3 Tips for Cutting Canine Costs

It’s easy to fall in love with an adorable pup but remember – even the littlest dogs can add up to big expenditures! Celebrity dog trainer Inger Martens gave us a few Fab & Fru tips to help control all those doggone expenses!

1. Swanky Dogs Hang Out At Shelters!
Many of us have our hearts set on pure bred puppies, but did you know that you can often find these diva dogs at your local animal shelter?!  Most breeds even have their own rescue leagues.  So, you can actually adopt a pure breed for much less than going to a breeder or a pet store! Vets in the know may also be able to direct you to a pound that rescues neglected purebreds from puppy mills.   

2. Tons of Toys?
Inger cautions that many of us tend to spoil our dogs with lots of expensive toys, but you really just need to start with two (and the ones in the discount bin are just fine)!  Leave one toy out for the pup to play with all day and only bring out the other toy when you get home.  By making one of the toys special, you will start to train your dog to know when it’s playtime or quiet time.  A tennis ball and a couple bully sticks to chew are all your canine cutie needs to stay entertained!

3. D.I.Y. Grooming Tips
For all you doggy D.I.Y. beauticians out there: do not pour dog shampoo straight on the coat – it is very important to dilute it first!  After shampooing, be sure to rinse your pooch for twice as long as you normally would to make sure all the shampoo gets rinsed off the double coats that many dogs have.  More often than you’d think, people do not dilute the shampoo properly and then do not rinse enough.  This product build up is a major cause of doggy dander!  Even though this white dander is not dirt, the residual shampoo can irritate your pup’s skin as well as diminish the shine of his healthy coat.

As far as trimming your dog’s coat, for about the same price as a professional grooming session, you can buy a hand held hair trimmer and do it yourself!