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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. Buying a new dog is more than simply finding the cutest puppy in the store and buying a bag of dog food. Getting a new dog is almost like having a new 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.

Walking into a pet store without any prior information as to what you really need will just confuse you more and waste your money. 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. There are only a few essential things you should get 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.

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

Speaking of collars, I recommend getting a training collar, the most popular of which are the choke chain and the German pinch collar. 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. 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 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. 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 three leashes of different lengths, to be used for walking and training the dog. This is another thing you'll need that dog book for. It will explain to you how to use these different leashes in training.

Chew toys, chew toys, and more chew toys. Dogs, especially puppies, need to exercise their gums regularly, 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! 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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