Here are the main supplies you will need if you are getting a new dog. Of course, you might want to get more things later, but these are the things you will need (or at least want to consider) in the beginning.

1. Dog or Puppy Food.

   See my previous article on dog food for what kind to get.

2. Bowls for Food and Water.
   
3. Collar.

   If you are not sure of the size, wait until you get your dog. I got my dog’s collar at the Humane Society when I picked her up, to make sure it would fit.

4. Leash.

   I like the retractable kind of leash. It is great for taking walks and letting your dog explore. You can push a button to make the leash stop and be shorter, but then you can let it out again when you want to. Some people prefer the 6-foot firm (not retractable) leash, saying that it is better for training your dog to heel.

5. Dog Crate.

   Especially if your dog is a puppy, you will need a crate for potty training. Even for an older dog, a crate is good for keeping the dog in while you are out of the house, since you don’t know if the new dog is destructive or a chewer. See my previous article on dog crates for more information.

   I ended up getting a metal crate for my puppy to stay in while I am at work. I also got one of those hard plastic, airline type crates for the minivan. She is such a chewer that I did not want her chewing up the upholstery while I am in a store. I let her ride loose in the van so she can look out the window and just put her in the crate when I have to run into the store. (Note: Don’t leave a dog in a vehicle in hot weather.) If she was older, I would probably not need a crate for the van.

   The car crate has come in handy, though, when we visited a friend with a dog, and my puppy bugged the older dog so much that we brought the crate into my friend’s house and put my dog in it for a while, so his dog could rest.

6. Baby Gate.

   If you don’t want to get a crate, you could use a baby gate to keep your dog in one area, such as the kitchen, while you are gone. Get the kind with wire mesh if your dog is a chewer. They can chew through the plastic kind. Also, some dogs can jump right over the gate.

7. Brush or Comb.

   You will this to brush or comb your dog’s fur. This is especially important for long-haired dogs. They need to get brushed often, especially when they are shedding their coat – twice a year, but you have to do it regularly all year long.

8. Scissors.

   For cutting matts and burrs out of the fur. Sometimes they are too tangled up to brush them out. You can use any scissors you have around, as long as they are sharp. I like to keep a pair of smaller but sharp scissors, just for the dog.

9. Nail Clippers (and that special powder in case you cut too short).

   Dogs’ nails have to get trimmed regularly. If you don’t know how to do this, your vet can show you. I always keep some of that powder around that stops the bleeding, in case I make a mistake. I must admit, though, my dog is too squirrelly for me to cut her nails. I plan on taking her to the groomer to have it done (and I will have to do it soon – it is almost time).

10. Dog Shampoo.

    This is for giving the dog a bath. People shampoo is not good for dogs. They need dog shampoo. I would keep some around even if you plan on the groomer giving the dog a bath. You never know when the dog will get into something really messy and you have no time to go to the groomer.

11. Dog Toys.

    This is very important, especially for a puppy. You don’t want your dog to get bored and start getting destructive. Puppies, especially, need things to chew on. For puppies that chew a lot, get lots of toys, and make sure they are hard rubber (indestructible) or something strong. They love toys that squeak.

    Kongs are really good too. These are the kind that you can put bits of dog treats into, and the dog has fun trying to get the treats out. Nyla-Bones are good too.

12. Rawhides.

    Speaking of chewing, rawhides will also help satisfy your dog’s chewing instinct. They also help clean the teeth. I give my puppy one small rawhide bone per day. Rawhide comes in different forms, like bones, squares, etc. Get whatever works best for your dog. Don’t give too much in one day.

13. Dog Treats.

    Various kinds of dog treats are indispensable. I crumble a soft treat on my dog’s food to make it more fun. I give her hard treats once in a while just for fun. And small treats are good for training purposes.

14. Plastic Bags.

    These are for picking up the poop when you go on walks. You can use the free bags you get at the grocery store, but I usually splurge and get small scented garbage bags. It makes a disagreeable chore much more pleasant.

15. Tie-out Cable.

    If you don’t have a fenced in yard, a tie-out cable is great for when you are outside and you want your dog out with you. Then you don’t have to hang on to the leash all the time. You can tie the cable to a deck post or something, or get a stake for it to put in the ground.

    They also have something called a “dog run” which you string overhead between two objects, like the house and a tree, and a cable hangs down from this line, to which you attach the dog. The dog can then run back and forth and you don’t get tangled in the tie-out cord, because the line runs above your head.

Well, I think that’s about it, unless I have forgotten something. At least, those are the necessities. I also got a dog-shaped cookie jar to keep the dog treats in, and a couple of fleece throws to cover the couch and easy chair in case my doggie got on them with dirty paws. There are a lot more things you could get, like some cute dog clothes, a dog bed, and much more. But I don’t want you to go broke right away! Wait until you see what you really will need.

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