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Dog products
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Of course, it's so much fun choosing dog products such as bowls, collars, beds and toys that if your bank balance can handle it, why not just indulge a little bit?First in your list of dog products is a dog collar. Every puppy (and dog for that matter) should wear a collar. That collar should have an dog ID tag and a Rabies tag (as soon as your puppy is old enough to have received the vaccination) firmly attached to it.
If you go to your local Petsmart or Petco and peruse you'll soon find yourself wondering...'what material is best? What size? What color?'. Let us help you out!
For a young puppy a simple, buckled collar is best. These are usually made from leather, nylon or sometimes hemp. Vinyl or cheap leather can be uncomfortable and chafe a small neck, so choose high quality, soft leather or stick to nylon to start with.
Chain, choke, prong or training collars should only be worn during supervised training sessions.
Although you'll need to buy a collar with a bit of 'growing room' (you'll be amazed how quickly Fifi's neck will expand), make sure that it's not too large when buckled on the tightest hole.
If you're purchasing a collar online, measure your puppys' neck and then add about 2 - 2 1/2 inches to get the right size. Collars often come in XS, S, M and L sizes for necks ranging from 6" all the way up to 24"+
The dog collar is correctly fitted when you can get a couple of fingers comfortably between the collar and your puppy's neck, but it not so loose that it can slip off over her head is she pulls away.
As with most dog products, don't expect to only need to buy one or two collars for your precious little one. You'll have gone through several sizes before he or she is fully grown.
All kinds of custom and designer dog collars are available. There are beaded collars, studded collars, dog collars with buttons, bows and designer labels, the list is endless. All of them are adorable but totally optional, the only caveat being to be sure to check that none of the decorative items can come loose and be swallowed by little Fifi.
Oh, and expect to need to buy several different collars before Fifi reaches adulthood, her neck will grow at a surprising rate and it's a good idea to get in the habit of checking her collar regularly.
Don't wait until her eyes are bulging before you move up a size!
If you have a puppy 'princess', check out these adorable, designer style collars. You won't find these in the local petstore!
If your furchild is of the small/tiny or teacup variety, take a look at our small dog accessories page where you'll find adorable clothes, jewelery, carriers and more.
For stubborn training and behavior problems, you may want to try an electronic dog training collar. There are various different styles and systems to choose from, and you can find something for any size, breed or situation.
Find out all about dog training collars and then see one of the top selling ranges on our Petsafe dog training collars page.
Dog ID tags
An identity tag, firmly attached to a sturdy collar, is a must have dog product for your puppy - right from Day 1.In spite of your best efforts it's always possible that little Fifi will get away from you when you're out walking or at the park, she could even dash through the front door when you're busy talking to the FedEx man.
If she's not wearing a collar with and ID tag and is not micro-chipped, the chances of you getting her back safely are much slimmer.
There's a lot of different designs of ID tags available. These dog products range from small plastic discs with a place for handwritten contact info. through standard, engraved metal tags, all the way up to jeweled, silver-plated, hand decorated versions....and more.
Take a look at our
Dog ID Tags
page for more info., and learn about the very best way to ensure Fifi gets home safely should he ever get lost.
Leashes
Leashes come in basically the same huge range of options as dog collars, and more often than not you can find a leash to match the collar of your choice.Again, with this dog product, a cotton or nylon weave is good, with cotton being slightly more comfortable to hold. Leather, although sturdy and long lasting can be stiff at first.
Puppies love to chew on any dog product made from leather, so a leather leash can sometimes prove problematic as Fifi is more likely to want to chew on the leash rather than walking. It may be better to leave the leather leash until she's a little older if your puppy shows this tendency.
To add to your range of choices, leashes also come in various different lengths. An average 6ft leash is good to start with. When Fifi starts attending Puppy and the Basic Obedience Classes, they may recommend a 10ft leash.
Retractable leashes sound good in theory but are one of those dog products that have limited practical uses. They're OK for a quick potty trip out to the yard, or a deserted, fenced park but around traffic, people, other dogs, trees etc. they can be a nuisance. In some instances even downright dangerous.
The 'brake' can fail if your puppy jerks or pulls strongly or suddenly. This results in a runaway dog. If you're near a busy road, less than friendly dogs etc. it could end badly. Grabbing the nylon cord in an attempt to halt your puppy's headlong dash is unlikely to be effective - and it'll most likely leave you with burns or cuts on your hands.Chain leashes (even those with nice looking leather handles) are generally uncomfortable for you and your puppy. The chain tend to be heavy too and may encourage Fifi to dislike the pulling or dragging feeling of the leash. Not a good introduction to leash training.
Dog bowls
Another essential dog product is a dog bowl. You'll need to buy at least 2 bowls (one for food and one for water). Most likely you'll need 1 or 2 more, depending on the size of your home, the climate you live in and whether or not Fifi will be spending periods of time outside.Stainless steel dog bowls are the most practical choice, if not the most attractive one. They're easy to clean and sterilize as well as being pretty much indestructible (aka un-chewable - a definite plus).
Earthenware dishes have the advantage of being heavy, non-chewable and quite nice to look at. Unfortunately thy're prone to cracking and breaking which can be a problem. A broken or cracked dish needs to be replaced immediately. A broken dish is sharp and can cut little Fifi's mouth or muzzle, and cracks in the glaze can allow potentially harmful chemicals or materials present in the underlying clay to leak into your puppy's food. Lead poisoning is a possibility with poorly made dog bowls.
Plastic dishes are generally less expensive than the above options and can look nice. They're usually short-lived though, as they're very prone to being chewed up. Once the dog bowl is chewed, the scratches and dents trap particles of food and saliva which aren't easy to clean off properly. Plastic bowls are also light and your puppy is likely to push them all over the kitchen floor, slopping food and water everywhere.
SPECIAL BREED SPECIFIC BOWLS
There are special dog bowls available to suit the differing requirements of some dog breeds. These are a couple of choices -
- Raised Dog Bowls
Large and giant breeds often benefit from having their feeding dishes raised above ground level. This reduces the strain on their growing joints from bending down at mealtimes. It also helps their digestive systems and aids in the prevention of bloat. Many different designs of elevated feeders are available. - Narrow Rims
Some dog bowls are designed with especially narrow rims to help dogs and puppies from breeds such as the Basset Hound, Beagle and some Spaniels. The reason for this is that these dogs long, droopy ears tend to get 'dipped' into regular dog bowls - with obviously unattractive results
Dog beds
Little Fifi will need somewhere to sleep that is all her own. Even if you decide to let her sleep on your bed, the sofa or whatever, there will still be times when she'll need her own little sleeping area.
There's a whole bunch of choices (as always) and a rainbow of different colors, fabrics etc. The kind of beds that are filled with poly-beads are the easiest to wash (you'll find this will become a very important issue). Some even come with removable outer covers which makes the job even easier.
Foam filling tends to encourage more chewing, although don't expect your puppy not to chew on her bed, puppies chew that's all there is to it. Foam can be very bad for your little one if he or she decides to actually swallow it.
Cedar chippings smell good and are a natural flea repellent. Obviously they're not washable though which is a drawback. If Fifi piddles on her cedar filled bed, or vomits or anything else like that, you'll most likely have to buy a new bed.
Wicker, wooden or even foam-sided beds look adorable, but may be best left until that little furball is a bit older and less inclined to chew on everything in sight.
Slightly padded, sheepskin crate pads make good puppy beds. They're comfortable, washable and portable. It's not advisable to use them actually inside the crate while Fifi is small though. If confined to the crate with anything remotely forbidden as a chew toy she'll most likely destroy it!
As with the dog bowls, in this category of dog products (no matter which design of dog bed you choose), it may pay to buy more than one.That way you can have a bed in the kitchen and one in the living room too. It saves you having to drag it from room to room and Fifi will always know where her 'bed' is (you can even put one in the bedroom if she's allowed in there but not allowed on your bed).
You can find out how to encourage Fifi to use her bed and learn to stay there quietly
It can be so much fun to pick out equipment and accessories for your new puppy!So, take your time and look around at all the different dog product options. Your local pet superstore will have a lot of choices for you and so will the web. You can find basic, deluxe, designer and many unique dog products.
You're only limited by your personal taste and budget - so go on have some fun!
Toys are really fun things to choose, so learn about all the wonderful toys that Fifi can own! If you have a large breed puppy, or a 'power chewer' of any size, take a look at our great selection of recommended Indestructable Dog Toys
You can even find out about dog products used for grooming here.
Natural Health Products
Dog Toys
Indestructable Dog Toys
Pink Leather Dog Collars
Cool Dog Collars
Training Dog Collars
Small Dog Accessories
Buying Puppy Supplies Online
Puppy Gifts
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