On Black Friday, your favorite pet supply stores and major retailers are going to be offering steep discounts on big items like dog beds, dog crates, and electronic dog collars. If you’ve been thinking about making a large purchase for your dog, Black Friday is one of the best times to find dog supplies deals.
What you might be surprised to learn is that everyday essentials for your buddy like dog food, over-the-counter medications, toys, and treats will also be on sale. Think buy one, get one 50% off doggy sweaters, 10 for $10 Purina Beneful meals, or even BOGO deals on Nylabone dog toys.
You can get dog supplies deals and doorbuster prizes if you shop in store, but you can also find incredible deals online. It’s smart to shop at Walmart and Target online and avoid the crowds if you can. With these tips, you’ll be able to make a plan in advance to find the best deal on dog supplies this Black Friday, as well as in the days leading up to the big event and the weekend after.
The Guide to Black Friday's Dog Supplies Deals
The Three Best Places to Look for Deals
There are three major places you’re going to want to look for Black Friday dog supplies deals for your pet.
Superstores
Target, Walmart, and of course Amazon (they already have a huge Deals page going) are always great places to pick up dog food, toys, treats, and all the other supplies you need, but this is especially true on Black Friday. You’ll get the best deals by thoroughly studying the Black Friday flyers in advance. This is equally true for Target and Walmart, where shopping in store can be extremely crowded and competitive.
For the best results, think beyond what you would normally consider to be dog supplies when shopping here. While you may not find dog beds or dog food on sale, Target, for example, is offering steep Black Friday discounts on top vacuum brands (think cleaning up dog hair) and leftover container sets (a good way to store homemade dog treats).
Big Pet Stores
Petsmart, Petco, and Pet Supplies Plus are going to be your top three options for great pet-specific retails stores that will have what your dog needs. They’re going to be fully stocked, and as long as you get there early, you’re going to be able to pick up everything you need.
For the best chances of success, make a plan in advance using the Black Friday ads. These deals are advertised in advance and stores will be crowded with other pet owners who will be shopping for the same deals you are. Plan on arriving early or having your online shopping cart loaded up as soon as deals become available, so they won’t sell out before you’ve taken advantage of the best sales.
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Local Pet Stores
Find out now if your local mom and pop pet store is having a Black Friday or Small Business Saturday sale. If they don’t have a website or a Facebook page, look up their number and give them a call.
Even if they aren’t offering special prices on the weekend after Thanksgiving, they may let you know about student, military, or senior discounts that you didn’t even know existed. You’ll also be supporting – and building a relationship with – a local business owner, which is great for your community.
Getting the Lowest Prices at the Store
If you’re going to shop in store, you’ll need to take a close look at the terms and conditions of Black Friday ads in advance. PetSmart, Petco, and Pet Supplies Plus put their ads online well in advance so you can make a plan before you go.
Make sure to carefully consider return policies, when the store opens, and whether or not there will be lines. You may need to plan on arriving before the store actually opens its door. You’re not the only one planning to stock up for your dog, so be prepared for competition on the best dog supplies deals.
In store, you can also take advantage of doorbuster deals that end throughout the morning and early afternoon. For example, Petco is offering a free gift (Dreamworks' Trolls Pet Headwear), yours with any purchase made with your Pals Rewards Card.
Also, consider in advance whether you’d like to get a card at any of these major pet retailers if you don’t have one with them already. Huge additional discounts are often available exclusively for cardholders. Again, the Black Friday ads usually contain this type of information, so look them over thoroughly to make sure you’ll be ready to get the steepest discounts when you arrive at the register.
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Finding the Best Deals Online
Generally speaking, the bigger the online retailer, the bigger the deals they’ll be offering to draw in customers. This is especially true of Amazon.
In addition to getting great deals on food and supplies on Black Friday, you can also take advantage of Prime Early Access Deals, many of which are already available. There’s a countdown with more discounts becoming available every day.
You’ll also want to look at the websites of major pet supply retailers you might otherwise visit in person – think PetSmart (offering free, no minimum shipping on Black Friday), Petco (where you can get a $5 gift card with the purchase of a $50 gift card, online or in store), and Pet Supplies Plus (offering incredible coupons throughout the month including $5 off $30 and $10 off $50).
Tips for Shopping Smart and Giving Back
Here are three ways to make sure you’ve planned to get everything you need before you actually do your Black Friday shopping.
1. Prepare a shopping list of what your dog will need in the next 3-6 months.
Planning in advance and knowing exactly what you and your dog can benefit from in the next month, or even the next 3-6 months, will save you a lot of money and time.
I recommend browsing through “current deals” or simply “dog supplies” on Amazon to get some idea of what you may need.
2. Consider friends and relatives who might benefit from a deal on dog supplies.
If it’s difficult for older, sick, or disabled friends or family members to get out to the store, and especially if money’s tight, you can ask them what they can use in the next couple of months and pick up a few extra things. When you’re getting such excellent dog supplies deals, you can afford to buy for your grandma’s or neighbor’s dog too.
If you’re concerned that this could become too expensive, just mention one specific deal that you know their dog might benefit from and offer a fixed number of items to purchase for them. Alternately, you might consider picking up a gift card from a retailer like Petco, where you can get your own $5 gift card when you purchase any $50 gift card on Black Friday.
3. Check with your local animal shelter to see what they’re most in need of.
Before you head out to the store or fill your online shopping cart, check on your local shelter’s website or give them a call to find out what they’re most in need of. Don’t assume that you know what they need.
The time of year and the type of animals that they take in may mean that their needs vary from yours. When you know what your local shelter is in need of, you can compare the Black Friday flyers with their wish list and purchase a few extra items to donate.
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