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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. Having a dog as a pet involves more than buying a bag of dog food and a brand-new dog house. Acquiring a new canine is nearly as important as adopting a child. Dogs need constant love and attention, 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. It's not going to be any use talking to the salesmen; 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. The book is there simply to give you guidance.

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 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, and you don't want to be replacing the collar every two weeks during your puppy's first year.

Also, get a good training collar, the most popular of which are the choke chain and the German pinch collar. But don't let the names scare you; these two collars work great at training your dog to behave properly at the end of a leash without tearing your arm off its socket. But never use these collars 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 the collar off because the dog grew so big the collar would no longer fit over its head.

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 well made crate or dog house, depending on whether or not the dog will be an inside or outside dog. You will also need at least three leashes of varying lengths, to be used for walking and training the dog. The book you get will explain how the different sized leashes are used in training.

Don't forget the chew toys! Dogs require constant exercise on their gums, so get your new pet a wide selection of chew toys, unless you plan on replacing your furniture and your slippers 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 it's recommended to check the ingredients. Corn and other vegetables should not be the first ingredients you see, or else, your dog won't be eating what he really needs. Look for chicken or beef to be listed as the first ingredient.

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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.