Any info for first time dog owner?

Question

what supplies should i buy? How do i get the dog used to living in my house(im adopting one from my local shelter.)any thing else you would like to say would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Answer 1

Food
Vaccines
Bed
Treats
Chew Bones
Bowls
Collars
Leash
Vitamins
Flea Control
Heartworm
Shampoo
Grooming Brush
Stain Cleaner (incase of an accident)
Crate


Those are some things you should need.

Some advice: Don't get discouraged if your new dog doesnt seem too interested in you for a day or two, its totally normal! When I got my 8 week old doxie pup she didnt want anything to do with me for 2 days, but after that she warmed up to me. I'm sure you won't have any problems with the dog living in your house, unless it never has lived in a house. If it hasnt just give him/her some time to adjust and let her/him know that its okay to be in the house.

If your dog/puppy isnt spayed/neutered make sure you do that. Dont feed your dog a food with alot of corn and fillers. Make sure the first ingredient is Chicken or some kind of Meat. I don't suggest pig ears or things like that because if they chew a piece off it can get stuck in the throat or intestine which = major vet bills. If you are getting a puppy go to your local petsmart for training classes! I plan on doing that with my puppy. I did it with my last one and it was really fun and not too expensive.

Overall, enjoy your new dog! It will be a great experience!
Good luck!

Answer 2

Congratulations! Thank you for adopting from a shelter.

It is hard to say what supplies you should get without knowing the type of dog, so I will give you some generals.....

Dishes for water and food (raised if getting a large breed to help prevent bloat)

Quality food ( grocery store not really recommended )

Appropriate sized chews-probably a variety to figure out what the dog likes(unless the shelter can tell you) Gets lots if it is a dog less than a year old.

Treats-these will help you get accquainted with the dog and with trainning.

Leash/collar
Harness (if you are adopting a squishy faced or small breed, this is for walking. Walking these guys on a collar can cause damage to their trachea that cannot be repaired. Our vet says collars are for show, harnesses are for walking).

Shampoo
Grooming tools (again depends on the dog. short coat a rubber brush is great. Long hair a comb and a slicker. Double coat breed a slicker and a rake)
Nail clippers-I hate the guilloteen style, they increase the chance of split nail. The kind that cut from both directions are best. If you are uncomfortable of don't know how to do this, that is okay, a groomer/vet can do this for you. If you do decide to do this part, make sure you pick up styptic powder just in case you clip too much, it stops the bleeding.

Toys--remember most toys are made with the premise that they are to be supervised play. Rope toys are great, but do NOT let your dog be unsupervised with these ( our vet says rope toys and cow hooves are the two major causes of blockages) And of course remember appropriate sizes...Kongs are Great!

Crate-this is a great tool for house training and also giving the dog a retreat. It will keep the dog safe while you are gone and also your stuff too, since we don't know how the dog will act by itself!

When you bring your new dog home, try to make sure you can be around for the next couple of days. Keep the days pretty simple. If it is an adult and knows how to walk on a leash going for walks is a great bonding experience. Grooming is also a good experience. Now not neccessarily the bath part, but the brushing, even if it is a short coat breed, the contact is important. Get the dog on a routine as quickly as possible so its life begins to get "normal" Also, set up an appointment with a vet as soon as possible for a wellness check and to establish a relationship in case an emergency arises you aren't looking for a new vet. I recommend bringing a stool sample on your first visit to make sure your pet is parasite free (even if it has been de wormed eggs can still hatch). I would also check out sheltercare.com it is pet insurance that the first month is a buck. Also ask the vet and shelter for their recommendation for a dog trainer in the area.

My last piece of advice is be patient. Not all dogs from a shelter fit into house life right away, but given the chance will be one of the best members of your family.

Again Congratulations and good luck!

Answer 3

If you have not yet adopted a dog, please research which breed would be the best fit for you. How much time do you have to walk and play with the dog? Are you a fussy housekeeper? Do you mind dog hair?

If you already have the dog, do the research anyway. Even if it's a mix, it will most likely have the personality of its predominant breed.

Supplies - high-quality food, dishes, leash and collar. Will you need a travel crate? Think about car safety as well. Pet Smart has a huge choice of brands.

Select a veterinarian before bringing the dog home. Shelter dogs tend to have parasites and you want to take care of that immediately. Talk to a vet about the best food for your dog.

Bringing the dog home: please bring the dog home on a quiet day, not too much activity. Keep your voice gentle and let it look around. Have toys and treats available and reward good behavior with treats and lots of praise. Make the experience happy.

Please look into training. Sirius Puppy Training seems to be very popular. Your local Humane Society may have group classes.

Adopting a shelter animal can be a wonderful thing. Someone at the shelter should be able to help you with the transition. Best of luck to you.

Answer 4

1.) If this is to be an indoor pet, get him a dog bed or pillow and put it in the place you want him to be at night.

2.) If you are going to crate train him, get a crate. http://www.itspawsible.com/shop/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=2

3.) Get a collar and leash

4.) Get a dish and water bowl that do not tip or break easily

5.) Get some chew toys and some interactive toys that you can use to play with the dog

6.) Get some good dog kibble and perhaps a little bit of canned food to mix in the kibble.

7.) Get an appropriate brush and/or comb.

8.) Decide how you are going to train this dog and perhaps get a guide or book on the subject.

9.) Be consistent with the dog, keep to a schedule. Try to take him out every morning around the same time and in the evening the same thing. Feed the dog at the same time every day.

10.) Socialize your dog. This means go to areas where there is other people and dogs. This is so he learns appropriate behavior in that kind of setting, and won't develop unreasonable fears of strangers.

11.) Doing these things will show your dog how much you love him/her. But be sure to show affection by petting and praising and talking to your pet. As silly as you may think talking to an animal is, they are to be a companion and it is very natural to have "conversations" with your pet.

12.) Enjoy.

Answer 5

Get a collar a leash and a vet check which includes testing for heart worms if it is an old dog. Use a topical medication like Frontline and use if faithfully as direction whether you see fleas or not. One flea can bite hundreds of times a day. Keep the dog clean but don't wash all the oil out of its coat and give it dry itchy skin. Treat it like a dog not a person. The shelter will have lots of hand outs with great information be sure to get all the info they have available and read it. Watch the Dog Whisperer on TV.

Answer 6

I suggest doing your research first so you're prepared for this sort of thing. If you don't know the first thing about dogs, don't jump right into it. The best piece of advise I can give you about bringing a new dog into your home is that it will take a dog several days to get acclimated to a new home, especially if it's just been staying in a shelter. It is best to bring home on a Friday or long weekend or a few days off so you can be around. Take the dog for a good long walk, let it potty and then bring into your home. Give it about a half hour to "explore" your rooms and it's new place, this is the time where you don't shower it with love and affection because it will probably be nervous and you don't want to nurture that behavior, it will create a nervous dog. Let him come to you. Don't get mad if he has a few accidents at first, it will change quickly. And, feeding time is a "reward" for good behavior like after excersize or after sitting on command. That puts you in charge and not the dog. GOOD LUCK!

Answer 7

Supplies: Leash, collar (non-choke), "Gentle Leader" (a device that goes with the leash that keeps the dog from pulling when walking), Good quality food (Iams, Science Diet, etc.), separate bowls for water and food, toys and chew bones, treats.

Advice: (If single) When you first get the dog, you should be free from work or obligations for a few days and stay with the dog as much as possible to show that you'll be around for it. (If others are in the house) just be sure someone is home for the same reasons.

Go to the vet within the first week.

Get the dog neutered (most shelters require that)

Take the dog for frequent walks (several a day for the first week or two) to get to know the neighborhood. It'll help it from getting lost if it ever got out of the house on it's own.

Take a training class if it hasn't learned basic commands (sit, stay, come, etc.)

Lastly...Have fun with him/her!

Answer 8

You're definately going to need the basics-like food, heartworm (heartguard), and flea/tix medication (advantix). I would also suggest buying chewies (for the teeth/breath) or even a dog toothbrush and paste. If your a step ahead with the upkeep of your dog's teeth, you'll save lots of money in the future-TRUST ME! A couple og dog toys are good. Maybe something squeeky and chewable.
Petco offers dog training classes once a week. Not only do these classes teach your dog obedience but also how to be social with other dogs. After all, I'm sure you'll want to take your dog to the dog park and not act a fool.
Most importantly, give your dog TLC! Good luck!

Answer 9

Ask Questions at the shelter you are getting the dog from. Read anything you can get your hands on about having a dog.
If your going to crate train you'll need one of those. Bowls, collar, leash, toys, shampoo, brush, tooth brush for the dog, tooth paste, nail clippers, treats. #1. Find a vet you like #2 Good quality dog food.
Tons of love!!!!

Answer 10

go ahead and have a comfortable bed and toys for the dog. he/she is going to need to get situated and be able to feel like they have something to claim as their own when they get into their new environment. dry dog food is also going to be the best diet for your new dog for the first few days. sometimes dogs get stressed with new surroundings and should only eat solid food. Just show the dog a lot of affection, so it knows you are it's new owner and you are going to take good care of it.

good luck with you're new doggy!!