Well you have decided to take the leap into dog ownership.
You have done some research, you understand that there is a lot of commitment
to dog ownership, and you even know what breed you are looking for. Before you
actually bring your new dog home, there are some things that you need to get,
and some things that you should probably get to keep your dog healthy and
happy.
Things You Need For A New Dog To Your Home
Let's not get real complicated here, I am going to give
reasoning (the why) and then what you need (the what).
The first thing to get is nutrition. You have to have dog
food, a way for water, and maybe some snacks or treats (more on that later).
Remember that your new dog is not a human. He or she is a dog. And believe it
or not, there are lots of human food items that are fatal in certain doses, and
at the minimum, harmful to your new dog's health. So if you want to keep your
dog healthy and happy from the beginning, realize you need dog food and items,
not human. At the very minimum, you are going to need:
___ Food Bowl or
Dispenser
___ Water Bowl or
Dispenser
___ Dog Food
The next thing you need to do is protect your dog from
potentially bad experiences outside. These include running away from you,
running into traffic, running after people and other animals, and running away
and not knowing how to get back to you. To eliminate a lot of the above
potential issues, you need to get the following:
___ Collar
___ Leash
___ ID Tag (Dog's
name, address, and telephone number)
The final things that you will need are to address grooming
and behavior issues. The dog is going to need attention in the grooming area, a
well groomed dog is part of the routine to keep your dog healthy and happy. We
are talking the same basic requirements that you and I need too. So to complete
your needs list, get the following:
___ Dog Brush
___ Nail Clippers
___ Doggie Dental
Kit or at least A Soft Tooth Brush
___ Dog Bed (To
Train Dog To Use Their Bed Not Yours)
___ Toys and Chew
Items (Keep Dog Entertained and Not Chewing Your Stuff)
That completes the list of things you will need to get
either before you bring your new dog home. If you did not get these before, you
will at least need to get them and bring them home on the same day. Remember
these items are not really optional. These are things you will need to keep
your dog healthy and happy in their new home.
Things Recommended For A New Dog To Your Home
Since nutrition is a necessity, there are no recommendations
for that. But there are some more items recommended to purchase to protect your
dog from overall bad experiences. Like children, they are going to need
guidance. Sometimes you have to protect them from inexperience, and thus
causing harm to themselves. They depend on your knowledge and experience to
help protect them. So, while we are considering this, I recommend the following
items:
___ Crate (Creates
A Safe Place For Dog, Keeps Them From Unsupervised Mischief)
___ Indoor
Containment Gate (Allows Dog Some Freedom When Unsupervised And It Also Does
Not Equate The Crate To The Dog As Punishment Area Too)
___ Microchipping
(More Advanced Than An ID Tag)
To assist you in your endeavors to keep your dog healthy, I
recommend other items that will help in the health area. The first two items, I
almost include in the need to have area above, because I think that they are
that important. The other three items are more a convenience, but you will
learn to appreciate them if you have them handy!
___ Flea And Tick
Control
___ Heartworm
Preventative
___ Pooper Scooper
And/Or Waste Bags For Pick Up
___ Stain And Odor
Removal
___ Pet Hair
Pick-Up Roller
And finally, to help you continue your grooming efforts.
There are many items you could get and use, but there are really only a couple
that I recommend.
___ Dog Shampoo
Either With Or Separate Conditioner
___ Ear Cleaner
SUMMATION
Having a dog for a companion and pet will give you years of
happiness. Recent studies even have shown that time spent with your dog
actually relieve stress. There are certain things that are necessary for your
new dog, and some things that are really convenient to have or are recommended.
The essentials are nutrition, protection, grooming, and items to keep them from
getting into mischief. The recommendeds are for additional protection, items
that make your life as a dog owner easier, and some additional grooming items
that also make your life a little easier.
This is not an all encompassing list. But following it
will get you well on your way to dog ownership. It will also help you get to
another ending goal, to keep your dog healthy and happy.
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