Felleiter has found that many dogs prefer a bed with a rim or lip on which they can rest their head. If you have a long-haired dog you should buy a bed that is not too fluffy, as it could get too warm.
“Above all, the bed should be easy to clean,” the expert says. The bed should also be at least as wide as the dog’s shoulder height. For length, add another 50 per cent to the dog’s shoulder height.
Felleiter recommends ceramic food and water bowls, as these are easy to clean. Plastic bowls are also OK, but steer clear of aluminium – particularly if you have a shelter dog.
“Many are afraid of the noise the bowl makes when it is moved, and the [reflective surface] can also be worrying for them.” Placing an absorbent bath mat underneath the bowls will stop them from moving and save you time cleaning up when there is spillage.
“Don’t buy any expensive leather items when you bring a puppy into your home. Puppies chew on everything and they will break quickly,” Felleiter says of things like leashes.
Instead, use a nylon lead between two and three metres (6½ to 10 feet) long that is easy to grip, and an inexpensive, adjustable harness and collar. If you have adopted a shelter dog, get a safety harness that the animal cannot get out of, as well as a normal harness and collar.
Puppies love toys, especially chewy ones. “It’s a good idea to have two or three differently textured things at hand,” says Felleiter. “This could be a hard rubber toy, a knotted rope and a chew [stick].”
Plush toys are not recommended because your new pet will probably destroy them right away.
If your new dog is from a shelter, finding toys they enjoy might be a bit more tricky. “These dogs are very often not interested in toys at all,” says Felleiter. “They get the most pleasure from things they may already know.”
When it comes to car travel, Felleiter recommends a dog car crate that can be secured to a seat, or a box for the back of the car, in the boot.
Crates should never be made of fabric. “Suitable materials are wire or aluminium.” For large dogs, a partition between the front and back seats might help.
The dog trainer says a set of tick tweezers, to remove bloodsucking ticks from fur, and a towel would be handy to keep in the car for post-walk clean-ups.
This is because you want to be covered in the event of a claim for bodily injury or property damage, and because even minor operations can prove expensive.
