I am going shopping for my new dog in about a week, what should I get?!?!?

Question

I will be getting a medium sized to large dog, maybe a border collie or german sheperd.

I know the usual stuff, leash, brushes, food and bowls.

I was looking for recomendations of any toys or anything you found to be a good buy with your dog. I am deffinatly getting a kong!

Thanks!

I will most likley get a dog from a shelter, so probably not a puppy.

Answer 1

I have german shepherds and they have been the best breed of dogs I have ever had! Just FYI on that. But it's really good your going to a shelter. GOOD LUCK!

Good things for puppies: puppy pads, crate/kennel, tags, chews, raw rides, no-chew spray, and a comfy bed.

Older dogs: frisbees are hits with lots of dogs, rawhides, greenies, a good dog shampoo, tennis balls, and big fluffy dog stuffed animals with squeakers

I have a 4 year old male german shepherd (not altered). He loves all of the above, especially anything with a squeaker and balls. He enjoys to chase things and eat rawhides occasionally. His son who is neutered loves all the same things and loves to play. Buck (4 year old) is actually very skinny and lazy but still will play when you want to and has a great temperment but hates other dogs until properly introduced and kids smaller than himself. Jerry (his son) loves kids, other dogs, and everyone! We have 10 dogs in total in the family so not at one house but there are 7 german shepherds and they have truly been some of the best dogs i'll ever have. Even though Buck has his issues german shepherds are just good dogs and he's overall the best dog I've had.

We have to put peanut butter in our kongs to make them play with it but when they were little they loved it and played with it a ton. A good toy that was the best for us is called a Best Ball. They are large plastic balls that are industructable to dogs. Buck has one that is about 12 inches, you can put water or sand to make it heavy, but his is empty and he loves to chase and roll it in the backyard and attemp to kill it.

Make sure you get heartguard and flea preventer from your vet to keep you dog nice and happy! K-9 advantix is really good but look into advantage multi which is both monthly doses in one monthly deal that you rub on their back and it soaks into their skin. Good luck with your new dog! Dogs are so much fun and are great companions I hope you find a good one!!!

Answer 2

Medium to a large dog will need a dog bowl that holds 6 1/2 to 8 cups of food and a water bowl about the same size to match. Now about the toys. It depends on what kind of dog you are getting some dogs are more energetic than others ,German Shepherd loves chasing things so any type of ball will work.

Answer 3

The best thing you can do, even before getting a dog, is to talk to as many breeders as you can, about the breed of dogs that you're interested in. Go to AKC.ORG and look up the breeds, ans see what their nature is going to be. DO NOT buy a dog from a pet store. Buy it from a responsible breeder, and you'll have recourse if the dog has health problems. Good breeders will guarantee the health of their dogs for at least 2 years, and more. They will be able to provide you with a pedigree that lists the dog's hereditary lines.
If you're planning on getting a puppy, also budget for a crate. It makes housebreaking ever so much easier. If you're going to get an older dog, look through the websites for the rescue organizations for that particular breed. You can get a wonderful dogs, that's had a lot of basic training already taught to it.

Answer 4

I think its great that you are getting a shelter dog- props on that, and I have heard great things about the kong however, my dog cant have one because she could break it in no time, if it s larger dog they might just chew thru the thing, i dont know how sturdy they are for a larger dog.
Must haves- tennis ball, cuddly bear or stuffed animal of some sort, I got these fish from the dollar store and my dog loves them she has 3- they arent even dog toys, just little stuffed animals for kids, anyways, collar, leash- make sure you get an id tag, food bowl, water bowl, oh and those stainless steel with the ruibber edges are awesome, my dog likes to move her bowl around and tip it over without the rubber edging. Get a food of high quality. and rawhide treats and rawhide bones. also training treats, like biscuits, try 3dogsbakery they make awesome more natural dog treats, like littel peanut butter molasses cookies and these little cookies that look like oreos, my dog loves them. Also think about the dental side- rawhides are good but occasional greenies bones are good for them too and they make little treats that look like a toothbrush even. Good luck with the new dog!

Answer 5

You sound like you can not wait to get your fur-baby :D And you sound like a great dog mom to!
Maybe get a few bully sticks (all petcos sell them petsmart to) dogs adore them! If you are giving him/her a pig ear watch them very carefully! And some training treats so you teach the pup well ;)
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Okay edited because i saw that you will be getting the dog from a shelter and is not a puppy! GIRL YOU ROCK! lol! well i know big dogs love bully sticks and dingo bones to! Oh and you can always try A babble ball! Dogs love them! Mostly to sum it up the ball taks to the dog and gives the dog treats so it keeps them busy! check your local petsotre!
Also make sure the food you get her/him is not on the pet food recall!! that is the last thing you could want for a new furbaby! And if you get a GSD i am sure you will be so happy! b-collies are awsome to! have been known to be a bit "bad to the bone" and being naughty but both wonderful choices!
GL

Answer 6

You're a hero getting a dog from a shelter! I got both of mine at one and they are good dogs that would have been put to sleep if no one adopted them.
Both of my dogs went through a major chewing phase, and even though I had toys and treats and rawhide chewies, they both chewed up some of my shoes, belts, TV remotes, wires, and other things I left lying around. I finally had to get a crate for the 2nd one, and she had to stay in it while I was at work for quite a while before I could leave her loose in the house without destroying something.

Answer 7

I would highly recommend only using Ceramic or Stainless Steel bowls.

Crates are helpful and can be very useful

All types of Kong toys are nice. My dogs favorite is their Frisbees.

I would recommending get a least 8+ different types of toys so your pet does not get bored. I like to also put some toys away and bring different ones out so my pup things he is getting new things.

As far as chew toys stay away from Dingo brand, pig ears, rawhides and greenies.

Answer 8

The best thing you can do for your dog is to buy GOOD quality food!

90% of health problems in dogs stems from a poor diet.

Shedding is also diet-related.

Good foods:
Innova Evo, Artemis, Merrick, Canidae, California Natural, Wellness, Timberwolf Organics, Professional, Chicken Soup, Fromm, Dr Fosters & Smith.

BAD foods:
Purina, Alpo, Kibbles n Bits, Pedigree, Iams, Eukanuba, Hill's Science Diet, anything bought at a grocery store.

Trust me, you and your dog will be happier with a good food.

As for toys, my dogs LOVE those hollow white marrow bones, they chew on them for hours. Anything stuffed and squeaky tends to be a hit too.

I would avoid greenies and edible nylabones, they cause indigestion.

Answer 9

The best training tool you can get for your new family member is a nice den of his own, aka as a crate. If he's not crate trained you'll have to do it and maybe put up with some objections for awhile but once crate trained your dog will treat it as his den. Crate training will also make Housebreaking go easier, prevent th dog from destroying things and possibly getting seriously injured. It will also make it easier on him should he ever have to stay at the vet's overnight, be boarded or travel with you by air. A crate also acts as his safetybelt when traveling by car. PetEdge is an excellent source for dog supplies including crates at reasonable prices.

Answer 10

Books on housetraining are the most important... so you'll be completely ready to avoid any accident that will perpetuate any housebreaking problem.

Another great thing is a book on obediance training.

I bought lots of rubber types bones and a kong for my first dog but he didn't like any rubber tasting toy so don't go crazy til you know.

He was also fussy on treats, had to try a number of them. Good treats should be on your list too since you'll need them right away to give for correct pottying and correct behavior.