Your New Dog

Article Title: Your New Dog
Author: Miss Debra Rae

So you have a new dog or you're getting one soon. Whether it's
a puppy, an adult or somewhere in between you'll need supplies.
It's recommended to get all your supplies before bringing your
new furry family member home.

Being prepared is always best and believe me, your new dog will
require time with training, loving, feeding, grooming, etc. and
you want what you need when you need it. Nothing is worse than
wanting to make yourself dinner and little "Fido" is demanding
attention because he's hungry or needs a toy to play with and
you don't have it. Get what you need first and life is much
better for everyone.

First things first. You want to be certain your yard is secure.
No holes or areas where your pooch could potentially dig out or
squeeze through and run a muck in the neighborhood. Using "no
climb" fencing (similar to chicken fencing) is fantastic. It
connects easily and comes down just as fast. Be careful not to
leave any sharp ends poking out or your dog could get a puncture
wound or laceration.

If your dog is going to spend considerable time outside (like
when you're at work), be sure "Fido" has shade to lie out in.
Put up a tarp if necessary. Dogs need shade in the warmer months
or if they want a lazy afternoon nap. You'll also need a dog
house for the cooler months when your pup needs shelter. For
warmth in the winter, put a layer of hay on the bottom of the
dog house. Blankets don't hold heat and will only make your dog
cold.

The following items are also recommended:

Get a collar and be sure it fits properly. You should be able
to fit two (2) fingers between the collar and your dog. Be sure
nothing is hanging loose. Dogs easily get their collars stuck
and can strangle themselves.

Buy a leash to take your pooch on a well deserved and needed
morning/evening walk. The leash needs to be about 6 feet long
until you and your dog are well acquainted and training is
instilled. Once training is complete, an extender leash is fun
too.

Get your dog an I.D. tag. Put your dog's name on it and the
best phone number (house and/or cell) where you can be reached
in case of an emergency or if "Fido" gets lost. It's also
recommended to Microchip your dog. This can be done at their
first Veterinary visit for around $25. Remember: 1 in 3 pets get
lost every year.

Where will your dog sleep? If you don't want them on your bed
or the couch, buy your pooch a bed of their own. Wash it before
they sleep on it to get that new smell out. Use mild detergent
and encourage your new dog to lay down on it by training them
with a tasty treat or rawhide bone with a bit of creamy peanut
butter on it. Peanut butter seems to work every time. Buy the
family size jar.

If you're planning on crate training your dog, you'll need one.
Your dog needs to be able to turn around completely in the crate
but not have too much room. For a large breed puppy, go ahead
and get the size crate they'll grow into and block off the back
half or third of it until they grow a little. They only need
enough room to fully lie out on their side. Anymore than this
for a puppy and they'll go pee or poop in the back of the
kennel.

If you don't want to let your dog in and out, in and out, in
and out, then a dog door is a great solution. Be sure to get the
correct size and a professional installation. If you have a
puppy, ask yourself how big will he/she get and buy that size
door.

You'll also need a separate food bowl and water bowl. I suggest
plastic. It cleans up well, lasts a long time and comes in a
variety of sizes, shapes and colors.

A food storage bin is a good idea. You want to keep Fido's food
as fresh as possible. Food bins are fairly inexpensive and air
tight. There are many shapes and sizes and some come with
wheels. The important thing is the bin is air tight to contain
freshness. Also, get a food scoop. A plastic measuring cup works
fine. This way you know exactly how much you're feeding and if
someone else needs to feed your dog there is no guessing on the
amount.

Your dog's food is incredibly important. Given the massive dog
food recalls lately, choose wisely. I recommend "Blue Buffalo"
holistic dog food. No fillers, no fake stuff, no mystery meat.
Good old fashioned nutrition. "Blue Buffalo" has puppy blend and
adult blend varieties. The better the nutrition, the better the
dog. If you feed your dog good food, they'll be healthier,
happier, and live longer.

You'll also need flea, tick and mosquito protection. I believe
the best product on the market for these creatures is
"Advantix." Why? Because "Advantix" kills and repels fleas,
ticks, and mosquitoes (carriers of the West Nile Virus and
Heartworm disease). For puppies under the weight and/or age
requirement, "Capstar" tablets kill fleas too. You can purchase
these at your first Veterinary visit or to purchase online, have
your veterinarian's information handy to complete the forms as
they require a prescription.

Protect your dog against heartworm disease by giving them
"Heartgard" every month. Before beginning the "Heartgard", your
veterinarian should give your pooch a heartworm test to be sure
it's negative. If "Heartgard" is given to a pooch that already
has heartworms, it can be fatal because the worms will die
inside the heart and essentially suffocate the organ.

A doggie first-aid kit is also a good idea especially if you
have a dog that is dangerously curious, eats everything in
sight, or is a bit clumsy.

Buy some toys. Squeaky toys, pull toys, chew toys. Nearly all
dogs, young or mature, love toys. Get some natural rawhide bones
& chews. These are inexpensive and help keep your dog's teeth
clean too. Buy some tennis balls. For a couple of bucks it's
worth it. Take an old pair of socks and tie it in knots for a
pull toy. Playing with toys helps to dispel energy and provides
entertainment (even if only for a few minutes). It also helps
the human to wind down from the day by playing with a pooch.
Think about how adorably cute your dog is when they pounce on
that toy you spent a whole $5 on and then joyfully bring it back
for more.

An important note on bones: Please don't ever give your dog
scrap bones from the table. Once bones are cooked, they become
brittle and can lodge inside your dog's stomach, throat or
intestines and cause perforations or blockages. This type of
surgery is serious and expensive.

Get some doggie shampoo and begin the human/dog bonding process
by giving your pooch a bath. Please don't use human shampoo on
your dog. Buy shampoo that has a bit of soothing lavender in it.
After the bath, your dog is clean, smells fresh, feels better,
is less itchy and they're beginning to learn you are their human
and will take good care of them.

It's also a great idea to get a dog brush. I brush after baths
and several times a week. It's a great way to bond, helps keep
them cleaner, and reduces shedding.

If you plan to clip your dog's nails, buy the good ones. Spend
$10 or $20 on a good pair of trimmers and your dog will thank
you. The good ones are sharp and last longer. You also have the
option of taking your dog to the vet for trimmings. For around
$10 you let the Veterinary Technician handle the manicure.

With every new dog, puppy or adult, house trained or not, get
some puppy pee pads. Your new dog is in unfamiliar territory and
doesn't know the rules yet. Save yourself the frustration of dog
pee on the carpet and get the pads. I also suggest getting some
urine remover. You want the kind that removes the proteins and
enzymes that dog urine leaves behind.

Last, but certainly not least, get a training video, manual or
both. Your dog needs training. Whether your pooch is 2 months, 2
years or 5 years, they need some training. You, the human, are
the trainer. There's a plethora of dog training videos, books
and classes available to help you have the best dog on the
block.

You and your new dog have begun a lifelong journey filled with
laughter, insight, and companionship. Enjoy the ride and take
the best care of your furry family member. Both of you will be
better for it.

About The Author: Miss Rae continues her learning about dogs
from research & observation. She believes dogs make people
better human beings. For training, nutrition & a whole lot more,
hop over to http://www.goodpoopy.com.

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