Essential Doggie Care Items That Should Make Your Top Ten List

Just as people have certain basic items they need for life, so do dogs. Dogs need many things but making their top ten list includes dog food, a collar, a pet identification tag, bowls for eating, a dog kennel or crate, a dog house, a dog rug or bed, toys, chews and bones and number ten is treats. Let's take a closer look at the top ten list.

Healthy food is necessary for life and as a rule of thumb whatever food your puppy started his life eating, allow him to continue to eat the same kind. If you decide to change it for some reason do it as gradually as possible. One hint would be to combine some of the old and new brands together to help his developing digestive system adjust accordingly. Keep in mind that the higher quality dog food you buy for your dog the healthier he should be.

A collar is a must in terms of walking your puppy, keeping him well supervised and also for identification purposes. The best type to get for puppies is an adjustable puppy collar because the collar increases on a gradual basis as your puppy grows in size. As far as grown dogs are concerned, a buckle collar is the best in terms of proper identification. It should be "tight enough not to slip over the dog's head, but loose enough to put a few fingers through."� You don't want to choke your dog so aim for comfort but you don't want to lose him either.

A pet ID tag is one of the simplest ways to keep your dog safe and to ensure he or she is returned to you in the event that he gets lost. Make sure the ID tag includes the puppy or dog's name and your name, address and phone number. Most veterinarian hospitals and pet stores provide order forms for pet identification tags so they are not difficult to come by. Another option that is pricier is to have your dog implanted with either a traceable ID microchip or have him or her tattooed. Your veterinarian can do this simple procedure. Then your dog will be entered into a national registry and in the event that he goes missing, he should be easy to track down.

All dogs should have two bowls, one that is used for water and the other for food. Fresh, clean water is a necessity for dogs at all times and non-slip bowls that have flat bottoms are the best for this purpose otherwise the puppy or dog might tip it over. Stainless steel bowls are the best choices as they are easier to clean and some adventurous puppies enjoy sinking their teeth into bowls made out of plastic material.

While not an absolute necessity, some dog owners like to keep their puppies in a kennel or indoor crate while they are away from home in order to help train them better and so they don't have to worry that the puppy will harm itself when left to its own devices. It is important that your puppy doesn't feel too cramped or confined in the crate or kennel and still is able to stand up, turn around and comfortably lie down.

It is not advisable to stick your dog out in the back yard all of the time by himself but occasionally is fine and many dogs enjoy being able to be outside in the fresh air. Backyard time calls for a decent sized doghouse. If you have a puppy keep in mind how big he will grow to be when designing or buying a doghouse. However don't make the doghouse too large or the dog may have a problem keeping warm during the winter months.

A dog's coat has oils on it that can stain your carpets and furniture. Buy your dog a comfy bed, rug or pad and lay it in a spot where he will use it. Encourage him to use it to nap on instead of your couch or favorite chair.

Toys are great fun for dogs and can make excellent playmates when you are not around. Dogs enjoy squeaky toys, tug toys, and hard rubber toys such as rubber balls that they can fetch. Be careful when buying toys for your dog that there is nothing that they can rip or bit off that can come off in their mouth and end up being swallowed. In the worst case scenario the dog could require surgery or his stomach needing to be pumped. There are instances where swallowing a piece off of a dog toy has proved fatal for dogs.

Chews are a must for your puppy as he is cutting new teeth and wants to bite down on something. If you don't provide chew toys your puppy is likely to start chewing on your furniture! The safest for puppies are hard rubber toys. Adult dogs are likely to enjoy chewing on a bone and some make a game out of it by burying them in the backyard to dig up at a later date.

Treats and goodies are ways to reward your puppy or dog for good behavior. Most dogs come to associate a treat with this purpose. Buy the most nourishing kind of treats you can but don't make "treating"� too much of a habit or your puppy or dog could end up with unwanted extra pounds on his or her body.