(Since deals a bit with dog health I'll just put it here)
Here's a summary of an article about tips to decreasing the cost dog ownership:
The typical dog will cost about $700-3000 a year to keep. But there are some things that new dog owners can do to help cut down the cost
without decreasing the quality of dog care or of the dog's life. Here are some simple tip, some of which you may already know:
Getting a dog
If you've decided to get a dog, it might be more convenient to get from a shelter or a breed specific rescue rather than buying one from a breeder (although there is nothing wrong with this). Adoption fees are considerably lower and you also help the dog over population plight. And remember that rescue doesn't always equal mutt. Many rescues and shelters have pure bred dogs as well!
Good Quality Food
It might sound tempting to get cheaper food to save a few bucks but you should really think about this twice. Cheap foods may mean low quality and low quality food can sometimes lead to health problems not to mention that the dog eats more to get adequate nutrition. Once you decide on which brand you want to go with sign up at the company's website and use coupons to save some money. Treats shouldn't be fed too often to keep costs low and instead you can always use treats such as apples or carrots.
Quality Equipment
Getting materials that last can save money in the long run. Leashes, collars, and toys that are more durable won't have to be replaced that often. And as for toys, you don't need to get all that many. 3-4 may do as long as you rotate which ones you use so that they don't bore your dog.
Vet Care
Some may decide not to go to the vet all too often to save money but actually going often can help keep your dog healthy and catch problems quickly before they escalate into something worse and possibly more expensive to cure. Also purchasing Pet Insurance will help cover some of your vet costs, some companies may even cover up to 80% of the cost!
Grooming
Always know what tools are right for your dog. This way you can buy the ones you need and not have to replace the inappropriate ones. Also learn how to groom your dog yourself, this way you don't have to spend on taking them to professional groomers.
Training
Learn to train your dog yourself. It can be fun and quite fulfilling. Your local library might contain some useful books or DVDs.
Cutting the Cost of Dog Ownership
By Jenna Stregowski, RVT, About.com Guide
Any Thoughts?
Subject: Saving Money with Your Dog 
Thu Jan 07, 2010 7:09 pm
