Essential Puppy Supplies - Dog Care and Training
By Valerie Uccellani
Time to go shopping for puppy supplies - what you need before he/she comes home
A trip to a pet emporium can make your head spin with possibilities, but you'll need essential, such as a crate. The wisest buy is a wire crate with an adjustable divider so you can give your dog more room as she/he grows. They need bedding for the crate, but don't buy lavish bed because you risk a teething puppy shredding it. A baby gate be handy, too.
Get separate water and food bowls instead of the ones sold in pairs because food can easily foul the water in side-by-side bowls. Stainless steel and ceramic are a better choice than plastic, which can be chewed up and may also cause a skin reaction. To acclimate your puppy to him/her crate, consider a hard rubber toy you can stuff with food or treats. Puppies need to chew. The best commercial chewies are nylon or rubber bones. These are a better choice than raw hides, which can be chewed apart and swallowed, causing possible choking or impaction.
Until you know your puppy chewing style-dainty or power chewer-avoid toys that can be decimated and swallowed. She/he will need an adjustable collar that can grow with her. If he/she has very short fur,avoid the cheap nylon collars, which have hard edges, and choose cotton webbing or leather. You will need a lightweight 6 foot leash, and again cotton or leather is a more hands-friendly choice.
Because you want her/him to get used to being handled and groomed right away, buy a dog brush and some good nail clipper. If you plan on brushing her/him teeth, get a puppy toothbrush and toothpaste, too. Decide what she will eat and buy food and treats. Finally, stock up on paper towels and pet strain clean up supplies.
Puppy Supplies Tips:
COLLARS
Buy only a buckle collar for a puppy, never a chain or choke collar.
Get an inexpensive, comfortable adjustable collar. You won't be using it for very long because she will grow out of it within a couple of months.
A lightweight leash is better than a big, heavy one. Make sure it feels comfortable in your hand. It won't hurt to buy a 20 to 30 foot cotton training line now, too.
GROOMING TOOLS
Grooming tools-at least a soft brush and a pair of nail clippers are important because you can get her/him used to being groomed right from the start.
If she/he is very small, human fingernail clippers will work fine for her/him nails.
Short haired dogs shed sometimes worse than long-haired dogs.
If you buy shampoo, get a very mild one and make sure it's ok for puppies.
TOYS
Take a list when you go shopping. It's easy to get overwhelmed when you're in the store.
Don't go overboard on toys and chewies and make sure the ones you get are safe, especially for power chewer puppies.
A pet store is the best place to buy clean up supplies. You'll find a wide range of odor and stain control products.
FOOD AND WATER
Weighted water bowls are good idea because many puppies like to play with the water and tip over bowls. Hanging a water bucket hung from the side of a crate (inside or out) or putting a large clean rock into the bowl will prevent this as well.
Often puppies will be sent home with a bag of what ever they've been eating so far, but stock up anyway.
Choose treats wisely You'll be going through a lot for training, so pick something with nutritional value.
Time to go shopping for puppy supplies - what you need before he/she comes home. A trip to a pet emporium can make your head spin with possibilities, but you'll need essential, such as a crate. The wisest buy is a wire crate with an adjustable divider so you can give your dog more room as she/he grows. They need bedding for the crate, but don't buy lavish bed because you risk a teething puppy shredding it.
Article Source: [http://www.EzineArticles.com/?Essential-Puppy-Supplies---Dog-Care-and-Training&id=3794435] Essential Puppy Supplies - Dog Care and Training