Unfortunately, for the average consumer, there is a minefield of information and marketing to navigate through. The first rule to remember is to get past the marketing.

How do you do that?

DOG DOC can help, if you prefer to have all the work done for you and have DOG DOC find the best value large items and advice on ongoing purchases.

Research, research, research! and then check to ensure where you are receiving your information is a reputable or valid source.

Ensure they explain WHY and how they came to know this information. This then gives you a bit more leverage to work out if the advice is right for you and your animal.

First, prioritise what you need to spend money on - In this order for most animals:

FIRST - Tools for training/walking/behaviour/riding/competing/ and day to day comfort and LOTS of socialisation and experiences -

Think ahead! - Example-

If you require something to control your dog and what you have currently is not working - Find out all the options available to you, look on the internet for products available from overseas as well as locally, work out how they work and think about how your animal will react to the new devices and if you might require more training or if you have the time.

DOG DOC can immediately advise of the right tools if you are unsure and perhaps find options you had not yet encountered and guide you on how to adjust the animals to the device. Example - dog doors, control devices, harnesses, tack (for horses) and many other pieces of equipment.

These are generally a big spend upfront, but should last you well into the years and make your life and theirs, a pleasure.

SECOND: NUTRITION - Should really be equal first, but, it's a hard call! Feeding your dogs and cats a mix of ingredients, rather than one type of food all the time is the best way of keeping them interested in food.

To do this, you need to understand the labels on foods and how they apply to your dogs and cats.

For horses, same rules, except their food intake "hard feed" is dictated not by variety, but by what the animals function is.

Ruminants - such as sheep and cattle, have completely different nutritional requirements and the advice is generally on a case by case basis. Although this can also be said also for the monogastrics!

Nutrition can be accomplished on a tight budget, but this takes a bit more work and extensive understanding of labelling and requirements of the animal. Includes treats.

Foods are notoriously hard to navigate and where the most research and knowledge need to be applied.

THIRD - Incidentals, such as bedding, grooming and other tools and products. These are least important and where marketing makes all the difference!

Brushes are brushes (generally speaking!) find what type of brush is good for your animal, use it and don't fall the gold-flecked handle with paws all over it or the imported horse brush with a lacquered wood handle. Buy the rubber brush with long teeth for your short and medium haired animal and a furminator is also one of the best things you can get for shedding longer-haired dogs - not for short hair!

Buy a shampoo- see pharmaceuticals for information on label reading.

Perhaps a conditioner.

Bedding - For cats and dogs -There's your old towels and blankets from home or St Vinnies and the trampoline beds are absolutely brilliant for larger dogs and if they like curling up, find an old blanket and wrap it around their outside - like bacon around a roll, they love it. By all means, if you can afford to spend money on the bed, fine too. But if you are watching budgets, it's time to get creative!

This included toys - But if you're not able to make something they like, or find second hand things, then toys are a necessity. But it's generally trial and error.

EXAMPLES -

We bought our cat a box of toys and discovered she loves cardboard boxes and alfoil balls, so we haven't bought her anything since except a toy with cat nip, she absolutely loves that! The toy budget for the cat is $10 per year. However, we spent considerably more on the enclosure (and cat door if possible), that allows her free access inside and out of the house called a CABOODLE. Best thing we ever bought the cat! we still use it and we bought it six years ago.

The other best things we bought were the flexi - lead, the halti, the bouyancy vest and this "flying ring" for the dog. All of these (except the flying ring) we've had for years.

The other thing we discovered was horse halters that have ROUND buckles, or no buckles (rope halters), because they rub and can be quite uncomfortable on the horses face. Nasty rub-marks appeared on their nose, cheeks and under the jawline and it was a good size, it simply rubbed because the buckles were heavy.

So, my point is, instead of considering colour, design, brand, look, etc... Think ahead about what the animal wants and what makes them happy FIRST, not what you think might look good to others or goes well in the house.