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So, you're planning to get a dog, eh? Congratulations! You're on your way to having one of the most satisfying, enjoyable moments of your life with your loyal friend and companion. But before you start picking out which cute pooch you'll be taking home to meet your family, you have to keep in mind a few important things first. Buying a new dog is more than simply finding the cutest puppy in the store and buying a bag of dog food. Acquiring a new canine is nearly as important as adopting a child. They need constant attention and love, especially when they're young. Buying the proper supplies can be as confusing as deciding what kind of dog to get in the first place.

When you first walk into a pet store you will be bombarded by everything from designer clothes to dog food. The salesmen are rarely any help; they're just there to sell you everything in the store if possible, whether you need it or not. There are only a few essential things you should get for your new pet. First and foremost, buy a book about your breed. All breeds are very different and have different needs and personality quirks. But at the same time, don't think of the book as the end all and be all of how your dog is supposed to behave. Treat it as more of a guide.

What you need next is a good collar, one that you can stick at least two fingers into between your dog's skin and the collar itself. Also make sure you get a collar that allows plenty of room for growth. Some breeds grow very fast, so you want to make sure that you won't be replacing the collar every 2nd week or so.

Speaking of collars, I recommend getting a training collar, the most popular of which are the choke chain and the German pinch collar. Nevermind the scary names; these two training collars are the best for teaching your dog to heel and to walk on the end of a leash without jerking your arm out of the socket. The biggest thing to remember with both collars is to never use the collar as your dog's everyday collar. I know some people who forget to replace the collar after training their dogs and end up having to cut them off after a few days because their dogs grew so big that the collars wouldn't fit over their heads anymore.

The other supplies needed are simple. Get a weighted water bowl and a food bowl. Puppies love to play with and in their food, so it helps to have weighted bowls to avoid having them tipped over. A dog crate or dog house is next, depending on whether or not the dog will be an inside or outside dog. You will also need three leashes of different lengths, used for training and walking purposes. This is another thing you'll need that dog book for. It will explain to you how to use these different leashes in training.

Chew toys, chew toys, and more chew toys. Dogs require constant exercise on their gums, so get a variety of chew toys for your pet, or else you'll be replacing your upholstery and your shoes on a regular basis.

Of course, we can't forget the dog food! If you don't know it yet, dogs are carnivores, despite what animal rights activists might say. They eat meat. So check the ingredients first. Corn and other vegetables should not be the first ingredients you see, or else, your new four-legged friend is not getting what he needs. Chicken or beef should be listed as the first ingredients.

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Chiun Masters is a researcher and writer for http://www.capitaldogsupply.com, where you can get high-quality dog supplies at great prices. Visit us when you need dog supplies.