Which dog costs the most to keep?

Yes, Miss Whippet – it’s you!   A recent survey by a leading firm of Pet Insurers, states that the most expensive dog to keep over a lifetime is the whippet – coming in at a whacking £66,236.    According to Esure, the next most costly is the Basset Hound at £56,064, followed by the Beagle at £34,822, the Chihuahua at £30,820 and the Dalmatian comes in last at a measly £29,426.    Even though it has to be admitted that Whippets do like to live in the lap of luxury, these figures are definitely not backed up by our own research.   Whippets are a healthy and hardy low maintenance breed, suffering few of the congenital disorders of other dog types.

Whippets have modest dietary requirements and don’t require grooming. The most expense a whippet owner will be put to is to buy extra dog coats in winter and turn the central heating up as they do  like to be warm.

Dog care needn’t be expensive so we are left wondering where these extraordinary figures have come from?   If they are based on veterinary payouts, then this is not really a true representation of the cost of keeping a dog.   Most dogs, especially cross breeds, are healthy and if they are fed good plain food and have lots of exercise, they will cost very little to keep.

Feeding organic or holistic dog food goes a long way to ensuring health and cutting out the vet bills.   We are what we eat is true for dogs as well as humans.