Your Dog Loves You Regardless of How Much Money You Spend on Him

It's important to remember that our dogs love us because we love them and take care of them. They enjoy toys, but they cannot count change or read a price tag. For this reason, it's time to drop the guilt, stop spending more than you can afford and still be able to provide for your lovable pooch.

Tip #1: Only Buy Toys Your Dog Won't Chew Up and Ruin Immediately

This is especially true when dealing with a puppy or young dog. If your dog is prone to chewing up toys, it makes good sense financially to either invest in a toy that will last a long time (such as hard rubber toys or rope pulls) or one that is on the cheaper end of the scale because you know it won't last long anyway. Do not purchase toys that you know will be torn apart and no good the next day. This just wastes your hard-earned money.

Tip #2: Get Your Books Online - New or Used

Chances are that you will need a book or two to figure out your dog's behavior at one point in time or another. Purchasing a book(s) online (www.amazon.com or www.bn.com) will help you save a little green. Showing up to the mall with your wallet in hand is not the best way to save money on a book you will probably only read one or two times. Instead, purchase a used book (sometimes under $5.00 including shipping) and use the extra cash to buy a coffee to enjoy while you read it.

Tip #3: Biodegradable Bags Don't Have to Be Expensive

When you purchase your dog's waste bags, keep in mind that they are the same whether or not you go to Petco (www.petco.com) or a drugstore like Walgreens (www.walgreens.com). Nowadays, Walgreens sells biodegradable bags so you can save some money while still doing something good for the environment. Purchasing the same bags at Petco might cost you $3.00 more than if you had gone to Walgreens and sometimes you'll get more bags in the package at Walgreens!

Tip #4: Print Coupons Before You Visit to the Vet's Office

Printing out coupons for your vet's office is easy because many practices now have websites with cost-savings opportunities listed for their customers and patients. For instance, if your dog needs to be spayed, check your vet's website before bringing in your little one to get fixed and you could save some cash.

One thing you should never skimp on or cut corners around is your dog's food. Every dog is different and food can react differently in every situation, so trial and error is the best way to go when switching from one food brand to another. Avoid ingredients like chicken by-product, grain, cornmeal and oil-products in your dog's packaged food. Stores like Mud Bay (www.mudbay.com) offer free samples of food and their knowledgeable staff is there to answer questions regarding different types of food for different breeds. Any specialty store that caters to dogs will be helpful with this experience.

Whatever you do, shower your dog with lots of love and he/she will be the happiest pooch you've ever seen!