Everyone’s dream is to have a fur friend, best friend, companion and a guard. But for me, I treat my dog as one of my kids. That is true! Her name is Maui, a 1 year old Belgian Malinois and believe me, having a large breed of dog is not that expensive! You see, once you decide on having a dog, make sure you get them as a puppy. So they will grow up seeing you and the people that lives in your house. In that way, the dog will be used to seeing their humans. There are many factors that you should consider if you want to have one. One is make sure your space is enough for him to play inside and outside of the house. Two make up your mind! Decide whether you want to get a large dog or small dogs and the last one is make sure you treat them as your own kid. Dogs just want to be with their humans every single day and every single night. Dogs are known as a loyal companion and protector of the family and that is fact. Dogs are intelligent and sometimes stubborn! But that is normal for dogs to have mood swings. They are like humans and they are known as gentle giants. Dogs loves kids so much it came to a point that they are so protective than their mom and dad. Now here is our list about the cost effective ways to own a dog.
- Bulk Foods – Buying bulk foods will save you a lot of money. It really depends on the dog that you have. Large breed of dogs means they get to it a lot too while small dogs are contented with 1-3 cups of food every meal. Before you decide on the kind of dog food that you are going to buy, check out the ingredients. I suggest lambs and beefs as they really make the dogs look buff and healthy. Plus make sure that the dog food is consist of really high protein.
- DIY Treats – All dogs, small, medium or large loves treats! But how much is the cost of a 1 pack of treat? Hmm expensive, right? And how many treats are there? Probably 12 to 18? But what if you make treats by yourself. Oatmeal and peanut butter is a great combination of flavor for dog treats. I use plain oatmeal so that the flavor of the peanut butter will stand out. You can actually make tons of it and store it in a jar.
- DIY Toys – How much money have you spend buying toys? Balls? Rattles? Why buy toys if you can make one out of scraps from your home? Like the rattle, get an empty bottle or can and put some pebbles in it. Cheap and economic! Dogs really don’t care at all about their toys. As long as you play with them, that is really enough for them.
- Grooming – Giving them a bath is also expensive! Why not learn how to bath them yourself? It is fun and you guys can bond together! Cut their nails, brush them and give them lots of hugs and kisses afterwards! Use your old towel to dry them and might as well recycle your old hair brush and use it for them. In that simple way, you will definitely save tons of money in grooming.
- Playtime and Exercise – Always give time to walk your dogs no matter how busy your schedule is. In that way, you can also save money from gym membership. It is healthy for you and your dog. Dogs are known for being fast and playful. Don’t let your dog stay at home and just do nothing. It is not healthy for them! A 30 minutes of walking everyday is good enough for them.
- Health – If possible, do not overfeed your dog to avoid serious health conditions. It is your choice if you get a health insurance for them. But for me, as a dog owner myself, it is not necessary. As long as you give them vitamins that can be bought in the local pet store and walk them for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour every day or every single day then your dog will be okay. Make sure also that you check their poop regularly and observe the color. If it changes, then there is something wrong with your dog. If possible, do a yearly routine check up for them. Make friends with the vets as well so they will give you discounts!
- Rabies Shot and Fleas Medicines – Instead of giving them a yearly rabies shot, get them a 3 year rabies shot instead. You can definitely save tons of money. If your dog is used to seeing human then there will be no problem at all. Dogs are often angry when they see so much people that they do not know. When it comes to fleas, if possible remove them yourself. Or bath them 3-4 times a week. Flea medicines are really expensive. Let us be practical guys. We all love our dogs and as their humans, we want to give them the best care possible in the world. Fleas maybe gross but hey, it is our pets! Just use gloves if you don’t want to touch them.
- Train your dog – This may sound harsh but train your dog in a CRATE. I assure you that you won’t regret it! Do not let your dog own you! Do not let them touch all the stuff and appliances in your beautiful home. Build your own crate and train them how to be discipline and obedient. Simple commands like sit, stay and come will do! But an obedient dog will never ever touch or destroy our belongings at home.
- Adopt, Don’t Shop – All dogs deserved to be loved and to be taken care of by humans. Why not give chance to other dogs in the pound or in the shelter? Some people abandon their dogs when they grow old and that is breaking my heart! They don’t deserve it all! It is not their fault if they grew old. Right? Instead of buying puppies, please. Consider going to shelters and dog pounds and adopt dogs.
Dogs are man’s best friend. No wonder they got that name! Keep in mind that having a dog is like having an additional member of the family. Treat them nicely and take good care of them and see what they will do for you in return. I myself, is a dog lover and I really don’t care about the expenses at all. I am living a frugal way, so is my dog. Give them all the love that they deserve and all the happiness that they want. Think 100 times if how badly do you want to have a dog. If you decide to have one, then I really hope that this article will help you in so many ways. Did we miss something? Comment it down below!
