Better food, better care, fewer vet bills.Most of us don't overspend on our dogs because we're careless. We overspend because nobody ever showed us where the money goes: the "premium" bag that's mostly filler, the heaping scoop, the chew that cracks a tooth, the small problem nobody caught until it became a big bill.I've spent over thirty years around dogs, and most of what I know I learned the hard way, at the kitchen table with a pile of receipts. The Well-Kept Dog is everything I wish somebody had told me over the fence.Every habit is about better food, better care and a healthier dog. A healthier dog happens to be a cheaper one.What's insideA 147-page illustrated handbook, organized into 40 simple habits across seven parts: The Dog Kitchen: read a food label in two minutes, find what your dog food really costs per day, feed the right amount, and make toppers, treats and biscuits for pennies. The Monthly Home Check: a 10-minute nose-to-tail check that catches problems while they're small and cheap to fix. Smarter Vet Spending: the five questions to ask before you pay, how to read an estimate, cheaper prescriptions, low-cost care options, and insurance versus a savings fund, with the plain math on both. Grooming at Home: brushing, baths, nails, ears and teeth, and when a groomer is truly worth paying for. Behavior and Training: read your dog's stress signals, teach five cues that prevent accidents, and stop pulling, chewing and panic when left alone. Supplies and Home: what to spend on, what to skip, and what to make yourself. The Old Dog: keeping the quiet years comfortable without emptying your pockets. Every habit shows you: What it can save, what it costs to start, and how long it takes Step-by-step instructions with charts, tables and illustrations A safety note on when to stop and call your vet instead A short story from Bo, my old golden retriever Printables included The First-30-Days Road Map The True Cost of a Dog worksheet Your Dog's Profile page The "Never in the Bowl" fridge card Monthly nose-to-tail checklist and weight chart Five Questions Before You Pay card Monthly savings ledger and savings wins log Emergency sheet with 24-hour poison line numbers Gus's 12 Rules card Who it's forAny dog owner who wants to do right by their dog and spend less doing it, whether you've got a new puppy, a middle-aged couch potato or an old friend with a grey muzzle.What it isn'tIt isn't a replacement for your vet, and it never tells you to skip care your dog needs. When something's wrong, call your vet. For everything else, take it one habit at a time.Instant PDF download. Read it on your phone, tablet or computer, and print the pages you want to keep handy.— Gus (and Bo)