New Puppy Shopping List: Dog Accessories
A Look at What Pet Supplies are Vital for a New Dog
Sep 18, 2008
Adopting and taking care of a new puppy is an exciting and wonderful experience. But it’s not as simple as coming home with a puppy from the breeder and grabbing a leash, a dog bowl and some dog chow.
Caring for a new puppy can be challenging and moderately expensive, as there are many new puppy supplies that will be required to properly care for a new dog, aside from the basics. The average dog owner will spend about $300 on basic puppy supplies.
New dog owners should add the following items to their shopping list, in addition to the usual basic items such as a dog bowl, dog bed and food:
Dog Collar, Dog Harness and Dog Leash
A good collar is a vital training tool and many puppies do best with a limited choke collar, which allows for slight tightening when tension is applied. This will help with training and when it comes to training the puppy to walk on a leash. A proper leash is also necessary. Opt for a four or six-foot lead to maintain good control over the pup. For mouthy puppies who like to bite the leash, a metal link leash is best and will quickly curb this undesirable behavior while preventing damage to the leash. A dog harness is optional, but some puppies prefer a harness and offer less resistance when learning how to walk on leash.
Personalized Dog Tag and Microchip
A puppy’s collar should always be equipped with an up-to-date tag with the dog’s name, address and telephone number. When the dog visits the veterinarian, opt to have a microchip embedded beneath the dog’s skin, providing a permanent form of identification. The procedure is no more painful than a vaccination and the cost is reasonable – under $50 for a HomeAgain Microchip, which includes the cost of registration.
Baby Gates
There are going to be places that a new dog should not access within the home. A baby gate is an inexpensive and effective method to limit access to certain areas within the home, without having to close doors and impede the human’s travel throughout the home.
Nature’s Miracle Pet Stain Cleaner
Even the smartest, easiest-to-train puppy will have at least a couple of bathroom accidents inside the house. And to prevent the puppy from repeatedly soiling the same area, an enzyme stain cleaner will be required to completely degrade the stain. Normal carpet cleaners will leave behind urine and feces residue that the dog can still smell, but Nature’s Miracle will break-down the stain, removing the odor and preventing repeated house soiling. Nature’s Miracle is also great for cleaning other organic stains, like vomit – another situation that new puppy owners will likely have to deal with.
Pet Insurance Policy or Pet Emergency Fund
Puppies, like all children, can fall seriously ill or sustain a serious injury that requires emergency medical attention. These events are unfortunate, but they do occur, seemingly at the most inopportune times. A veterinarian’s bill can reach thousands of dollars and in many cases, a dog owner will have to make serious sacrifices to pay for a pet’s care or settle for substandard care. In cases where an owner can’t pay for treatment, euthanasia of an otherwise healthy animal may be required. To ensure that a pet always has access to proper care, invest in a pet insurance policy or start a pet emergency fund, contributing a minimum of $10 per week to a savings account that will be reserved solely for the purpose of a pet’s care.
Pet First Aid Kit and a Book on Dog First Aid
In the event of an emergency, it’s vital that dog owners have the vital tools and knowledge – it may save a puppy’s life, or at minimum, prevent worsening of an injury or illness. All dog owners should keep a pet first aid kit, in addition to a reference book on first aid. All pet owners should know how to perform CPR, how to stop bleeding, how to help a dog when he’s choking and how to splint a dog’s broken leg. In addition, the first aid kit should also include phone number for the ASPCA Poison Control Center Hotline and the name, address and telephone number for a 24-hour emergency veterinary clinic.
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