. The big upfront costs don't bother me so much. We always keep a separate account for emergencies and those chunk-of-change transactions. It's the day-to-day stuff I just want to be aware of so I can see where I can fit it in.

I also know that many people prefer a more (lack of better term) natural diet for their dogs, and it is an idea I have toyed around with.

This is very informative. Thanks!

 

[beckmrk04]

I don't buy premium food, but I don't buy cheap food. My dog weighs 86 lbs, and it costs probably around $35/month (1 bag every two to two and a half- that's a 20lb bag).

I also agree with Lanshark: figure in the cost of Heartguard and Frontline/Advantage, yearly vet bills (shots, check-up, etc), obedience training, and all the STUFF a large dog needs (dog house if ever outside, crate for in house, grooming or grooming supplies- Swiss have lots of hair, what to do with the dog when you aren't home or on vacation, collars, bowls, toys, leash, treats, etc).

A large dog can cost quite a bit when you figure in everything. Some things are one time purchases, other things (such as food and flea/tick meds and Heartgaurd) are monthly expenses that are a MUST.

 

[Lanshark]

We buy our food at Petsmart. I wish SAMS or COSTCO carried the Nutro but as of yet I haven't seen it.

 

[kayeandjim00]

We use Innova Evo and go through a medium sized bag (about 22.00) every two weeks. We have a 40 lb basset mix and a 65 lb lab mix. I'd be really particular what you feed them. Feeding quality food can definitely lower your health care costs as the years go by - especially with allergies and things. Good luck

 

[NikiM20]

Ozzy is about 130 lbs and he eats 8 cups a day

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have a 65lb dog and a 45lb dog = one big dog . I buy Natural Balance from PetCo right now and we go through a big bad in 2ish weeks, around 45.00 a bag so that is roughly 90.00 a month.

Geesh you guys are getting off easy!

My guess would be to budget 100.00 month for a large breed, esp. a puppy.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

We have two laborador retrievers that eat 2 cups of Pedigree twice a day. A 22lb. bag of food lasts more than a week, but less than two weeks. I pay between $9 and $12 per bag depending on sales and where I shop.

 

[Taylor]

We buy the good stuff for Brutus. Costs us about $30 a week..but the big lug is worth it.

 

[punkin]

I no longer own a large dog (my saint bernard passed away almost 4 years ago at the age of 12) but she was VERY expensive. She had digestive problems (never buy a puppy mill puppy) and we bought her special dog food that cost me about $40 per week. Additionally you have to factor in grooming (every 8 weeks-$80); vet bills; broken vacuum cleaner (her sheding was unreal); dog sitter when we vacationed; and other things I am sure I forgot.

 

[KristiKelly]

We have a 55-60 lb. Goldendoodle, we feed her Premium Edge Dog Food. She eats 18 lb bag a month, price is ~$20.00.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I have:

a Newfoundland-140 lbs. 5 cups/day
a Labrador (old) 100 lbs. 4 cups/day
a Bernese Mountain Dog 100 lbs 4 cups/day
a mutt 65 lbs 4 cups/day

I buy 52 lb bags of Pedigree (we used to feed them Iams-the output in the yard was more than Pedigree) at $17.00 bag. One bag lasts about 2-1/2 weeks...

Between boarding rates, vet bills, food costs, and labor/upkeep involved, I am stating right now that I will NEVER have 4 dogs again....and I will NEVER have a dog that weighs more than 65 lbs again...It is a lot of work...but they are really sweet...

 

[Luv'sTink]

We have a 70 pound golden... She gets Eukanuba it runs about $30 every a month.

 

[NikiM20]

Out of curiosity, how does everyone determine how much food they give their dog? I feed mine according to the weight guidelines, but I see others who have dogs about mines size who feed less on the same food

 

[snowwhite17]

I have a German Shepherd that weighs between 80-90 lbs. We have to buy him special food due to alergies. It costs $30.00 for a 40 lbs bag. It doesn't contain any beef or chicken, mostly salmon. He eats about 3 cups a day. If you have a dog that doesn't have alergies you can get a lot better deal on food.

 

[All American]

Ozzy is about 130 lbs and he eats 8 cups a day

That is one big dog! Out of curiosity, what kind is it?

Thanks for all of the input. It is helping a ton. Decisions. Decisions.

 

[cassie]

Out of curiosity, how does everyone determine how much food they give their dog? I feed mine according to the weight guidelines, but I see others who have dogs about mines size who feed less on the same food

My vet told me never to give the amount the bag recommends. My 55 pound shep mix gets 1 1/4 cups dry and 1/4 wet. I feed her Nutro.