sizzur

Hey all

Well i should be gettin my pup pretty soon and I plan on going to the local Petsmart to get ready for her. Since this will be my first dog, I was wondering if any of u guys can be so kind as to suggest what I should have/buy for my puppy? My friend gave me his old crate so that already saved me a lot. So what else do I need? Toys, bones, leash, collar, dog groomin products, etc?

Thank God for this forum

Chaz

At my local Petsmart I found a set of Nylabones called a "Puppy Starter Set" with four different Nylabones in it. That way I found out which ones Mensa liked, and which one she didn't.

Mensa didn't get a real collar until she was about four months old. I figured she would just outgrow them too fast. But she still had to go to the Vet to get her ears posted every five or six days so she had to have a leash.

I made a leash out of a ten foot (3m) piece of 1/2" (12mm) rock climbing webbing I got at the local climbing shop.

http://www.rei.com/product/610111

I tied a small loop in one end of it and passed the other end through this loop to make a sort of slip-knot arrangement. This leash still works for us a year later, for less than three dollars.

Good Luck! Puppies are exciting.

adajane1

Oooh how exciting!!

You'll need toys, toys, toys and more toys - furry stuffed ones, rubber teething ones, squeeky ones, non squeeky ones (watch baby with them though).

You'll need bedding for the crate. I got mostly Vetbed for Tia as this can be boil washed if there are any accidents (not sure if this is available Stateside).

You'll need bowls, food, brush/comb for grooming - I use a rubber one.

And don't forget the ear plugs for you for when things get a little aaaaarrrrghhh!!! LOL

Really enjoy your baby because it passes really quickly.

Acooper

I hate to mention it, but it is often overlooked.............and something you really need!!

A POOPER SCOOPER! heheheheh, you will need this from day one.

and you should decide your method of housebreaking as well, you may need puppy pads.

Also the brand of food that the puppy is currently eating (of course, hehe)

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Angie

lyngr

SOCIALIZE your pup. I can't stress that enough.

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An eagle needs two wings to fly.. a left and a right

BackInBlack

Nature's Miracle! http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/produc...er/254000.aspx If they do have an accident it takes away all of the odor and keeps them from going back to that spot. I also clean crates with it.

Also..you might want to get a really good disinfectant cleaner for that crate that your friend gave you. (I'm not saying it's yuck or anything) but I would make sure that it is really clean before putting puppy in there.

I use http://www.petedge.com/shopping/prod...ProductID=1177 "Kills Parvo, HIV-1 and other viruses, bacteria and fungi" If we have been out around alot of other dogs, or one of mine has not been feeling well...I clean the crates with this stuff.

Also, you can go ahead and have the tag made with your address and phone number. PetSmart has the machine there where you can make them.

Good Luck

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LapDog

I agree! take the pup everywhere...even if you think its excessive to take a puppy when your just making a trip to the bank or a food run lol. or to the grocery store and wait up by the doors on the outside while the other person goes in....things like that...

dont bother buying a bed! atleast not for the crate...

on those one town hall? threads....i think its "town hall" there is one on potty training...and you will notice alot of people block off the crate so puppy only has enough space to lay down. This will discourage puppy from getting up...pottying and then laying back down and thinking nothing of it.

just remember...after and sometimes before each activity to have potty breaks.
playing=POTTY BREAK
eating=POTTY BREAK
Sleeping=POTTY BREAK
in the mean time=POTTY BREAK! haha.
if they look lost=POTTY BREAK

Do not allow the puppy to chew on anything other than their toys. If you see them chewing on something undesirable just say a firm "NO!" and quickly replace with a bone or toy.

Never allow the puppy to jump up on you. Discourage that behavior so that they dont think it will be okay when they grow. Eventually the dog will catch on that that is undesirable and avoid it when they are older. The puppy will probably still jump up on you cause they love you so much but just not allow it. showing affection can be saved for when your cuddling or laying down and calm


general list depending on if you really need or want it...

collar-nothing fancy
ID TAGS!
leash
pooper scooper
potty bags for walks
food that the puppy is on right now
dishes
training treats-dont have to be from the store. but on hand small little rewards are nice when you can't use a biscuit each time.

nail clippers- keep up with them while they are small and easy to clip!!!

rubber mit brush-with the little rubber spokes (dont let puppy play or bite the brush while you brush) might want to gently hold his head so that she cant pop up and bite it lol.

tooth brush and dog toothpaste-if you want to do that

BONES AND KONGS!- we gave duchess other kinds of toys but threw them out one by one. any rubber toy is good try www.planetdog.com or target has alot of different rubber rings-kongs-dumbell shaped things
i personally would stick to nylabone-some other bones will leave colored pieces all over your carpeting! also since they chunk off you want to supervise them. Matter of fact supervise if you have any NON tough toys...squeekers, stuffies, etc puppies might end up chewing up. Don't allow them to JUST chew on a tennis ball. we have had talks that the dye can wear their teeth down. use only for fetch.

DON'T LEAVE SOCKS AROUND! DOBERMANS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR STEALING SOCKS...AND DEPENDING ON THE DOG CAN VERY WELL EAT THE SOCK IF THEY WANT TO. THIS INCLUDES SMALL UNDERWEAR...and just to be safe other garments that have your scent they might want to smell and nibble but they will put holes in it. so just keep your house clean

Don't leave change around...small stuff. Id put newspapers and other papers and stuff away(very popular thing to shred)


teach "SETTLE"-when puppy is out of control or WAY to excited just lay her down on her side and gently but firmly holding her head and hips tell her "settle" until she calms down and stops trying to get up....she will eventually just lie there patiently and waiting.

hope that helped

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ps4570

How exciting! Remember your camera!

It seems like I read your pup's ears are going to be cropped. You may want to think about getting your ear supplies together. Talk with whomever is going to be helping you get started. (Sorry to be presumptuous, but it really helps to have a mentor.) I carried around a zipper bag that contained tape, bandage scissors, pipe insulation (there other many other ways to make posts), and lots of treats. I also found Smith & Nephew's Uni-Solve adhesive remover to be a must. You probably won't need adhesive remover immediately, but you may have trouble finding it locally, so you may want to look around now. Olive oil can also work to loosen tape in a pinch.

Best of luck!

JavasMom

Am SO glad I kept my baby gate, and also happened to snag one a neighbor had put out for garbage collection - it needed a thorough scrub but was in good working order. This way, I could keep Java contained in the mudroom w/ her crate if I needed to leave the area for a minute and make sure she'd be safe. I still use the one gate - up it goes so that she doesn't race through the whole house after she's had her shower.

Also not too early to get a harness for puppy - Java used one from day one and it's part of the routine before she is allowed to get into the car. Land's End makes a good car blanket - nylon on one side, fleece on the other. It really helps keep your bench seat clean (or less dirty) and can be tossed into the wash. An old beach towel will do the same thing.

Also - don't get stuffies that look like anything you'd hate to have chewed to bits. Puppy doesn't know the difference between a stuffed tennis shoe that squeaks and your son's new $85 Nike's. Good rule of thumb is that if you would hate to have something destroyed by an inquisitive pup, put it away and keep it out of reach. And those 88 cent toys they sell at Wal-Mart - don't even bother unless you want to video your puppy destoying them in ten seconds or less. J&B Wholesaler (.com) is a good source for toys and other pet supplies.

'Puppies for Dummies' - buy or borrow from library - is a good resource to have on hand.

Make sure first vet's visit includes microchipping. I was amazed at how small the needle is that implants the chip, it is not a big deal.

Check out your local obedience schools. It's well worth the time and effort to enroll in a Puppy Obedience Class.

Enjoy your pup!

dogs4jen

You might want to double check and make sure you don't have anything that might be toxic to dogs lying around the house, like ant poison, rodent bait, antifreeze, ibuprofin, raisins...
Jen