Saving on Pet Food: Making the Most of Superstore Savings Programs

Guest Post by Elizabeth Glavin of 20something Saver

© Carrie Boyko
Organix Kibble with
 Stewed Organic Chicken and Carrots

Dog food can be expensive. Dog food can be really expensive when you feed your dog healthy and nutritious food.


Luckily, you’re going to play the Dog Food Game.


Want to play? Join me:


First things first-- figure out what you’re willing to spend. It’s unrealistic for someone to spend $50 on one bag of dog food when they are fostering 8 Greyhounds! They won’t be able to feed their children. So let’s be realistic, but not too cheap-- You would much rather spend a little money now on food, then a lot down the road if something happens to Fido. I highly recommend an all Organic diet. To read more on why organic is healthier, read Carrie’s post “Your Dog’s Food: Why is Organic Healthier?”.


Now that you have what you’re willing to spend, head out to the store. Personally, I suggest PetsMart or PetCo. They carry a large variety of healthy, nutritious, and organic dog food. Another great store is Pet Supermarket. Where you decide to shop is up to you and your pup.


PetsMart is one of my favorites because they have great customer service. They are very helpful and always willing to answer questions you may have. PetsMart accepts manufacturer coupons, so research online to see if your dog food company gives out coupons. 

(Not a Valid Coupon)
Manufacturer's Coupons
 are Available from Some Pet Food Makers

Their rewards program, PetPerks, is not as fun as the other stores (more on that later), but still helps you save some green. Basically, having a PetPerks card gets you special deals. There are no coupons involved, and you don’t get anything for free. Here’s how a purchase would go at PetsMart: At check out, the cashier will ask if you have a PetPerks card. If you do, they scan it and you will get the sale price of the item. Usually, dog food is about 15-20% cheaper with a PetPerks card, so I highly recommend getting one. Signing up for one is easy-- just sign up here. What’s my favorite part of PetPerks? They remember your pet’s birthday and will send Fido a card and a $5 off coupon in the mail! If you think you want to start shopping at PetsMart, be sure and find a location near you.


PetCo has some great rewards! PetCo uses the Pals Program and you can sign up for that here. For every 10 bags of dog food you purchase, you get one bag free! PetCo accepts manufacturer coupons and they have their own coupons that you can print from their website. When you’re part of the Pals Program, you will also get monthly emails containing coupons! Because they have store coupons and manufacturer coupons, PetCo allows stacking. Stacking is when you use both a manufacturer and store coupon for one item. For a PetCo near you, click here and enter your zip code.


Pet Supermarket is also a favorite because they do something none of the other stores do-- price match! Of course, you’ll want to confirm this with your local Pet Supermarket, but most stores do. Pet Supermarket also accepts competitor coupons (from PetsMart and PetCo) and manufacturers coupons. Price matching is very easy at Pet Supermarket-- just bring in another store’s ad with your item on sale for a specific price, and they will honor the price. Pet Supermarket also has a discount card; the VIP card. To obtain a VIP card, visit your local Pet Supermarket.

© Carrie Boyko
No Flips for Tanner--Just Chow!

Now that you’ve found Fido some yummy food, you might want to supplement it. We do this about once a week for a special treat. Your local Farmer’s Market sells organic fruits and vegetables that you can give to Fido-- carrots, apples, and zucchini are perfectly fine for Fido’s tummy. You could even boil some boneless, skinless chicken breasts-- Cocoa and Oreo will do flips for chicken! 

20something Saver is a blog about a 20something learning to live on less. Visit her site to learn more money-saving tips with her dogs, Cocoa and Oreo. 

***Don't miss Carrie's recipe for Stewed Chicken and Carrot Cookies for Fido, coming in June.




Have you missed any of our series on organic dog food? Here's the links:

• Our Pet Food Pantry: A Little History
• Your Dog's Food: Why is Organic Healthier?
• Our Dogs' Food: The Big Decision
• Dog Food D-Day: The Big Reveal
• Surprise Dog Toys Awarded to Observant Winners
• Organix Dog Food Giveaway: 12 Bags of Healthy Goodness