What are the essential dog things i need to get?

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hi,

hopefully bringing home our new dog next week (rescue staffie cross).

What are the essential things I need to get before we bring her home?

never owned a dog before

thanks

Pet insurance (NOT E&L)
Bed
Bowls
Register at vet
Lead
collar

Leash
Collar (I saw your post about her pulling a harness might give you more control)
i.d tag
Local vet details
Kong
Nyla Bones
Good quality dog food
Water Bowl
Food Bowl
Bed or Crate
Details for local training class
Good wellies
Warm waterproof coat

Also dog guard or seat belt.

Find out the food they are on and get some of it, even if it is poor quality. You may want to switch to a better quality food but do so gradually.

A ball/toys - don't get a lot until you find out what they like.

Possibly a dog crate - you will need to think about where the dog will sleep at night and go when you are out. Some dogs are fine in the house, some like a crate.

Poo bags for walks.

Look out old towels for after walks when it is mucky.

Some chews - again not many but a few different types til you know what they like.

A dog training book.

Collar/Harness
Lead
Kong
Indestructible chew ring
Treats to stick in kong
Crate and bedding

Clicker
Treats - cheese
vet bed
collar
lead
food
food/water bowl
crate
kong
toys - chew toys tuggy toys

Books
Complete idiots guide positive guide to dog training Pauline Dennison (not saying you are just great book!)
culture clash Jean Donaldson
dont shoot the dog Karen pryor

For you
Waterproof warm coat
warm socks
warm wellies/boots!

thanks for the replies

what is a kong?

I will ask about what food they feed her.

I was hoping not to have a crate- was planning on putting her bed in the big space under the stairs in the hall which would mean I could shut doors of sitting room etc

Have been told today that she totally obliterates any toys. I saw the evidence myself with a tennis ball she destroyed. She seemed to equally love me throwing it to her as she did tearing it apart. Bit worried she was eating some of it.

For the car- is it not ok to just have a dog in the boot? You need some harness or crate in the car?

minimu- thanks for the books- will go to the library tomorrow.

I think legally you have to have some sort of dog guard between the boot and the rest of the car or a car harness. I think the idea is that the dog could distract you while you are driving otherwise.

It is not pleasant to think of but they would also be a danger to themselves and others in the car if there was a bump and they were not restrained at all.
A Kong is a rubber ball that is sort of light bulb shaped and hollow. You can fill it with Kong filler or soft cheese or dog food etc and give it to the dog to gnaw on. You get ones that are very strong for dogs that like to destroy their toys. It should take them a while to get the filling out of the Kong so it keeps them amused for a while. The licking action is also very comforting for them.
We don't use a crate, our dog also has a bed under the stairs (he chose the spot) as well as one in the kitchen. When I go out I leave the radio on for him so it is not too quiet as he gets jumpy if it is really quiet. We shut the door to the lounge but he opens it and sneaks up on the sofa to look out of the window while we are out. When we came home today he was curled up sound asleep on the sofa.

Lots of poo bags

Don't forget to check that your garden is dog-secure.

Forgot to say congratulations!

Sorry, thought of something else - identity tags for her collar. Needs your name, address (including postcode) and tel number.

They do an extra strength kong for staffies and other breeds with strong jaws. I met a staffie owner in Pets at Home who told me that black kongs are the only toy his dog is unable to destroy!

Second the black kong for staffies. Mine destroyed the red one in 2 hours

Oh and stick it in the freezer once stuffed....lasts a lot longer!

ok thanks for the kong info.

I guess that any kids toys that she finds will also get destroyed? Do kids become tidier when they have a dog in the house?! [hopeful emoticon]

yes! My dc have learn if not to be tidier then at least to confine their toys/mess to upstairs.

If you don't want the dog upstairs then a stair gate is useful too.

I would absolutely recommend having a dog guard in the car. Friend of my mother's didn't have one, dog leapt over into the passengers seat with paws up on the driver, she (whilst madly tying to get the dog off) pressed the accelerator instead of the brake and drove the front wheels of the car over the edge of the harbour wall. Good 20m drop. She has a dog guard now

Yikes! That is a seriously scary story Slubber - makes a good point though.

The black Kong is practically indestructible, even our Rottie has barely made an impact on it and he's a big strong boy who loves chewing. One of the few other toys he hasn't been able to completely destroy is this one, most things get enthusastically pulled to bits very quickly. The Cuz squeaky toys are also good, the 'feet' and similar bits get chewed off easily but the rest is very tough!

A couple of things I've not spotted in the other lists:

make sure you've got good, big doormats (eg Turtle mats)

Pet-odour removing carpet cleaner - a new dog is very likely to have the odd accident till she learns where to go for a wee. Best be prepared!

this in the adult one or it's something very similar

And also this is doing it's job

thanks for the links- a whole new shopping experience is waiting for me! Pets at Home seem pretty good for everything...

Grimma- we have wood floor downstairs so not so bad with accidents (tested by DS2 whilst potty training). However will get scratched to pieces no doubt. And have just got out the loft the stair gate.

Slubber- really hoping DC will get the 'tidy your toys or dog will eat' thing quickly!

Another tip...my dog is a staffy x and I would say do not spend a fortune on a bed!!!!

We have a shop that sells alsorts of things and they sell dog bed for £5. We have been through 6 since October!!! 2 in the last 2 weeks!

We managed to train our chewer only to chew his things and plastic bottles (we run out of chewers often, so he is allowed bottles).

There will be a positive way to do it, which Midori will know, but my dog is not reward orientated and if he is we are yet to find a reward exciting enough. We gave him a quick quirt with a water bottle when he went near anything that wasn't his and as soon as he left it he was given a treat and his own toys.

It's also useful to teach 'leave it' and 'drop it' very early. The books mentioned on here will teach you how to do that, I'm sure.

My dc can leave their toys now and the dogs stay away.

We also have wood flooring and it's surviving just fine, even with two of them chasing each other around and play fighting on it.

I'd second the harness,a puller will put a lot of strain on their neck.

Also second not spending alot on a bed! My Staff has gotten through numerous beds since we got her a year ago! She is a pup though.

Big door mats are agood idea too, I'm forever mopping up big muddy paw prints from my floors!

Good luck! You'll never want another breed again! Staffs have a special way of working their way into your heart