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. Dogs need constant love and attention, especially when they're young. You will need more than dog food if you want to keep your pooch happy and healthy.

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. In reality there are really only a few basic things you need for your new pet. My suggestion is first and foremost, get a good book and learn about your dog's breed and its characteristics. Not all dogs are the same; different breeds have different personalities, quirks, habits, needs, etc. But don't think of the book as the ultimate authority on your dog. Treat it as more of a guide.

After this, get a good collar, and make sure you can stick at least two fingers between the dog's skin and the collar. Also remember to get one that has plenty of room for your growing dog. Some dog breeds can grow very fast in just two or three weeks, so you want to make sure that you won't be replacing the collar every 2nd week or so.

Also, get a good training collar, such as a German pinch collar or a choke chain. Nevermind the scary names; these two collars work great at training your dog to behave properly at 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. It's not uncommon for an owner to forget to check 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. Dogs, especially puppies, seem to have a fondness for playing in their dinner as much as eating it. A dog crate or dog house is next, depending on whether your dog will sleep outside or inside. You will also need at least three leashes of varying lengths, used for training and walking purposes. The book you get will explain how the different sized leashes are used in training.

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

Of course, we can't forget the dog food! Despite what some animal rights groups would have you believe, dogs are carnivores. They eat meat. So it's recommended to check the ingredients. If corn and other types of vegetables is the first ingredient listed, your new four-legged friend is not getting what he needs. Look for chicken or beef to be listed as the first ingredient.

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