i have never owned a pet and thinking of buying a puppy, should i buy the puppy first or all the equipment?

Question

i have never owned any pets in my life and have been recently considering buying a puppy. should i buy the puppy first or should i buy all the equipment required for raising the dog first? and equipment i mean as in dog food, dog house, leash, bowl for food, cage, pen, name tag......etc.

Answer 1

You should actually research what type of dog you want first. Consider your lifestyle, your commitment level, your expections when deciding on what type of dog you want.

Your lifestyle will play an important factor as in, will you be home during your holidays, will you travel, how active is your life. Are the kind to stay at home and watch tv, or go out for walks and runs.

Consider if you want a dog who constantly craves attention, or is happy left alone. You don't want your poor pouch to whine all day.

And talk about leaving your pooch alone, consider the sort of accidents that may occur when you are out of the house. For example, some dogs, when bored, chew on things. Some 'destroy' personal belongings, and some just do nothing.

Most of the time, this behaviour is just a result of being bored. So when you get your puppy, think about the tupe and size of toys he/she will need for stimulation.

Our dog is amazingly quick figuring out his trick toys. We keep getting new toys that are supposed to be more challenging, but he gets faster.

Now he has more toys, feeding bowls, sleeping areas, than the average child. But it's worth it - he's well socialized, happy, and we always come home to furniture that is left untouched, shoes that are unchewed, and a dog who is ready to go for a run.

So enjoy your puppy. You'll have lots of time to get the equipment.

Answer 2

You want to have all of the equiptment before you take a puppy home :-) This also means that you need to know exactly which puppy (at least the breed, or the exact pup if you're adopting...) you plan on having as a new family member. So the sizes of everything is right.

Where have you been looking for a puppy and what breeds are you interested in? There are great places to get purebred dogs called breed rescues, just search for '(breed name) rescue' They often have puppies and the adoption fees are less than the purchase price of a new dog. http://www.petfinder.com also has lots of purebred and mixed breed puppies, it's a nationwide shelter database.

Please never buy from a pet store... pet store puppies have problems, that 1 year guarantee that they give you is essentially a scam. First, a lot of problems don't show up until after one year. But more importantly, if you find out there is a problem once you've had the dog for 6 months are you going to be able to give him back?
http://www.prisonersofgreed.org

Answer 3

Get everything you need before you get the puppy home. And make sure you puppy-proof the house by removing anything that can be chewed from the area where you plan to keep the puppy. You may want to keep it in a room with no carpets because there will be accidents before the puppy is housebroken. The only item you don't need right away is a dog house. You're not planning on keeping your puppy outside, are you? Dogs are happiest living indoors with people. But if you plan to leave the puppy outside for short periods of time to play, it might like having a dog house. I just wouldn't say that you need to have one for an indoor dog. Hope this helps!

Answer 4

Before you buy anything.....

Borrow a friend's dog for a day and one night. See if you can handle the walking shedule ad feedings and playing and attention requirements. Try to get a dog similar to the type of dog you would like in order to get a true test.

THEN, if it goes well, do it again one week later.

THEN, buy the dog, and some food. Try one week with out all the bells an whistles... and once you get to know each other buy what you need.

Then settle in with your new pet. I did this and have had my puppy for 14 years. She's old but you'd never know it. That's what happens when it's a perfect match, they live long.

I would also suggest doing a rescue, maybe of a greyhound. They are very often good, well trained dogs that need love and care. They are also mild in their temperment. You will miss the puppy stage, but that also means you'd miss the potty training stage as well.

Answer 5

Well,lucky for you I am a dog owner & have two dogs.
If you're deciding to buy a big breed dog,first buy the pup & then buy all the equipment needed for it.The food should depend upon it's age and size.Do not feed it solid food till it is around 4-5 months old.Do not buy a cage for your pup as it is cruel to keep dogs in cages.Buy a food bowl that is not too deep.As for the dog house and leash,that's your choice.Get a name tag according to the size of the pup(I mean,do not get a tag that's to big and heavy).For a small breed dog,the equipment is somewhat the same.
Hope you enjoy the company of your dog.
Bye.

Answer 6

I have owned my puppy for quite some time. I believe buying a water and food bowl, bed, food and some small toys would be a good start before buying the dog. It would be better to buy other things after you get your dog as they all grow at different rates so you may need stronger toys if your dog is going to get big quickly. Having a dog is a real commitment as they do need a lot of good walks and attention. Good luck and enjoy your puppy.. Our dog has become a true member of our family

Answer 7

You should decide what kind of dog you want and preferably even choose one. You don't want to get anything that doesn't fit the size, breed and personality. Then buy the stuff before you bring him home. Don't worry if you forget stuff, it always happens. Make sure your puppy has all his shots and take him to the vet right away to check for any hidden problems. Breeders or pet stores may try to foist a puppy with hip dysplasia or other defects onto an obvious newbie and shelter puppies can also have problems.

Answer 8

Equipment first - when you first get the puppy home you will not want to have to go shopping. If the puppy is a specific breed you can tell the pet store people and they will help you pick out sizes of all the supplies.

Answer 9

You are so wise to look ahead! I'm betting you will be a great pet owner..
You can get the things needed after you have picked out the breed or size of puppy you want..Most breeders will be happy to tell you what you need before taking the puppy home..for instance, if you are getting a Boston Terrier, it would need totally different grooming suplies than if you were getting a poodle..Or, if you got items for a Chihuahua, and then chose a collie..the chihuahua things would be usesless....What you can do, is set aside the moneys for getting the doggy items and needs....You will need about $200-250 socked away for the first vet check, and follow-up vaccinations, and registration (if dog is to be registered) county or district dog license, and then about $100 for spay or neuter...then, choose your dog and ask the breeder what items you will need before bringing him home.

Answer 10

don't be fooled. all you need is food. but the SPCA may have the right dog for you.....puppies require training and time, dogs being rescued require love and a home.... I have a new pup so not to discourage.....you will eventually buy toys, bed or crate, your preference..a leash tags and ect.... but first the dog! just remember food and two bowls one for water, not even needed if you have extras of your own!