Chasing the Fionist Dream

If you’ve been reading our blog for a while (or if you look at our logo), you’ll know that we have a dog and we love her to pieces. A few months after getting married, we brought home an awkward, terrified rescue puppy and never looked back. It’s hard to believe that our big furry girl will be 9 later this spring (as will our marriage).

While having a dog is a significant expense (on average, we spend about 2,000 shekels per year on our dog), it is much cheaper than a kid, a car, or plenty of other things, and she brings our whole family so much joy and is wonderful for our kids.

Here are twelve ways we lower our costs on all things dog. If you are considering getting a dog, or already have one, this post is for you.

1. Adopt. Save a life. – When choosing a dog to join your family, check out your local shelter and rescue organizations and avoid breeders. Plenty of homeless healthy loveable dogs are put down in municipal pounds each year. Not only will you save thousands of shekels on the dog itself, your adoption package will include initial shots, spay/neuter, license, and chip, which you would otherwise have to cover on your own. In 2015 we paid 600 shekels for the adoption package. It should be around 800 now.
2. Pick your kibble – You do not need super ultra premium food. Compare brands online and read reviews. The first ingredient should be meat.
3. Find the best price – Once you decide which kibble you’ll use, find the best place to buy it from. We order ours from a store in another region of the country because it works out cheaper (including delivery) than buying it locally. We pay 320 shekels per 18 kilo bag, which lasts us 3 months.
4. Make your own treats – Anything is a treat for your dog. No need to buy fancy dog treats. Leftover meat/fish/chicken from your table can be cut into pieces, saved for later (frozen if more than a few days) and used to reward your dog. In the summer, we occasionally make pupsicles. Throw some leftovers into a cup, add water until the brim, and freeze. Our dog loves them.
5. Toys – Tied up old socks, tennis balls, braided old towels, etc. Anything marketed for dogs will be “dog taxed”.
6. Walk your dog –  Walking your dog will keep both you and your dog healthy. This may save you money on a gym membership that you’d otherwise pay for and walking your dog yourself will save you the cost of a dog walker. (Remember to always pick up the poop!)
7. Train your dog yourself – We are huge Zac George fans. We bought the book and watched many of his videos. Our kids have taught our dog plenty too.
8. Get your dog fixed – The pounds are bursting as it is. Spaying or neutering your dog will prevent the creation of more unwanted dogs (see #1). It will also lower the cost of your yearly dog license.
9. Brush your dog’s teeth – Get yourself some doggy toothpaste and brush your pooch’s pearly whites. The more on top of it you are, the longer you’ll be able to delay the need for professional teeth cleaning at the vet. Our goal is at least three times a week.
10. Groom your own dog – Buy dog shampoo and do it yourself. Our six-year-old is a pro at washing our dog. You can also learn to do nails and other things yourself too.
11. Plan for emergencies – Unfortunately, dogs aren’t eligible for kupat cholim. Consider buying pet insurance or creating a slush fund (what we did) to cover costly unexpected medical bills.
12. Establish your dog’s fan club – Ask around in your neighborhood/friend circle to find dog-lovers who don’t have a dog of their own and would be happy to borrow yours (for free or for pay) when you’re busy or away. This will be immensely helpful. We promise. 🐶

While the list above is about how to save money on dog ownership, we want to take this opportunity to remind you all that adding a dog to your lives is a significant undertaking that in many ways is like having another child. (What other pet goes to the park, has playdates, has to be taught manners, etc?) A dog is a family member who will require, food, attention, medical care and love for the next ~15 years, so it’s not something to jump into if you’re not ready for the commitment.

Do you have a dog? Are you considering getting a dog? How do you save money on your dog expenses?