Frugal Dog Care Tips

(C) Allen Pearson

Having a dog doesn't have to cost every cent that you have if some time is taken to think ahead, plan, and prepare. If you do everything in a haphazard manner, then, of course, you can end up paying more than should have, such as stopping at an "upper end store" for something you could have bought cheaper elsewhere. I am writing these frugal tips as requested by dog bark collar.

(C) Allen Pearson

• Food is a hot topic these days with several recalls and the competition growing almost daily it seems. Food is very important source of energy and health for your dog just as it is for a human. If you feed him junk, then so will his health be. Try to feed him the best food you can afford to purchase. Keep within a budget.
• Consider feeding you’re your dog some of the meal you prepare for your family, such as boiled chicken- but research this thoroughly before you do it. Feeding your dog the best food could keep him healthier therefore cutting back on veterinary expenses in the long run. 
• Rather than taking your dog to the groomer, instead, have a family time of bathing. You can purchase a shampoo at your local pet shop or even a big box retailer. Take your dog and the family outside and let the fun begin. Be sure the weather is appropriate and you are wearing something you can get dirty or soaked in. If this isn’t an option, shop around for prices on groomers. In some cases, you can select which services your dog might need and you could vary them from month to month. Also, check out the pet shops that offer “Do-It-Yourself” bathing places.
• Keep an eye out for sales on dog products that you use at local pet shops, big box stores and the large warehouse retailers where you can buy in bulk. Sometimes you can get great deals on items you can store for future use.

  

  (C) Allen Pearson

  Make sure you check the expiration dates on all the products so you are not wasteful. Be careful NOT to purchase items you don’t already use- just because it’s on sale doesn't mean you need to buy it and if you aren’t already using it, there’s no savings for you. 
• Maintain a regular schedule of visits to the veterinarian. A regular schedule should help limit any surprises down the road as well as unexpected expenses. 
• My dog is my best buddy and companion. We go quite a few places together. However, he doesn’t have the latest and greatest gadget or leash or the fanciest collar. He does have the items he need to be safe, secure and a happy dog. A strong sturdy leash for walking, a leather collar (my dog is allergic to the nylon products), food and water bowls which are breed and size appropriate that I researched and determined to be the best for his needs.
• If you travel, check into the expense of taking your dog with you versus kenneling or having a dog sitter come by. In my case, it’s easier, cheaper and more fun to take my dog with me. I've discovered it’s easy for him to travel with us and the money we would spend on someone to stop by the house can be used toward our vacation reducing costs. Of course, you must take time to plan traveling with your dog and add some patience to it.
• If you are particularly skilled, as in cosmetology or barbering, you could learn to trim your dog’s nails from your veterinarian and do the work yourself.
• When the veterinarian prescribes medication for your dog, check to see if they can recommend an online resource where you can order them. These websites can be cheaper since they can buy in bulk. I don’t recommend ordering off any website though the medications might be the same so be certain to discuss with your veterinarian as all websites are NOT the same!!

A resource for many of your dogs needs can be found at the dog bark collar store.

My human and I were requested to write this post by dog bark collar store.  We were not financially compensated but I received a cool food dish which I might share with you in a future post.

Product Review: Toughhound All Sports Collar

 A few weeks ago, I got a package in the mail. I was surprised! I opened it to discover a beautiful red collar! It’s called a ToughHound All Sports heavy-duty dog collar and it was sent to me by Dogbarkcollar.com.

"Me with my New Collar"
(C) Allen Pearson

While Dad was taking it out of the packaging, I went to the company’s website and read about the product. It’s made of a highly durable polycoated nylon-webbing which makes it maintenance-free. That’s cool as I was really wearing out my other collar and I hadn’t had it long. While there, I surfed around the website as I like to learn as much as I can about a company. When I went to the “About Us” link, it didn’t work so I was a bit disappointed.

My human took the collar from the bag, twisted it several different ways, yanked and pulled on it as hard as he could to see if it was made well. He wanted to see if it would keep its shape and if it could easily tear as he is really picky what I wear.

Also, he pulled on it really hard to see if he could pull it apart. It maintained its shape really well. He took a close look at the area where the metal plate is attached to the rest of the collar and determined it was good too.

I took my old collar off and replaced it with this new one! I felt so handsome and snazzy as the red collar goes great with my black shiny fur. My human said it is a good color too, meaning colorful or rich in color. Sometimes when a red is made for collars, it’s faded and less vibrant. The company offers several other colors, black, brown, orange, pink, yellow, green, blue and red.

I’ve been out for several long walks showing my dog friends and other humans how good I look in my new collar. At the speed I walk, I was concerned it would fall off or come loose. My human wouldn’t take me to the wooded trails until he was sure it was going to work for us.

"See the Steel Plate?"
(C) Allen Pearson

I had to do my best to test the durability of it by doing my usual rolling around the yard on my back with it on. I got it a bit dirty but it cleans off really easily.

I have to say, my favorite feature of the collar is the stainless steel plate, located about the middle has my contact information on it. 

If I get lost or someone needs to take me to my humans or if I am in an accident with my humans the First Responders will know where I live. There are quite a few good reasons to have a collar like this!

Also, my human really likes the way the collar seems to "sit" or "fit" on me.  The ID tag, as shown in the photo above, seems to sit on top of my neck, instead of underneath. This allows me to be identified quicker.  If someone happens to be afraid of me, but wants to help, they can see the tag without putting their arm or hand near my mouth.  A smart design!

One concern I have is there is nothing in the envelope describing what the product is made of which could be a problem for someone. For example, if the collar was bought as a gift for someone and shipped directly to them, there isn’t anything in the package letting them know the materials. If the dog happens to be allergic to the material, there could be a problem. I happen to be very allergic to nylon, my fur falls out!