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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. 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.
Walking into a pet store without any prior information as to what you really need will just confuse you more and waste your money. 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. 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.
After this, get 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 breeds grow very fast, so you want to make sure that you won’t be replacing the collar every 2nd week or so.
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. But never use these collars 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 them off after a few days because their dogs grew so big that the collars wouldn’t fit over their heads anymore.
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 dog crate or dog house is next, depending on whether your dog will sleep outside or inside. You will also need 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, and more chew toys. Dogs, especially puppies, need to exercise their gums regularly, so get a variety of chew toys for your pet, unless you plan on replacing your furniture and your slippers 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. Corn and other vegetables should not be the first ingredients you see, or else, your dog won’t be eating what he really 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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