Owning a dog is a rewarding experience, but it can be expensive. In just their first year of life, owning a dog can cost anywhere between $1400 to $2000. Between food, toys, treats, vet bills, medication, grooming, and whatever else comes up, owning a dog can be pricey.
The first year of a dog’s life is pretty expensive, and you can count on the cost to decrease from that point forward. Nevertheless, owning a dog will still cost a couple of hundred dollars per year. For many, that can take up a sizable chunk of their annual budget.
Thankfully, there are ways to cut down on costs. Everyone loves to save money when they can and saving money as a dog owner is not a far-fetched idea. Here are 8 ideas to save money as a dog owner.
1. Make Dog Treats at Home
Making your own dog treats can be easy and is a great way to save some money as a dog owner. You don’t have to be a great cook or baker when it comes to making your own dog treats. Your pup likely will not mind if you are not a master chef.
Making dog treats often involves some inexpensive ingredients and your oven. For example, you can make some baked chickpeas by simply putting some chickpeas in a pan and baked them in the oven. A cursory search online can lead you to endless do it yourself dog treats.
2. Start Grooming at Home
Grooming can be a large yearly expense if you have a long-haired dog breed. That cost can soar if you have a long-haired and large dog. In fact, grooming for long-haired dogs can cost an owner $265 for small dogs, $320 for medium-sized dogs, and as much as $408 for a large breed. By learning how to groom your dog at home, you can save a lot of money.
Grooming at home will often have to start with some research. Certain dog breeds have some special requirements for grooming and others do not. In general, most dogs need regular baths with a nice brushing either before or after. Taking care of your pup’s coat can almost entirely remove grooming costs.
3. Make Your Own Dog Toys
Although the cost of dog toys per year is not much, you can still save money by making your own dog toys. If your dog is a chewer and loves to rip apart any new toy that you give him, you can end up saving a pretty penny. Here are some of the many different dog toys that you can make at home:
- T-Shirt Rope Toys
- Ball Tug Toys
- Plastic Bottle Dog Toys
- Rope Tug Toys
- A Muffin Tin Puzzle
There are a seemingly endless number of different dog toys that you can make at home. This can help you cut your costs by $40-$100 a year. Talk about some great savings.
4. Make Sure Your Dog Gets Enough Exercise
It might not seem like it but making sure that your dog gets enough exercise can actually be a money saver. Having a dog that is in shape is more of a preventative measure against future expenses. Not to mention that exercising your dog can be as easy and inexpensive as a walk around the neighborhood.
By regularly and sufficiently exercising your pup, you can reduce the likelihood that you will be met with costly vet bills in the future. Sufficient exercise can protect against your dog developing disorders such as obesity or excessive chewing. It pays to have an in shape dog.
5. Supplement Your Pups Meals
You can either make your own dog food entirely or help supplement your pup’s meals to make sure that they are well-rounded. By supplementing your dog’s food with fresh and healthy ingredients, you can better nourish your pup. Often, these healthy ingredients are cost-effective.
Supplementing your dog’s food is another sort of preventative measure to save money against future vet bills. Feeding your dog high-quality food will strengthen his immune system and can help prevent him from becoming overweight.
6. Brush Your Dog’s Teeth
Did you know that the vast majority of dogs suffer from periodontal disease? Periodontal disease can cause complications such as heart, kidney, and liver issues. That is why taking care of your dog’s teeth can save you money. Not to mention that you save money from getting a professional cleaning done on your dog’s pearly whites.
7. Shop After the Holidays
If you are looking to save money as a dog owner, then you are probably already keeping an eye out for sales. Lucky for you, at least once a year there are large sales all across the country. If you are in the market for any dog-related needs, try shopping after the holidays.
Skipping the holiday rush can save you a lot of money. Often, retailers are looking to get rid of their holiday stock before the stock for the new year comes in. This makes shopping after the holidays the perfect time to stock up on the things you need for your dog.
8. Make Your Own Dog Bed
Dog beds can be expensive, but you always want to make sure that your pup has a comfortable place to sleep. Making your own dog bed can be done without any serious sewing skills. In fact, you can find instructions on making your own dog bed that requires no sewing whatsoever! Check online to find an easy DIY dog bed to start saving money.
More Money-Saving Tips for Dog Owners
Saving money as a dog owner can require a bit of extra work, but it does not have to. You can try to cover as many bases as possible with an all in one money-saving option. That might seem like a far-fetched idea, but it is a reality. If your dog suffers from anxiety, joint pain, or stress, then you can try giving him CBD treats.
CBD is a naturally sourced substance that has been shown to be an effective treatment for stress, anxiety, joint pain, and some neurological disorders. Not to mention that you can buy CBD treats that are packed with all-natural ingredients and nutrients like FOMO Bones’ CBD Dog Treats. Try CBD treats today to reap the many benefits.
This article is originally published at FOMO Bones.
