Crazy Money! Cost of Raising a Show Dog

It’s Crazy Money Day! 

The Westminster Dog Show is the Super Bowl of dog shows. A lot of time and money goes into the sport. This year’s best in show was Monty, a 5-year-old Giant Schnauzer. He’s been competing for 4 years and last year, alone, participated in 130 shows. In addition to a special diet, Monty had cold laser and physical therapy. He trained on a water treadmill to build muscle, and endured haircuts, hair conditioning treatments, and baths. Before each show, his legs and face were washed, his fur was blow-dried, and hairspray was applied to his eyelashes! The cost of raising a winner can run $250,000! That’s crazy!

It starts with buying a purebred puppy and feeding it an elite diet. Add in training classes or the cost of a private trainer and grooming. Preliminary dog shows have registration fees and travel expenses. Some people even hire professional handlers. The original purpose of the shows was to showcase quality breeding dogs. No wonder some owners may spend $100,000 on advertising alone. Winner’s puppies can sell for 10 to 25 thousand dollars. It tends to be a hobby for the wealthy, though some enthusiasts view it as an investment opportunity with major upfront costs, and if you’re interested, you might get a wall covered in $3 ribbons that cost you thousands of dollars. Then, again, you might raise a Westminster “best in show!” Either way, don’t go crazy spending money on a hobby.

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