As the economy dives and prices skyrocket, everyone is looking for ways to save on expenses. You have probably cut down on a lot of things for yourself and even trimmed your household budget at much as possible. What about the family pet? You can’t just stop feeding them or tending to their health needs. Depending on who you know, and what you know, there are ways to tighten up your pet expenses.
Shave the Grooming Expense
Prices for dog groomers vary greatly by location, size of the dog, type of cut and even the condition the fur is in. You could be looking at anywhere between $20.00 to $50.00 or more, just to have your dog bathed and trimmed. Nail trimming and teeth cleaning is usually an extra fee depending on the groomer. Petsmart charges $15.99 for a basic puppy grooming, so imagine what a large, long- haired dog would cost?
I have two Shih Tzu who have very long hair. The oldest dog has been to a groomer several years ago, but the younger one never has. I learned to bath and trim both of them. If you are not comfortable with bathing and trimming your own dog, perhaps you can barter to get it done.
If you are not comfortable clipping the dog’s nails, perhaps you know someone who is. Ask your friends and family if they do their own dog grooming. Offer to repay them with something you know how to do in exchange for them grooming your dog.
Talk to your dog groomer. She might be looking for someone to help clean or answer phones. Offer to help in whatever capacity you can in exchange for regular dog grooming. You may even get a reduced rate if you bath the dog and make sure he is tangle free when you take him in for a cut.
Open a Cupboard not a Can
With so many commercial dog foods and treats being recalled, it makes sense to make your own. It will also save you money. It will only take a few hours to cook enough treats and dog food to last all week. You can even portion the dog food into daily containers for convenience. Just be sure to introduce the new food slowly by mixing it with the food you feed now.
A quick internet search will turn up enough recipes to give your dog plenty of variety. Most of the ingredients are in your cupboard so there isn’t any added expense, just a little time. Simple dog snacks contain oatmeal, flour, oil and peanut butter. Dogs love them, they are healthier for them and the basic ingredients are usually on hand.
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