Articles - Snippits

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. 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, 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; their goal is to sell you everything you lay your eyes on, whether you need it or not. There are only a few essential things you should get for your new pet. My suggestion is first and foremost, get a good book and learn about your dog's breed and its characteristics. All breeds are very different and have different needs and personality quirks. But don't think of the book as the ultimate authority on your dog. Treat it as more of a guide.

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, 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. But don't let the names scare you; these two training collars are the best for teaching your dog to heel and to walk on 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. I know some people who forget to replace the collar after training their dogs and end up having to cut them off after a few days because their dogs grew so big that the collars wouldn't fit over their heads anymore.

The other supplies needed are simple. Get 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 or not the dog will be an inside or outside dog. 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 a variety of chew toys for your pet, or else you'll be replacing your upholstery and your shoes on a regular basis.

Of course, we can't forget the dog food! If you don't know it yet, dogs are carnivores, despite what animal rights activists might say. They eat meat. So it's recommended to check the ingredients. Corn and other vegetables should not be the first ingredients you see, or else, your dog won't be eating what he really needs. Chicken or beef should be listed as the first ingredients.

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