Pooch and Mutt: Dog Health Supplements

Ever thought how you could be making money from your dog to help get you through the credit crunch?

You may not realise it but your dog could be the answer to your money problems and may be able to pocket you some extra pounds – take Milo for example…

Last year I decided to register him with a pet modelling website. A few months later he was called to do a photo shoot for a major UK bank!

Don’t get me wrong I am not a pushy showbiz mum but I was incredibly proud of him and we earned enough to buy Milo a couture dog collar and help me pay off some of my credit card bill.

But if you are not into all that lights, camera and barking, there are other ways besides dog modelling and breeding to make a fast buck with your mutt.

Snappy happy
If you have some funny or quirky snaps of your dog saved on your pc make sure you click onto The Dog Guide online. They have a new dog picture gallery where readers can submit favourite picks of their pooch in exchange for cash! You could be getting $5 for each picture used on their website.

Take the lead
A cunning way to make money from man’s best friend is to offer your services as a dog walker. If you take your dog for a walk before and after work, why not charge to take neighbours’ dogs, too? You could be pocketing around £10 per hour per dog and you can increase your rates at weekends and bank holidays. Start by either posting an ad in your local newsagents, onto an online notice board such as gumtree.com, or dog walking agencies looking to sign up new walkers like bonerangers.com.

Become a muttmate
Why not become a sales person for a pet brand? Pooch and Mutt has a programme called MuttMates, where anyone can buy their probiotic supplements and joint supplements by the box at trade price and sell on the individual bags to people at shows, clubs or friends from the park. You make a 50% profit and save your friends the postage. MuttMates also sell into vets and independent pets stores for a 10% commission. For more info email pooch@poochandmutt.co.uk

Has your dog got the pets factor?
Television, film and advertising agencies are always looking for “star pets” to appear in their productions and are willing to pay up to £200 a day to pets who have the natural ability to perform, take stage directions, and look adorable. If you think your dog is fit for pet stardom then register him/her to a pet modelling site like petlondon.net or elmoswardrobe.com

DIY dogs
If you just fancy saving some money for yourself then why not try making your own dog toys. The dogtrickacademy.com offers a step to step guide to make a tug toy using fabric. You can even browse some nose licking dog recipes over the internet and create some tasteful home baked treats for your pooch instead of buying them from the shops. If you get really good you can start sellng them at your next village fete or on ebay.

This week the credit crunch has taken even more twists and turns, and as The_Independent reported back in May this financial unrest has led to a 23% increase in dog abandonment.

On the flip side of the coin a staggering 80% of pet owners surveyed by gumtree.com say they would rather buy economy food for their family than cut back on their pampered pet’s favourite grub.

To help out those who’d rather not starve their families and still want to pamper their pooches Milo and I have sought out a few useful tips to help you curb your pet spending. So as we ride the wave of recession here are some ways to save some pet pounds.

Pet insurance

Insuring your pet will help slash those nasty vet bills. Many high street retailers are offering pet owners discounted rates when you purchase online. We suggest you shop around before deciding using moneysupermarket.com to get the best bargain for your breed

Buy in bulk

It’s cheaper to buy pet food in bulk so try an online store like valupets.com or pet-supermarket.co.uk which offer most pet food brands at discounted prices as well as free delivery when you spend over a certain amount. If you need your monthly stock of dog_supplements Pooch_and_Mutt is now offering its probiotic and joint_supplements in larger bags which work out cheaper for you.

Dog day discounts

Visit some local dog markets like Cabbages_&_Frocks Dog Day Afternoon or the Mayhew_Animal_Home_Christmas_fayre. Pet suppliers will often give discounts on their products or special offers to stand visitors at these dog events. Look out for Pooch and Mutt at Discover_Dogs on 8^th and 9^th November.

Take a walk

Before it gets too cold outside take advantage of the autumn sunshine, leave your car at home and take fido out for a jog in the park or a cycle_walk to your local newsagents. You won’t only be saving on but you can save on those expensive gym fees.

Sniff the sales

Many pet couture brands have a sale section on their website with end of line or old season pet apparel. You can still get your dog the coolest gear but you will save yourself those extra pounds. Holly_and_Lil have a sale on for their funky collars and Dogs_Department is offering free P&P on all UK orders.

Are you feeling guilty about over pampering your dog with too many treats? Are walkies becoming a little more than just a walk in the park?

According to the BBC nearly 50% of the UK’s Dogs are overweight and as the colder weather draws in its easier to swap any outdoor activity with your dog for a quiet snooze at home by the fire.

Just like humans dogs can suffer from weight problems if they don’t get enough exercise and if we become lazy then it’s highly likely that our pooches will get podgy.

So it goes without saying that your dog’s health depends on yours. If you exercise your dog regularly, not only will you help strengthen his immune system and yours, but you may also help combat some critical dog illnesses like joint and heart problems.

To check your pet’s ideal weight visit your vet for advice or look up petsgetslim.co.uk to make sure he isn’t overweight.

There are many simple doggy exercises both at home and outdoors that you can do together with your pooch to keep both of you fit throughout the colder months. Here are some ideas.

1. The simple answer to keeping your dog fit is that magic word, W.A.L.K.I.E.S. Letting your dog out into the back yard to exercise by himself is just not good enough. You must give your dog plenty of petcercise every day. To work out how much you should be walking your dog check out this online guide on breeds that do need a lot of exercise and those that don’t.

2. If you want to go the extra mile why not start organising your very own local dog walking club or begin organising regular dog walks to raise money for animal charities. The PDSA offer a platform to help dog walkers raise money for vets and dogs by organising sponsored walks throughout the UK.

3. If you are looking for a bona fido way to workout with your pooch and shed some puppy fat forget the Wii, your dog is the answer to keeping fit. To find out more ways you can stretch and fetch check out the online answer to the pet gym, petfit.com. The website provides expert tips on how you and your pooch can help each other get fit with a range of fun routines.

4. Power walkies is the new ‘jogging’. This is a great new way to get fit with your dog just combine your daily walkies routine with a good old fashioned jog. That way you get to tone up and give the dog a good workout at the same time!

5. If your dog has already gained weight over the summer it’s never too late to kick off with a healthier routine. Try a probiotic supplement like Bionic Biotic which can be used in a similar way to how we would use Slimfast. Feeding the supplement allows you to provide your dog with the nutrients they need in a very small volume of food. This means that you can cut down the overall amount of food that you feed your dog – helping them to loose weight. In addition to this it aids better digestion and helps your dog absorb more nutrients from their diet.

Don’t forget to reward yourself for your hard work so the next time you cringe about going out in the cold to walk your pooch look up your nearest pet friendly boozer to reward yourself with a drink.

I am tucking into the first few pages of my new book, Cesar’s Way, written by none other than America’s Dog Whisperer Cesar Millan and I am pleasantly surprised at his passionate views on dog psychology and the way in which he approaches the subject of dog training.

Just a quick note to say look out or Pooch & Mutt at the CLA Game fair 25-27 July 08, stand c596, near the main entrance

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