Pet supply "Essentials" and "Not so essentials" for Molly The Cute Beagle

My husband likes to joke about how much I spent on pet supplies before we even had Molly The Cute Beagle. In my defence, it is awfully difficult to go into the pet store and know what you need to buy and what you could really do without. So without further ado, here's a list of the items I bought before we ever even got Molly, broken out into "Essentials" and "Not so essentials".

The Essentials:

Crate - Not having ever had an inside dog, I had not ever owned a crate. At first, I felt a bit hesitant about crates, but after doing some internet research on the subject, I figured we would give it a try. At first Molly was not too pleased about the crate, but now she really does view it as her den and will go in of her own accord when she wants some personal space. I am sure many people have varying opinions on crates, so I'd love to hear your perspective.

Dog food - Duh. Obviously this is a must.  The breeder where we got Molly suggested a particular brand, so we stuck with that until recently. We still use the same basic brand, but a small snafu on my part meant a switch to a different type. We often times think Molly must be part pig the way she snorts her food down. Serious snorting!

Dog food and water bowl - I would have forgotten this had I not walked down the bowl aisle in the store. You'll figure out pretty quickly that you need some though if you do forget.

Collar - Molly has always had a black collar. I guess I am a bigger fan of color coordination than girliness. I'd recommend getting a collar before you get your puppy because you certainly don't want them darting before you even get them home. Also be sure to get the right size for the dog you are getting. Molly made it with her small collar for about 6-8 months and is now on the next size up. You should use caution and may want to use a break-away collar whenever your dog is playing with others to help avoid injuries.

Static length leash - We went with the 6' leash. Once you get a bit more into obedience training and all that jazz, you will learn a well-trained dog should walk by your side. Molly is a well trained dog in progress, so a short leash helps remind her not to stray too far.

Dog bed - Maybe these aren't really essential, but I'll put them in this category based on how much Molly likes hers.

Poo bags - Your neighbors will appreciate this one if you have a flat, open yard like we do. I encourage the biodegradable kind because you end up going through quite a bit of them.

Puppy shampoo - I am partial to the baby powder scent.

Flea and Tick Control, Heart worm Medicine - You'll need it, but I'd recommend talking to your vet first about what type is best for your pet.


Toys - A few chew toys come in handy. While Molly also loved some of her stuffed toys when she was little, she ultimately tore them up and ate the stuffing. This resulted in some not so pleasant upset stomachs that required lots of cleaning and extra use of the previous list items. Sorry for the yucky truth, but really you should think about this in advance of buying many stuffed toys.



Molly The Cute Beagle in her bed with her stuffed frog and severed tiger leg

The not so essentials:

Pee pads and a pee pad holder - These sounded good in theory, but Molly just ended up trying to eat them and never used them for their real purpose.



Nail clippers - I bought some, but now I am hesitant to use them myself for fear of cutting the quick. We take Molly to the groomer ever 6 weeks or so and let them do it, so I should have just saved my money.

Retractable leash - Ended up being more difficult than it was useful. It also probably didn't help that Molly pulled it off a table and chewed it up after a couple of months.



 Treats - I once read that treats are more to make the owner feel good than make the dog feel good. Many of them seem to be filled with junk, so if you do buy some, try to find treats that are actually healthy for your pet. Molly the cute beagle LOVES ice and pieces of dog food as her treats.

 

Beagle book - Made for interesting reading on the drive to get Molly The Cute Beagle, but ultimately it didn't have much information I couldn't have gotten for free on the internet or from a library.