Want cheap dog stuff, check the equine aisle!!!

    • Gold Top Dog

    Want cheap dog stuff, check the equine aisle!!!

     I'm in big trouble and about 2 steps away from buying a farm and horses.  I wandered into the new Tractor Supply Company store in town and got lost in the horse aisle.  Between the smell of new leather saddles and cowboy boots, I nearly died and went to heaven.  I trained and showed horses briefly as a teenager and never lost my love for it.  So I was heck-bent and determined to find an excuse to bring home something from that aisle even though there's not a horse to be found at my suburban home.  I came home with a mane and tail brush because Indie's almost the size of a miniature horse and his tail fur is almost as long (only cost $7).  I found a pair of reins that had clips at both ends and it made a perfect double leash for 2 dogs and only cost $7.95!!!  Indie absolutely LOVES his new Jolly Ball and it was less than $15 which is less than I pay for a Kong at PetSmart!  And I found a 50 ft. check line which is nylon and perfect for letting him explore the lake without being off lead.  It won't get soggy and heavy like the cotton lead I have which is only 20 feet and it only cost $5!!!  Last but not least, I haven't bought one yet, but the saddle pads are thick and durable and look like they'll make perfect dog/crate pads.  I just have to decide which one to get, fluffy and fuzzy or tough and durable.

    My wallet is in trouble and I'm in love!  TSC Rocks!!! 

    • Gold Top Dog
    Oh, the Jolly Ball. Watch out shins!
    • Gold Top Dog

    I'd kill for a Tractor Supply here.  I have to special order Safeguard from my local feedstore for $10 more than Tractor Supply sells it for in their aisles.

    My dog is sleeping on a couple of western orthopedic pads, nicer than anything they sell for dogs.  I prefer the fleece ones because they machine wash nicely and you can throw them in the dryer and all the hair shakes out. 

    And all my old longe lines have been recycled to the dog for hiking.

     

    • Gold Top Dog

     Forgot to mention the vet wrap!  I cringe thinking what I spent on vet wrap when Woobie lost his toenail!  I'll never shop at PetSmart or PetCo again!  LOL!

     I think the saddle pads and blankets might even stand up to Indie's chewing!  He could actually have something comfy to lie on in his crate!  Big Smile 

    • Gold Top Dog

    You could also try Jeffers Vet Supply (www.jeffersequine.com) for vet wrap.  They have it for $1 a roll - you could stock up!  I used to order stuff from Jeffers all the time when I was active with horses, because it was cheaper than a tack shop, and I would get all of my horse's vaccines from them and give them myself, except rabies and botulism (can only get those administered by a vet).  Talk about saving some money!

    I must admit, I never considered that a lunge line would work for a long leash.  It's so simple it's genious!  LOL!  I bet I have a few laying around my mom's garage...I'll have to get her to look for one so I can get it when I go home in a couple weeks.  I've been thinking of getting a 10-footer for Harry because our yard isn't fenced yet, but sheesh, they're so expensive!  And to think I most likely have one or two laying around that mom's not using anymore (my horse has become her horse since I moved away).  My mom never throws anything away (she's such a pack rat), that even though my horse was taught to free-lunge years ago, I bet my mom still has some at her house.  Thanks for the tip!

    • Gold Top Dog

    don't forget to check the horse joint supplement aisle if your dog is on joint supplements. Polypads, extra thick, make THE BEST dog mats- wash up easily, last forever.

    • Gold Top Dog

    aerial1313
    I must admit, I never considered that a lunge line would work for a long leash.  It's so simple it's genious! 

    And you know it's going to be strong.  Barney's never off-leash so they are a life-saver for me on our walks, letting him run up hillsides and jump in streams.  I have a couple that are 30 foot (I had them made), worked great when we went to the beach.  lol, we passed a couple of horseback riders on the trail, and one of them said "Look, it's a DOG on a longe line!".

    I gave a lot of stuff away when I moved my horse out of the area a few years ago, but if it looked like I could use it for something else, I piled it into the garage.  I have a longe whip that I've been trying to figure out how to put to good use.  If I had a cat...

    • Gold Top Dog

    mudpuppy
    don't forget to check the horse joint supplement aisle if your dog is on joint supplements.

    Anything in particular?  I was going to check out the MSM, but not sure that it could be very accurate measuring when reducing a supplement meant for a 1000 pound animal.
    • Gold Top Dog

    cat0

    I have a longe whip that I've been trying to figure out how to put to good use.  If I had a cat...

    I used to play "cat fishing" with my dressage whips all the time!!  My parents' cats loved it!

    • Gold Top Dog

     I've been meaning to get a longe line for Sofia for ages but kept forgetting. Thanks for reminding me! And wow, I never thought to look on that aisle, so next time I go to Cold Spot I'll check out the horse stuff! Great idea!

    I too, would be interested in how to dose a 48 lb dog with joint stuff that is made for a 1000 lb animal. 

    • Gold Top Dog

    These are great tips for those who've never owned horses, and thus have never found this secret treasure trove. Tack and feed stores are great for finding reasonably priced dog products. Farm supply stores around here are a lot less expensive than pet type shops.

    I almost swoon with horse memories just smelling the leather! The smell of pine shavings, hay, and grain will set me off too...I so miss having a horse. 

    I use my old horse reins for my leather leashes.

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    Lunge whips make great bases for flirt poles ime. :) 

    • Gold Top Dog

    I should also mention that the Shed Blades (Or shedding blades) that you pay $15 for at a pet store for dogs, you can get for $5 *or sometimes even less when on sale....I got mine for $2.99*

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE TSC and only wish they had them in Nova Scotia!

    I had my Aunt go purchase a Glucosamine and MSM suppliment for her 130 lb rotti.  Told her to try the one for dogs first, as it was a smaller bottle and if she didn't feel it was doing any good she hadn't invested any huge amount of money to get the larger bottle for a horse. 
    It works, she loves it and she's now switched to one of the "horse" suppliments.  Take the dosage for a horse (usually done for 1000 lbs.) and divide by 10 for a 100 lb dog is what I had her do.  A little harder to measure out in some cases,  but it works out.  Or it did for her. 

     I should point out too www.greenhawk.net is a great place :) 

     

    • Gold Top Dog

    We have a new Tractor Supply, here, too. I'll have to go check them out.