Frugal Dog/Pet Tips (Sponsored Post)

Our dog, Prince, with his rubber chicken.

This is a sponsored post and I will be getting product for posting. This post is in partnership with the dog bark collar store.

Owning a pet is a lot like having a child. It isn't cheap. People sometimes splurge on their pets out of love on luxuries that they really can't afford. After all, your pet is just as much part of the family as your kids or spouse. There is nothing wrong with spoiling your pooch or pet with frivolous things if you have the money. When it comes down to it though, all your pet really needs is regular interaction with you, exercise, a nutritious diet, and preventive care. Here are some frugal dog/pet tips to save some cash and still keep your pet healthy and happy.

• Rescue a pet. Finding the perfect pet is a daunting task sometimes. Ask a lot of questions and do your research. Look to rescuing a pet from a shelter or pound instead of buying a pet from a breeder. Usually doing so will save you money and give a pet in need a good home. Other places you could look are Craigslist and Freecycle. We found our dog using Petfinder and got our dog, Prince, at a shelter. We were looking for a dog that was great with kids and was part poodle because they are usually hypoallergenic. Prince is a large standard poodle/coon hound mix. We had a long drive to get him because the shelter that had him wasn't as local, but he was worth it.
• Spend time with your pet. Give your pet the much needed attention it deserves. Scratch it behind the ears or stroke its fur. Take your dog to the park, dog park, on a walk around the block, or play fetch. Interaction and exercise is a wonderful part of the equation to keeping your pet healthy and happy. This is cheaper than buying your pet lots of toys or taking it to the pet spa.
• Use alternatives to expensive treats. If you use praise or positive reinforcement verbally or with positive contact (or both) you might be able to cut down on the number of treats you give your pet. Alternatively there are fruits and veggies you can safely feed your pet for treats. You can also make your own pet treats as there are a number of recipes online using ingredients that you probably already have around the house.
• Give your pet a nutritious diet. Pick a pet food that your pet likes. If your pet doesn't like it, they won't eat it. Don't skimp on quality and get one without the fillers and extra ingredients you can't pronounce. Fillers usually cause gastric and bowel problems. Buy in bulk, it is usually cheaper in the long run. Use coupons or gift cards! Don't overfeed your pet. Overfeeding can lead to obesity and other health problems for your pet. There are also people foods that should be avoided for pets at all costs.
• Use preventative care. Know how to care for your pet and give your pet what they really need. Keep your pet's vaccines, medication, and veterinary checkups current and up to date. Keep their heartworm, flea and tick medication up to date. Practice good hygiene and exercise with your pet. You can bathe, brush teeth, groom and clip your pet's nails, etc. all yourself at home instead of taking them to an pricey groomer, spa, salon or boutique. With a pet clipper and practice you will become a pro. Also, spay or neuter your pet, as this also reduces potential medical expenses.
• Keep a pet savings account or buy insurance. It is cheaper than pet insurance. However; if you can afford insurance it would be wise to keep it for your pet just in case an emergency arises. Then you won't have to pay all that money for vet bills out of pocket all of a sudden. If you do get insurance know what you are paying for, read the fine print before signing up and shop around to find the best deal for the most benefits. Also make sure your current vet accepts the insurance you pick. Pet insurance is sometimes the more economical way to go.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose. The best pet product doesn't have to be the most expensive one. Old holey socks tied in a knot or a good stick are great tug of war/fetch implements. Other things can be used or reused for a pet purpose instead of what they are currently being used or not being used for. Look around and think outside the box. Thrift store finds are great!
• Find a pet sitter. When you have to leave your pet at home for an extended amount of time finding a reliable, caring and affordable pet sitter close to you is key. Doggie Daycare might not be as cost-effective. If you have a friend or relative that can watch you pet for little to nothing and does a good job that is the best situation. If you don't have those options you can try DogVacay or a similar service. Also you could try finding one through the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters or Pet Sitters International. They might have affordable pet sitters that you can try in your area.
• Go on a pet included vacation. If your having trouble finding a good pet sitter maybe you could take your pet with you. Just make sure the places you book are pet friendly. There are a lot of pet friendly hotels: motels, rentals, attractions, restaurants, etc. out there that offer options. If you don't know, ask ahead! We went on a long road trip across the USA with our dog, Prince. It was a lot of fun and he enjoyed all the time he spent with us along the way. You can also purchase a Traveling with Your Pet guide by AAA to help you on your travels.

DISCLOSURE/DISCLAIMER: This is a sponsored post. This post is in partnership with the dog bark collar store. I will be receiving a special engraved dog bowl that teaches my dog to eat slow and a $25 gift card to a store of my choice for free for posting these tips. My thoughts are mine and my family's own opinion and have not been altered by anyone else. I did not receive any other compensation for doing this post.

Flats and Handwashing Challenge Updated

I have cloth diapered before when my boys were little and loved it. Back then I primarily used Diaper Service Quality (DSQ) Chinese prefolds with Bummis Super Whisper Wrap and Prorap covers, but had a few All In Ones (AIOs) too. We saved all kinds of money doing it and I loved the idea that I was helping keep disposals out of landfills. I stopped cloth diapering when my daughter Tatiana was born because all my cloth diapering stash that I had purchased myself and built up was lost in our abrupt move to Florida (long story). Anyway I had the preconceived notion that since we were basically homeless (living out of a hotel) there with no vehicle or job to start out with that we wouldn't be able to cloth diaper, so unfortunately for me I abandoned the practice especially after learning that my daughter was special needs thinking at the time that it might be more than I could handle.

Now that I am more educated and have some more experience behind me I know now that I could have managed and gotten by with what the cloth diapering community call flats and a few covers. Flats are basically what your grandmother probably used as diapers. They are large squares of single-layer material; typically made from Birdseye weave cotton. These diapers can be folded in a number of ways in order to fit a baby and can be fastened with diaper pins or a Snappi.

Flats are the most economical cloth diaper out there and are actually a better decision for low-income families that are trying to scrape by in this economy and keep clean diapers on hand for their babies. A recent article about how low-income families are being forced to leave their babies in dirty disposables or trying to rewash and reuse them because they don't have the money to buy more is the reason the Dirty Diaper Laundry's Flats and Handwashing Challenge was started. Disposable diapers are not covered by any government assistance program (Food stamps nor WIC supply them) because of considering them a "luxury" not a necessity. So really, flats are a better way to go, but in general people are not educated about them.

Flats are very inexpensive. A dozen flats will cost you $12.00-$30.00 a dozen, depending on size (small/large) or if they are organic. That is about the cost of a package of disposables and the beauty of flats is that they are also washable and reusable since they are cloth. They also fit all babies (newborn through age 3) because they can be folded different ways and so in theory, a dozen will last you the entire diapering life of your baby! They are also easily handwashed and dry super fast just hung up to drip dry or on a line in the sun so there is really no need to use all those quarters at the laundry mat...and who would want to lug dirty diapers to a laundry mat anyway? Not me! A Camp Style Washer can easily be made for washing them simply too!

THE CHALLENGE & MY REASONS
To use flats and handwash them for 1 week. May 23-May 30. Yes some people may think I am crazy for wanting to take on this challenge, but I believe I can do it and it will certainly be a learning experience for me. I am also trying to take steps to push this further. I would love to be able to take what I have learned and apply it to teaching low-income families with babies how to use flats and handwash them too. I want to go out into the field and teach at women's shelters, hospitals, and other places because lets face it low-income families usually don't have the internet or access to it and probably won't be seeing this either. I was homeless once. I know what it feels like to be just scraping by and trying to keep your kids basic needs met. I believe having clean diapers for babies is a basic need (unless you learn elimination communication) and should not be overlooked as such.

I NEED MORE SPONSORS FOR THIS CHALLENGE!
I am going to be participating in the Dirty Diaper Laundry's Flats and Handwashing Challenge with my 6 month old daughter, Zari. But I need your help too. I currently have very few cloth diapering supplies and so I am rounding up as much cloth diaper covers, cloth wipes, receiving blankets, birdseye cotton (prefer unbleached and/or organic, not Gerber) flats, flannel flats, bamboo flats, hemp flats, flower sack towels, doublers, cloth diapering accessories, etc. as I can from whomever can donate them to me. Sponsors are most welcome to donate materials for this challenge to me and will be published as such on my blog for doing so. Thanks in advance and I am excited about participating!

SPONSORS:

Donation: one Super Brite diaper cover (Blueberry Polka Dot, small)

Donation: a dozen Unbleached OsoCozy Birdseye Flat Diapers 27x27 and a dozen Unbleached OsoCozy Gauze Diaper Doublers

Donation: 18 cotton flannel wipes from reclaimed flannel, 1 cotton flat terry receiving blanket (can be used as an extra large flat also), 2 bamboo flannel flats*, 6 bamboo flannel travel size wipes*, 1 bamboo hemp flat (best for doubling or other uses that don't have direct skin contact), 1 pull on diaper cover, 2 hook and loop diaper covers, 2 or 3 hemp bamboo quick dry soaker pads*, 1 wool soaker pad* (washer/dryer friendly in dedicates bag, but for best results hand wash in wool wash according to instructions and dry flat). *Denotes EcoFluff brand products. Items without an asterisk were made specially for me, are used, or were experimental designs that EcoFluff doesn't market in her store.
Homeschool Hats
Donation: Custom Slot hand dyed semi-solid hand knit Ribbie One Size Wool Soaker Diaper Cover.