What You Need For A New Dog

So, you're planning to get a dog, eh? Congratulations! You're on your way to having one of the most satisfying, enjoyable moments of your life with your loyal friend and companion. But before you start picking out which cute pooch you'll be taking home to meet your family, you have to keep in mind a few important things first. Having a dog as a pet involves more than buying a bag of dog food and a brand-new dog house. Acquiring a new canine is nearly as important as adopting a child. Dogs need constant love and attention, especially when they're young. You will need more than dog food if you want to keep your pooch happy and healthy.

When you first walk into a pet store you will be bombarded by everything from designer clothes to dog food. It's not going to be any use talking to the salesmen; they're just there to sell you everything in the store if possible, whether you need it or not. In reality there are really only a few basic things you need for your new pet. First and foremost, buy a book about your breed. Not all dogs are the same; different breeds have different personalities, quirks, habits, needs, etc. But don't think of the book as the ultimate authority on your dog. The book is there simply to give you guidance.

What you need next is a good collar, one that you can stick at least two fingers into between your dog's skin and the collar itself. Also make sure you get a collar that allows plenty of room for growth. Some dog breeds can grow very fast in just two or three weeks, so you want to make sure that you won't be replacing the collar every 2nd week or so.

Also, get a good training collar, such as a German pinch collar or a choke chain. Nevermind the scary names; these two collars work great at training your dog to behave properly at the end of a leash without jerking your arm out of the socket. But never use these collars as your dog's everyday collar. I know some people who forget to replace the collar after training their dogs and end up having to cut the collar off because the dog grew so big the collar would no longer fit over its head.

The other supplies needed are simple. Get a weighted water bowl and a food bowl. Puppies love to play with and in their food, so it helps to have weighted bowls to avoid having them tipped over. A well made crate or dog house, depending on whether your dog will sleep outside or inside. You will also need three leashes of different lengths, used for training and walking purposes. The book you get will explain how the different sized leashes are used in training.

Chew toys, chew toys, and more chew toys. Dogs require constant exercise on their gums, so get a variety of chew toys for your pet, or else you'll be replacing your upholstery and your shoes on a regular basis.

And finally, DOG FOOD! Despite what some animal rights groups would have you believe, dogs are carnivores. They eat meat. So check the ingredients first. If corn and other types of vegetables is the first ingredient listed, your dog won't be eating what he really needs. Look for chicken or beef to be listed as the first ingredient.