Is owning a dog putting a bite on your budget? Rather than giving your family friend away, look into some ways that you can save money while still keeping your dog. We did that very thing recently in our household and here is a list of tips that I would like to share with you;
Don’t Let Your Dog Eat You Out of House and Home
Feeding your dog cheap food won’t necessarily be a good deal in the long run. Your dogs health is very dependent upon the food that it eats, so making sure the food you feed it is loaded with ingredients that are good for dogs is very important. You don’t have to buy the most expensive food, either, just make sure that it is low in fillers and your dog will likely eat less as it fills up faster. Raw food diets are another possibility if you can deal with the greater preparation
time.
Accessories Make the Dog
Collars and leashes don’t have to be fancy to do the job. Having a collar that fits well and is comfortable for you dog and a leash that is sturdy are all that is necessary for a walk. Designer ceramic bowls are not going to make your dog’s food taste any better, so opt for less expensive options like metal, if your dog is a chewer, or plastic.
Looking Good For Less: Grooming at Home
Many people will cut their children’s hair at home, so why not your dog’s. A simple pair of scissors is all that I use to make our dog look good. She won’t win any dog shows, but it does the job, and some of my friends have asked me to work on their dogs, too.
Don’t Let the Prices of Medicine Make You Sick
Buying online is a great way to save some money on these expensive medications and treatments (for fleas and ticks and heartworm, etc). Make sure you go with a reputable site that carries the brands that you like so there aren’t any surprises.
Let’s Get Physical
You need exercise and so does your dog, so why not combine the two and keep both of you healthy. Walking is the best exercise for your dog, so go to the local park, or just around your neighborhood. Also, rather than buying a bunch of toys that will never get played with the simplest things, like sticks and balls, are always popular things for your dog to play with. Our dog especially likes to fetch and play tug-of-war, so putting a ball in the toe of an old sock and
tying it shut keeps her entertained for hours.
The Vet is Your Friend
Find a good vet and stick with them. You may end up paying more for the vet you like, but knowing that he knows and cares for your dog will give you a lot of piece of mind when those emergency situations do arise.
Be Proactive
Sarah Coleman is a dog owner who lives on a budget and also espouses frugal principles to those she encounters at her job with a personal-loans company. She and her family have seen first-hand the benefits of having a loyal friend and encourage others to make room in their lives for one as well!
7 Comments
Hi Sarah!
I love your post! Excellent information. Very, very well done. Will be coming by often to read your posts. I have added a link to you on my pets site! Thank you for sharing.
Ellen
skype ellen_thorp
There are many age old ways of taking care of a dog that don’t imply or apply spending lots of money. You just have to get creative, and not loose hope.
Very good message
Great tips! Especially the point on look good for less: Grooming at home…
Great advice on an important subject. Sometimes when humans get into trouble they look at the wrong way to get out. Managing and keeping a pet can be done. Things get better but if you give up your pet, you aren’t winning.
Excellent advice. Pets are too often silent victims of hard economic times — neglected, even abandoned as families are forced to cut back or relocate. It’s an extra shame because the love and emotional support of a pet are actually beneficial to people in stressful situations; everybody ends up suffering more. It’s vital that we look for ways to keep pets and their people together during times of crisis, and this is a great step in that direction.
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Jack@PDB
I think a lot of people don’t realize until they own a dog exactly how much it costs to own one! My sister who was always a cat owner married a dog owner – the first time she took the dog into the vet she went into shock when she saw how much an annual exam, vaccines & preventative outdoor meds were! Shots, heartworm meds, flea control, tick control & the bigger the dog the more expensive it is!
A friend of mine who is a groomer owns 4 dogs – it cost her $400/month in fleas control alone!
As much as I love dogs that’s why I am owned by 2 indoor cats! Shots once year, food & litter! 🙂