Cost of living squeeze in 2022, 23 & 24 (Vol. 2)
Discussion
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%.
Unless infirm, why have a dog walker?
Never thought much about it until wife took in a rescue puppy, I’m more of a cat person.
Now dog is four years old
I have friends in UK that take dog to be washed regularly. We use a hosepipe in the garden and some shampoo.
Dog food, my brother spends loads on this. We buy chickens, bones, local beef - boil it up, rice, veg. It’s a dog.
Dog grooming, seems very expensive. We have a brush. He gets some long fur on his back legs that picks up seeds: trim it with scissors every now and again.
I know people that won’t go away for a night without extensive planning around their dog(s) that sometimes involves cost.
Seems like a lot of money spent on dogs when they are, in the end, a dog.
jdw100 said:
This is one of these things I don’t get.
Unless infirm, why have a dog walker?
Never thought much about it until wife took in a rescue puppy, I’m more of a cat person.
Now dog is four years old
I have friends in UK that take dog to be washed regularly. We use a hosepipe in the garden and some shampoo.
Dog food, my brother spends loads on this. We buy chickens, bones, local beef - boil it up, rice, veg. It’s a dog.
Dog grooming, seems very expensive. We have a brush. He gets some long fur on his back legs that picks up seeds: trim it with scissors every now and again.
I know people that won’t go away for a night without extensive planning around their dog(s) that sometimes involves cost.
Seems like a lot of money spent on dogs when they are, in the end, a dog.
They’re a pet, if you care for your pet you’ll spend what you need to keep them healthy and happy. That can vary from next to nothing to a hell of a lot depending on circumstances and breed. Ours are getting more expensive as they get older.Unless infirm, why have a dog walker?
Never thought much about it until wife took in a rescue puppy, I’m more of a cat person.
Now dog is four years old
I have friends in UK that take dog to be washed regularly. We use a hosepipe in the garden and some shampoo.
Dog food, my brother spends loads on this. We buy chickens, bones, local beef - boil it up, rice, veg. It’s a dog.
Dog grooming, seems very expensive. We have a brush. He gets some long fur on his back legs that picks up seeds: trim it with scissors every now and again.
I know people that won’t go away for a night without extensive planning around their dog(s) that sometimes involves cost.
Seems like a lot of money spent on dogs when they are, in the end, a dog.
Dog walkers are mostly used by people when they’re at work. Our neighbours get theirs walked at lunch time to save him being in the house all day on his own, quite sensible no? Probably doing a roaring trade since WFH has been adjusted by employers.
jdw100 said:
Unless infirm, why have a dog walker?
The main reason people employ a dog walker is because they are themselves unavailable to walk the dog.jdw100 said:
Seems like a lot of money spent on dogs when they are, in the end, a dog.
That's just daft. Our miniature dachshund was and is everything to my wife and I, having been by my wife's side through her mother's illness and death and her own treatment for cancer. Not to mention the lift she gave my own mother when she struggled with depression. There's not enough money in the world to do justice to the emotional support and joy she's brought us.She's 'in the end, a dog' in the same way our son is, in the end, a human - it's a reductive conclusion that ignores the million things that make each wonderfully special.
That all aside, some of the money people are spending to have a dog these days is wild. I heard a story the other day of someone who drives 4 hours to work as a roundtrip (won't leave dog at home or with anyone for some reason) 3 days a week and then spends similar hourly rate to the above during the whole workday for a dog hotel thing in London.
It sounded like the dog was costing a 4 figure sum per month and tens of additional hours travelling. Seemed insane to me.
I grew up with dogs but truly couldn't think of anything more restrictive than owning one now, we didn't need to walk them due to where we lived, but it seems people have cottoned on to the fact people will pay almost any amount of money to keep them.
It sounded like the dog was costing a 4 figure sum per month and tens of additional hours travelling. Seemed insane to me.
I grew up with dogs but truly couldn't think of anything more restrictive than owning one now, we didn't need to walk them due to where we lived, but it seems people have cottoned on to the fact people will pay almost any amount of money to keep them.
okgo said:
That all aside, some of the money people are spending to have a dog these days is wild. I heard a story the other day of someone who drives 4 hours to work as a roundtrip (won't leave dog at home or with anyone for some reason) 3 days a week and then spends similar hourly rate to the above during the whole workday for a dog hotel thing in London.
It sounded like the dog was costing a 4 figure sum per month and tens of additional hours travelling. Seemed insane to me.
I grew up with dogs but truly couldn't think of anything more restrictive than owning one now, we didn't need to walk them due to where we lived, but it seems people have cottoned on to the fact people will pay almost any amount of money to keep them.
An idiot colleague of mine does similar.It sounded like the dog was costing a 4 figure sum per month and tens of additional hours travelling. Seemed insane to me.
I grew up with dogs but truly couldn't think of anything more restrictive than owning one now, we didn't need to walk them due to where we lived, but it seems people have cottoned on to the fact people will pay almost any amount of money to keep them.
Takes his dog to doggy daycare 3 days per week...no idea why as he and his mrs mostly work from home. Some garbage about it being socialised, like it's a baby.
This guy did buy a brand new 8 series and didn't negotiate a penny discount though...
Yep there is a decent market out there for people who just have loads of money to blow on any old crap.
I won’t say anything about those doing it or those taking advantage of it.
But it doesn’t make for a robust economy.
“Yes we have awesome doggy daycare, vet, and dog walking infrastructures!”
Mmmkay.
I won’t say anything about those doing it or those taking advantage of it.
But it doesn’t make for a robust economy.
“Yes we have awesome doggy daycare, vet, and dog walking infrastructures!”
Mmmkay.
Talking to a mate last weekend when we went shooting....his wife works as a PA for guy who paid to fly his dog, on a private jet (and someone to be it's companion) from Italy back to one of his houses in the states a couple of months ago.
Reckons the bill was something like £60k for the jet.
People will look after their pets when they can afford to. (and I dont blame him....it's his money, he can spend it on what he likes)
Reckons the bill was something like £60k for the jet.
People will look after their pets when they can afford to. (and I dont blame him....it's his money, he can spend it on what he likes)
catso said:
jdw100 said:
This is one of these things I don’t get.
Unless infirm, why have a dog walker?
Indeed, one of the reasons we have a dog is for the exercise, walk at least a couple of miles a day with him.Unless infirm, why have a dog walker?
Seems a bit daft to pay someone else to do it for you.
I guess people don't want their pet getting depressed at home for many many hours alone. That could be a reason.
jdw100 said:
This is one of these things I don’t get.
Unless infirm, why have a dog walker?
Never thought much about it until wife took in a rescue puppy, I’m more of a cat person.
Now dog is four years old
I have friends in UK that take dog to be washed regularly. We use a hosepipe in the garden and some shampoo.
Dog food, my brother spends loads on this. We buy chickens, bones, local beef - boil it up, rice, veg. It’s a dog.
Dog grooming, seems very expensive. We have a brush. He gets some long fur on his back legs that picks up seeds: trim it with scissors every now and again.
I know people that won’t go away for a night without extensive planning around their dog(s) that sometimes involves cost.
Seems like a lot of money spent on dogs when they are, in the end, a dog.
Spoken like a true cat person. Unless infirm, why have a dog walker?
Never thought much about it until wife took in a rescue puppy, I’m more of a cat person.
Now dog is four years old
I have friends in UK that take dog to be washed regularly. We use a hosepipe in the garden and some shampoo.
Dog food, my brother spends loads on this. We buy chickens, bones, local beef - boil it up, rice, veg. It’s a dog.
Dog grooming, seems very expensive. We have a brush. He gets some long fur on his back legs that picks up seeds: trim it with scissors every now and again.
I know people that won’t go away for a night without extensive planning around their dog(s) that sometimes involves cost.
Seems like a lot of money spent on dogs when they are, in the end, a dog.
These clean themselves and don't need washing / walking.
Decent food can be spendy, but they don't eat a lot and can supplement that with what they catch themselves.
£80 to wash and 'style' a dog seems to be the going rate around here.
I don't think I've ever spent that on myself. It's a dog.
This turned up on the local facebook page - what cost of living crisis?
https://thestrayferret.co.uk/business-qa-andrew-no...
£70,000,000 annual turnover.
Perhaps all customers are Pistonheads members.
Saweep said:
An idiot colleague of mine does similar.
Takes his dog to doggy daycare 3 days per week...no idea why as he and his mrs mostly work from home. Some garbage about it being socialised, like it's a baby.
This guy did buy a brand new 8 series and didn't negotiate a penny discount though...
Seems a bit daft if he works from home but don’t see how it makes him an idiot. He can clearly afford it. Takes his dog to doggy daycare 3 days per week...no idea why as he and his mrs mostly work from home. Some garbage about it being socialised, like it's a baby.
This guy did buy a brand new 8 series and didn't negotiate a penny discount though...
I have a dog who goes to daycare twice a week sometimes three if I’m on site at work. We wanted a dog but thought it was cruel to keep her locked in a house 5 days a week so before we got her we worked out the cost of keeping her including the daycare fees and decided we were happy to do it. To us it was the cost of being able to have a dog who is happy and she has more than paid us back over the years with her companionship through good and bad times.
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.
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.
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%.
You get a dog, and then pay someone else to walk it.
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