Dogs and Saving Money

COMPANIONS. People keep a dog for many reasons – a companion around the house and for walking - protection - because they love animals - or as a working dog, but in all these situations money rears its ugly head.

It is no use pretending otherwise, but to have any pet as a member of your family (well, almost) will cost you a certain amount of money. Here we will try and show you how saving is also possible without being mean.

PEDIGREE OR CROSS BREED.The first and most obvious saving comes in the actual purchase price of the animal.

If you decide on a pedigree animal then the initial outlay will obviously be large. You are paying for breeding, type of animal etc. A pedigree will cost you around £700 upwards, whereas a mutt from the local sanctuary/home will cost anything from £100 upwards depending upon the home and their charges. There is a case to be made for both types of dog.

PEDIGREE There are several important points to bear in mind.

1. Buy from a reputable breeder.
2. Don't buy from anyone who 'promises' to send the pedigree on at a later date.
3. Make sure you can see the mother of the litter. If the breeder makes excuses as to why you cannot - leave immediately - there is something wrong here. The person selling the puppies is possibly a puppy farmer or someone who has bought in the puppies to sell on at a profit. Some breeding bitches are kept in totally inadequate situations amounting to cruelty. Also, the breeding mother can be of bad temperament. Hence - always insist on seeing the mother it will tell you a lot.
4. A reputable breeder will try to match your personality, circumstances and your needs to the dog they will supply to you. See YOUR NEEDS below.
5. A reputable breeder will give you a starter pack of the correct food for feeding your new puppy plus information on the early stages of care.

CROSS BREEDS People often prefer to give an unwanted animal a home. Your local sanctuary/home will probably have an assortment of animals of all shapes, sizes and ages all absolutely desperate for a good home.

The drawback here is that relatively little will be known about the his or her past history and there is obviously an element of risk attached to this venture. It must be pointed out here that a pedigree animal can also come with inherited problems from his parents, etc.

Whilst the saving will be great when compared with the money spent on a pedigree, the following points should apply to either category.

YOUR NEEDS. Common sense is the most important point. What do you want the pet for? How large/small is your home? Are there children involved? Will he have specific duties, i.e., guarding/working? Do you want him as a walking companion? If you are out at work all day it is sensible to consider giving a dog a home? Are you able to exercise the animal – some dogs such as German Shepherds and Collies need plenty of walking etc. do you need your dog for sporting activities, i.e., a working gun dog.

In addition to physical exercise, a collie will need to exercise his brain as well as his/her legs. It would not be kind to any pet and would store up problems for both of you if you cannot give him what his particular breed needs. The answer must then be 'No'.

If exercise is a problem then you will need to seek out a breed whose main demand is a comfortable and warm home. For instance, a greyhound at the end of his racing career would like to rest and keep his owner company by the fire. Lucky dog!

An unexpected bonus is that an ‘adopted’ animal will probably be a crossbreed and often this type of dog is far healthier than a pedigree. Of course, no specific guarantees can be given on this particular point. Another bonus is that an adopted animal will probably have seen some strife in his life and will be eternally grateful for a loving home and will undoubtedly show this to you, the benefactor!

TRAINING CLASSES. Always consider going to a good training class with a qualified instructor if you need to instill some discipline. Ask around here for a really good trainer.

FREE BOOK.One of the best ways of throwing light on this whole subject is to read all about the pros and cons of giving this type of pet a home. There are many other subjects that it is necessary to consider in this action, and these are all fully explained in our FREE book available here

This book is not solely about training, but contains a mint of other information on choosing a pet, tips on looking after it and grooming – which is explained in full so saving you money.

If you take a look at Money Saving Tips and Your Pet you will find that your pocket is considered again.

You will be able to enjoy your pet at a minimum cost – unless of course you choose to indulge him – and many owners do - but that is your choice.

Pets even have their own supermarkets now!

Whether you are dirty from work, tired and exhausted – your dogs will love you. Love them in return - they deserve it. Definitely man's (or woman's) best friend!

Recommended reading:

NEW Work From Home. Make and Save Money
NEW Take Care of your Eyes
Safe and Secure on the Internet