Discount dog sweaters get their ‘discounted dog sweater’ status when they no longer sell due to low stock, less consumer demand or the season changing. Therefore, finding discount dog coats and sweaters on the web or in-store does not mean you have to sacrifice quality; it just means you (and your dog) get to reap the benefits of being a savvy shopper.

With that in mind, here are some tips on when and how to buy the best marked-down dog apparel:

? Buy after holidays

Buying after holidays like Christmas and Valentines provides great values and relatively good selection. Because retailers tend to overproduce holiday stock, they often have many sizes left once the holiday has passed.

Savvy Shopping Tip: Make sure to shop for these holiday deals the day of, or a day or two after the holiday. This is when you’ll get your ‘pick of the litter’ from a selection and size standpoint.

? Buy off season

Off season purchases are fabulous because they are perfectly wonderful clothes –your pup might just have to wait to wear them. With that said, there are two types of off-season shopping. The first occurs at the tail-end of a season and the second is nowhere near the season. In the first circumstance, if you buy winter dog coats in February/March you’ll likely get a discount as retailers are trying to liquidate to make room for spring styles. The benefit of this type of off-season shopping is that your pup can still wear their winter warm-ups before you’ll need to retire them until the following year. In the second circumstance, for whatever reason, many stores don’t always sell out of their seasonal stock post-season, therefore, they’ll continue to mark it down and sell it until it’s liquidated.

Savvy Shopping Tip: Best selection and sizes are available mid to late season; best prices but less selection and sizes are available off-season.

? Check both big and little retailers

When hunting for dog apparel best buys, it’s not always the big box stores who have the best deals. Although their discounts are normally great, if there’s a dog poncho or jersey you’ve wanted for your pup for awhile, it very well may go on sale –even at the most posh pet boutiques.

Savvy Shopping Tip: Search for doggie apparel that’s been price-cut at both big and small stores.

? Look for more expensive doggie couture items first

Even high-end design houses like Burberry have to liquidate doggie stock at some point, that’s why it’s best to scope out these hot-ticket items first. Finding highly sought after couture such as designer dog wear should not be a ‘save the best for last’ mentality, but rather a ‘me first’ mentality when it comes to discount doggie apparel shopping.

Savvy Shopping tip: Find hot items first, semi-hot items second.

? Plan, plan, plan

If you want to get the best duds for your four-legged companion, it’s wise to do a little planning. Knowing the day and time you’ll hit certain online retailers for deals will ensure you get the best of everything. When it comes to discount shopping, it pays to wait until items go on sale, but once they do, they’re snatched up fast –hence the need for a plan.

Savvy Shopping Tip: Make a plan in advance and take 5 minutes to pre-schedule the best dates to buy. This way they’ll be in your palm or organizer and prompt you when it’s time to shop!

? Auction anyone?

Finally, price-cut dog sweaters can usually be found year-round at online auctions. If you like the rush of bidding then this discount shopping avenue may be for you.

Savvy Shopping Tip: Buy low, sell high!