Would you like to bring a dog into your home that has a playful nature, loving temperament and fantastic looks? Meet the Docker – a mix of the loveable Dachshund and lively Cocker Spaniel! These dogs make excellent breeds for families, and because of their small stature, they don’t take up too much space in your home. But, as with all other breeds, you need to do some research before deciding this is the right dog for you, and one of the most important aspects of this is the financial responsibility involved with owning one. That’s what we’re here to help you with, and below, you’ll find all the information you need about the full costs of Docker ownership, from the initial purchase price to the ongoing costs you’ll need to budget for every month.
First things first – let’s look at the cost of actually buying a Docker. This will vary depending on where you shop. For instance, buying a Docker puppy from a registered breeder will set you back between $2,500 and $4,000, while adopting a puppy or an older dog from a shelter will come with lower fees averaging around $400 – $700.
You might also see lower-priced Dockers for sale online, but these are to be avoided! In most cases, these puppies will be sold by unregistered breeders, who might not follow responsible breeding practices or prioritise the health of the puppies, potentially leading to issues later in life. To cover yourself and make sure your puppy is as healthy as possible, only ever buy through a registered breeder or a rescue shelter.
Should you choose to go with a registered breeder, you’ll pay an average of $2,500 – $4,000 for a Docker puppy. Several things will determine the final price tag within this range, including the lineage and coat colour, and we’ll dive deeper into these in just a moment. But, to give you a quick example, a Docker puppy with a long coat is likely to cost more than a short-coated Docker, simply because there is more demand for them.
For many people, adoption is the best route, and it also comes with a big price reduction. You can expect to pay between $400 and $700 when adopting a Docker in Australia, and this price also covers things like vaccinations, microchipping, and desexing, potentially saving you even more money on essential vet care in the first year. However, adoption isn’t without its complications, and not only will you need to be assessed as suitable owners by the shelter, but you may need to exercise some patience in finding a Docker in the first place. Like all breeds, there’s never a guarantee you’ll find a Docker in your local shelter, so more research and waiting will be needed compared to buying from a registered breeder.
No matter which buying option you choose, as you can see, there’s quite a wide average price range when it comes to Dockers. But what actually determines the final price tag? Here’s what you need to know:
Dockers are a mixed breed, and this means they aren’t recognised by Dogs Australia. Now, while this means they’re generally cheaper compared to purebred dogs that are recognised, their lineage will still play a role in pricing, and puppies from health-tested parents with strong genetic backgrounds will always cost more. This is particularly true if one or both of their parents have done well in dog shows and have traits and characteristics considered desirable within the breed standards.
Something else a Docker will inherit from its parents is its size, and this will also affect the price. In particular, puppies with a miniature Dachshund parent tend to be more in demand because they are smaller, which means they’re priced at the higher end of the $2,500 – $4,000 range. Those with a stronger Cocker Spaniel gene pool, on the other hand, are usually larger and, since there is less demand, sit at the lower end of the price range.
Dockers also come in a variety of coat types, including short, wavy, and long-haired, and this is another inherited trait that will affect the price of the puppies. Long-haired and wavier-coated Dockers are usually priced higher because they are less common than their short-coated counterparts, which makes them more desirable (despite the fact they’ll need more grooming – something to keep in mind when deciding which is best for your home and budget!) The colour of their coat will also affect the cost, and rarer colours like merle or solid black will command a higher price.
Then there’s the breeder’s reputation, which is one of the things that will influence the cost of your Docker quite heavily. If a breeder has been very selective about their parent dogs, carried out several health checks, and made sure the puppies are raised in a well-socialised environment, you can expect to pay more toward the $4,500 mark. The reason for this is simple – these things all cost the breeder money, and they’ll need to make back these costs in the price of the puppies while still trying to make a profit. Now, while this means a higher upfront cost, it also means you could save money on vet care moving forward, as you’ve got health guarantees your puppy isn’t likely to inherit any issues from either parent.
That’s just the initial purchase price covered. Before you bring your Docker home, you’ll need to make sure you’ve picked up some essential supplies, including:
You’re also going to need to pay some ongoing maintenance costs throughout the year to keep your Docker happy and healthy, and each of these comes with its own price tag. Here’s what you’ll need to budget for:
Dockers might be small, weighing just 9kg – 11kg when fully grown, but they have big appetites! You’ll need to feed your Docker between 120g – 280g of food every day, and this means a potential monthly spend of $60 – $300, based on these diets:
One thing to keep in mind here is that the actual daily cost will depend on several factors, including your dog’s age, health, size, the brand you choose, and the ingredients it contains. We highly recommend consulting your veterinarian before deciding which diet is best for your Docker.
The next thing you need to think about is vet care. This isn’t only needed when your Docker falls ill (something that you never really want to even think about), but year-round to stop illness from taking hold. Here’s what you’ll likely pay across several routine preventative procedures:
Regardless of what kind of coat your Docker has, they’ll also need regular grooming to keep them looking their best and to prevent tangles and matting. A little of this can be done at home, but you’ll also need to budget for occasional trips to a professional grooming salon, which could cost:
Another cost to think about is training. Dockers are highly intelligent and eager to please, but without training, the stubborn streak they inherit from the Dachshund side of the family can kick in! So, proper training is essential, and this could cost you:
Dockers might be small in size, but it takes a large amount of money to keep them happy and healthy! And, when you consider a Docker’s average lifespan is 12 – 15 years, you’ll need to be 100% confident that you’re able to foot the bill for a long time. So, consider it carefully, and if you are sure you’ve got what it takes, you won’t just be getting a pet – you’ll be gaining a new best friend that your whole family will adore.
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