Do you want to spoil your dog a bit? Or as I like to say show your pup how much you love him or her. Heck, I don’t think I have a spoiled dog. Food spoils. I don’t think my dog, Henry is a furry science experiment from the back of the fridge. Maybe it’s your dog’s gotcha day, birthday, or it’s just because you love your furry friend to the moon and back. I have a tendency to want to shower Henry with love. Are you the same way? Today, let’s dig in and discover easy affordable ideas to spoil your dog (or as I like to say show your well-loved dog some love).
Budget tip:
While you may be tempted to buy some kind of pricey toy, treat, or accessory for your dog as a way to shower your furry friend with love, it’s not necessary. In fact, it’s only hurting your bottom line. I know Henry is thrilled with free activities, quality time, and budget-friendly rewards. Unlike human adults, our dogs don’t judge. That’s another wonderful attribute of dogs. Moreover, it is a great benefit for your dog’s budget!
Massage
Henry absolutely loves a good massage. I can’t say I can disagree with him. A massage is beyond the typical belly rub that most dogs love, and Henry does as well. The best part is any age dog from a puppy to a senior dog will love a massage.
For example, Henry is a small dog thus massaging him doesn’t take much time for him. Generally, I will brush and then massage him. He’ll always fall asleep during the massage portion. Then he wakes up when I think I’m done with the massage and looks at me as if to say, “Why did you stop?” That’s my well-loved puppy dog!
Want to learn how to massage your dog? In this article, I walk you through the process of giving your dog a massage that will have your furry friend asking for more.
Cost: Free
Doggie date
Henry loves adventures and doggie dates. Generally, he really enjoys people-watching, star gazing, or a walking tour. He loves it and I do as well. However, there are many great date ideas you can go on with your partner and dog. What makes for a better date idea than something that involves your dog, especially if it’s free or nearly free?
Are you bored with the same old dates? Need some new ideas? In this article, I share 25 great and affordable ideas you can do with your partner and dog.
Cost: Free – $$
Mini spa
Do you love a spa day? Your dog may as well. Some dogs love being pampered with a mini spa. Henry enjoys the brushing part. Actually, he’d sit or lay for hours as long as I’d continue to brush him. I was the same as a kid. Maybe we do have the same DNA?
What to find out how to give your dog a wonderful mini spa day? In this article, I share everything you need to know.
Cost: Free
Hiking adventure
Henry absolutely loves hiking. I was a bit shocked when took him for his first hike. He enjoyed it so much and hiked like a big dog! Consequently, I learned you can’t judge a hiking dog by the package. You may be surprised by how much your dog loves hiking too. Or maybe you already know it. Either way, a wonderful hiking adventure can be a great way to show your dog how much you love him or her.
Do you avoid hiking with your dog because it will make your back hurt? In this article, I share tips I learned from a physical therapist for reducing back pain and increasing overall fun.
Cost: Free – $
Homemade cookies
Henry dearly loves dog treats. However, a homemade treat is his favorite. Personally, I love them as well. I can adjust the ingredients, make them healthy treats, and save a lot of money. It’s a winner for Henry and my bottom line.
Want to know how much you can save with a simple homemade dog cookie recipe? In this article, I break out all the numbers.
Cost: $
New DIY toy
Your dog may love toys. If that’s the case, you can easily make a DIY dog toy in no time and virtually for no money. For example recycling socks in a manner like Fun Sock City illustrates could be a great idea for a new toy for your furry friend.
Cost: Free
Playtime
Taking time to play with your dog is a wonderful way to show your pup you love him or her. As an example, you could throw a ball for fetch, play with a new DIY dog toy, toss a frisbee, or engage in a game of tug-of-war with a favorite toy. Playtime is great for mental stimulation in whatever manner your dog plays.
Does your dog simply not like dog toys? Henry doesn’t either. In this article, I share what dogs love when they don’t like dog toys.
Cost: Free
Doggie daycare
Without a doubt, Henry loves doggie daycare. It’s a fun activity for him. Of course, you need to find a good doggie daycare that will take care of your furry friend like their own. Thus, protect your best buddy while in their care. However, once you find that spot it can be a great outlet for your dog. I always equate Henry’s doggie daycare to a child going to Disneyland. He gets so excited and then comes home completely exhausted. It’s absolutely pure joy for him to play with other dogs in a safe environment.
Honestly, I wasn’t sure about doggie daycare the first time I took Henry. I thought it was only for richie-rich dogs. Actually, I discovered it’s very affordable at least in my area. As a result, I can show my well-loved puppy dog some of his doggie daycare fun or doggie Disneyland fun every so often.
Want to learn more about doggie daycare? In this article, I share everything you need to know.
Cost: $
DIY new bed
This can be really fun and something your dog will really love. For example, Henry has a lot of beds currently. Honestly, I don’t know how he got so many. I think I see him lying in a new spot and think “Oh, you should have a bed there too”. That’s when you need a cheap, easy (and in my case, no-sew) way to provide your pup with a dog bed.
Personally, I really like the DIY dog bed by Vicky Bermudez. Actually, you can customize it with upcycled dog blankets and pillows. It’s an excellent way to go green with your dog.
Want to learn easy ways to be eco-friendly with your dog? In this article, I share 12 super simple ways to go green with your dog.
Cost: Free – $
Dog safe zone
One of the best things I’ve done for Henry is creating dog safe zones for him. He knows that if he’s scared or overwhelmed he can retreat to one of them and escape the scary world. Thus, Henry’s dog safe zones are a way I show him I love him. Additionally, when he needs me, I sit with him or walk him to his safe zone.
Want to learn more about dog safe zones? In this article, I share everything you need to know and how a dog safe place can save you money.
Cost: Free
Special water treat or adventure
Does your dog love to play in the water? Admittedly, Henry doesn’t necessarily like to play in water unless it’s his idea. However, if there are people or other critters in the water, he’ll join in the fun. Generally, he will always love to float on a pool and pretend he is “King Henry”.
Do you know how important water is for your dog? In fact, it can help reduce your dog’s expenses. In this article, I share all the details including a numbers breakdown.
Cost: Free – $
Work on training
Henry thrives on training and learning a new trick or behavior. While he is quick to pick up on training, he also needs to be challenged. Basically, it’s the process of actively engaging his mind. Your dog may be the same way. The good news is that training doesn’t take that much time, but the benefits for your dog can be tremendous. Moreover, it benefits you by keeping your budget in check and allowing you to bond with your dog even more.
Do you know that basic commands and dog training can reduce your dog’s expenses? It’s true. In this article, I walk you through everything you need to know.
Cost: Free
New sniffs are great
Dogs often explore their world by sniffing. That’s why the walk we think will take 10 minutes, turns out to be 30 minutes. Dogs need to sniff where all the other critters have been recently. Of course, they also need to leave their own messages. That’s all part of being a dog. Henry certainly enjoys his sniffs. In fact, when he appears to be leisurely sniffing a rock, I try to remember to tell myself “Take time to smell the…”
Obviously, I may not want to smell what he smells. But the idea that dogs can leisurely take a walk and take time to smell all the messages left behind, is a good reminder. Without a doubt, Us dog parents need to slow down and enjoy life a bit more. In summary, we can always take cues from our dogs. As we show them, love, by letting them enjoy their world, we get to relax a bit as well. That’s a remarkable benefit!
Cost: Free
Chores are a new adventure
This is such a fun idea and one I know that Henry truly enjoys. Often I need to move cars around on our property. At the same time, it may not be that far a ride (maybe just an acre), but it’s a fun adventure for Henry. He always gets excited and enjoys the short journey.
Additionally, as the weather permits, I take Henry with me in the car to run errands such as going to the post office, pharmacy, or even Home Depot. He loves riding in the car, seeing everything, and all the different sniffs.
Cost: Free
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Summary of easy affordable ideas to spoil your dog
If you’re like me, you may just have a moment, look at your pup, and think, “I need to do something special for you today.” Or you may save those moments for special days like holidays, Birthdays, or Gotcha Days. Undoubtedly, any day you decide to shower your dog with love is a good day.
However, if you’re budget-conscious, then you need to remember that you don’t need to spend much if any money to love your dog. In short, it’s more about the quality of time than the quantity of money spent. Henry is always happiest when I give him an extra long massage or go for a longer hike. Obviously, Henry and dogs in general, don’t judge by the money spent on them. In fact, when we make smart money choices they probably are happier. That means that if they have an emergency there’s more in the fund. I love this idea and I’m pretty sure Henry does as well.
In what ways do you show your dog love? Did you learn anything new in this article you plan to try with your dog?
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Categories Vet Savings
