Salaries and wages aren’t growing as fast as the cost of living and so it is always wise to look for ways to cut your costs. This includes the costs of dog ownership.
Here are my tips for reducing the overall cost of caring for your dog:
- Buy quality toys and rotate them – instead of buying toys that are the cheapest you can find (there have been reports of cheap imported toys containing lead paint, for example) – buy quality. Every few weeks, rotate the toys available to your dog. A deep toy basket will help you with this chore!
- Learn to bathe and groom your dog at home, and then cut down on the trips to the professional groomer. You’ll still want that professional look – but it will lengthen the time between visits and save you money.
- Buy locally. Look for locally made shampoos, toys, food and treats. These are likely to be less expensive than imported brands (the cost of petrol is a good indication of rising transport costs associated with imports). The added benefit is you are returning business to people in your area.
- Buy secondhand goods. Sites like Trade Me are full of useful products that are up for sale. You can buy dog kennels, crates, blankets, coats, shampoos, and grooming tools. In some cases, small businesses (like mine) place products on the site at competitive prices to retail.
- Buy with your friends. If you have a small dog, you probably don’t want to buy the largest size bag of food but typically it is the largest bag with the best price. Why not buy a re-useable storage container and split the cost of a large bag with another dog owning friend? You both win!
- Watch out for your dog’s dental health. Feed bones and chews regularly and introduce teeth brushing for added benefits. Preventing dental problems will save you money and your dog pain in the longer term.
- Look out for alternative places to buy your pet supplies. I have found MyVet online in New Zealand for things like flea and worming treatment. Much better prices than at the vet or in the pet store.
- Keep up with your regular veterinary visits. Regular veterinary checks are essential to picking up on health problems early. Preventive healthcare is an investment, not a cost.
Please feel free to post your cost-saving ideas by submitting comments to this blog.
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