Must-Haves for First-Time Dog Owners

By Jackie Burns MSN Shopping Contributor

On the scales of responsibility, I would argue that a dog is right up there with a baby. After work drinks? Sorry, must run home because wee Lucky needs a walk around the block! Slumber party at a friend's? No way, Spot might wet the bed!  Whereas cats can be left for a couple of days as long as they have enough food and water, dogs are much more needy and require plenty of time and attention from their masters. Walking, training, feeding, bathing, playing, it's a major commitment if you do it right. So once you've made the decision that you're ready to welcome the responsibility of a new dog into your life, be sure you're equipped with these essential supplies.

Training and trick books: Take a read through a guide before you bring your new family member home so that you can pick up some simple solutions to common behaviour problems and be better prepared to deal with the transition phase.

Leashes: Most municipalities require dogs to be leashed in public areas except when in an off-leash area so be sure to have a leash ready when your pup comes home to prevent any Marley-esque getaways.

Food & water bowls: Gone are the days when a simple silver bowl sufficed. Nowadays, it's go big or go home in the world of doggie china. From automatic watering bowls to raised pine feeders that compliment your home's decore to bowls that help slow down the pace of your dog's eating, pet food is a serious business.

Collars: Your dog's identifying collar is absolutely essential for his safety and your piece of mind. Collars come in an array of traditional styles as well as ones with lights for protection at night and those which can control your dog's barking. 

Soap/shampoo: Specialized dog soaps can actually help to repel insects while leaving your precious pooch squeaky clean. Depending on your dog's breed, their skin's sensitivity and their level of outdoor activity, they may need to be washed anywhere from weekly to monthly.

Doggie beds: Designating a cozy spot for your new pet to sleep will definitely help it to feel comfortable and safe, not to mention allow you to maintain some sort of autonomy over your bedroom!

Do you have an tips for first-time dog owners?

 

Comments

One of the most important items has been left off of this list.....and that is a crate. A crate, or other similar carrier, provides your new best friend with a home of his own, a place to feel safe and less stressed, and is a great tool for training! It should never be used as a punishment. It is also great for travel....where ever his kennel goes, so goes "Lucky". He will adapt much easier to the change in his environment as long as he has his familiar home.

I just love my husky/sheperd pup so much that I would literally do anything for him. As far as a crate goes, I Never used one as to me it makes the dog feel I think like he or she is imprissoned and I don't like that. I guess that it is good for training your pup but I can't watch an animal locked up like that it bothers me. Whereever I travel my dog comes with me as my kids and husband just adore him as well. I think that the MOST important thing for a dog is his Collar and Identification in case he or she is lost. As far as keeping the clean, its really just a lot of vaccuming as I give him a very regular bath and brush about every 2 months with ALL natural dog soap. For those of you that are thinking about getting a dog, take into consideration that they need to be WALKED Everyday to keep their bodies in Good health and to potty train FASTER. its NOT fair to keep them kennelled in the back yard or house everyday. Dogs are just like humans in the fact that they need LOVE and EXERCISE, EVERYDAY.

My son has a White Shepherd/Argentinian Mastiff mix - he is a year old now and still pulls couch pillows off when alone and takes the foam stuffing out and he actually chews holes in the walls and base boards. He is not alone hardly at all but even for a few minutes sometimes he will be destructive. Have tried all the sprays and dish soap to stop him, doesnt seem to work. He is a very smart dog and loves other dogs and is gentle with them, but is bad at home. Does anyone know how to stop this, I'm told he can be a puppy until 2 years old.

I must put in my two cents regarding crates. I was one of those people that didn't believe in crates because they made ME feel uncomfortable. However, you must think of how your dog feels about crates: to them it is a safe place where they can go to "Den Down". A throwback to their wild cousins, a dog's natural instinct is to go to their den to sleep or just hang out. Also keep in mind that a dog will never soil their sleeping area, so their body gets used to the schedule of when it is appropriate to releive himself.

When I got my baby Yellow Lab two years ago, I was convinced by much more knowledgable "dog people" to crate train him. He started the first night with a small one and graduated to a big one once he outgrew that. He cried the first couple of nights, but imagine how much scarier it would be for him to have free reign of the bedroom to wander around in the dark (and pee wherever he wants). He slept in his crate right next to my bed which is lower to the floor, so we were right next to each other and he knew I was there. When I went back to work after two weeks, he was in his big crate during the day with a small amount of water to drink and a few toys. Remember that when you aren't home, your dog will sleep most of the time anyway, and the crate makes him feel comfortable. My lab never releived himself and he got used to holding it (he also was given the opportunity to do so all morning outside while I got ready for work).

One day, when he was about 6 months old, I came home from work to find him loose in the house; I must have forgotten to latch his crate. I checked the house for damage, pee, etc. and all was good! From that day on, he still automatically goes to his crate to lie down and get a cookie when I leave for work, but I leave the door open for him. He's two now, and we still do that ritual every morning (Labs thrive on a constant schedule / ritual). His crate is in my bedroom with the door open so he can go in there whenever he wants. He's never releived himself in the house because his body is used to the schedule that we created together!

I am now, and forever will be a believer in crate training!

As regards Crate Training. I too love it! I have a Shar Pei and crate training was not easy at all, he did not naturally take to it. But now he loves it, at night when he gets sleepy he goes right in, I shut the gate and he sleeps through the night, no whining, etc. I found with crate training, it relaxed my dog and made me feel less stressful about what my dog was doing while I was sleeping, win/win. During the day, I pen him up in a larger area that contains his crate, water and some toys (just because some days I am away for 8 hours and like to give him a bit more room. The biggest plus, I think, is that I don't have any stress when have to leave him with friends or family. I take the crate and I know that they can put him in and he is good for the night, less stress for them, him and me! I am so happy I did crate training, it totally works for me and my dog.

As for the other Jane, with the destructive dog. High energy dogs get destructive when they are bored. I had a friend with the same issue and she found she had to do big run/walks at least twice a day (and I mean big, like 45 minutes in the morning and an hour in the evening). This totally worked for her, her dog calmed right down and was so good in the house. An off-leash park where you can let the dog run like crazy or if your puppy is a solid ball chaser, a super long exhausting game of fectch is the way to go. Also, I would suggest penning an area up with some toys and water and nothing that can be destroyed, I would not give the dog free reign of the house if you are not there.. That is my suggestion, but I am in no way an expert, good luck.

I was also a dog lover who thought that crates were too confining. I have just adopted a new dog who was crate raised. And he missed his little area that was his den, so I have prepared him a new "crate" - a space where he knows he is safe and quiet, and he seemed pretty grateful.

So as far as crating goes, I will vote in favor now, as it is apparently the owners who might think it is too confining, the dog wants it's own little area or den and seem very content to go in their space if you are going out, etc.

I'm a firm believer in crate training. My beagle slept in his crate til he was almost 2. Time for bed, he'd go in his crate, get his cookie. Once we started letting him out of the crate at night we immediately had a bed partner. lol. However, I was once out of the house 11 hrs (neighbour was supposed to let him out mid-day) and there wasn't a single accident any where in the house.

Even now, when he's feeling sucky he'll go lie in his crate. If we need to get him out of the way (say new furnace) a "kennel up" will put him in his crate.

The key is NEVER to use the crate as punishment - it's supposed to be their den, their one safe spot in the house....

A few things to remember about your puppy!

1. When it has an accident DONT put it's face in it. You can only punish if caught in the act, and the best thing to do is take them outside right away. Dogs don't have a long memory, that's why they sniff there poo after they do it. Hmmm how did that?!

2. Don't use a choke chain unless you are taught how to use it, otherwise it is animal abuse!

3. With training use repetition and the same words. If you want to teach your dog to stay off the couch use a word like OFF and every time. If you use DOWN and then try to teach it LAY DOWn, your dog is going to be confused and not learn.

4. Every dog needs toys. Be careful not to get things with beans or plastic eyes they could choke on. Tennis balls are quite bad for dogs teeth.

5. Have patience.

6. If the only time you call them is for something bad like the kennel or something they don't like they will learn not to listen. So randomly through the day call them just for a hug or a treat.

7. A lot of dogs have allergies, so watch for that. The most common ones are poultry or wheat and that is in most food and treats!

One more "must have" is the right type of Dog Food.
I know in the beginning I thought that getting Grocery brand dog food was good enough. I had originally fed my puppy Pedigree dog food (wet/dry) and when I got my second dog, I did the same thing also.
When they were both able to eat the same type of food (because of the age difference) I had been serving them the Wet Pedigree dog food and for there was 2-4 times that they had bouts of diarrhea (runny, some with blood) and when I finally looked closer in their food, I had found smal shards of bones in them! Im quite sure that this wasn't in there before when I had my first dog so I think Pedigree has cut down on some costs and just left the bones in and has now ended up in pieces in cans of wet dog food.
At first I was skeptical "Maybe, its just a bad batch" but I bought another pack of 24's from another store and opened it, SAME THING!

So now I am investing a little more for their food, Im now using Orijen from Petland, its a little more costly but they are eating less, Im guessing their body is reacting to it quite well and don't eat as much because they are getting all their nutrients.
I have also noticed a difference in their feces, it used to be bone dry and hard before (on Pedigree) and now its a "healthy" texture. Also, their energy and coat is much better too.

SO, BUYER BEWARE! Make sure you research what type of food you are giving your dog. Whether it be grocery brand or not, just take a look at the Ingredients label and make sure there isn't too much preservatives and fillers. If you think about it, you wouldn't want those kinda things in your body too, so why give it to your beloved dog?

A crate should definitely be on that list!! Crates are not a negative experience for dogs. I started crate training my rottweiler when she was a puppy, she is almost two now, and we still use/have the crate. I started fostering an older dog (who was not crate trained) about a year ago and now also have a cat. At any time during the day when the crate is open (the rotti sleeps in it at night) one of those animals is in the crate. As soon as one leaves, another goes in. Sometimes I find one dog sleeping right in front of it when it is occupied, I assume waiting for its vacancy. All the crate does is give the dog a safe, comfortable place to rest, where coincidently they can get into no mischief. It also helps the dog feel safe while being left alone, preventing separation anxiety. Furthermore if your dog ever has to travel or be left at a groomer or vet, they will much more comfortable and be under less stress as they are conditioned to associate being crated with relaxation.
The other missing item is insurance! People should seriously consider insurance for their pets. There are some great canadian companies (one from B.C. which I use and am very happy with) that offer great rates and even better coverage. I currently pay under $40 a month and have $25,000 for accident or injury (some companies distinguish between the two). The only deductible is the vet's assessment fee (usually $50-$75) and you can claim as much per incident as necessary (another thing some companies don't allow). Unless you have a fantastic financial cushion I think this is the responsible thing to acquire so you never have to question or worry about providing your pet with the care and treatment they require.
Getting a dog is a big responsibility, but once you commit to it you will have a bond and a friend that is like no other.

All dogs want your love and relationship which is important, dont ignored. I have border collie X lab and already training hearing dog for my hearing impaired without training him since he was pup. He well training by my command any words if he understand. I'm glad to have him until his time. He know the house rules like no pee or poop in the house or other damges household.
Question for YOU . Do you want the dog rest of dog life? Think throughly before you getting a pup or grown dog. That is big step.

I wanted to first say, kennel/crate training is the best if you need to leave your dog alone for periods of the day, for one the feel safe in their den and its also safer for them rather than having them alone in the house.

Secondly, I don't agree with the whole pieces of bone being left in food and it ending up in the dogs feces. Chances are that owner gives their dog either cooked or dried bones as treats. There is nothing more dangerous than that. Uncooked bones pieces can be digested in healthy dogs. The cooked bones can splinter and cause problems. Yes I will agree that Orijen and other non whole grain based foods are better for dogs. The whole grains are the fillers (corn, rice, and so on) and should never be in the top 5 of the ingredients.

But I am all for Raw feeding so I am biased on kibble foods anyways.

I am another crate training convert.
To begin with I had a hard time convincing myself that this was the right thing to do but now I am a firm believer. My proof that this is the best way is the old "seeing is believing" saying.
We started crate training our puppy the day we got her at 7 months old.
We have never had to clean up a mess in her crate.
We have never had any of our possessions destroyed when we were away.
When we moved this is where she went to lay down, it's her safe place.
She travels great.
On weekends when she doesn't have to go in her crate she does and naps in there all afternoon just like she does during the week.
She doesn't bark like mad when people walk by our house trying to protect it because she is safe in her crate.

Hello everyone, we just added a new member to our family a 10 week old miniature dachshund, he's wonderfull and playfull, at times he just wants to bite everything including our hands,feet shoes,slippers etc. Is this normal for puppies, is because he's teething? Any help or advice would be very helpfull. Thanx mm.

There is a fantastic site that offers great tips for all puppy/dog issues. http://dogtrainer.quickanddirtytips.com/

you've forgotten the most important things....
TIME.
Patience.
Love.

A dog don't NEED a crate, nor does it NEED a doggiebed or an automatic waterbowl.
It needs a owner with Time, some common sense and other dogs so it can be socialized.

A dog is a Dog it does Not have "material needs" they have social, stimulation and contact needs. They need a Pack, with a Packleader, if You do Not give the dog the stimuli nor the training recuired.. you can buy all the crates and bed in the world, it will Not make a difference!!!!!

To Jane who's son dog destroys the furniture if left alone for even a minute. All comments regarding crates, but nobody has mentioned good old excersize. A young dog needs to be tired out! If not, they will find ways to keep themselves busy. Our family found this out when we got our dalmation. He would destroy things and misbehave. We found some dog walking freinds, and to our great surprise and pleasure, he turned into the best pup in the world, BECAUSE HE WAS TOO TIRED AFTER HIS WALK to misbehave. So, if you have a dog or plan on getting one, please, please be prepared to spend at least one hour a day excersizing your dog, it will do you good!

Well, I didn't seem to see a very important item.... TOYS.... a pup must have things to play with, independently and with it's family. There are terrific choices all geared to breed/size/activity level.
I'm crazy for the new toys that are stuffing free...so safe and rather comical I might add...look for the 'RoadKill' series...they have squeekies in them and are fun for pup and hilarious for us to watch.
How could I not mention....the good old reliable..'ball' nothing better than teaching a pup to fetch and release. It's hours of entertainment for pup and family!

Hi just wanted to add my two cents worth to crate debate. I totally believe in crates and think they help a puppy feel secure and safe. However, like breast feeding, sometimes it does not work despite your best efforts.
My first dog Lucy - husky/shepherd mix, was crate trained because I had heard of the benefits and because my youngest son turned out to be afraid of dogs. I only let Lucy out (besides exercises, food, fun and bathroom breaks)when I could when I could supervise. It turned out to be highly beneficial for both of them. Kyle started putting toys into the crate for her to play with, as it gave him a chance to befriend her slowly.Then he started going into her crate while she was out. For a while there, Kyle thought he was a dog and Lucy thought she was a kid. They became best friends, and Kyle (now 17) has become a huge dog lover. After a few short weeks, I left the crate door open unless I was going out. Lucy went in there for comfort and to rest, if she wanted to. Lucy was housebroken within two weeks and remained a loving and fairly non-destructive pet.
Unfortunately, her son Wishbone had a more neurotic personality. (He's afraid of thunderstorms and loud noises). I tried crating him, but when I returned home he would have crashed out of it. I stopped crating him after a few instances, afraid that he would seriously hurt himself.
My third dog Sasha was also un-crateable. She went into the crate willingly enough, but when I came home she would always be out of the crate. The door was still latched, so she was squeezing thru it. Again, I stopped crating because I feared for her safety.
So I would recommend that any new dog owner try it, but if you think your breed of dog may be high strung I would advise not buying the cheapest crates, as they are easier to break open. This will turn out to be very expensive if you have a larger dog. (All of my crates were large). Also watch them closely and make your first few departures very short, both to increase their confidence that you will return and to monitor their crate destructiveness.
Otherwise, all the advice up above is very useful. The more exercising and socializing you can do with your dog, the better. The relationship you will have with your dog will be longer lasting and more rewarding than almost any other in your life. Kids grow up and leave home, but a dog relationship can last up to 22 or 23 years. it's like having a toddler living with you the entire time, they can be petty and destructive but the love they give is more than worth it.

My cat has been on Iams cat food I looked at the bottom of the can and I have the recalled numbers. My cat has been very sick for two weeks. She almost died from kidney failure and was on iv's for a week. The vet thought she had some kind of genetic kidney disease. I will call my vet with this new information. I wonder if the company will pay for vet bills if you have a sick cat from their food.
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