Congratulations! You’ve picked out a puppy and are ready to bring him home but you aren’t sure of exactly what you need. It is easy to walk into a pet store, become overwhelmed by all of the choices and leave missing items that you must have. Pet stores would like to make you think that you need a never ending list of supplies, but really what your pet actually needs isn’t that complicated.
Must haves for Fido:
- Food: Your new best friend won’t like you very much if you walk out of the store without this supply! Find out what your puppy has been eating before she comes home. If you do not want to continue this food, buy a small amount and slowly transition over to the new food to avoid stomach upset. Look for a high quality, puppy formula that is made with real meat and whole grains. Good food is expensive, so search the web for dog food coupons to help reduce the cost.
- Bowls: Every pet needs its own food and water dish. If your pet will be spending time outside, in a fenced yard you should also pick up a water bowl for outdoors. Heavy bowls with nonskid bottoms work best to prevent Fluffy from pushing her dish all around your kitchen. If you have a large breed of dog, consider dishes that sit in elevated trays.
- Collar: Your dog may not enjoy it, but he absolutely needs a collar. A quality nylon collar should fit snuggly but allow you to place two fingers underneath it. Measure your pet’s neck and add two inches to leave room for growth. You should not be able to slip the collar over the head. Remember your pet will be growing quickly, so check the collar weekly and adjust or replace as needed. Never use training collars such as choke chains or prong collars for constant wear. Doing so could result in injury to your new pet.
- Leash: Invest in a durable 6 foot leash made of nylon or leather.
- Tag: We’d all like to think that our pet will never run away from us but it happens. Attach a tag with current contact information directly to the dog’s collar.
- Dog Crate: Your new puppy will need a place her own space. Crate training is a proven potty training method. The crate also provides your pet with a comfortable space to sleep in and keeps her out of trouble if you are not around. You could purchase bedding for the crate but I caution you to keep in mind that puppies chew. I lined my dog’s crate with old blankets and towels and she destroyed every single one.
- Puppy Pads (optional): These pads encourage your pet to toilet on them, similar to newspaper training.
- Toys: If you like your shoes and furniture, have a good supply of chew toys available for your pet. Kong and Nylabone products are durable pet toys that will keep your dog out of trouble.
- Grooming supplies: Pick up a grooming brush that is appropriate for your dog’s coat because all dogs need daily brushing. You may need to pick up nail trimmers, combs and hair clippers if you plan to do your own grooming.
- Flea control: To avoid infestation and skin problems associated with dog allergies to fleas, talk with your vet about starting preventative flea control.
- Treats: Use treats as a reward system for good behavior and training. Too many treats can cause stomach irritation and cause your pet to become overweight. Talk with a trainer or read about training methods such as clicker training to replace treats as rewards.
Getting a new puppy is a fun and exciting experience, especially when you have all the right tools!
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