Puppy Essentials

You’ll need to go shopping before you bring your puppy home. There
are many, many adorable and tempting items at pet supply stores, but
these are the basics.
• Food and water dishes. Look for bowls that are wide and low or
weighted in the bottom so they will be harder to tip over. Stainless
steel bowls are a good choice because they are easy to clean (plastic
never gets completely clean) and almost impossible to break.
Avoid bowls that place the food and water side by side in one
unit—it’s too easy for your dog to get his water dirty that way.
• Leash. A six-foot leather leash will be easy on your hands and very
strong.
• Collar. Start with a nylon buckle collar. For a perfect fit, you should
be able to insert two fingers between the collar and your pup’s
neck. Your dog will need larger collars as he grows up.
• Crate. Choose a sturdy crate that is easy to clean and large enough
for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down in. You will
need either a large crate that can be sectioned off for while your
puppy is small or you’ll need to get a couple of different crates as
he grows up.
• Nail cutters. Get a good, sharp pair that are the appropriate size
for the nails you will be cutting. A large pair of scissors-type clippers
work well for German Shepherds, but your dog’s breeder or veterinarian
can also give you some guidance here.
• Grooming tools. Different kinds of dogs need different kinds of
grooming tools. See chapter 7 for advice on what to buy.
• Chew toys. Dogs must chew, especially puppies. Make sure you
get things that won’t break or crumble off in little bits, which the
dog can choke on. Very hard rubber bones are a good choice. Dogs
love rawhide bones, too, but pieces of the rawhide can get caught
in your dog’s throat, so they should be allowed only when you are
there to supervise. Chew toys must be large enough that the dog
cannot inadvertently swallow them.
• Toys.Watch for sharp edges and unsafe items such as plastic eyes that
can be swallowed. Many toys come with squeakers, which dogs can
also tear out and swallow. The toys, including balls, should be large
enough so the dog cannot choke on them. All dogs will eventually
destroy their toys; as each toy is torn apart, replace it with a new one