Although I don't have a dog, I do agree that stores like Petco and Petsmart are very expensive. I usually don't buy anything at these stores unless it's on sale. Luckily since I live in Northern CA I have many other options. We have a Pet Club that buys things in bulk so they can sell it for much less and this is where I buy my cats food which is Wellness Core dry and the Wellness grain free canned food. I also buy pill pockets, litter, and toys there. Their every day prices are much lower and many times they will have sales to make them even lower. If you have a local feed store, this is also an option because their prices are usually lower than the independent pet stores. Good luck.