Looking for Advice for a New Puppy Owner to Reduce Costs, Preferred Dry Food, Best Place to Shop etc

dsar on 09/02/2020 - 18:35
Last edited 10/02/2020 - 23:12 by 1 other user

I'm a new puppy owner of a 8 week Groodle and was looking to see what the OzBargain community does to reduce costs, preferred brands for food, best stores that price matches etc.

Looking for your opinion and advice on:

  • Recommended Super Premium Food Brands for Dry Food
  • Items you can buy in store but are useless/harmful that you should avoid
  • Where to shop for pet supplies? Petbarn, PetCircle etc
  • Thoughts on things like Healthy Pets Plus/OurVet Complete Care. At the moment my thoughts are get this for the first year since it covers the vaccinations
  • Thoughts on Puppy School
  • Do you guys use the washing facilities at Pet Stores?

Edit:
Thanks for the info! Keep them coming if you have more to share.

My thoughts and takeaways so far:

  • Pet Insurance, I will probably avoid this due to a few reasons. Choice Shonky Award Winner + I'd be spending a bit on prevention (such as Super Premium Food) so it would be a bit of waste as this point. In addition, I'm comfortable budgeting for vet's when the occasion arises.

  • Looks like Black Hawk is the winner for Dry food. Kiwi owned but still Australian made! I'll be finishing off our Advance Puppy food and switching to Black Hawk :)

  • I'll be getting OurVet Complete Care for 12 months since it covers the core puppy vaccinations and includes puppy school. Will probably not continue after that year but will review 11 months from now.

  • Looks like PetCircle, BestFriends and PetBarn (though PetBarn only price matches against physical retailers :( ) are the places to shop.

Pets

Comments

  • Jnr202 on 09/02/2020 - 19:24
    +3

    Hi mate, we've got a groodle, he's nearly 2 we've had him since 8 weeks. Feed him meals for mutts 20kg bag. We usually get the salmon and sardine as it's great for his coat. We give him raw puppy mince with his dinner. No health issues at all.

  • chrisd262 on 09/02/2020 - 19:57

    …..what on earth is a grroodle??

    • obit11 on 09/02/2020 - 20:03
      +1

      Golden Retriever cross poodle, designer dog essentially.

    • SirFlibbled on 20/02/2020 - 07:40
      +2

      It's a mutt that was rebranded with a cute name so idiots pay a lot of money for one.

  • chrisd262 on 09/02/2020 - 22:10
    -1

    lol!

  • Wickz on 09/02/2020 - 22:29
    +1

    Welcome to Groodle ownership! I also have one and they are just the best dogs ever.

    I feed mine Black Hawk (Lamb and Rice) as the breeder he came from fed Black Hawk so I just stayed with it. During times when I was a bit short on cash I did feed cheap dry food, however I noticed a massive difference in my dogs stools and coat between the normal and premium foods. Premium will cost you more however I found that due to the makeup of ingrediants, you will feed less of the premium food, so the cost evens out eventually. I just shop around online and find that I can normally pick up a 20kg bag for $99 on sale from somewhere (I shop where its cheapest not based on store loyalty)

    Depending on the type of coat your puppy inherits, it will need to be cut roughly every 8 weeks. If you live in Vic (SE suburbs) I can recommend a great groomer, who lets you leave your dog with her all day, so fantastic for pre and post work drop offs. A groom can cost anywhere from $50 - $80 depending on how big your puppy eventually reaches. I've never used the wash facilities at pet stores or car washes, as mine sees the groomer ever 8 weeks, and for the times he gets filthy I just wash him in the bath at home. You also want to avoid washing your dog often, as it strips their coat of natural oils. Basically, only wash when required, or if they stink. My dog shampoo comes from my groomer, and is the same brand they use - Melanie Newman Salon Essentials. You could buy proper dog grooming sheers (Wahl Dog) and do it yourself, but I tried this (hopeing to save money) and honestly my dog looked like Edward Scissorhands had attacked him.

    I have had pet insurance for mine since he turned 4 (as I think that was the latest I could get it to have dental covered) and to be honest, until this year I haven't claimed anything. I think I am actually worse off having it (at the moment) as I have been paying $60 per month for the last 6 years, and (thankfully) have only needed to claim $500 worth. The way I look at it now, is if my dog has an accident or develops an illness in older age that requires medication or treatment, 80% of the costs would be covered. Like all insurance, its a gamble. Groodles are prone to hip dysplasia and ear infections so keep that in mind. For what its worth I'm with BUPA Pet Insurance as I get a discount for also having my health insurance with them. You will want to make sure you have a bottle of EpicOtic Ear Cleaner and Vetex Antiseptic Cream in your pet first aid kit at home.

    Puppy School is great for socialisation if you don't have access to other dogs. Personally I never bothered as once mine was vaccinated and able to socialise with other animals, we visited the dog park twice a week, with my parents and friends who have dogs and also the dog beaches. (Groodles LOVE water, and its a great way to exercise them)

    Favourite toys in our household are: Tuffy Tug-O-War and any rope or tyre toy. Tuffy toys are great as they float on water, and you just chuck them in the washing machine when they start to smell.

    Don't forget your flea / worming treatments - I use Advocate every month, and a tapeworm pill from my vet every 3 months.

    • dsar on 10/02/2020 - 23:04
      +1

      Hey Wickz, thanks for all the info! I just went out to buy some EpiOtic ear cleaner today and some antiseptic cream from your post!

      You could buy proper dog grooming sheers (Wahl Dog) and do it yourself, but I tried this (hopeing to save money) and honestly my dog looked like Edward Scissorhands had attacked him.

      Guess I'll stick with Groomers haha.

      In regards to washing/cleaning, the vet told us to watch it about every 2 weeks but it seems quite long time to wait especially when it stinks up quite a bit. In general, do you how to stop/reduce the smell of dog or is it simply just washing?

      As I mentioned in my updated post, I'll be switching to Black Hawk (assuming our puppy is happy to!) as it seems like it's an OzBargain's favourite

      Thanks for the Tuffy Tug-O-War suggestion. I'm actually trying to get it off soft toys onto hard/chewing toys like the Kong Classic and Kong Tug Toys (to hopefully deter it from biting anything soft)

      Really appreciate all the help mate!

      • Wickz on 11/02/2020 - 17:31

        So being a puppy expect that everything that it can reach will be chewed. :) Mine chewed the sides of the kennel (around the door), the rubber insulation off the airconditioning unit pipes, earphones that fell on the floor, its bed…. the list goes on. Just part of pet ownership really. They grow out of it and learn to chew only their toys.

        Washing - you want to wash as little as possible, but there are obviously exceptions. If you dog stinks, wash it; but be gentle and use good salon quality shampoos. Cheap shampoos (even the ones from pet shops) can cause skin allergies or dermatitis. You really need to see how your puppy goes and if it has any reactions to the shampoo, and then judge a washing plan. By feeding good quality food, you will negate some of the efects of constant washing (as the food has a lot of good oils in it) but there is no need to book in a weekly wash at home. As a puppy, I only washed mine when he got dirty or smelt. As an adult he can pretty much go the full 8 weeks bewteen groomer visits without a bath. There are some dog perfume sprays you can buy (also from a groomer) that basically just mask the smell (think dog airfreshener) but I have never tried them. I'm pretty sure my groomer told me once a month for bathing, providing he wasn't filthy or smelly. (mine does like to roll around in mud and swim)

        Personally I wouldn't be taking grooming / bathing advice from a vet. You could always ring a local groomer and ask for advice on bathing, products and their costs if you wanted to know more.

  • Worf on 09/02/2020 - 23:08
    +2

    +1 for black hawk lamb and rice 20kg bags. You can price match at pet barn.

    Monthly heart worm (heart guard)
    I’m still using the quarterly bravecto, However I push it out to 4 months, because the pack says it provides tick protection for 4 months, whereas the flea protection is only 3 months… but my dog doesn’t have fleas, and if he did you can easily treat it. Whereas ticks are life threatening. I think the newer bravectos last 6 months though…

    Clean ears with epi otic (but they hate it) (for a lab - prone to ear infections), i’m Supposed to do it about fortnightlyin summer (due to increased humidity), but it’s probs more like monthly.

    Insurance, each to their own, but you don’t want to be worrying about cost of treatment if things go wrong. I’m with petplan, expensive but easy to claim. Talk to your vet re insurance recommendations

    As for washing, do it at home. Hose and dog shampoo (they need dog shampoo) in the warmer months. Shower inside in the cooler months. The shampoo at petbarn is too fragrant and doesn’t smell nice. I think you can get a complimentary wash when you sign up to their loyalty program, so give it a go and see what you think… but in the long run it’s probably cheaper and more convenient to do at home (because you don’t have to drive to the store).

  • H E B on 10/02/2020 - 01:34
    +1

    Foodwise - what did the breeder suggest? Had the groodle on?

    Pet supplies? Petbarn, PetCircle are both good

    Greencross are more readily available throughout the country but depends what's closer to you. You sound like a new owner so maybe I would suggest you sign up, that way you can get unlimited consults rather than be unsure. Puppies often like to chew/eat things they shouldn't so for that reason if you can afford it, highly suggest you sign up to insurance sooner rather than later.

    Few threads here about that. Problem being if you sign up later, insurers may push hard to classify things as pre-existing and the most obscure thing on your history (which they will ask for a complete one if you make a claim) they will try and argue not their problem.

    Thoughts on things like Healthy Pets Plus(greencrossvets.com.au)/OurVet Complete Care(bestfriendspets.com.au). At the moment my

    Puppy School? Of course. Why wouldn't you?

    Washing facilities at Pet Stores? Yes. Cheaper, get your dog used to it sooner. Groodles need a bit more grooming.

    Items you can buy in store but are useless/harmful that you should avoid. Cheap nasty dog treats like smackos. Don't feed too much pig ears etc.

    • dsar on 10/02/2020 - 23:09

      Hi H E B, thanks for the post.

      Even though Greencross has more stores, as Puppy school is included for free and there's a BestFriends near me I'll probably go with the OurVet Complete care thanks to your post!

      Thanks for the last part. Smackos is a no go and pig ears are damn expensive. Is there any healthy-ish chew toys you would suggest that isn't too pricey? Plan to use it for crate training/making it more comfortable being alone.

      • H E B on 12/02/2020 - 01:20
        +1

        Great question! I'm not a vet or expert so my interpretation of healthy may differ from you.

        I look at it a bit like human goods. You will usually pay a bit more for the good stuff. If you wanted something cheap and not too detrimental a lot of doggo owners swear by apple, carrots in moderation as snacks (even small amounts of cheese). You can also use those in your feeding toys.

        For something that's probably better nutritionally for dogs and more meaty like Sunshine Moon has suggest kangaroots treats or liver treats are a top favourite and I'd tend to agree. If you wanted to spend a bit more look for more all natural preservative food treats inc. liver/roo/jerky.

        From memory our dogs loved the shark and fish skin chews when they were teething (but the shark one smells something awful and the otherwise very manly hubby would squirm like a little girl and refuse to be in the same room with those items so it became an outdoor chew). Bully sticks and paddywhacks are probably better alternatives smell wise that would still suit puppies. Again, everything in moderation. We would mix these up with Goat horns with some sort of filling those things lasted the longest. Obviously your mileage will vary based on your dog's preference and eating style… if they are a gulper a black kong toy with some peanut butter (xylitol free) / kong spray might be just as good - it really depends on the dog! You can also discuss these things with your Ourvet complete care visits and make use of your money for more ideals and professional guidance.

        I'm in Melbourne and don't mind Bruce's products @ http://www.healthydogtreats.com.au/ but you tend to pay for what you get. It's a personal preference but we tend to go for the natural stuff where possible, and because our finance can allow it currently.

  • DiLs on 10/02/2020 - 07:18
    -2

    to reduce costs, give it away

    • Chris Topher on 10/02/2020 - 12:42

      You mean like to someone that doesn't flinch at vet costs?

  • Sunshines bright on 10/02/2020 - 07:42
    +1

    Pet circle is almost always the least expensive option for everything unless someone has a good special on, I usually compare between pet circle and whomever has a deal going. We use Nextguard Spectra as it covers fleas, heart worms and ticks. Kingston has some great collars and sometimes a sale appears on here. This one expired but worth a look https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/515417 . I went to puppy school but it was more about training me than teaching my dog skills, requires lots of follow up on you when done so it is key you learn how to get the desired behaviour from your dog. Teaching your pup to leave it is very important to avoid them eating something that could be dangerous. Like cane toads. That’s all I have for you, enjoy 😊 your new pup! Oh and from time to time I feed with the Kong wobbler. https://www.petcircle.com.au/product/kong-toy-wobbler/dak291… It takes patience showing them how to get the food out. But it is great for challenging them in a good way. Holds about a cup of kibble.

    • Ugly on 10/02/2020 - 13:02
      +2

      So far, the cheapest Nexgard price I've consistently found is from Vetsupply

      • VetSupply on 14/02/2020 - 19:16
        +3

        Get a flat 5% OFF on all orders by shopping from the website and applying the couple code: VLOVE5 and you can also get flat 6% OFF by shopping from our app (available on android and IOS both ) and using the code VLOVE6

  • oscargamer on 10/02/2020 - 07:48

    Heart worming is very necessary in certain areas of Australia, A waste of money in others. Gastro worming is necessary everywhere.

  • Sunshines bright on 10/02/2020 - 07:59

    A very good toy here: https://www.petcircle.com.au/product/kong-wild-knot-bear/dak5750?iv_=iv_p_1_a_6561714677_g_78407524933_w_pla-824730131919_h_9071800_ii__d_m_v__n_u_c_385668479714_k__m__l__t__e__r__x__y_9484867_f_online_o_DAK5750_z_AU_i_en_j_824730131919_s__vi&gclid=CjwKCAiA-P7xBRAvEiwAow-VablXFRCRCOzxdv6bg95UPg0c_qlrtE72l1nfdTe0lrqYodzknU5qGhoCIhEQAvD_BwE

  • Chris Topher on 10/02/2020 - 12:43
    +1

    Always prove UNCOOKED bones with meat still on it.

    • Chris Topher on 11/02/2020 - 13:24
      +1

      Oops… provide…. Always provide. * blushes *

  • draouht on 10/02/2020 - 18:31
    +1

    Black Hawk for food
    Nexgard Spectra for tick/fleas/worms, it's more expensive but easier to track and the only chewable my dog will eat
    - Petbarn price match online retailers like Petcircle (at least my local one does) but you still get the membership benefits at Petbarn ($10 off eventually)

    Puppy school is definitely worth it for both yourself and the dog
    Getting your dog desexed saves a lot in terms of vet costs and registration, some vets offer puppy school which then also includes discounted prices on these services e.g Greencross

  • Barbara001 on 14/02/2020 - 07:26

    I usually buy everything for my dog online. Of course, it's not that easy to find a good shop but at least you have a possibility to check out different Budgetpetcare reviews, see the product range etc.

  • dragonfly090 on 05/06/2020 - 17:44

    Is there a puppy essentials list that you need to buy before you get the pup from breeder?
    Dog Breed: German Shepherd
    Puppy Age: 8 weeks
    1. Things to get before puppy gets home, recommendations?
    2. Training, what where etc
    3. Everything else

    Have looked at https://www.petbarn.com.au/petspot/puppy/care-and-maintenanc…

    • dsar on 05/06/2020 - 22:29
      +1

      Tips:

      • Crate train. It's so damn useful!

      • If you're near a BestFriends, would highly taking my approach and taking the complete care route for the first year. Unfortunately, I'm not too sure when puppy school will open.

      • Learn from my mistake and avoid puppy pads, they'll get used to cotton material to pee on and will pee on your rugs. Just crate train and schedule a potty break every hour on your phone.

      • You absolutely need puppy school for the socialisation aspect alone. If you cant puppy school, you gotta try your best to socialise your puppy as much as possible but as safely as possible.
      • Make sure to know what food the breeder is feeding the puppy at the moment. Buy it the same one to reduce stress when you're taking him home.
      • Bring a towel if the drive is long, as the baby will probably throw up :)
      • Don't forget the puppy needs to learn how to deal with alone time, thus it is important to schedule alone time once in a while to avoid separation anxiety.
      • You probably would like to get a urine destroyer spray for when the puppy WILL pee inside your home :). Glen 20 and such won't destroy the pee scent that your puppy can smell (which will courage him/her to pee there again)
  • Sashy on 15/06/2020 - 15:57

    I didnt get pet insurance for my previous dog (Chocolate labrador) and everything was okay until he turned 8 and had issues due to a genetic heart condition. Ended up paying about $7k for ICU and test for 3 days, only to be told nothing much could be done. (You could put that money aside very month incase of issues further down the track). Current pup I have ensured with Knose Insurance, which appears to be independent and okay so far (no claims yet).
    Second Meals for Mutts for food (went through ZiwiPeak, Orijen and Meals for Mutts seems to be the best for my pup).
    Pet Circle and Petstock seem to have the cheapest food online. Mega Pet Warehouse seems to have the cheapest treats and specials on toys, beds etc.
    Kmart currently have expanded their pet selection, so plenty of very cheap items in a pinch.
    I would avoid a lot of the food and treats in supermarkets as they tend to be poorer quality and full of sodium (need to check ingredients).
    I would also avoid very cheap stuffed toys as they have 'cotton wool' material which can be ripped out by the puppy and swallowed.
    I do use the washing facilities in pet stores and it's great for our needs, though my pup is short haired and does not need any hair trims.
    Enjoy your new baby! :)

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