Secrets of a Pro Dog Trainer by Janice Zazinski: Living La Vida Thrifty | Lifestyle | reformer.com

The author has sewn up many stuffed toys using a darning needle and yarn, which buys a few more rounds of play.

There’s no doubt that life with canine companions can get expensive. While I can’t lay claim to the legendary frugality of a born Vermonter, I’m always trying to figure out how to save some money on everyday life with a dog.

To get you started, here are some ideas:

Toys aren’t just cute for your dog to have. Enrichment items can ward off a host of behavior issues that can be time-consuming and expensive for a trainer like me to help with.

Yes, squeaky toys get shredded, sometimes instantly — most of them are designed to be de-stuffed and shredded, which taps into your dog’s inherent prey drive. Shredding a toy is a great energy burner for your dog’s body and brain.

Check out Local Buy Nothing groups and online bulletin boards (I received a huge bag of dog toys this way which I use with clients) for toys. Dogs have toy preferences and you can often have swaps with a friend or neighbor.

Got a digger in your life? Build a backyard digging pit by enclosing an area with stones or bricks (perhaps a neighbor has extra), loosening the soil, and burying some special items for them to find.

Dogs need to chew, and I recommend rubber food toys stuffed with their regular meals (see the video on my website under Free Resources) and Nylabone-type items rather than antlers and bully sticks, which some dogs can get growly around. Another benefit of Nylabones is that sharp edges can be carefully filed down with either a belt sander, hand sander, or a rasp file. I scrape off the sharp edges with a rasp file until the bones are too small and a swallowing danger.

Most dogs go bonkers for tuna fudge, which can be batch-baked, diced into cubes, and frozen until needed. Check out the recipe at Food.com.

Baked or air-fried sweet potatoes are also excellent training treats. I dice them into half-inch pieces and bake them at 325℉ until they’re dry, then I store them in a container at room temperature. They don’t keep long but are great while they last.

Swapping gear with friends, especially as puppies grow up.

Yard sales and transfer stations.

Thrift stores are a great source for rubber-backed bath mats, useful for teaching your dog to stay on a “Place.”

My favorite leashes are 15 feet long and Biothane (synthetic leather). I have had them for almost 10 years and I get them made on Etsy. I recommend using a long leash instead of a retractable leash to give your dog room to roam on a walk. Retractables provide less control over the leash itself and the retracting mechanism can break, and cotton or nylon leashes can fray over time.

Our Petey used to tear up fluffy stuffed dog beds but hasn’t since we switched to heavy canvas “doggie duvet covers” that we fill with old pillows, towels, even old clothing. Our brand of choice is Molly Mutts and I’m sure there are other quality brands. Bonus thrifty tip: You can buy a pattern that matches your decor, or buy whatever is on sale, like I do.

Teaching your dog good manners and getting them off to the right start pays off in the long run.

When I work with clients, our last session covers how to keep good manners going when behaviors get rusty, when your puppy reaches canine adolescence and starts tuning you out, or when changes in the household (a new baby, for instance) call for a manners brush up. While I’m always available for additional sessions, most clients find that because their dog has a good foundation of training they can pick up where we left off by pulling out the plans I’ve provided and once again practicing those hard-earned good manners.

Janice Zazinski is a Certified Trainer & Counselor, a Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer, and a Family Paws Graduate based in Townshend and serving clients in Southern Vermont; janicezdogtraining.com.

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