I was just wondering if anyone uses some cheap shortcuts regarding their dogs (I do NOT mean skimping on necessary vet care or anything like that), just simple things to save the average pet owner some money.
For example, I no longer buy dog beds… they get old clothes and towels for bedding and seem to like it better than dog beds since they can "burrow".
Anyone else with easy tips like that?
If you own a dog, especially an older one, getting a good dog bed is a really great gift to give your beloved pet. The need a good place to rest and sleep just like us. After all, you wouldn't want to bed down in an uncomfortable mattress or sleep on a hard surface all night.
Sleeping on the floor or even on a bad or uneven bed isn't the best thing for a dog to do. As they get older it becomes even more important that they have a really good dog bed to sleep in.
The other reason to get a dog bed is, of course, to keep them off of yours or off of the best couch in the house. If you don't want them all over your furniture, get them a comfortable bed of their own that they will love and use for a long time.
From the simplest dog beds to the more elaborate types, there are many to choose from. Some are more or less like large bean bags, some are donuts or round pet beds. There are also bolster dog beds, which have sort of a pillow going all around the outer edge of the bed. Dogs like to use this as a pillow for their head while they sleep. Then there is the orthopedic dog bed and memory foam beds, which are among the best you can get.
There are also outdoor dog beds which are made for outdoor areas like the back porch and there are also heated dog beds. These are great for dogs, especially during the cold winter months. Even when you have the heat in the house cranked up, the floor can sometimes stay cold and it's not good for your dogs bones and joints. A heated dog bed will keep your canine pal comfy and warm the whole time like a warm blanket.
Another option you may want to look into is getting a waterproof dog bed. We have all taken our dog out for a walk when it is raining and wet outside. Whether we want to or not, we have to go out on those miserable days when the rain is pouring and we both get soaked. After a good towel dry, dogs still have some moisture left on their coat and skin. The nice part about a waterproof dog bed is that your dog can lay on this type of pet bed without getting it soaked on the inside where the water stays put. These beds are made for this so they do not get ruined every time your water soaked pooch rests on them. For those dogs that prefer to stay out on the porch or outside near their kennel or dog house, they are much happier on a waterproof bed than a conventional one that soaks up the water. It's not only a comfortable resting spot for sleeping and lying down, but it will last longer too.
Not all dog beds are the same just as not all dogs age the same. When your dog gets older, he or she will most likely develop the same types of aches and pains due to joint problems that humans do. When your dog starts to slow down due to joint pain, inflammation and arthritis, the best thing you can do is to look into getting them a memory foam dog bed.
As soon as your are aware that you dog is suffering from orthopedic issues, the floor is simply not a good place for them to sleep. Even a conventional dog bed just will not do. The even balance of a dog's weight is more important at this stage of their life than at any time before. A bumpy or uneven bed is not good for the existing joint pain and can actually worsen the dog's problems over time.
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August 21st, 2009 - 6:24 pm
I use old blankets etc for dog beds. I love garage sales and often pick up stuffies and blankets (and sometimes even fill my crate addiction!). Plastic soda bottles are my dogs favorite toys.. along with 12 pack soda boxes (although Lou will try to steal the box with soda still in it!!).
I get some of my health testing done at dogshows… for example this weekend they’re doing CERF and Heart certifications and have a microchip clinic. There are a couple of shows that also offer vaccinations but I’ve stuck with my vet for those.
Personally, I believe I save money raw feeding. I use a few non-traditional sources for meat… but more than that, I think I save money on vet bills because I’ve had no issues with teeth needing cleaned, ear issues, allergy/skin issues or anal gland issues since I started feeding raw.
Edit: I use human shampoo, sometimes with a few drops of Dawn dish detergent for the dog’s FIRST wash. The second and third (if I have to do a third) I use a high quality dog shampoo that dilutes down. Because I have double coated dogs the first wash never fully penetrates the coat to the skin.
August 21st, 2009 - 6:24 pm
One thing I have found saves some cash is using blue Dawn dish soap for clean up and baths for both cats and dogs. I am not sure but have heard that this also kills fleas too. I have not had a problem with fleas so I can’t say for sure. I use it for my dogs all the time and it works GREAT!
August 21st, 2009 - 6:24 pm
I go to places that are salvage stores for bedding. Like the kind that buy from store that are closing out or have gone bankrupt. I find if I buy children’s quilts for 6 dollars they like them to sleep on. Also towels to dry the dogs off with or wipe muddy feet. If they get them so dirty I can wash them out any more than I don’t feel guilty throwing them away! I dont buy them toys there because they just are of such low quality that I would be afraid of that they are made of but I find lots of other stuff for them too. Cheap brushes or outside dishes. I just see what they have at the time!
August 21st, 2009 - 6:24 pm
you are on the right track! I use older, ratty blankets for bedding, the dogs love it. also recycle large sofa cushions, when the sofa needed to go, I saved the cushions for doggy bedding. Check local butcher shop for chew bones. Mine has smoked beef knuckle bones for pretty cheap and they give a lot of chew satisfaction, more than those rawhide things from the store and cheaper that the real bones from the store. Don’t get pork bones, they are too soft and will shatter into sharp shards. Always beef. You can use an old belt to fashion a collar too. An old miss mated sock stuffed with other miss mated sox works well for a throw and retrieve toy. Never skimp on food. i buy the best I can afford and find that they don’t need to eat as much of the good stuff as they do the cheap stuff so it is almost the same price in the end anyway.
August 21st, 2009 - 6:24 pm
Buy your dog food in bulk from a cheap suplier and buy their home brand.
August 21st, 2009 - 6:24 pm
I check out stores that are going out of business and store the items cause you never know when they chew up thing and when you need to change it because all dogs are know for chewing.
Depending on where you live. You can shop at a store called Big Lots. They sell items that have came from stores that have closed and they sell it for a little cost. Or you can also go to a store called Family Dollar and save money on pet supplies as well.
I also read in a dog book that you should not use our soap on them because it destroys their natural oils in the fur to help them stay waterproof when going outdoors. There soap is made differently. I just use regular oatmeal soap made for dogs and it does just fine. It also helps them from itching.
August 21st, 2009 - 6:24 pm
i’ve bought toys at the dollar store. but really i just buy the really durable toys and he only hase maybe5-6 toys and thats all he gets. but they last forever. so spending a little on it to get extra durance is better to me.
August 21st, 2009 - 6:24 pm
This is good ideas: for toys you might take a pet bottle, dogs love to play with it… to save some money for food and still give him health food, you might add some rice in the food, so you don’t have to put the full quantity each day of dog foods. 1/4 could be rice. You might as well keep some rest of fresh cooked meat for your dog.. when you have a bit more chicken or lamb meat (clean the meat under water to get ride of the spices), you can give it to the dog, try to avoid pork which is not so good for dogs. As treats, give your dog some peaces of apple or banana, they’ll love it and you can eat the rest.
If you are lucky to leave near a Fresh Meat Store, you might ask them if they have some bones for dog… sometimes they give it for free, as they cannot sell those parts. Veal or Beef bones of course!
August 21st, 2009 - 6:24 pm
Yard sales have lots of animal stuff that has never been used somtimes, and I have IG`s who like to be covered all year round so I keep my old robes and big shirts to cover them with and I wear it for a few min. first, my husband says they are calmer when I`m not home when I work some nights, he thinks it`s because they smell me on the clothes, I their mommy you know!
August 21st, 2009 - 6:24 pm
I buy lots of my supplies from http://www.petedge.com. Many stuffed toys are $1. Everything is discounted a good bit, but the stuffed toys are a huge bargain. I like it because all stuffed toys get destroyed eventually anyway… at least in my house!
I also make tug toys out of extra fabric — you can use towels cut into strips and braid them together. My dog loves them.
August 21st, 2009 - 6:24 pm
I don’t know if your city does this, but you might want to check out your local freecycle websites. They are great. You just request at these freebee local websites what you need and you communicate with other people who are giving things away and vice versa. And its all free.
Another great place if you shop online is: http://www.retailmenot.com where you can get discounts at your favorite stores. Also, go to the Walmart Website and click on free samples, and usually there are free pet samples for your dog or cat. Sometime the samples are good size. Good luck.
August 21st, 2009 - 6:24 pm
My mom bought me a dozen old (but still nice) shag bath mats at a garage sale, they’re perfect as beds. I used them with my foster puppies because they’re easy to roll up, don’t soak through all the way and you can just pop them in the washer, cant do that with a dog be. They also fit into crates perfectly, if you have a small dog, cut em in half or quarters, and don’t move around because of the rubber skid material on the bottom. I use some cheap towels I bought at walmart and the dollar store for "dog mess" towels. I also use dog food bags as trash bags… They don’t rip as easily as trash bags and since I go through so many bags of food, If I get a good collection going they can last me months!
I won’t be buying dog beds anymore because my young dogs like to shred them, and they’re sooo hard to wash, especially the XL foam bed…. I have to take the cover off, hose down the foam and wash the cover then wait several days for the foam to dry out…..
ADD: I too let my dogs play with soda bottles. Take the lids, plastic rings and wrappers off and they’ll play with them for hours! If you can only ignore the popping noise lol.