Dogs can be sources of incredible joy and fun that make you happy, keep you active, and even help you live longer. However, they are also a responsibility that requires time and money. Knowing how to take care of your dog when on a budget helps you balance caring for them without emptying your bank account.
Care For Your Dog And Your Budget
Balancing your dog care with your bank account can get tricky, but it’s not impossible.
- Pet Health Insurance: The right insurance plan lets you budget money in advance while also having a safety net against unforeseen issues that pop up later.
- Skip Professional Groomers: Local youth programs or shelters might have pet washes to do fundraising, but you can also bathe your dog yourself at home.
- Vaccinations: Local animal shelters, clinics, and some vets might offer discounts on annual vaccinations, such as rabies.
- Free Spaying/Neutering: A handful of organizations offer free access to such services if you want to avoid the costs and complications of growing your pet family.
- Clip Coupons: Print newspaper circulation has been going down for decades, but the Sunday circulars have tons of coupons that can save you a lot more money than the few bucks the paper might cost.
- Spend Time Playing and Exercising: Well-adjusted animals don’t just get affection and cuddles but exercise and activity, be it walks, games, or just stimulating toys.
- Discipline: Training a dog takes time and maybe the money for classes, but it can also help prevent accidents and misbehavior that cost you money later.
- Rotate the Toys: Keep only two or three toys out at a time, so your pup thinks new toys are coming in all the time.
Subscribe To Raw Dog Food Deliveries
Many dog owners love the idea of a raw dog food subscription. This can help you care for your dog while also sticking to a budget. When done right, this approach can keep your dog both healthy and happy simultaneously.
The first way this can help with your budget is that you’ll know how much you will spend on dog food every week or month. An excellent raw food subscription for your dog is based on your pup’s age and activity level. That way, you’re ordering just enough without under or overspending.
Secondly, subscribing to a raw dog food diet can help you avoid your dog’s known allergies and triggers. This can help you avoid needless trips to the vet or medications. You won’t have to worry about reactions that might be bad.
This leads to the third budgetary benefit. That’s the fact that a raw food diet can keep your dog very active and healthy. Your top priority is your dog’s health and happiness, but the side benefit is spending less at the vet or on pet health insurance.
Having Dog-Owner Friends Helps
Owning a dog has plenty of personal benefits. Spending time with one helps you lower your stress, feel loved, and get more active. Dog owners usually even have longer life expectancies.
However, having a dog helps you connect with other people. According to the American Kennel Club, owning a dog can make you more attractive to other people. Making friends is a lot easier, especially if they are other dog owners.
Social connections with other dog owners help you care for your dog on a budget. They can be excellent sources of information about dog care but especially in making recommendations for local service options. That might include affordable grooming, vet, dog walking, and boarding options.
You might even arrange to take care of their dogs when out of town and vice-versa. When dog owners help each other care for their pets, everyone can save money on boarding services that would otherwise cost money.
Conclusion
Owning a dog does not have to drain your ban accounts. By taking the appropriate measure that still aligns with your budget, you are taking a load off of your shoulders. The more you educate yourself on ways to cut costs while still keeping your dog happy and healthy, the better prepared you’ll be fo anything that may come your way.
