Polish Lowland Sheepdog - pons - pon the dog
Hagabergslidens Kennel, Sweden
PONS on a Budget -surviving this economy
| Although most owners may not admit it, surviving this
economy with PONS is not uncomplicated because of special diet
considerations, grooming and other issues.Even showing has come under the
hammer and it takes a lot of planning to reduce costs and take care of
coats while maintaining good nutrition for both owners and PONS.
Owners are encouraged to offer nutritious natural foods while avoiding
excessive costs for premium kibble. Consider less expensive options such
as home crafted diets which may include the same and better nutrients.
For those who are unsure about canine nutrition, search for books on
Amazon.com on the topic of canine nutrition and consider joining PON
Diet and Nutrition Yahoo group (listed on the front page of PON Digest).
Your family veterinarian can also be of great help, but you need to seek
out his advice. Owners who spend a lot of time on the road may
also need to re-think their own diet options and bring along most of
their own food in order to reduce costs. It may be worthwhile to invest
in a portable refrigerator and small cooking appliances. If you live
near other PON owners who show, you may consider sharing transportation
and even hotel rooms. Make plans in advance and avoid politics for the
common good of all.
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Learn how to groom your PON yourself. It's not as difficult as you
might expect and you can save a lot of money. Click on these links for
additional information:
This is a guide to canine tooth brushing Homemade cleaning wipes for unexpected messes:
Homemade wipes smell better, are cheaper, and are generally free of
harsh chemicals.
Materials: Round 34.5 oz. plastic coffee container, such as Folgers 1/2 Caff container Extra large roll of paper towel Your choice of cleaning agents Liquid measuring cups Tools: Electric drill with a 1/2 inch drill bit, or utility knife and sharp scissors Electric knife or large chef knife Steps: 1. Use an electric or chefs knife to cut the paper towel roll in half. 2. Place one of the paper towel halves in the container and save the other half to use later. 3. Pour your cleaning solution over the paper towel, place lid on, and let the paper towel absorb the cleaning solution for 4 hours or overnight. 4. Using a small block of wood as support, drill a 1/2 inch hole in the center of the container lid. If you are using a utility knife cut a 1/2 inch "x" and then pull up each piece and cut about 1/8 of it away with your very sharp scissors. 5. Gently pull out the cardboard from the paper towel and discard. Pull out the inside end of the paper towel roll from where the cardboard had been, being very careful not to tear it. 6. Carefully thread the end of the paper towels through the 1/2 inch hole and put the lid back on. 7. Pull gently every time you use the cleaning wipes, as you don't want to end up having to take the lid off every time you want to use a wipe. Viva paper towels work well for homemade cleaning wipes, as they absorb very well and they don't fall apart when you are cleaning. They don't dry out very fast, and you can pretty much use them for everything. If yours start to dry out, just add more water or cleaning solution as necessary. Let them sit overnight for the paper towel to properly absorb the new solution before you use them again. Here are a few recipes that you can use the wipes for: Disinfectant: 1/4 cup Pine-sol 2 3/4 cup water
Unsure of how to cut your PON's nails ? You will find this information of great value: Click here: How To Trim A Dog's Nails, Called a Pedicure, at ThePetCenter.com
Money saving coupons:
Use coupons
When it comes to buying premium pet food and dog treats, don't forget to clip coupons. Check sites like Coupons.com as well. Coupons for pet food are some of the most popular on the site, and are a great way to save. The Sunday paper and manufacturers' Web sites also have a steady stream of discounts available to pet owners. If you have a favorite brand, sign up for their email newsletter. It often includes special coupons for loyal customers. Dog food companies are also usually great about giving out coupons. You might call them and see if they have a mailing list for coupons. They usually do and will often send you a high value coupon (sometimes for a free bag of food) just for calling in and telling them you like their product. This would at least help with the cost of food. Some pet supply stores will give away pet food that came in broken or torn bags to rescues. They might be willing to save some for you. Even the medicine manufacturers may have a discounted plan or free coupons, so it wouldn't hurt to contact them
Healthcare on a tight budget: In this economy, it can be stressful to provide Good luck to all PON lovers ! |