Owning a dog is something that can bring fantastic benefits to you, your family and friends. Not only do you receive unconditional love and affection from a pet who is rightly known as “man’s best friend”, but you also have no excuse for missing out on getting some extra exercise.
Although a healthy dog will be relatively low maintenance, there are some essential costs and outlays that can’t be avoided. However, there are ways that a savvy dog owner can save money by using a few tried and tested tips.
Initial outlay
The first bill that a dog owner will have to pay will depend on how you choose your new pet. Buying an in-demand breed from an award-winning bloodline can mean laying out hundreds of pounds, whereas choosing a dog from a rescue centre will be far cheaper, with the costs often only including medical and administration fees.
Buying bedding, food and drink bowls and other essentials such as a collar and lead can be as expensive or as cost-effective as you like. An old laundry basket lined with worn-out jumpers or blankets can make a perfectly safe and secure bed for a puppy, and even old plates or china can be used for feeding times.
Breeds
Choosing the right breed can mean taking many different things into account. Smaller dogs generally not only need less exercise but can also be far cheaper to feed in terms of the actual amounts of food that you need to buy.
When it comes to feeding your dog, you must do your homework, as giving your dog a balanced diet is as important as it is for a human. If you get the right mix of ingredients and nutrients, not only will you have a happy dog but it will also be a healthy one, saving you money in the long run.
Medical bills
A healthy dog won’t need to go to the vet often, but in the first place, vaccinations are important. Also, no matter how well behaved your dog is or how good you are at controlling it, there are few dogs who don’t get involved in high jinks of one kind or another that results in a trip to the vet at some point. All this means that you should consider taking out a veterinary insurance policy for your dog as vets bills can be expensive.
Most people have a stock of everyday medical items in a drawer or cupboard around the home and you can make sure you look after your dog in a similar way. Bob Martin is a great place to look in order to build up those essentials that can keep your dog in tip top condition and avoid everyday problems.
Common sense
Being a dog owner is like anything else in life; if you don’t make plans and approach things in a careful fashion, you can end up spending more than you bargained for. However, with a little planning, you can take advantage of all the various tips and tricks that will save you money without having any negative impact on your dog.