Basic Supplies

Dish Ware
We recommend stainless steel, glass, or ceramic food and water bowls. Avoid plastic containers; toxins in the plastic and the porous material encourage bacterial build up.

Food
We recommend high quality, dry dog food twice a day for adult dogs. Young puppies should start out with frequent meals (3-4) and eventually move to two meals a day. Usually, by 4 months of age, a puppy can begin eating twice a day. Read the label of your chosen dog food for serving sizes. (Keep in mind that dog food companies are in the business of selling dog food! You might want to feed your dog slightly less then the recommendation on the label.) If you are going to change the brand of food, slowly change it over 1 to 2 weeks. The weaning process should look something like this:

First few days: 1 part new food, 3 parts old food Next few days: half new food, half old food
Final few days: 1 part old food, 3 parts new food. This will allow your dog’s system to adjust to the new brand. If they should vomit or have diarrhea, go back to the original brand.

Wet food should only be used in situations where your dog needs to gain weight or to encourage eating. If the wet food is simply being used to encourage eating, mix a small amount of wet food into the dry food at each meal. Gradually stop adding the wet food. You can add water to the dry food to moisten it up and bring out flavor as you wean the wet food out. Once you have a healthy, eating dog, there is no need for wet food.

As your dog ages and gets into his geriatric years, you will need to switch him to a senior food that is specially formulated to be low in fat and salt for a healthy heart, lower in calories to help combat obesity since they are less active, lower in protein to help the kidneys and liver, and higher in fiber for the bowels to prevent constipation.

Water
Your dog should always have access to fresh water – changed at least 2 times a day. We recommend filtered, purified, or bottled water. Dogs, like humans, are impacted when impurities and toxins are found in their drinking water.

Places to Sleep
Every dog needs to have at least one bed. If you have enough room, you can have a bed in the bedroom where you sleep and in the main room where you spend most of your time. If your dog has his own bed, he is less likely to want to sleep on the furniture or in bed. A dog’s bed is a source of comfort. If he is going to be in a strange environment, you should try to take his bed.

Leashes & Collars
Dogs should have a buckle collar that has an id tag. You should be able to put two fingers between the collar and the dog’s neck. If it’s too tight, you may end up choking the dog; if it’s too loose the dog can slip out. Make sure your dog’s collar is fit properly at all times. There are a variety of training collars on the market. Consult your vet or a trainer to see if a training collar such as a Gentle Leader or a Martingale Collar is right for your dog.

The leash should be 4 to 6 feet long so that you can retain control of the dog. Retractable leashes are not recommended as they do not give you as much control over your dog. In public, your dog should be on a leash at all times. Even the best trained dogs, can be scared and run out into traffic. If you have a fenced in yard, obviously your dog can be off leash but you need to make sure the gate or door is closed at all times and there are no gaps in the fence so the dog cannot run out.

Toys
Toys are a great way to provide your dog with the mental and physical stimulation that make for a happier and healthier pet. There are a variety of different toys available today. You will need to experiment with a variety of toys to discover your dog’s preference. Kong brand toys and other toys that involve a mental challenge are highly recommended . A Kong is a hollow toy that you fill with treats and top of with a dollop of peanut butter. (There are even Kong recipes online!) Your dog has to lick away the peanut butter and bat the Kong around so that the treats inside fall out. You can even freeze the Kong for a longer activity. Kongs are a great mental challenge for your dog and can keep him occupied for a long time depending on how much of a “Kong expert” they are/become.

If your dog enjoys tearing apart toys, make sure he does not get to the “squeaker” that is often inside a toy. Your dog can choke on the squeaker. Be cautious of what toys you leave in the dogs crate while you are away as well. Rope toys, or toys that don’t have any part a dog can swallow, are best.