Dog Supplies
What you will need
You will need several important dog supplies to get started:
Dog Crate
A crate is needed to provide a safe place for your dog, and to aid in training and housebreaking.
You might as well introduce a crate to your dog for the start. It will give him his own “safe place”, where he can retreat if he is scared, tired or overwhelmed.
Some people are afraid to crate their dogs, as they think it is cruel. When really it gives the dog his own den, which is a very natural thing for dogs. My dogs love to go into crates, under tables and under the desk to relax. They feel safe there and sometimes they just need to get away from the commotion and just chill out.
Crates can be useful tools for housebreaking and keeping your pet safe while you are gone. Most people find that their dogs will retreat to the crates and sleep in them while the door is open. Even if you do not want to crate train, it is good to provide a “den” for your dog into which he can retreat.
Crates can be purchased at just about any store that sells dog supplies.
Food
A high quality and healthy dog food is very important to your pet’s health! Dog food that you purchase in the dog supply area at a grocery store is NOT quality food. It is important to learn how to read the label on dog food.
Food that contains by-products and corn is usually not the best choice. By-products can be made up of whatever is not fit for human consumption. This includes beaks, hair, euthanized family pets, and more. Corn is just a filler and is not needed in your pet’s diet. It is also a big cause of allergies in pets! You will want a food that has meat such as chicken listed as the first ingredient. Chicken by-product and animal meat are all fairly questionable. The label should tell you which kind of meat. IF it just says animal meat, then it’s quite vague and you have to wonder just what you are feeding to your pet. Some foods you will find in the supermarket have corn as the first ingredient. Our pets are carnivores, they need a diet mostly made of meat. Make sure there is some source of meat listed as the first ingredient. Dogs do not need as much grain as is in most commercial foods. If you do get a food with grains in it, look for one that has whole grains and brown rice.
Dog bowls
Dog bowls are a supply that you will need, but might not necessarily think about ahead of time. So, don’t forget them. You might want to purchase a mat to set under the bowls to help keep the food and water from spilling on your floor.
There are many types of dog bowls to choose from. There are metal, plastic, and ceramic bowls. There are even stands that will hold your dog’s bowls up off the ground, which are nice and can add to your home décor.
Toys
Playing is an important part of your dog’s life. Toys are very important dog supplies that you will want to have around the house. The pet industry is huge so your choice in toys is endless!
There are plush toys with squeakers, rattles and other interesting sounds. For the pooch that loves to fetch, there are tons of tennis ball toys, and other toys meant for retrieving. Interactive toys are a big hit. Some are great for leaving with your pet when you leave the house, and some require supervision.
There are just so many wonderful pet toys; you may have to try different kinds to find out what your pet likes best.
Chews & Bones
Chews are great for the pet that loves to chew on your coffee table legs! Rawhide chews are a big hit around our house! Natural Bones are great for chewing too. It’s best to supervise your pet while chewing and remove any small pieces so your dog does not choke.
These can be purchased at many stores that sell dog supplies.
Dog Bed
What better way to spoil your pet than to give him a soft comfortable bed to curl up on? Dog beds come in many shapes, sizes and colors. You can get them to match just about any décor, and some are even built like human mattresses. You can find beds at any store that sells dog supplies and there are also many folks on the internet that offer custom homemade beds.
Leash & Collar
You will need a leash and collar set for your new pooch. Collars also come in varieties. Many stores offer beautiful handmade collars that can reflect your pet’s style.
There are several types of collars. The standard flat buckle collar either comes with a metal buckle or a plastic buckle that snaps together.
Martingale collars are intended for dogs with heads smaller than their neck, to prevent the collar from sliding off. They work great, especially when you don’t want your dog to back out of his collar. Whenever I take my pets somewhere, I feel safest if they are wearing a martingale collar because I know they won’t be able to slip out of it and get away.
Slip collars are designed much like choke collars, but you don’t give corrections with them as you would a choke collar. They are similar to martingales as they prevent the dog from slipping form his collar by tightening when pulled.
Break away collars are flat buckles collars but will break away if pressure is put on them. For example if they jump the fence and hook the collar on the fence, instead of hanging themselves, the collar would break away and free them. When walking your dog on a break away, you just make sure you attach the leash to the D rings, and if you dog pulls, it won’t break away.
Harnesses are a must for certain breeds of dogs. Pugs, English Bulldogs and other short nosed breeds can have problems with their trachea if you use a regular collar around their neck. Other breeds can have problems as well. My Jack Russell Terrier will gag if he pulls just a tiny bit on a collar, so a harness works best for him.
Gentle Leader is a training halter that you put on your dog, much like a horses halter. You will usually use this when walking your dog on a leash.
Choke collars & prong collars are meant for TRAINING ONLY Never leave a training collar (choke or prong) on your pet unless you are training. It could be very dangerous.
ID Tag
ID tags are a MUST! When picking out your dog supplies make sure you get an ID tag.
ID tags could be your dog’s ticket home should he become lost. However, some dogs lose their collars, and tags can become worn and hard to read. Micro chipping on the other hand is permanent. Providing your dog with both an ID tag and microchip will increase his chances of being returned to you if he gets lost.
Once you have your dog supplies, then you should be all set to bring home your new friend.
