Dog owners are shocked by the price of taking care of their designer dogs

As the cost-of-living crisis worsens people are making cuts, but there’s one big fee that plenty of Sydneysiders are stuck paying.

Designer dogs have become the new designer bag, but unlike a Chanel clutch they require serious upkeep and owners are stuck paying up.

The pandemic led to more people buying dogs and a surge in the price of pooches. There were listings on the internet of puppies being sold for $10,000 and even stranger, people were buying them but the cost doesn’t end there.

Expensive dog breeds like labradoodles, cavoodles, samoyeds, groodles and newfoundlands are all the rage in dog land. You may not recognise the breed names, but trust me you likely follow a dog from that breed on Instagram.

All these breeds typically sell for a couple of grand but owners aren’t just paying an initial investment fee; these dogs require ongoing costly grooming and not all owners want to pay that kind of tax.

If you want your designer dog to be adequately groomed owners are looking at forking out at least a couple of hundred bucks every four to six weeks.

Inner city dog owner Jeff, who owns nine-year-old Stella, a sweet cavoodle that resembles a teddy bear, goes as far as to get her groomed every week and sees it as basic healthcare for his pet.

“I spend about $50 a week getting Stella groomed, and this isn’t excessive it is just what it costs to take care of her properly,” he said. “She gets a wash and shampoo weekly and then a proper cut every six weeks.”

Stella might be the best dog groomed in Sydney. Source: Instagram

Stella is regular at Dogs@Play. Source: Instagram

However, not all owners are happy to pay the costs, and Amanda Hewson who owns Dogs@Play in Surry Hills, Sydney, has become increasingly frustrated with owners that are reluctant to pay up to have their pooches groomed.

Ms Hewson’s grooming rates vary depending on the job, but prices start at $100 for a smaller dog and $200 for a larger dog and she recommends that dogs with needy coats get groomed every four to six weeks plus at home brushing by owners.

Roxy is about to look like a very different dog. Source: Supplied

She’s looking fresh after her groom. Source: Supplied

So, if you have a big labrador that needs to be groomed monthly, that’ll be setting you back about $2400 a year and Ms Hewson is finding plenty of dog owners are shocked by the price.

She thinks people are investing in dogs without understanding the expense in caring for them. “Many people hear a breeder say they are low maintenance and interpret that as no maintenance,” Ms Hewson.

“They hear don’t cut the coat till they are 12 months as don’t go to the groomer till 12 months. A dog should see the groomer every month for maintenance regardless of cutting or not the hair.

“These designer dogs are mixed with all sorts of dogs; poodles, retrievers, terriers and spaniels. And with mixing dogs, you get various coat types.”

Ms Hewson explains plenty of dog owners have no idea what taking care of their dogs coat even entails.

“We’ve had customers being surprised that they need to be shaved right to the skin when their dog is matted they ask, ‘Why can’t you just brush it out?’. They don’t understand that it is animal abuse to brush a matted dogs knots out, it hurts, no groomer wants to hurt a dog.

“They say that their breeder didn’t inform them of this and that they were sold a puppy who was told to be hypoallergenic, easy to maintain with a perfect temperament.

“And with that, they unknowingly now have a dog that’s going to cost hundred dollars a month more than they thought.”

Cute dog getting groomed. Source: Supplied

Cute dog getting groomed. Source: Supplied

While the dog groomer understand that taking care of a dog is expensive, she considers it basic care.

“Like a vet bill, it is a cost we’d all prefer not to pay, but it is a vital part of taking care of your pet,” Ms Hewson explained.

She’s also frustrated with seeing dogs that aren’t being taken care of.

“You’d think people who buy dogs, especially with long hair/fur would care for and maintain their hair by combing them every day like you would with your own hair,” Ms Hewson said.

“But they don’t (typical excuses are he/she loves swimming, we are too busy with work and kids, he/she came back from a pet sitter etc.), and in a matter of weeks in between their professional grooms, their hair becomes knotted and makes mats all around which becomes impossible to brush out, and hence our only humane option being a shave off.”

Of course, not everyone is reluctant to spend big on their furry sidekicks.

“The health and wellbeing of dogs takes a financial commitment,” Jeff explained. “I spend about $300 a week on Stella, between food, health needs (weekly hydrotherapy for a spinal injury), doggy daycare and grooming.”

So what is the lesson here? Well, if you buy an expensive dog, expect to pay designer prices when caring for them.