Owning Dogs Doesn't Need to Be Expensive

Today’s culture in America is one of convenience and overconsumption. The dog world of today is certainly no exception. Everyone wants the latest enrichment puzzle, the fanciest dog food, the collectible toys, the jeweled collars… Really the dog show world as a whole loves to show off products! (I’m a victim of this too; no judgement here!)

But owning dogs doesn’t have to be expensive.

I grew up in a family where money was scarce. We survived on meals delivered from the local church and by picking up groceries at food pantries. Our dogs ate whatever bag of dog food was discontinued or damaged and sent to the local thrift store.

I am very thankful to have a steady career where necessities are covered but I’ve certainly learned the tricks of dog ownership during financial crises along the way.

Animal Husbandry

When it comes to basic animal husbandry, corners should not be cut. Things like routine veterinary care, grooming, and training are all important for maintaining a healthy dog. There are affordable options for all of these with vaccine clinics, spay/neuter clinics, online veterinary chats, at home grooming supplies, and dog training resources which can be found free online or in books from your local library.

Nutrition

A good dog food is another corner that shouldn’t be cut. Nutrition is the foundation for a healthy dog so investing in a quality, vet approved dog food is a wise decision.

Extras

Beyond the basics of keeping a healthy dog, everything else is icing on the cake. Things like toys, enrichment, treats, beds, etc etc all can be found or made affordably or even free. Obviously all of these ideas should be taken with a grain of salt considering safety for the individual dog. Folks have big opinions about all things dog related so some of these are certainly controversial!

Toys

Toys are important to a dog’s mental well being as well as physical. From playing with balls and frisbees in the yard to chewing on bones inside, this is what keeps dogs busy and entertained so they don’t make their own toys out of treasured belongings.

Some of my dogs’ favorite free toys include plastic water bottles (supervised and without the lid), sticks, and old cardboard or newspaper to shred. Antlers found in the woods and washed thoroughly are always a prized possession!

Affordable homemade toys can be as simple as braided fleece tugs made from remnant scraps from the fabric store. Remnant fleece can also be used to make dog beds and blankets easily! Tennis balls and frisbees can be found affordably as company promotion material - go to a small town parade and you can end up with several for free! Beach balls that have blown away from their owners can be a fun (albeit short-lived) toy.

Some children’s stuffed animals can make good dog toys for less destructive dogs but avoid any stuffed that are stuffed with beads (Beanie Babies do not make good dog toys!).

Good quality bones for chewing are a good investment. Cheap alternatives run a high risk of being swallowed and potentially causing obstructions. Rawhides (in my opinion) are never worth the risk of choking or obstruction.

Beds

Some of my dogs’ favorite beds are laundry baskets full of unfolded laundry, Costco banana boxes, and towels on the floor for my double coated dogs that run hot! You can also save money on dog beds by allowing pets on furniture!

Treats

Dog training treats do not need to be expensive. Many dogs will work happily for their kibble or even cat kibble. Some higher value rewards can include hot dogs (baked in the microwave to make them extra smelly!), string cheese, frozen pre-cooked chicken, or deli meat.

Enrichment

Enrichment is so very important to a dog’s mental health! Providing unique experiences and games will greatly improve a dog’s quality of life and build a strong bond between dog and handler.

In today’s commercial world, the term enrichment is usually used specifically to describe treat dispensers and puzzle toys. These are fun and rewarding but often just slow down a dog’s food intake. Enrichment in the form of training and nature walks is even more important than food dispensers!

A few of my favorite free or affordable treat dispensers are pieces of kibble hidden in wrapped up towels, under dog beds, or in cardboard boxes. Even easier is tossing treats into grass outside and letting the dog forage naturally!

You can also use muffin tins to create a fun treat tray with different food items in each space. Silicone potholders, makeup brush cleaning mats, or ice cube trays make excellent lick mats to spread peanut butter - freeze them to make them last longer! An almost empty peanut butter jar is a prized treat in my house - supervised only. The peanut butter jar lids can also be used as a target plate for training.

Enrichment can also look like climbing structures, obstacles, and agility equipment. Many of these things can be put together with scrap material found around the house. Agility jumps can be fashioned out of a broom stick between two chairs or made from logs and sticks in the yard. Couch cushions can be used as platforms for the dog to step on. Trash cans can be used like barrels in barrel racing. There are many creative agility options that don’t cost any money and can make wonderful training games!

Ultimately the best enrichment you can give your dog is time outside in nature. This is free and it is what dogs love best. Let your dogs sniff and explore on their own time when out on walks! You’ll be amazed how much more tired they are after a sniff walk than a power walk.

These are just a few easy and affordable day to days things you can implement to save some money on dog care. Drop your ideas in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

Emma Tinklenberg NCMG is a nationally certified dog groomer and trainer in West Michigan. She trains and competes in many different dog sports including agility, obedience, rally, scent work, dock diving, herding, and conformation. She shares her home with five dogs, two cats, reptiles, fish, and a hobby farm of goats, chickens, and ducks.