10 Money Saving Tips For Dog Owners
Were you shocked to find out just how expensive owning a dog is? If so you’re not alone.
According to the latest figures from the American Pet Products Association (APPA), American’s spent $69.5 billion on their animal companions in 2017. And according to the ASPCA, the cost of the first year of pet ownership exceeds $1,000.
There’s no doubt that owning a dog is awesome, but it’s also quite expensive. Food, vet bills, toys, medications, treats, grooming — they all add up.
But luckily there are a few ways to save money on dog related expenses without sacrificing your dog’s health. From making your own dog toys to skipping the groomer and bathing your dog at home, here’s 10 money saving tips for dog owners.
1. Make Your Own Dog Toys
When it comes to saving money on dog supplies one of my favorite methods is making my own DIY dog toys. Laika’s a tough chewer, and I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve bought a toy only to have it destroyed within minutes. So rather than spending a bunch of money on dog toys that don’t last I started making my own. Some of my favorite DIY dog toys include:
2. Make Your Own Dog Treats
Another money saving tip for dog owners to make your own dog treats. It’s nice knowing exactly what ingredients are going into your dogs treats, and making them yourself lets you control the portion size. It’s also a nice way to brush up on your baking skills if you’re a novice like me. Here’s 25 simple dog treat recipes to get you started.
3. Brush Your Dog’s Teeth Daily
Taking care of your dog’s teeth is a good way to save money in the long run, yet routine dental care for our dogs is something many of us overlook.
Nearly 85% of all dogs over the age of 4 have periodontal disease. You can cut down on that risk by brushing their teeth everyday. If you’re not familiar with brushing your dog’s teeth here’s some tips on getting started.
4. Take Your Dog in For Their Wellness Exams
Keeping up with your dog’s wellness exams is a good way to save money in the long run. They’re aimed at detecting medical issues early, as well as making sure your dog is up to date on any necessary medications or preventatives.
5. Make Your Own Dog Bed
Another simple way to save some money on dog related expenses is making a DIY dog bed. Whether it’s a no-sew dog bed made with sheets or one made out of an end table there’s plenty of options to choose from:
6. Use Packing Tape & Rubber Gloves For Hair Removal
It’s hard to keep your house clean when you have pets, but one easy way to save a few bucks is to use some of your household items to clean up dog hair. Rubber gloves are awesome at picking up loose hair on furniture. And a roll of packing tape is a great way to pick off dog hair that gets stuck to your clothing (it lasts a lot longer than a lint roller). Here’s a few more tips for cleaning up pet hair.
7. Trim Your Dogs Nails at Home
I don’t know about you, but I dread trimming my dogs nails — those traditional clippers are a nightmare to deal with. But rather than take my dog into the groomer or vet for a nail trim I decided to try out a nail dremel at home (a rotary tool used for grinding). I was shocked by how easy it made the process. Rather than having to worry about cutting your dog’s nails too short a dremel allows you to grind them down gradually.
8. Stick With Tough & Durable Dog Toys
When it comes to saving money on dog supplies remember to stick with durable dog toys that were designed to last. If your dog is a tough chewer stick with brands that are known to be durable such as West Paw’s Zogoflex line and Goughnuts. A couple of my favorite tough dog toys include the Chuckit Max Glow Ball for fetch & a classic Kong for stuffing.
9. Bathe Your Dog at Home
If you want to save a few bucks on dog related expenses bathe your dog at home, rather than taking them to the groomer. Many dogs hate getting a bath, but there are some easy ways to make it easier for your dog.
10. Give Your Dog Plenty of Exercise
Now I know what you’re thinking; what in the world does exercise have to do with saving money? By giving your dog plenty of daily exercise you can prevent them from getting overweight and developing health issues or destructive behaviors such as excessive chewing.
If you’re looking for some exercise suggestions be sure to check out 10 easy ways to exercise your dog and 33 ways to keep your dog busy indoors.
What Are Your Favorite Money Saving Tips For Dog Owners?
How do you save money on dog supplies? Do you make your own dog toys or treats? Do you bathe and trim your dogs nails at home? Let me know in the comments below.
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Treats are SO EXPENSIVE. I feed raw, and use kibble as treats, or dehydrated meat, and I also bake some in a pyramid pan to make really tiny treats.
I’ve got to try the rubber gloves, I’ve gotten used to wearing dog hair, but it’d be nice to wear black for once!
We make our own tug toys, learned very quickly that our lab will destroy any store bought tow in seconds. We occasionally bake our own dog treats, and use raw veggies… they go crazy over fresh food. In fact we do most of your suggestions. I want to try making our own dog bed, but afraid our dogs are too spoiled on the couch 🙂
The ways I adapt to save money on dog’s expenses ethically are doing things like looking for good deals on everyday things like ceramic or stainless steel food bowls, brushes, pet carriers, etc. and having a friend pet-sit instead of using a kennel or doggy daycare when necessary. And the best thing I ever did for my puppy was obedience training. The easiest way to save money is to keep a puppy out of trouble, like chewing and soiling the carpets. It saved her and saved our house.
I appreciated the part of your article that suggests getting wellness exams for a pet very early to detect any medical issues. One of the things that worried me about how to take care of a pet dog is finding out whether it’s sick or not. I can easily tell when a person is sick, but a dog is a whole other story, so I’ll take your advice and look for a vet in my area first before looking for any pet stores I can adopt a dog from.
A very useful blog for dog owners. Because I am also a dog owner and I know how much expenses we have to face on a dog. So thanks for sharing this useful blog.
Nice Post. Thanks for sharing this.