Puppy dogs - they’re cuddly, playful and cute. They expand up to be your very best good friend and closest partner. They’re also A LOT of work.
If you’re ready, you can avoid a lot of the speedbumps many puppy owners run into. You’ll need to get your new doggy set up with a veterinarian, start housebreaking and also have a plan to spend a good amount of time home with them (in the beginning).
You’ll also need to buy some products. Toys, food and a collar are just the start - there is a whole slew of things you can get to make your daily life easier with a new puppy. Here we’ll cover all of them. Also, check out our printable puppy checklist!
We’ll focus on the resources that are crucial to efficiently raise a pup. We’ll also cover essential healthcare you’ll need to give your dog. From then on, most of the products outlined are optional. However, we’d recommend purchasing as much as possible for a simple move into life with your brand-new best friend.
Bringing home a puppy is an extremely inspiring time, and exactly like introducing any new family member, you need to ensure you have all you need to provide your pup with the paw-fect home.
It’s a good idea to buy all of your pup necessities before you bring your fur-baby home so that you don’t have to fret about hurrying to get them, and you can introduce everything to your puppy throughout their socialisation period.
New Puppy Checklist Guide
PUPPY ESSENTIALS:
COLLAR & TAGS
What things to include on your dog's tag
Your doggy will desire a collar to add a business lead and tags to. It is a legal requirement of canines to wear Identification tags.
Your puppy will grow out with their collar quickly, so an adjustable washboard collar with a buckle is sufficient.
Make sure the collar matches paw-fectly:
Not too loose. It ought to be im-paw-sible to slide over your puppy’s mind.
Not too tight. You should be in a position to fit two fingers under their collar.
Their tag must include:
You name
Your address
Most owners also include their contact number, but it isn't a legal requirement.
The tag doesn't need your puppy’s name on, and it is generally advised never to add your puppy’s name with their tag to help prevent theft.
LEADS
Although your pup won’t be going for walkies until they’re fully vaccinated, getting the lead means your puppy can get accustomed to wearing it and you can start lead training.
You should get a good lead of about 2m miss lead training and general use. That is your main business lead so that it should be strong, comfortable to hold, and not overweight. Stable leads are best for proclaiming to offer you control of your puppy and preventing injury to you or your puppy dog.
You can even buy a long-line lead to work with later when you as well as your puppy get started recall training. They are usually several metres long.
Do not use bungee or extendable leads as these encourage tugging and give you little control of your pup. Plus a puppy’s neck is not strong enough to aid a collar and extendable business lead so if indeed they move it can injure their neck and harmed your arm. The line can also cause friction burns for you or your pooch.
CAR RESTRAINTS
Ideally, your puppy will have a crate to move in the car with which keeps them restrained and safe while giving them freedom of movement and space to lay down and relax.
If your car isn’t big enough for a cage, you can purchase car restraints that put on a harness and plug in to the seatbelt. These restraints stop your puppy from wandering and distracting you while generating and also keep them safely tethered if you have a major accident.
BEDDING
All puppies need a foundation, preferably a padded one made from comfortable materials so your doggy can get cosy. Many mattresses are made with machine-washable material so they’re easy to completely clean.
You need to be warned, your pup will most likely chew their bed so maybe don’t buy them the most expensive bed away there!
Puppy’s foundation checklist:
It must be big enough for your puppy to stretch out.
Padded and comfy material.
Flat beds are excellent for pups who prefer to stretch.
Round, raised beds are best for nestling and curling up.
Getting two beds is a paw-some idea. One for in your primary liveable space, and one for their dog house or a tranquil room.
Vetfleece is synthetic sheepskin that’s cosy, soft, and warm but versatile and easy to wash. It’s ideal for crates.
Be sure you get a blanket or a toy that you can rub on your puppy’s mum and littermates so they have a familiar, soothing smell to try their new home.
CRATES
Crates are an im-paw-tent safe space for your dog, just like the way you have your own bedroom. Puppies, especially pet dogs, instinctively seek small enclosed spaces to relax in and feel secure.
Proper cage training helps a pup to self-soothe preventing anxiety, and provides them a silent place to go if indeed they need to relax from everyone. It increases their security and self-confidence, and it aids with housetraining.
Crate training will also mean your pup is utilized to being in their crate and doesn’t think it is tense, which is su-paw ideal for when you travel in concert or any time your pup must be crated, e.g when boarding or if dealing with surgery.
When buying a cage, you need to make sure that:
It’s large enough for your pet to stand in as an adult.
It’s long enough for your dog to lay down and stretch.
The mesh and structure are sturdy.
The mesh is not close together plus they won’t get caught onto it.
If you are dog crate training, remember:
Introduce the dog crate from your puppy’s first day so they can recognise it as their safe space.
Keep the kennel door open the majority of time so your pet knows they’re free to come and go.
Put figures in the far end of the dog crate to encourage young dogs to look inside and play.
If your pup struggles to stay, try adding a Kong filled with Pure or another soothing toy together with those to help them relax.
Gradually introduce crate the perfect time to your puppy, beginning with a couple of seconds and increasing the duration as time passes.
Keep crate time short and don’t overuse the kennel.
Never use the crate as a punishment.
If you overuse the cage or make use of it as punishment, your puppy will begin to hate their crate and not desire to be in it, making them likely to vocalise and get distressed in future situations where you want to crate them.
If you don’t kennel train your pet, you might want to buy an infant gate and offer a calm, accessible room where your dog can go for a few paws-onal space.
BABY GATES
Adding a baby gate into a doorway or hallway to prevent your puppy from having the ability to reach the front door offers you extra satisfaction and security because you understand they can’t get away.
Baby gates also help to prevent your pup from accessing areas while they remain learning boundaries. You ought not use them though and need to teach your pup house guidelines and restrictions still. EG: not going in your kitchen while someone is baking.
In the event that you aren’t dog crate training your pet, you may use an infant gate in an area they go into during the night or when they have to be kept out just how.
TOYS
All young puppies need toys to experiment with with to prevent boredom, aid training and encourage learning. Get the pup an assortment of playthings with different uses, forms, and textures in order that they are interesting and varied to provide your fur-baby with tons of enrichment and stimulation.
Chew gadgets are im-paw-tent for pups because they explore the world with their mouths and chew up to enhance their jaw muscles also to soothe themselves while teething. Having a great deal of chews should stop your pup from sinking their pearly whites into anything they shouldn’t, like the furniture or your feet.
Avoid toys that are breakable or small because they can be a choking associated risk. Toys should be much longer than the space of your dog’s muzzle and should never splinter. They should be tough, however, not so strong they risk destroying your puppy’s tooth. To check if the toy is merely right, you should be able to hit it against your leg without triggering pain.
BOWLS
Your puppy needs one bowl for water and one for food. They must be heavy enough that they can’t be knocked over, and also have a non-slip bottom level so they don’t slip around. If you’ve acquired a large breed, you should purchase lifted bowls or a stand too.
PUPPY FOOD
You might be given a bag of food when you have your puppy, which you can use to slowly but surely transition them onto the dietary plan you intend to feed them. Otherwise, remember to check the type of food your pup eats which means you can purchase some.
Any changes to your puppies diet must be gradual to prevent upsetting their stomach. You can examine out our move tips here.
Snacks & POUCH
A delicacy pouch means you can take treats on the run and always have them ready to incentive good behaviour or to distract your pup if they get right up to mischief.
As for goodies, you can buy healthy dog snacks or use dog-safe food slice into tiny bits. Varying treats and making sure your pup works on their behalf means that they have to retain their high value, which means that your puppy will be happy to co-operate to get their paws using one!
POO BAGS
Anything you may use to get poop and tie it shut is okay, whether it is poo handbags, nappy handbags, or anything similar. Just make sure they’re strong enough that they won’t tear because a poop tote splitting open up is the last thing you want!
GROOMING TOOLS
You’ll need to get your grooming tools early so as to introduce those to your puppy during their socialisation period. This makes grooming less tense for you as well as your pooch for the others of these lives.
You’ll need:
A short-toothed brush for brief fur
A de-shedding brush
A comb for long fur
A toothbrush (and doggy toothpaste!)
Nail clippers
Doggy shampoo
Towels
Remember pet dogs and pups don’t need frequent bathing. Your puppy should only be bathed if indeed they have gotten soiled and smelly (Like if they’ve rolled in poo) often just bathe them every couple of months.
MEDICAL
You need to be sure your pup is registered with a local vet. You'll also need:
Contact details for your emergency 24-hour vet
Worming medication
Pet insurance
Any other medication your puppy needs
