Getting dog tomorrow! What are the essentials?

[Pisky]

Hi All,

Well having moved house and settled in we have been in contact with the local animal rescue and found a lovely dog to adopt.

He came round to visit on Saturday and for them to do a homecheck and is coming to live tomorrow evening.:)

I have a list with recommendations what to get, and will get all over the next few weeks but which are the essentials to start with as got limited shops near by.

He currently sleeps in a crate but how do we know what size to get? He is a 10 month small collie x (15" to shoulder). Some website say a 30" (which would fit nicely in our porch) and some say a 36" (which would have to go elsewhere) . Would there be any probs getting the smaller one if he is used to the slightly bigger size? They think he is about fully grown and his feet certainly look in proportion to him not big like a puppy with lots of growing left to do.

Thanks!

Thats lovely you have got a rescue dog and your family must be pretty excited too.
We always take rescue dogs, and have had a collie before(current dogs lab x coliie and a husky x staghound) they are wonderful faithful, clever dogs.
You can get a lot of stuff on the net, so research you essentials before buying the bulk.
If it is used to a crate definitely get the bigger one as if he does grow(still a possibility at 10 months) you wont need to upgrade and buy again.
You will need a name tag, collar & lead, age appropriate biscuits,( mine are for active dogs & large breed), buy small bag see if he likes them and check what he has been eating. A nice warm blanket too. that would be my basic essentials, easily bought locally.
You will soon need flea treatment & worming tablets, which are normally monthly and 6 -8 weeks respectively, but check the packet to make sure.
I now buy mine online on ebay as it has been much cheaper to do this and have never had a problem, and of course some toys, tennis balls and rope tuggers are great favourites with mine and these are available cheaply anywhere, just chuck away balls when bursts, so they dont eat it.
I buy marrow bones and chicken necks, excellent for teeth and use a bum bag for dog walks, bit naff but it holds, keys, mobile, pooh bags etc and you have your hands free.
Also as you have a collie get a ball thrower, its long and thin with a ball holder at the end and is easy to throw it a good distance. You need to socialise him with other friendly dogs and look into puppy class.
but most of all love and play with him and you will have a friend for life, he will will need daily exercise 30 - 45 minimum and its a great way to exercise and meet people or idle dogs dig large holes in gardens and chew!!
Oh and make sure he is vet checked once a year with his jabs too and maybe look into a petplan, mine have saved me a small fortune in vets bills.
good luck x