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. Buying the proper supplies can be as confusing as deciding what kind of dog to get in the first place.

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. 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. Treat it as more of a guide.

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.

Also, get a good training collar, such as a German pinch collar or a choke chain. Nevermind the scary names; these two collars work great at training your dog to behave properly at the end of a leash without jerking your arm out of the 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.

After getting the collars, buy a weighted water bowl and a food bowl. Puppies love to play with and in their food, so it helps to have weighted bowls to avoid having them tipped over. 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 three leashes of different 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.

Don't forget the chew toys! Dogs require constant exercise on their gums, so get a variety of chew toys for your pet, unless you plan on replacing your furniture and your slippers on a regular basis.

Of course, we can't forget the dog food! Despite what some animal rights groups would have you believe, dogs are carnivores. 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 new four-legged friend is not getting what he 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.