I can’t remember what out house was like before we got our dog but I can tell you that our beautiful Bichon Frise Buddy has completed our family perfectly and we can’t imagine not having him now.
He’s quite a high maintenance little pooch if I’m honest but we knew that before we got him because we researched the best breed for our family extensively. The thing that sold me on him was the fact that he wouldn’t shed his hair everywhere (it had nothing to do with that cute face, honest!) and the fact that, as a breed, they’re known to be a very friendly and playful dog.
Before we got him, people told us to consider very carefully the impact he would have on our lives and on our budget because having a pet can be costly. We went for it anyway because the benefits of having a family pet outweighed the restrictions that having a pet would place om our family and as for the budget, there’s always ways to save money….
Get a rescue dog rather than buying one from a breeder.
I was very specific about the breed of do I wanted back five years ago and didn’t even consider the Dogs Trust but if I was to do it again then the Dogs Trust would be my first port of call. We visited our local centre a while ago and fell in love with some of the dogs and Miss Frugal recently spotted a Bichon Frise at our local which prompted the discussion as to whether we would have another one. We decided that we’d like to go and meet Missy but unfortunately she was reserved just before we called! I’m sure there are rescue centres for whatever pet you might be considering if you have a good look around.
Make sure you have pet insurance.
Pet insurance is a must when you consider the potential costs if your pet was sick or had an accident – imagine not being able to afford the treatment you need to make your pet better!
Shop around for pet food and consider buying in bulk to save even more.
Just as you would shop around for other things, make sure you shop around for your pet’s food and don’t necessarily buy the food your vet recommends (especially if they sell it in the surgery) as it may be that they are on commission for selling it. Buying online or in bulk could save you a fortune!
Make your own dog treats.
This isn’t something that I do as Buddy isn’t a fan of any treats but a quick search on Pinterest reveals a lot of recipes for homemade dog treats.
Keep your dog healthy – exercise them regularly.
This one speaks for itself really!
Groom them at home where possible.
Keep on top of grooming your pets where necessary as this will make life a lot easier if they have to go to a pet salon for a professional groom. I find that with Buddy, if I keep on top of his grooming I pay less at the local dog salon as it’s quicker for them to do. Whenever I make an appointment anywhere and say he’s a Bichon then they don’t tend to give me an exact price just a thereabouts price as it depends how much time it will take them. I’ve also given him haircuts at home in the past thanks to the magic of YouTube tutorials!
Keep their teeth clean.
Some pets get toothache too if you don’t look after their teeth so why not give them a quick clean every now and again if necessary.
Skip the fashion accessories.
Does your pet really need a T-shirt? Or a fancy dress costume?
No, because that would be a real waste of money and they would hate you forever….
Keep up to date with any treatments- prevention is cheaper than cure usually.
Things like worming and flea treatments need to be done regularly,more for your pets health than anything else but this also has an impact on your budget because treatment to cure something is usually more expensive than a treatment to prevent it.
Buy pet medication online.
There are lots of reputable stores online where you can buy your pet medication and treatments. This will often save you money over buying things at the vets but obviously, there are some occasions when a visit to the the vets is needed. I’m thinking more flea treatments and working treatments rather than you googling a diagnosis and then trying to treat something based on that!
How else do you save money with your pet?
Don’t miss out on future posts like this – receive updates directly to your inbox by email by adding your email address to the box on the top right of this page and hitting subscribe. You can also follow me on BlogLovin or Networked Blogs and I’d love to see you over on my Facebook page and on Instagram.
