Buying a new dog is more than simply finding the cutest puppy in
the store and buying a bag of dog food. Acquiring a new canine
is nearly as important as adopting a child. They need constant
attention and love and buying the proper supplies can be as
confusing as deciding what kind of dog to get in the first
place. So I’m here to help you.
When you first walk into a pet store you will be bombarded by
everything from designer clothes to dog food, and the salesmen
are rarely any help. They’re goal is to sell you everything you
lay your eyes on. But in reality there are really only a few
basic things you need to make your new family member comfortable
and you a happy dog owner.
First and foremost, buy a book about your breed. All breeds are
very different and have different needs and personality quirks.
But at the same time, don’t think of the book as the end all and
be all of how your dog is supposed to behave. Like people, dogs
each have their own personalities. The book is there simply to
give you guidance.
Second, get a good collar. Make sure you can stick at least two
fingers between the dog’s skin and the collar. Also make sure
you get a collar that allows plenty of room for growth. Some
breeds grow very fast and you don’t want to be replacing the
collar every two weeks during your puppy’s first year. Also, get
a good training collar. These come in many, many sizes and
types. The two most popular types are called the choke chain and
the German pinch collar. But don’t let the names scare you.
These two training collars are the best for teaching your dog to
heal and to walk on the end of a leash without jerking your arm
out of the socket.
Both collars have their pros and cons. The choke chain is easy
to use and doesn’t “look” cruel. But you have to replace it as
the dog gets bigger and depending on the breed, this can get
very expensive. The German choke chain “looks” evil but as the
dog grows bigger you can simply add additional links. But the
biggest thing to remember with both collars is to “never” use
the collar as your dog’s everyday collar. Dog owner’s can grow
very lazy when using these collars and forget to check them.
It’s not uncommon for an owner to forget to check the collar and
end up having to cut the collar off because the dog grew so big
the collar would no longer fit over its head. Choke chains and
German pinch collars are to be used for training purposes only.
The other supplies needed for happy dogs are simple:
A weighted food and water bowl. Dogs, especially
puppies, seem to have a fondness for playing in their dinner as
much as eating it. A well made crate or dog house,
depending on whether or not the dog will be an inside or outside
dog; at least three leashes of varying 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, chew toys. Dogs, especially puppies, need to
exercise their gums regularly and unless you plan on replacing
your furniture, your expensive crown molding and your slippers
on a regular basis, get your new friend a wide selection of chew
toys. And finally, DOG FOOD! Despite what some animal
rights groups would have you believe, dogs are carnivores. They
eat meat. So check the ingredients. If corn and other types of
vegetables is the first ingredient listed, your new four-legged
friend is not getting what he needs. Look for chicken or beef to
be listed as the first ingredient.
A few more supplies you will need as the dog gets older, but
aren’t necessarily mandatory when you first get your puppy
include; a good brush, ID tag and dog treats. Treats are better
utilized as just that – treats. Instead of using treats as a
training aid, substitute your dog’s favorite toy. Trust me,
after about a month you will discover what his favorite toy is.
And now for the supplies that might be fun to have. Squeaky toys
are very cute in the store and your dog will love them. But they
will get very old very quickly. Imagine this scenario. You’ve
just walked in the front door from a long day at work. You sit
down to watch TV and decompress and from the other side of the
room you hear, “Squeak, squeak, squeak, squeak.” That will get
old very quickly.
And even though they’re cute, please save your dog’s dignity and
avoid buying any clothes, designer or otherwise, for Fido. Have
you ever really looked at a dog’s face when he’s wearing
clothes? He’s embarrassed. A good rule of thumb to use is this –
if you wouldn’t be seen in public wearing it, don’t make your
dog wear it. Have fun with your new family member.
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