Getting New Pup - What to buy??

Hi all,

We are getting a new puppy (4-5 months) on Sat. I want to prepare for her arrival. What do we need to buy and approx how much does the item go for? Any suggestions on stores will be helpful too!

Thanks!!

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

If you intend on crating, it can be anywhere between $30-$150 for a crate. Toys are essential but be careful of what you are buying. Toys that have items that can easily come off or become a choking/ingestion issue should be seriously considered. I try to stay away from the 'hard' plastic toys because my younger dogs chew up and eat the small pieces. The more flexible plastic (that easly bends and flexes) is pretty durable. These toys are pretty inexpensive ($0.99 to $7.99). Strong feeding bowls (something perhaps chew proof), a water bottle and holder, a leash/collar w/identity tags are essential (in case they run away, get lost). A solid based puppy food. IAMS, Science Diet are pretty good but can be costly. That should really be about it for awhile. What's going to really cost is the vet exams and follow ups for shots. Those can range in the $100's (depending on the services - spay/neuter/shots, etc.). I get all of my pet needs at Pet Supplies Plus. They seem pretty cheap compared to the other retailers. Good luck!

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

you need a crate
wee wee pads if its a small breed
chew toys
bed
collar
ID tag
leash
sweaters if its a small breed.. its getting cold out there!



ambersmom.. dont you know IAMS & Science Diet are the WORST foods for dogs?!?!?! (especially sd)... Wellness and Innova are the best foods for dogs

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

Thanks for all the help! The breeder has the dog on Purina Pro so I am going to stick with that for a while.

I should take the dog to the vet after I get it .. at least that's what I'm told... Any suggestions? I don't know any vets either. I'm pretty new to this!

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

what breed are you getting?

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

I'm getting a bichon frise

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

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Posted by lolita4life




ambersmom.. dont you know IAMS & Science Diet are the WORST foods for dogs?!?!?! (especially sd)... Wellness and Innova are the best foods for dogs

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Lolita, why do you think these two foods are bad? I've heard from both our vet and our breeder that IAMS and Science Diet are actually two of the most popular foods they recommend - our breeder even sent us home with a trial package of Iams. The ingredients are natural and our pup digests it very well. (i.e. easy pickup!) Just curious why you think these are so bad? :) Thanks!

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

If I could throw my 2 cents in: the vet told me that Science Diet is good, but the breeder said it's bad. The breeder said that a vet is like a general practitioner; they can give you basic diet advice but they're not nutritionists.

Whole Dog journal does reviews of dog foods, and they listed Science Diet as one of the worst (adult formula anyway). My breeder recommended Eukanuba to start out, but she calls is junk food. She said puppies like it because it tastes good, not because it IS good for them, just like kids like to eat junk food vs. healthy food. I'm looking into other alternatives for food now that Bama is 4 months old.
I would recommend you subscribe to Whole Dog journal. There's a lot of good info. Click here

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

IAMS isnt as bad as Sceince Diet.... my breeder for Luk sent me home with IAMS.... Eukenuba for Tink.....
but its not the best

BUT Science Diet is bad stuff. I thought it was common knowledge. I posted a while ago a link on why it was bad....

a good dog food has a MEAT as a first ingredient.. SD is seriously bad stuff. its like you eating McDonalds everyday. I will try to find the link again.

If you want the best for your dog you wont feed them Science Diet... its not going to KILL them, but its not 'good' for them either.....
I.E. my dogs eat CAT food! i know thats not good.. its got too much protien, but i spoil them. Tink eats healthy when pregnant and while nursing and the pups i put on good foods too.. and they will never TOUCH Science Diet

ETA THIS has good info

THIS is also good general ifo

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

people need to learn how to read ingredients and know what they mean...

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

Thanks lolita,
this is all very informative and educational - as a new pet owner, I'm still doing a lot of research and obviously there's a lot I still have to learn! Reading labels and understanding ingredients is actually something DH and I are just learning now, as this is our first pet. Thanks for the info and for sharing your experience with these foods!

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

As per the vet, an extremely reputable breeder, and her trainer, I have been giving my puppy science diet since we took her home (6 months ago) and she is healthy as a horse. I know how to read ingredients very well and am raising a healthy puppy. I'm sure there might be other foods out there just as good or better, but FYI - science diet is not akin to McDonalds.

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

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Posted by jcndd

As per the vet, an extremely reputable breeder, and her trainer, I have been giving my puppy science diet since we took her home (6 months ago) and she is healthy as a horse. I know how to read ingredients very well and am raising a healthy puppy. I'm sure there might be other foods out there just as good or better, but FYI - science diet is not akin to McDonalds.

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The first ingredient in a GOOD dog food should be meat (beef, chicken, lamb, etc.). In Science Diet, the first ingredient is corn meal. The second is chicken by-product (chicken by-products consist of the rendered, clean parts of the carcass of slaughtered chicken, such as necks, beaks, feet, undeveloped eggs, and intestines). It also contains animal fats. Does that sound good to you? Dogs don't digest corn very well. Bama has the smelliest poo from that stuff, plus bad gas. We'll be switching him over to a different, more natural food soon.

It's perfectly fine to feed Science Diet to your dog, but it's not the best thing. And don't believe everything a vet or breeder tells you.....

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

My puppy was on eukanuba for the first month..he had the SMELLIEST grosses softst poop and he kept trying to eat it! He wasn't digesting ti well apparently..

Now he's on Innova and doing very well.

My cats are on science diet b/c they need to be b/c of medical problems.

My yorkie eats chicken soup for the dog lover's soul food, and she loves it., and seems to be doing very well on it

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

My dog does not have gas or foul smelling feces. I choose to trust my vet just as I choose to trust my doctor. To each his own.

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

I would never feed my dog anything like Iams or Science Diet.

Both my dog AND my cat get Wellness/Old Mother Hubbard brand... not only is this made with mostly meat- it is human grade meat- better than parts of animal that could potentially carry nervous system diseases.

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

im not going to preach about Science Diet... youre obviously very defensive on this.... just learn how to read the labels.... Bamas mom said it best...

Butterfly.... it takes awhile to figure everything out.. owning a dog is like a constant learning experience.... hey, did i tell you im naming one of teh puppies Smeagel!

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

If I'm coming off as defensive that is not my intention... All I am trying to say is, find a vet you trust and listen to him/her as you would YOUR OWN doctor or your child's pediatrician. That is what they're there for - to listen to. If YOUR vet says that a specific food is not right for your pet go with what they recommend. Just like people, all pet foods are not the same for each pet. - but just an FYI to those who ARE preaching....the 1st 2 ingredients in MY science diet are water & chicken. Not sure which cans you're reading.... JMO

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

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Posted by jcndd

..the 1st 2 ingredients in MY science diet are water & chicken. Not sure which cans you're reading.... JMO

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Not to beat this horse to death, but I was referring to Science Diet large breed for puppies (dry kibble). I have it at home and read those ingredients right from the bag. So it sounds like your canned food is at least better but the first ingredient is water, which is what the food has the highest concentration of. So to me it means that water is a filler. I'd question whether or not this food has the proper nutrients in it.

If you want, I'll e-mail Whole Dog Journal (I'm a subsriber) and ask them for a list of the best canned foods for dogs (they do a survey).

Dogs have relatively short lifespans, so for me it's important to feed Bama the best diet possible.
Hope that helps!

Re: Getting New Pup - What to buy??

Anniegrl,
Will you please email the Whole Dog Journal and post the best canned, dry and puppy food? I'm really concerned about what to feed little Satchmo. I want to start him out right.