Let’s face it - dogs can be expensive!  But these days, everyone is trying to save money, so are there ways to save money on your dog expenses without compromising your dog’s care?

Of course!  You just need to be more creative!

There are some things I absolutely will no compromise on – my dogs get fed a super-premium kibble or home-made food.  Vet care is another thing that you just can’t scrimp on!

There are lots of things you can save money on though…

• Buy your dog food in bulk.  When I feed my dogs kibble, I buy the biggest bag possible – it can save you a $1 or more per pound, depending on the food.  If your dogs won’t eat it all within a month, package the food into smaller containers and freeze the rest.
• Buy second-hand dog equipment.  I once got a pricey name-brand dog crate for $20 that normally retails for around $85.  Check out Freecycle, your local paper or even the online classifieds for great deals on used dog stuff.
• Try the second-hand store for towels, blankets and bedding for your dog.  Does you dog really care what color the blanket is that lines their crate?  Using second-hand towels can save you a bunch!
• Bake your own dog treats.  There are tons of great recipes online – I’ve even found a few for you!  This is especially useful if you have a dog with allergies who requires specialty treats.
• Talk to your vet about the medications your dog is on.  My dogs actually get human medications, which are less expensive than the doggy versions.  This is to be done strictly under the guidance of your vet.
• Make your own dog toys.  My Corgi trashes $20 store bought toys in just minutes.  Why not make your own and save a ton of money?  As an alternative, you can pick up inexpensive kids stuffed animals from the second-hand store.  Just make they don’t have anything your dog could choke on (things like plastic eyes etc).
• Learn how to groom your own dog.  I began clipping my Cocker Spaniel because he has severe separation anxiety – but I keep on clipping him myself because it’s a great way to save money.  Of course, if you don’t have a set of clippers already, it may not pay off for you.  I bought a pair of professional clippers from a groomer, and then had them refurbished.  It ended up costing about half the cost of a set of new clippers.  Trimming nails is also a good way to save money.  How much do you pay for nail trimming every month?

You don’t need to be overwhelmed – just try and be a little more creative and you’ll be a thrifty dog owner in no time!

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

How to be a thrifty dog owner

Let’s say you want to find a unique collar for your dog…  Check out this cool leather dog collar, embellished with leather flowers from The Cool Puppy!

image: The Cool Puppy

How about a snuggly, eco-friendly fleece dog bed?  Annie’s Sweatshop makes one that fits over one of your own old pillows:

image: Annies Sweatshop

Want to treat your dog to a special treat for Valentine’s Day?  3 Dogs & A Chick makes these personalized dog treats from peanut butter and oats and then decorates them with dog-safe white chocolate.

image: 3 Dogs & A Chick

Post from: Blisstree

Indie style for dogs

When I first saw a dog water fountain, I thought it was kind of gimicky.  Okay, my dogs like fresh running water (my Cocker Spaniel loves drinking out of the garden hose!)  Do they really need a water dish with a filter and water pump?

Petmate Deluxe Pet Fountain

Well, I was wrong!  The dogs love the water fountain – and you’d be amazed at how much stuff the filter picks up.  The water reservoir holds enough water for a couple of days (we have the large one, and three medium size dogs).  The water pumps keeps the water cooler and adds oxygen because it’s always in motion.

There are a couple of things to watch for – as with any water dish, it must be cleaned regularly.  Along with a light scrub once a week or so, my husband takes it apart completely and scrubs the interior about once a month.  It also requires fresh filters (sold separately) depending on how much use it gets).

image: Amazon

disclaimer: I receive no compensation for writing about different products.  This is not an affiliate link, I’m just a happy consumer!

Post from: Blisstree

favorite dog products: water fountains

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers in the USA!  And of course, what happens after Thanksgiving?  The biggest shopping day of the year- Black Friday…

You don’t have to go compete with all those crowds to get the goodies you want for your dog – shop online and relax

Petsmart is offering $10 off any order over $40.

Amazon.com has tons of pet supplies for up to 65% off (Friday only).

The National Pet Pharmacy is offering 10% off your order with the code PERNPP30 – just enter it at the checkout.

Don’t forget that lots of online store don’t release their sales ahead of time – so check your favorite store tomorrow and see!

image: Stock.xchg

Post from: Blisstree

Black Friday sales around the web for your dog

image: Stock.xchg

I’ve found awesome gifts for toy dogs, gifts for big dogs – even gifts for eco-friendly pooches!  And, of course – what would a doggy gift guide be without gifts for dog owners too

Want to check out the holiday fun?  Just click on the tree to see the goodies!

Post from: Blisstree

Dear Santa Paws… The Doggy Blog Christmas shopping guide is online!

You’ll need to sign up for a free membership with Patons Yarns to access this charming knitted dog coat – complete with little knitted bones as accents:

image:  Patons Yarn

If you prefer to sew instead, check out this pattern to make a vest-style coat:

image: Circle of Crafters

Here’s one for the crochet fans:

image: Bernat

You’ll need to sign up for a free membership from Bernat, but they have several free patterns for knitted and crocheted dog sweaters and coats.

This how-to from Burda Style is for more advanced seamstresses, but it’s a great tutorial on how to create a custom-fitted dog coat:

image: Burda Style 

Post from: Blisstree

create warm and cozy jackets for your dog with these free patterns

We discovered that bicycle lights make fantastic collar lights for our dogs – in fact, we’ve even given them as gifts to other dog owners

“Turtle” white LED light from Mountain Equipment Co-Op

These lights are quite inexpensive, loop on to the dog’s collar and last for over 100 hours (that’s a lot of walks!).   The only problem we’ve had is that the dogs can knock the cover off if they scratch the lights too vigorously.  But at only $3.50 a pop, they’re reasonable to replace

image: Mountain Equipment Co-Op 

Post from: Blisstree

dog walking safely at night – collar lights

Luckily, there are options!

Booties are a great option (as long as your dog will tolerate them) – they keep his paws free of snow and ice and even protect them from salt or ice melting chemicals.

Most pet stores carry booties and of course, you can also find them online:

These ones are “Companion Road Reflective Booties” from Petsmart.  I like having the reflective tape on booties – it makes it safer to walk after dark.

image: Petsmart 

Post from: Blisstree

keep your dog’s paws clean and dry this winter