PREPARING FOR A NEW DOG

Bear in mind that when a new pup arrives he will rely on you absolutely for all his basic needs. So before he arrives, preparations must be made. You will need to think about his basic needs. Where will he sleep? Where your dog going to has his exercise?

BEDDING

The first thing that you need to do, is to get your dog a comfortable bed. For a puppy, a box turned on its side and lined with soft, washable bedding, or a chew-proof pad inside a pen is perfect. For an adult dog, a durable dog bed or soft blanket would be greatly appreciated. Find a quiet, warm area away from drafts but close to the family. Dogs need an area where they can sleep undisturbed whenever they are tired. Young puppies sleep up to 20 hours a day!

A traveling pen or crate is also a wonderful investment for a puppy. If you buy one large enough for your puppy when fully grown, you can continue to use for trips throughout his life. A crate or pen also makes the chore of housetraining much easier and will stop your puppy from getting into trouble when you are not there to supervise him.

ACCESSORIES

You need to get your dog a set of food and water bowls of his own. If possible, get the kind of food/water bowls that are specially designed for his breed, this will avoid submerging his nose or ears. Try to get a flat-bottomed bowls because this will lower the chances of knocking the bowl over. The bowls should be placed inside the dog's pen or close to his bed.

Other essentials you can buy in advance are a collar, leash and identification tag. The tag must be worn at all time and should be inscribed with your name, address and telephone number. You should also get some safe chew toys for your dog as a toys. There will be some inevitable accidents that will occur while adjusting to a new home so get a soft bristle brush and a cleaning solution for preparation.

COLLARS & LEASHES

Getting a collar and leash for your dog may take you quite sometime because nowadays the range of collars and leashes available are pretty wide. The first type of collar you need is a plain buckle collar, either made of nylon or leather, which your dog can wear at all times. Leather/Nylon collars and leashes are ideal for mature dogs. As puppies continuously outgrow their collars and tend to chew on leashes, the nylon varieties are preferable. Attach the identification tag to the collar to ensure that you will be contacted if your dog gets lost. Even if your dog has a tattoo or microchip, he should still wear a tag.

When you fit you dog's collar, it should be loose enough to be comfortable but not too lose that he will be able to slip out of it. You should be able to fit two fingers under a collar that's the right size. Other types of collars are used for training and for dogs that pull when on leash. Choke chain and pinch collars should be used only by experienced owners or under the supervision of a dog trainer. If used improperly or with excessive force they may cause injury. A harness that goes around the body is useful for walking some dogs.

There is also a wide variety of leashes available. Leashes are generally made of leather, cotton or nylon. Leather leashes are more expensive, but they last longer and are gentle on hands. Thick nylon is strong and inexpensive, but is less flexible than leather. Short, lightweight nylon leashes are the best choice for puppies. They are also inexpensive, so if a puppy chews his, it cost less to replace. An extendable leash is another worthwhile investment. Usually made with a comfortable plastic handle, these leashes give dog freedom to explore while remaining attached to their owners. If an owner needs the dog to be close by, the dog can easily reeled in.