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.