Cost of living squeeze in 2022, 23 & 24 (Vol. 2)

[Digga]

ARHarh said:

The happiest dogs you see round here are shep dogs. Kept in cages in the yard, forced to travel balanced on the back of quad bike, and allowed to roam free on the farm. They don't get washed in beauty parlors, groomed or sent to Doggy day care. They are always friendly and well behaved, unlike a lot of labradoodle types you meet whilst out walking your dog.

I have a dog, he lives in the house and is part of the family, he socialises with other dogs when out walking or visitors come. He is perfectly happy, and can happily be left all day if we need to. There is no need for dog walkers, day care or fancy grooming services.

Collies are happy, so long as they have a 'mission' or purpose. They can be very tricky, nasty even, if they are bored or underexercised. Same is true of most dogs, but I see collies have an almost manic work drive and have witnessed some finding their own 'jobs' to do, in the absence of sufficient work or stimulation being provided.

They have, purely anecdotally, the dog my dogs, over the years, have most often been attached by.

[Chris Type R]

119 said:

Chris Type R said:

mids said:

Yep, my dog walker just put her cost up the same (well, from £12 to £15 so a 25% increase year on year). The text message explaining this tried to justify it with a vague 'have to cover increased costs' but not sure what that actually is. Probably her haircut cost has also gone up so she has to respond, etc etc. There's no escape.

Our dog walker has also raised prices from
£12.50 to £14. I think the reason was along the lines of they'd looked around, seen everyone else was charging more and felt the need to align.

I suspect this is a profession where the base charge is minimum wage plus n%.

I must be missing something here.

You get a dog, and then pay someone else to walk it.

Time, simple as that. During the week I'm often working 10-12 hour days, my wife is teaching (also quite often 12 hour days) and my daughter is at school. It's more challenging during the dark months. If we were retired / semi-retired or if we had more than one dog we might take a different view.

I'd rather pay someone to take the dog out two days a week, with 'the pack'. He gets very excited when he knows he's off with the dog walker, and returns very hyped. Our dog walker doesn't only walk the dog - he gets to socialise, play and they often run around in special dog friendly fields - it's an altogether more satisfying experience than the typical walks I see people doing - where they're more interested in their phones than spending time with their pets. There's more to it than paying someone to walk the dog - certainly in terms of the experience our dog walker offers.

If time allows, on the days where he's been out with the walker he'll get a further afternoon walk.

I feel that our dog has a more enjoyable/fulfilling life as a result of his outings. I can afford it - and don't really have to justify it.

[okgo]

Have these people taking human caring amounts of money off people always existed? I don’t think I’d ever heard of it as a concept until perhaps 15 years ago or so (I worked near Bruce’s in Cobham)?

[dom9]

Mine went to Bruce's in Cobham for many years, until £450pcm, after year-on-year increases, became mental. Another who works 10-12hrs a day, 3 days a week in the office now (5 days back then), with a teacher missus. So, the dog now gets an hour Mon-Weds with a local, retired copper. It's well under half the price, even if £17ph isn't cheap. She's knocking on 12 (the dog), so not fair to leave her all day without a toilet break. Still gets a gentle walk with me at 6:30am and obviously Thurs-Sun. Loves being 'with her pack' the other days. A happier dog you couldn't wish to meet.

Also had a hole ripped in her side, at Bruce's, by an understimulated Collie, resulting in staples. Possibly twice but the culprit wasn't identified the first time, later realising it was an identical injury. However, most of the ones we know are pretty chill.

Anyway... shes my best mate, doesn't cost private school fees and my life is better for having her, as is hers (foreign rescue), so I'll continue paying others to look after her 3hrs out of 168hrs a week. But to stay on topic... she's probably cost around £100k, total, albeit a lot of that has come back in insurance (a few nasty illnesses).

When she 'goes', we'll save a load of money, each month, not counting the money we've saved not sticking her in kennels whilst we holiday with Trstram and Hermione in Dubai, the last few years. It all balances out. Not that Devon/Norfolk are cheap for summer holidays!

[r3g]

The mental gymnastics on display here from dog owners trying to justify why they got a dog when they can't be arsed caring for it or exercising it themselves because reasons, is a sight to behold.

[croyde]

I live on my own, I'd love a dog but I also work and like to take a couple of long breaks abroad each year, hence why I can't have a dog.

Maybe if I ever get a chance to retire eh

[Mobile Chicane]

croyde said:

I live on my own, I'd love a dog but I also work and like to take a couple of long breaks abroad each year, hence why I can't have a dog.

Maybe if I ever get a chance to retire eh

Start a business offering Doggy Day Care.

[okgo]

I’m half tempted tbh!

I live between Clapham Common, Battersea Park, Brockwell Park - I’d imagine I’d be overrun with demand from people who live in tiny properties with no gardens to take their poodle mix thingy out!

[raceboy]

Mobile Chicane said:

Start a business offering Doggy Day Care.

I'm still laughing at the fact such a thing even exists, but each to there own.
Got to be an even easier gig than childcare, dogs aren't going to grass on you, it's not like they are going to be taking a painting for the fridge door home with them, drive round in a van pick the dogs up, big cage on the back garden, or even just leave them in the van, remembering to crack the window a little, drop them back off again, money for old rope....whos going to know.

[Digga]

raceboy said:

Mobile Chicane said:

Start a business offering Doggy Day Care.

I'm still laughing at the fact such a thing even exists, but each to there own.
Got to be an even easier gig than childcare, dogs aren't going to grass on you, it's not like they are going to be taking a painting for the fridge door home with them, drive round in a van pick the dogs up, big cage on the back garden, or even just leave them in the van, remembering to crack the window a little, drop them back off again, money for old rope....whos going to know.

There's firms in the USA (of course) who tour around neighbourhoods in re-purposed school busses, collection various dogs to go to their day care centre. It's mad, but vey funny and the dogs seem to love the routine.

[raceboy]

Just been costing out the business model...
Ratty old van £2000
20-25 individual dog cages £400
Roof vent £30
sound proofing £70
So £2500 all in, what's the average cost for a day at doggy day care? About £25 a dog/day? I'm in profit before the end of week one!

You could even then use the van for Deliveroo/UberEats while full of the furry passengers during the day, I really should be pitching this on Dragons Den as a franchise rather than sharing it on here.

Only drawback I can see is there appears to be some sort of legal licencing requirements....but I'd imagine it would take months if not years to be investigated.

[skwdenyer]

okgo said:

Have these people taking human caring amounts of money off people always existed? I don’t think I’d ever heard of it as a concept until perhaps 15 years ago or so (I worked near Bruce’s in Cobham)?

At a rough guess, it correlates with (a) both of a couple working full time, (b) the reduction in property sizes and land available, (c) the market availability of the services, and (d) the explosion in things people find it important / critical to do (work, social media, posting on PH, etc).

A lot of people are very busy in ways that they weren’t even 15 years ago. A lot of that new-found busyness is new stuff.

At the same time, people have become inured to the monthly subscription way of life.

[NomduJour]

okgo said:

I’m half tempted tbh!

I live between Clapham Common, Battersea Park, Brockwell Park - I’d imagine I’d be overrun with demand from people who live in tiny properties with no gardens to take their poodle mix thingy out!

From number of new vans driving around (Bruce’s Doggy Day Care etc), I would imagine it’s already a saturated market.

[croyde]

Mobile Chicane said:

croyde said:

I live on my own, I'd love a dog but I also work and like to take a couple of long breaks abroad each year, hence why I can't have a dog.

Maybe if I ever get a chance to retire eh

Start a business offering Doggy Day Care.

Now there's an idea Mind you! I don't know anything about and am a bit scared by some of them.

Maybe a bearded dragon.

[Digga]

croyde said:

Now there's an idea Mind you! I don't know anything about and am a bit scared by some of them.

Maybe a bearded dragon.

This is where lack of knowledge is dangerous. I have owned several dogs and known a whole lot more. One way or another I am sacred of all of them. They all have some rascall in them.

[Deesee]

We live in a market town with plenty of fields and woods near by, and a beach 20 mins away, however we now have dog walking centres where you pay 7-10£ to walk your own dog in a field, some have booking only and slots..some just fields, others fully fenced and some with agility equipment..

[dom9]

r3g said:

The mental gymnastics on display here from dog owners trying to justify why they got a dog when they can't be arsed caring for it or exercising it themselves because reasons, is a sight to behold.

People who go to extra lengths to ensure their dogs are cared for... can't be arsed to care for them

Back to the good old days! Garden, stake, chain... job jobbed!

For those starting the PH Pro-Walkers: https://www.rspca.org.uk/webContent/staticImages/D...

Insurances are supposedly pretty big. Imagine one of your dogs hurting someone or you having a fender bender and injuring 10 dogs in a van, at vets rates.

[cuprabob]

dom9 said:

Insurances are supposedly pretty big. Imagine one of your dogs hurting someone or you having a fender bender and injuring 10 dogs in a van, at vets rates.

It certainly makes you paws for thought

[raceboy]

dom9 said:

Insurances are supposedly pretty big. Imagine one of your dogs hurting someone or you having a fender bender and injuring 10 dogs in a van, at vets rates.

I think I'd just run a 'new for old' policy.

[Deesee]

dom9 said:

People who go to extra lengths to ensure their dogs are cared for... can't be arsed to care for them

Back to the good old days! Garden, stake, chain... job jobbed!

For those starting the PH Pro-Walkers: https://www.rspca.org.uk/webContent/staticImages/D...

Insurances are supposedly pretty big. Imagine one of your dogs hurting someone or you having a fender bender and injuring 10 dogs in a van, at vets rates.

Jesus, they have more compliance and guidance than your average retail 0% finance shop sales lad/lady.

Although would not fancy a vets bill…

Whats the going rate 10£ per 20 mins per dog?