How to get dog food for cheap or free!

So your fur baby Fido needs a new bag of food and you want the best for Fido! You go to your favorite pet store and start looking at the prices and holy moly the nice stuff is expensive! You still want the good stuff for Fido but don't want to spend an arm and a leg for food so what's a pet parent to do? Check out these tips for saving money on food for Fido! (full disclosure I live near Petsmart, but not Petco so my knowledge is limited on petco).

Check for sales: So this one is a no brainer but it's also the best way to start. Both Petsmart and Petco do sales on their proprietary brands regularly. Typically the wet food is X amount for Y price, the dry food stays discounted regularly. You can check both on their site and both will price match their website if there is a discrepancy in pricing. Look for short dates: This one will depend on the individual store policy but most stores will do this. Check to see if anything has a short date sticker. I have gotten stuff for 75% off this way. I stick to small bags because my dog is small and with the close date I feel better if the dog finishes it by the date. If you are wondering it is generally safe for the dog to eat dry food after sell by date but the vitamins and minerals tend to break down and not be as effective. I personally would recommend following the date on wet food though, it tends to go bad faster than dry. Email Your Favorite Company This one doesn't always work but when it does it pays off BIG TIME. Email your favorite manufacturer about how much Fido loves their food and how healthy he is because of it. Most of the time the company will send back amazing manufacturers coupons! I have gotten free bags of food this way! You may also get free samples and coupons for discounts as well. Check for Coupons on Newer Foods When a store starts carrying a new food the store itself will typically send out coupons to get people to try their new product. I have revived free food this way! You can also get a decent discount on a bag of food. Check and see if the manufacturer will give you coupons as well. Ask Vendors for Coupons Most major pet stores have vendors that roam the store to encourage people to try their product. These people also almost always have coupons and all you have to do is ask! These can be for food or treats.