Puppy Essentials

You’ll need to go shopping before you bring your puppy home. There are many, many adorable and tempting items at pet supply stores, but these are the basics.

• Food and water dishes. Look for bowls that are wide and low or weighted in the bottom so they will be harder to tip over. Sturdy crock bowls are very good for JRTs. They are easy to clean (plastic never gets completely clean), difficult to tip over, and tough for your puppy to pick up and carry off to who-knows-where. Avoid bowls that place the food and water side by side in one unit—it’s too easy for your dog to get his water dirty that way.

• Leash. A six-foot leather leash will be easy on your hands and very strong.

• Collar. Start with a nylon buckle collar. For a perfect fit, you should be able to insert two fingers between the collar and your pup’s neck. Your dog will need larger collars as he grows up.

• Crate. Choose a sturdy crate that is easy to clean and large enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down in.

• Nail cutters. Get a good, sharp pair that are the appropriate size for the nails you will be cutting. Your dog’s breeder or veterinarian can give you some guidance here.

• Grooming tools. Different kinds of dogs need different kinds of grooming tools. See chapter 7 for advice on what to buy.

• Chew toys. Dogs must chew, especially puppies. Make sure you get things that won’t break or crumble off in little bits, which the dog can choke on. Very hard plastic bones are a good choice. Dogs love rawhide bones, too, but pieces of the rawhide can get caught in your dog’s throat, so they should only be allowed when you are there to supervise.

• Toys. Watch for sharp edges and unsafe items such as plastic eyes that can be swallowed. Many toys come with squeakers, which dogs can also tear out and swallow. All dogs will eventually destroy their toys; as each toy is torn apart, replace it with a new one.