Frugal Dog Care Tips for a Happy, Healthy Dog
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When my husband and I were just out of college and struggling to make end's meat we decided we wanted to get a dog. We decided we wanted to get a BIG dog! Not only did we end up getting a German Shepherd, we got her a friend to play with a year later when we brought home a Dutch Shepherd, too.
We quickly had to learn a few frugal dog care tips so we didn't go broke! We jumped right into dog ownership with both feet. Soon after, we became active in a number of dog sports and obedience competitions.
Unfortunately, we had to scale back out canine extracurricular activities once we had kids. After we lost our 2 dogs to old age, we jumped right in and got another Dutchie. Our current dog's name is Naughty Teyla and she keeps us on our toes!
Frugal Dog Care Tips
Throughout our years of dog ownership we have learned a few frugal dog care tips. It's vital to find tips that do not sacrifice quality or compromise the health and happiness of your dog. I thought I would share these frugal dog care tips with my readers in case you are considering adding a dog to your household.
Know the dog you are getting:
I am not going to debate the purebred vs mutt issue. Everyone has their preferences. However, if you are going with a pure bred dog make sure the breeder knows what they are doing. Both parents should have health screenings appropriate to the breed.
Paying more for a well bred dog will save you a ton of money over the life of your pet. Our neighbor bought a poorly bred lab and at age 3 she spent $3000 to have it's hips replaced. KNOW THE BREED and make sure the breeder knows what they are doing or you could end up spending a fortune on serious health problems.
Feed a quality dog food:
You may look at the price on a super premium dog food and think it is too expensive. However, you will feed significantly less food to your dog when it is loaded with nutrients rather than fillers and corn. Not only will you feed less but you will be picking up much less poop which is always a good thing in my mind!
Buy Quality Toys:
I have a very strong dog with an extremely powerful jaw. She goes through stuffed toys and squeakies like you would not believe. I rarely buy her toys at the pet store because they are very expensive and destroyed easily.
Look at some of the online pet stores and find toys specifically designed to last. Of course, if you have a Yorkipoo this might not be a problem but I could go broke replacing the toys my shepherd eats through.
Skip the Groomer:
It may be easier to drop off Fluffy at the groomer and pick her up a few hours later but you will pay for that convenience. From day one, get your puppy used to baths in the bathtub and having their nails trimmed and coat brushed. If you don't want the hassle of grooming a dog, go with a low maintenance breed that needs little help looking good.
Buy quality but nothing flashy:
You really do not need to have a leather leash, bejeweled collar and fancy little outfit. (honestly, my HUGE pet peeve is people who dress up their dogs!). Buy a sturdy nylon leash and collar, ceramic bowls that do nothing fancy but sit on the kitchen floor, and lay down an old comforter in the corner to lie on.
Your dog will not miss the fancy fountain that sprays jets of water into the air. Remember, these are animals that are happy drinking out of the toilet. No need for fancy water systems!
Remember, owning a dog isn't cheap but hopefully these frugal dog care tips will help you raise a happy, healthy dog without going broke. Make sure you take your pet to the veterinarian every year and give them whatever vitamins or medicines he or she recommends. It is cheaper to keep your pet healthy than to treat an animal that is sick! Do you have any frugal dog care tips that you would like to share?
More Pet Care Tips
Here are a few more tips on raising dogs that I have learned over the years:
- Tips for creating a puppy care package: Instead of giving a puppy at Christmas, give a puppy care package instead!
- Healthy Coat Tips for Dogs: Keeping your dog's coat healthy will reduce shedding and make keeping the house clean easier.
- 17 DIY Dog Treat Recipes Make Great Gifts for Dog Lovers and Pets!
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Please don't bash people who clothe their doggo. For instance, I have a 9 year old Italian greyhound. She is a very healthy 8 lb, thin (breed standard), girl with very little body fat and fur. If the temp is below 70, I guarantee you she is COLD! Sweaters and coats are a must to keep her comfy. Very different from say a husky or Newfoundland! :)
Tip for hot weather. I freeze a one gallon plastic milk jug of water and place it upside down in my dog’s outside water bowl (like a hummingbird feeder). The ice block adds cold fresh water to the water bowl all day as it melts. I live in southern CA and the ice block lasts all day! Be sure to leave some room at the top of the jug for ice expansion when filling with water. Cost…None!