What To Get When You're Expecting... A Dog!

Getting a dog is a big responsibility and can take up a lot of your time. They can also be expensive; you have to buy all their toys, beds, bowls, food and other things, and you have to pay for them too. The most common dog breed to own in the US is a Labrador Retriever which will cost you about $800-$900. You can always reduce the cost and save a life by adopting your dog from a shelter.

In the meantime, you need to be preparing for your dog at home. Here is a list of things you need to make sure you have ready for your new furry friend.

1| A Bed

It sounds simple, and much on this list is, but you need to make sure you have a bed ready for them. If you are getting a puppy, it’s suggested that you make a bed in something like a cardboard box or a crate, to begin with as they are used to sleeping in close quarters with their brothers and sisters.

2| Bowls

You need one for food and one for water. Make sure you get the right size - a little French Bulldog won’t need a bowl big enough for a Bernese Mountain Dog. For dogs that eat too quick, you can get something like a slo-bowl from amazon.com to help.

3| Food

Get the right food for your dog’s size and age - this is very important. A puppy can’t digest the same stuff as an adult dog can, and elderly dog food is easier to chew and digest. Your local pet shop will have many options. When it comes to treats again make sure you are getting the right ones. And don’t just get them super yummy treats - treats like dentastix help maintain your dog’s teeth.

4| Toys

You need to keep them from chewing your stuff, so give them their own stuff. Dogs love to play, so make sure you have plenty of choices and space for them to play in.

5| Collar, Licence, and Lead

Make sure you have these three items before you get your dog. You might not be able to walk your puppy for a few weeks, but they might still get out, and they’ll be safer with their tag than without.

6| Insurance

Getting your little buddy insured it a top priority. You never know what’s going to happen to them, whether it’s a disease or an accident. A lot of pedigree dogs have high-risk factors with their health due to the amount of inbreeding has happened to that breed over history. You can get good pet insurance for less than you think, check out places like petinsurance.co for ideas for looking after your pooch.

7| Training

Line up some training classes for your dog. Puppies learn quickly, so it’s important to start training them pretty quickly. And whoever said you couldn't teach an old dog new tricks was wrong. Old dogs might not learn as quickly, and they may have habits that are hard to break, but with regular training, they will learn too. You should also think about the type of training you want to use - particularly with a puppy. Clicker training is very popular and effective, as is crate training.