What do I need to buy for a new puppy?
New Puppy Checklist
You might be asking yourself what you need to buy for your new puppy. It is an exciting time getting a new puppy home. Additionally, it might be overwhelming deciding on what to get for your new member of the family.
The arrival of a puppy is a joyous occasion, not only for the family but also for friends and relatives and requires a committed and dedicated owner. Alongside this, a puppy highly depends on their owners for their food, cleanliness, care, love, and protection.
There is no shortage of advice for new puppy owners on what to buy, how much to buy, or when to buy it. While there are a few absolute necessities below, many items for the puppy can be bought later as the puppy adjusts to your home.
Toys
With numerous games, your puppy will be able to play and exercise as required. For more bonding session you can play fetch at the park or in your backyard. Most dog breeds are chewers and toys can be used when they are undergoing teething to avoid destroying your furniture and carpet.
When it comes to the best toys for puppies, we have a variety of best indestructible toys that you can buy for your puppy. Not only will the toys keep your puppy physically and mentally stimulated for long periods of time but also good for soothing their sore gums when teething.
They are different types of toys from Frisbees, chewing ropes, balls, interactive toys, squeaker toys. Nonetheless, you need to know your puppy preference to get the best.
Collars and leash
It’s important that your pet wears a collar as accidents can happen when not expected. Nevertheless, a collar should be both comfortable and effective. It is also good for your puppy as you can attach the identification tag there for easy identification.
Without a collar and an Id tag, your puppy can get lost and a stranger may not be able to bring her home safely. Get a collar that suits your puppy, check on the material used to avoid injuring or bruising her neck, and ensure the collar fits well and not too tight for comfort.
You can also get a personalized collar which indicates your puppy’s name, your address, phone number and other details that can help other people to get her back to you fast in case she runs away or gets lost.
The collar can be used with a leash for controlling your puppy outdoor and restricting movement. Someplace you go with your dog may require them to be on a leash.
Leash training is essential and will be beneficial if you train your puppy early. You can start potty training and basic commands. These pieces of training give your puppy great manners and make her obedient to commands.
Dog bed
To start with your puppy bed should be a cozy resting place that meets her physical as well as psychological needs.
A good bed gives your puppy a quiet place to play with her toys, relax, rest and sleep. To spare your furniture and bed from fur and dirt get a separate bed for your puppy to call their own.
They are very many beds to choose from in the pet store but get a comfortable warm bed for your puppy first. It will be fun if your puppy can feel at ease and safe in her bed and will long to return there when she needs rest. If the puppy doesn’t love her bed she will crawl back to yours.
Choose a suitable location in the house that your puppy loves to sleep to determine where you place it.
As much as dogs sleep on floors it is bad for their health, especially during winter. Cold floors can lead to health issues and freezing.
Puppies love to curl up in their comfy bed hence as a dog owner get an appropriate puppy bed.
Puppies usually sleep 18 hours a day and they need their own private space (bed) where they can be safe and comfortable.
Train your puppy to be able to sleep in her bed remember a bed plays an important role in her health and happiness.
Food and treats
Puppies grow fast and you want the best food for him. You want food that will not only give him proper nutrition but also build strong bones and teeth, develop muscle. Additionally, food that gives him enough energy for daily activities.
They are a variety of puppy food in the pet store. Get the food that your puppy was given at the breeder for an easy transition to your home. Do not change food immediately as it might affect your puppy’s’ stomach negatively.
By six weeks most puppies start being weaned. This can be a good time to start on solid food. For treats, you might need to make them moisture. Treats can also be used in training and supplementing your puppy’s food. In training, you can use the treat to reward your puppy when he obeys commands and good behaviour. Giving treats is an effective training technique.
Treats are healthy, easy to carry and convenient especially during outdoor activities and can make training fun for you and your puppy.
Water and food bowls
Food and water bowls are essential items for your puppy. When choosing a bowl, material matters. Typically, you can choose from ceramic, plastic, or stainless steel bowls. Plastic bowls are durable and long-lasting but can be harmful if your puppy is a chewer.
Stainless steel is highly recommended by the vet as they are long-lasting and easy to clean and sensitize. Get one with a bottom rubber rim to prevent sliding as your puppy feeds.
Bowls are great as you are able to give small meals. A puppy that gulps food quickly can choke and using a bowl, ration the food given to small quantities.
A water bowl helps in keeping your puppy hydrated with enough water after meals. If you work away from home you can use automatic feeders for both food and water to feed your puppy.
Clean the food and water bowl after every meal to keep your puppy healthy.
Crate
A crate is great for house training your puppy. A crate when used properly can be a helpful training tool. It will come in handy when toilet training.
Veterinarians and Professional trainers have long accepted crate training as one of the quickest and least stressful ways to mold desirable behaviors in dogs.
Additionally, crates can be used to transport the puppy on a road trip or to the vet. Crates keep the puppy in a specific place ensuring to keep your furniture safe from destruction when not at home.
To avoid separation anxiety do not keep your puppy in the crate for so long. Release her at once when you get home to go relieve herself and enjoy the outdoor scenery.
Do not keep your puppy in a big crate as he will sleep in one corner and relieve himself on another corner causing problems when toilet training.
A big crate will help you save on buying a bigger crate later but you need to subdivide it and increase it as the puppy grows.
Identification tag
It is important to place identification on your puppy. Most dog owners would agree that having identification on your dog is important. As others may prefer microchipping or a tracker an Id tag might be an alternative for new puppy owners. Tags are being used to give information on your puppy health, vaccinations, and most importantly safety.
Having your phone number on your dog’s ID tag is the best way for animal control, a neighbor, or a passerby to return your puppy to you if they should run away or get lost.
If this information is not in your puppy chances are she will end up in a shelter.
Some owners go further to microchip their puppy in case the collar gets lost as the puppy is registered and will be easy to trace it and return to her owner.
Grooming kit
Grooming when done regularly will allow you to keep an eye on your puppy’s overall health and condition. Moreover, it can bring to your attention any signs of minor scabs, scurf or parasites in her coat.
Get your puppy grooming equipment that introduces her to pampering sessions and cleanliness. Spending time with your puppy during grooming improves your bonding sessions. You want your puppy to get used to grooming and the best way is to get equipment that your puppy is comfortable with.
Buy a slicker brush, a toothbrush, and toothpaste (formulated for dogs), nail clippers, flea comb. Brush your puppy to remove the matt in the fur.
You do not need to bathe your puppy daily but when necessary, when dirty, smelly or is muddy. If the puppy is less than 8 weeks you can wipe with a warm cloth instead of bathing her. Let him play with his favourite toy as he bathes. Your puppy is more likely to cooperate at bath time if he’s having fun. Be extra careful when washing near the ears and eyes to avoid getting water into them.
Finding a good puppy shampoo with a calming scent and soothing feel can help teach puppies that baths can be enjoyable. Get a shampoo that is not irritating to the skin or causes dryness due to harsh chemical ingredients.
To avoid damaging your puppy delicate coat you can opt for naturally made shampoo, and rinse thoroughly before drying with a good towel.
Final Thoughts
Welcoming a new puppy into the family is an incredibly exciting event. It is the beginning of a beautiful friendship for many years to come and memorable moments with the family. Despite it being a big responsibility it is a desire for many pet families to home a puppy.
