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. The salesmen are rarely any help; 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 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. Treat it as more of a guide.
After this, get a good collar, and 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 dog breeds can grow very fast in just two or three weeks, and you don’t want to be replacing the collar every two weeks during your puppy’s first year.
Speaking of collars, I recommend getting a 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 tearing your arm off its socket. The biggest thing to remember with both collars is to never use the collar as your dog’s everyday collar. It’s not uncommon for an owner to forget to check 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.
After getting the collars, buy a weighted water bowl and a food 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 your dog will sleep outside or inside. You will also need at least three leashes of varying lengths, to be used for walking and training the dog. This is another thing you’ll need that dog book for. It will explain to you how to use these different leashes in training.
Chew toys, chew toys, and more chew toys. Dogs, especially puppies, need to exercise their gums regularly, so get your new pet a wide selection of chew toys, or else you’ll be replacing your upholstery and your shoes on a regular basis.
And finally, DOG FOOD! If you don’t know it yet, dogs are carnivores, despite what animal rights activists might say. They eat meat. So check the ingredients first. 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.
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Chiun Masters is a researcher and writer for http://www.capitaldogsupply.com, where you can get high-quality dog supplies at great prices. Visit us when you need dog supplies.
- Azlan Irda
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