As we began to ease into March you may want to consider if you’re going to celebration National Puppy Day by getting your own fur baby to love. Although the holiday isn’t until March 23, planning for a puppy and picking one out can take some time and shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you’re on a budget, but plan to add a new member to your family soon there’s a few tips that can help save a bundle of money on your new pet. With the financial burden put to the side, you’ll be able to make a clear decision about your new dog which will certainly be helpful if the children beg you to take home the whole litter!
1. Adopt
There’s a lot of money to be made by breeders during this time of year and it’s often hard to overlook the adorable puppies advertised around the neighborhood/community. However, before you spend a small fortune on a puppy that is pretty much guaranteed a home somewhere, you may want to consider making adoption your first choice. There’s a lot of dogs in shelters and more arrive each day. Some aren’t so lucky and end up in shelter’s who can’t keep them for more than a week or so without having to terminate them. By choosing a dog from a shelter you’re not only saving its life, but you’re also providing aid for that shelter which could help save other pets’ lives too. That being said, adoption also comes with its perks. Your pet will already be spayed or neutered if they’re of age. If not, the shelter will provide you with a voucher to have the surgery completed when the pet is old enough. It will also have all of its shots updated so you won’t have to worry about this expenditure for a year or two, depending on the shots.
2. DIY Grooming
Taking your dog to the groomer may seem like the most convenient thing in the world until you realize how much you pay on this service each year. Rather than hand over a lot of money, try to give your pet the grooming it needs on your own. A lot of dogs are actually quite easy to groom. For instance, many short hair breeds only require a bath and toe nail clipping. Of course, if you do have a high maintenance dog then it may take some time to get down the grooming routine. However, thankfully you can find tutorials, including videos, for just about every breed’s grooming needs which will make your job so much easier. You should try to pick up grooming tools from a feed store as they tend to have them at a cheaper price. Of course, you may also ask around to see if you can borrow these items from friends or family. Finally, try to buy your pet’s soaps in bulk. Look for cheap brands when deciding, but make sure the ingredients won’t harm the pet. You can easily do research on most brands online. You may also consider working in flea and tick control into your grooming routine to save even more money.
3. DIY Tags
Customized dog tags don’t run cheap and if your pet has a tendency to bury collars then you’re going to be paying a lot of money to ensure your dog can be returned if lost. Sure, microchips also help with this problem, but it’s important to also have a tag in case a finder isn’t willing to take your pet to the vet or local animal control. Instead of paying $20 for an engraved tag you can easily make a custom tag using shrink dink paper or a similar product. All you have to do is create the design you want on the paper and then bake it. The design, including your address or phone number, will remain on the tag which will shrink down to the perfect size for your collar. If you like to keep your pet festive then this is a perfect option for you as you can change out the tags as often as you like without having to spend too much.
4. Go Durable
It’s really tempting to buy cheap items when you’re starting out with a new pet. Although the items may be a cheap solution to a problem you’ll probably find that you’ll soon be replacing them. You shouldn’t get into the cycle of buying cheap item after cheap item, especially when it comes to collars, mussels and leashes. You will want these items as study as possible as it is their job to keep your pet from getting away from you. So, instead of quadrupling the price of your expenditures in this area you can simply buy a high quality item the first time. You may not feel like it’s worth it when you walk away from the cash register, but after years of use you’ll be thankful you made the investment. Of course, you can try to combat the high prices by using coupons or shopping during sales! You should also do some research to make sure the item is as high quality as its price tag suggests.
5. Vaccinations
Vaccinations are crucial when it comes to your pets. You can’t get around getting them as your dog will get sick and it could possibly be fatal. Not to mention, in many places dogs must be registered which means showing proof of their vaccinations. Don’t worry though as you can save big time on shots! Your first option is to administer the shots yourself. It may not be a pleasant experience for either of you, but your pet will be safe from common diseases as well as rabies. You can buy shots from veterinary clinics as well as feed stores for a low price. However, some places will not allow you to give your pet a rabies shot, so you may have to go into a clinic for this one. Your other option is a clinic. Usually many animal shelters will offer a clinic beside the shelter which allows family’s to bring in their pets for spaying/neutering as well as vaccinations. They do charge a bit more than you’d pay at a feed store, but they also print out a record and give you a reminder for next time’s shots. You may also want to find locations that do shot packages. These places can sometimes offer a good deal, but make sure you shop around before choosing one of these places.
6. Pet Insurance
You wouldn’t want your family to go without health insurance so don’t let your pet go without either. You can pick out health insurance for a low monthly price, so you won’t have to worry about working your budget around the new fee too much. Insurance really comes in handy for all of your pets needs though. For instance, most plans will cover your annual checkup as well as vaccinations, which could cost you at least 2 to 3 months of your insurance bill alone. Most insurance companies will also cover walk in visits and the majority of charges for medication. The policy also comes in handy when your pet needs a surgery or tests completed. Finally, some insurance policies will even help discount medical foods that your pet may need, which could save you big time in the long run.
7. Bulk Buys
Depending on your breed of dog, you may find yourself shopping for dog food a whole lot. One way to remedy this problem while saving a whole lot of money is to shop in bulk. You should be able to find bulk dog food at your local feed store as well as your favorite wholesale store, like Costco or Sams Club. You may want to try to find a good brand though as some of the bulk foods can be nutritionally lacking or bad for your pet. You can usually decide if a brand is good by looking at the label (if the natural ingredients are first, you’re better off), but you can also do a little browsing online to see which bulk brand is good for you. If you have a specific brand in mind and can’t find it in wholesale stores then contact the manufacturer and see if they can help you out. You may also consider buying bones in bulk, but make sure they are breed appropriate. Many stores as well as butcher shops should be able to help you out with bulk bones if you ask for them.
8. DIY Dog Toys
One of the biggest expenditures when it comes to dogs is their toys. Big dogs especially seem to go through toys like they’re going out of style. Although it’s easy to stop by a store and pick up a new one every time you throw one away, it may also run your budget down very quickly. You can easily remedy this problem by making your own toys. For instance, make a hole in an old tennis ball and string some rope through it. This makes a great chew toy as well as a tug-of-war toy that the two of you can use together. You may also want to invest in some frisbees as these cheap toys can be turned into a variety of items that will help save big time. Finally, if you’re looking for a simple toy for chewing then braid some rope together and you’ll be good to go!
9. Frequent Walks
You may be surprised that one of the best ways to save money on your new pet is to actually take it for a walk. The more walking you do the better off your pet will be, especially when they’re younger and need to burn off some energy. Walking your pet is a great way to keep them and you in shape which will mean you’ll have less medical problems on both ends of the spectrum. Apart from keeping you healthy you won’t have as many behavioral issues as the pet will get most of its energy out while walking, thus you’ll have more control with discipline and training. Walking also keeps pets from chewing, having accidents in the home and other mishaps that may have you pulling your hair out during the initial homecoming period. If you have children old enough to walk the dog in your home then it’s a great way to get them outdoors too. Not to mention, if you all take turns walking the pet your dog will get out even more!
10. Keep It Simple
When it comes to your dog, you may believe that princess dish was made just for her, but in reality it’s an expensive ploy to make you feel good. Your pet doesn’t need the red carpet so keep it simple wherever you can. You can even shop at the dollar store for buckets to feed your pets. This is especially good when it comes to those big breeds. Dollar store food storage containers also make easy feeding and watering bowls for your pets. You should also consider this when it comes to your dog house. You can pay a fortune for a premade home when building one is easy, fun and a lot cheaper. You’ll even be able to take more pride in your dog’s outdoor home. So, before you buy something try to consider other options that may be cheaper and easier decision. It’ll save you a whole lot more than you’d think.
Having a new dog can be a great gift for the whole family, but the costs can be out of this world. With these tips you don’t have to let the price hold you back! Now, you can enjoy having your new family member while also ensuring your rainy day fund stays put.
