Having A Pet Isnt As Expensive As You'd Think

Yes its true having a pet can become very expensive between shots, vet visits, food, grooming needs, summer care, winter care, medications, toys.... and so much more. But If you know where to go for cheaper pet care it can make things so much easier on you.

It makes me sad to see so many people giving up their pets these days cause of a loss of a job or budget cuts. I'm not saying that people are bad because they need, or want, to get rid of their pet. But I know, personally, that pets are not that expensive.

The company I worked at closed down 2 months after I bought my puppy, I never thought about giving her away or selling her. She is not yet spayed, only because I wanted to wait until she was a little older, she is up to date with her shots, she has flea and tick control, and she will be starting training classes in a month. Unfortunately I am still unemployed, but I am still able to give her everything she needs.

The ASPCA offers low cost training, shots, and lost cost spaying and neutering.

Many websites, or local pet stores offer lost cost flea and tick control. Amazon.com, Petco.com, Petsmart.com, 1800petmeds.com.

I would just like people to know before buying a pet that so much goes into caring for that pet. Its a very sad story when people own a dog, cat, bird or any other animal and give it away or sell it a few months after buying it. I dont believe in giving up a pet because of high costs. If you must give your pet away be sure that he has a good home and please dont bring him to a shelter.

Puppy House Training

• When you first bring your puppy home watch what he does before he goes to the bathroom. Doing this will teach you his own habits before you teach him not to go inside.
• When you see him circling, or doing what ever it is that he does, scoop him up or lead him out side before he has an accident.
• If he does have accidents firmly say "no" and take him outside. He will eventually learn that outside is his bathroom. It will take time and he will have accidents just remember not to yell at him and always praise him for doing good outside.
• Teaching him to go in a certain area in your yard isnt that hard. All you have to do is take him outside on a leash to the designated, wait until he does his business then praise him, maybe give him a treat. In no time when you take him out he'll know exactly where the two of you are going. Eventually you should be able to let him out by himself and he should go right to that spot.
• Always keep up a routine especially in the winter, fall, rain on colder days, or days that you just dont feel like doing your routine. If you fall out of it your pup will most likely start having accidents inside.
• I have a Labrador puppy and it took her a month or two to get a routine down. She is still a puppy, only 10 months old, and I know that she can hold her pee and poo in for 8 to 10 hours. I do try not to have her hold it in that long, but when im out and cannot get home I know she wont have an accident.
• Sometimes training a puppy can get frustrating, but remember that they will eventually get it and the days of you picking up poo and mopping up pee will be over.

Basic Dog Training Tips

• Always remember that dogs love to please their owners, so when teaching them tricks praise and reward them right away when they do it right. Check out the Pet Store for training products.
• When saying a command to your dog be stern and speak a slightly louder voice than your normal one.
• As a puppy or in the beginning of your training say the command and place your pet in the correct position. ex: say sit (sternly) then push his but down to make him sit. When you believe that he has got it down, say the command and your dog should obey right away.
• Remember not to yell at them, always praise when they do something right. If your doggy has run away from you and does not come when you say "come" do not yell at them, when they eventually do come praise them instead. Dogs always remember the very last thing, so when you praise them when they eventually come they'll know to obey when you say "come."
• Obedience training requires the right kind of collars. The best training collar would be a Choke Chain collar. The collars do choke the dog for just a few seconds but does not hurt them. It teaches them to stop doing what they are doing wrong. These collars can be very dangerous and many dogs every year are injured or killed by owners putting the collars on wrong. My advice is to only use the collars for training and when not training use a soft collar so the choke chain doesn't get stuck on anything and choke your dog.
• Another piece of advice is to get a collar and leash that fits your dogs size. Larger dogs can break loose from the collars or leashes causing all sorts of problems. Most collars and leashes have size by weight on the packages.