Dog advice

~daisy~_2

katy the rescue is in west yorks and we are in beds. - its just a volunteer that has offered to do the check and have read they are always there for advice etc and want you to give the dog back to them if things dont work out

~daisy~_2

well think it went ok - had already seen a list of questions online and she basically just went through them and offered alot of her experiences and advice then just took alook in the garden
obviously she couldnt say anything either way as she doesnt work for the rescue but she seemed pretty postitive

hoping to hear something soon

con1888

Good luck, I had my home check on Sunday too and now just a waiting game for a dog that suits my circumstances

~daisy~_2

yaay we passed

have seen a lurcher we like and have been chatting with foster mum all day - currently trying to arrange to go and visit - happy days !!

rising_from_the_ashes

Ohhhh how exciting Daisy ...... waiting for the pics already!

~daisy~_2

So we had our visit yesterday and all went very well !! We'd love to welcome her into our family - just waiting to hear back from rescue lady

So on that note - please help me compile a shopping list of essentials for first time owners

krlyr

Trying to think what I've got..
- bed
- bowls
- variety of toys (soft toys/teddies, rope toys, balls, squeaky toys)
- Kongs for putting breakfast/dinner/little treats in
- lead (I recommend the Halti double-ended training leads, they're fab and not that expensive)
- collar
- ID tag (must have your name, address & telephone number on, additional details can include medical info, vet details, alternative phone numbers, "neutered and microchipped" etc.)
- harness
- longline for walks where recall isn't foolproof (e.g. near livestock), remember to always use a harness rather than a collar with a longline
- gloves for you to wear when using a longline!
- headcollar if needed (I like the Dogmatic brand)
- whistle for training whistle recall
- clicker & treatbag for taking titbit treats out for training
- treats, I prefer sticking to more natural brands, e.g. the Natures Menu treats, or baking my own
- chews, I go for natural ones, e.g. Antlers, cows ears, pizzle sticks, etc. - Zooplus is fab for these
- muzzle, if necessary (even a friendly dog may need muzzling at the vets, it's a good idea to have a well-fitting one and introduce it very slowly so the dog is used to it in emergencies). Basket muzzles, e.g. Baskerville ones, are better - fabric muzzles should only ever be used short-term e.g. a vet visit, but dogs can still nip with them on. Basket muzzles can be used during walks or left on (with supervision) e.g. if you're dropping your dog at the vet and he needs to be muzzled while taken out the back to be sedated
- first aid kit, mine contains bandages, scissors, wound pads, cleansing wipes, tweezers, Hibiscrub, antihistamines (e.g. in the case of an adder bite), Infacol (can save a dog's life in a case of bloat to ease symptoms while you get to an emergency vet), to name a few things
- car safety stuff, I've gone for custom-made guards and a Hatchbag to keep it clean, though there are cheaper options, e.g. general car crates. I also have an old blanket in there for them to lay on
- a non-spill bowl for in the car, or a travel bowl (I have a fabric one that folds down to fit in your pocket when not in use), I tend to keep a bottle of water in the car too for emergencies
- nail clippers may be necessary, especially if you don't do much walking on pavements
- dog shampoo
- brushes, the type will depend on the dog's fur
- poo bags (cheap nappy bags can be an MSE alternative!)
- reflective collar/coat/harness for nighttime walks, a bonus if it has flashing lights for letting them off-lead in a dark park

That's all I can think of at the moment, though I'm sure there's more! You might not necessarily need everything on that list, e.g. longline might not be needed if recall is good, you might not need to clip its nails, and so on.
Poundshops can be great places to get lots of this stuff cheap, though I don't skimp on safety equipment, e.g. collars, leads, car guards, etc. as a poorly made one could be the difference between life and death for my dogs.
Zooplus is a great online shop and often has deals or sales on, and discounts for new customers/bulk purchases.

Person_one

Don't go out and buy everything before the dog arrives though!

lina_jek

HI,
Thanks for the advice, this is important.please share your more advice with me........
Thanks ones again..........

westie77

Good luck with your new arrival. Dog bed, leads and bowls are the essentials for when he or she arrives. The rest you can buy as you need things. I've never had a dog that's needed a muzzle.