I just bought my first dog, a handsome Cavalier King Charles Spaniel named Simon. In doing so, I entered an entirely new consumer demographic: pet owner.

If all goes to plan, I'm looking at 15-plus years of consistent purchases. Leashes, bowls, dog food, treats, canine sports jerseys - Simon is going to be a Giants fan, doggone it - will all make my shopping list.

I did my due diligence, scouring the Web for counsel on what ...