14/08/2021
HI Families, It may have been a long time for some of you, that have not had a puppy in the home, here is a starter list of supplies you may need or find helpful. I did tell you there will be a lot of information offered to help you to prepare over the next five weeks and of course I am available at any time to speak with you to help you get everything all set for your new arrival. Besides petco, pet smart, tractor supply and chewy.com surf the internet for pet supplies and deals. Wallmart and Amazon offer some good deals sometimes
ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES
These supplies are the bare bones puppy supplies. It would be smart to purchase every item in this section so that you have everything to make your puppy feel safe, keep them well-fed and give them plenty of exercise.
ID TAGS
The ID tag you buy will go on your pet’s collar. This is very important so that if your pup happens to get lost, the person who finds them will know how to get them home safely to you. Information to put on your tag should include your name, phone number and address.
COLLAR AND/OR HARNESS
Get your puppy a collar or harness so that you can take them on walks, hold on to them if you need to and have a place to hang their tag. We recommend a breakaway collar (one that automatically snaps off if enough pressure is applied) to prevent any sort of accidental choking.
A martingale collar can be used for leash training once the puppy gets a bit older, but we wouldn’t recommend getting a choke collar or any other device that harms your pup for training purposes.
LEASH
The best leash to get your puppy is a fixed-length, “straight” leash. They come in a variety of fabrics, widths and lengths and most feature a loop at the end for you to grip. When choosing a leash consider the size of your dog so that you can choose the weight of your leash (thicker for larger dogs, thinner for smaller).
FOOD BOWL
There are many types of food bowls that offer different features. Some are plastic, others are metal. There are even more that are elevated or automatic — consider your dog’s size and your budget to choose. You will also want to consider safety, style, durability and ease of cleaning.
WATER BOWL
Just like with a food bowl, you’ll want to think about which water bowl will be best for your specific situation. If your dog tends to be clumsy, a plastic bowl will work better than ceramic. If your dog likes to chew, a metal one might be better than plastic. Sometimes you can find matching food and water bowls to purchase together!
HEALTHY + AGE APPROPRIATE DOG FOOD
Dogs aren’t strict carnivores — meat makes up the majority of their diet, but they also benefit from the addition of grains, fruits and vegetables in their dog food. To ensure they’re getting all the vitamins and minerals that they need, choose a food that contains all three.
The best dog foods contain high-quality meats, vegetables, grains and fruits. Meat should be the primary ingredient. Since your puppy’s nutritional needs are different during the first year of their life, choose a puppy formula or one that is designated “for all life stages.”
DOG FOOD STORAGE
Dry dog food can become stale if it’s stored only in the original bag. To ensure your pup’s food is always tasty, invest in a dog food storage container. Airtight is best to make sure their food stays fresh.
WASTE BAGS AND HOLDER
No matter where you live you will need dog doo-doo bags and something to hold them in. You can purchase very compact dog waste holders that attach to your leash or dog bag. If you have a yard, invest in a pooper-scooper to help you more easily clean up after your dog.
DOG BED
A dog bed is a must to make sure your pup feels safe and comfortable in their new home. They sell a variety of dog beds at many different price points, although we would recommend getting one on the lower end of the spectrum at first.
At first, your pup may not know that they are not allowed to soil their beds, so be sure to get one that is washable. Be prepared for the possibility that they may rip their bed up as well.
PUPPY COMFORT AND CONFINEMENT
It’s important to make sure your puppy is secure and comfortable in your home. In order to do this, you may need to keep them confined to areas that are safe. While in confinement (and outside of it) it can be helpful to have comforting, soft things for your pup to snuggle with.
PUPPY CRATE
Many pet parents will choose to “crate” or kennel their puppy at night and when they are gone. Crate training can help with potty training and give your pet a safe place to retreat to when they get ready for bed.
Kenneling can also help mitigate chewing and destruction of your possessions while you are gone. Be sure you introduce your pup to their crate the right way, though, or your puppy may become scared or anxious when crated. Never, ever use the crate as punishment or leave your puppy in the crate for more than a few hours.
PLAYPEN, BABY GATE OR FENCING SYSTEM
You may have areas of the home that you don’t want your puppy going, for instance, your office that is full of wires or your human child’s room. You can buy a baby gate, fencing system or even a doggy playpen to keep your puppy confined.
BLANKETS
The best way to make sure your pup feels safe in their crate or anywhere is to have a few blankets that are theirs. You may choose to put this blanket in their kennel, on their bed or any place they like to snuggle up.
STUFFED DOG TOYS
Many puppies like having a stuffed animal “companion.” It’s something soft that they can carry around with them or cuddle with. When choosing a stuffed animal, make sure there are no small parts that can be chewed off and swallowed or choked on (like beaded eyes or decorative elements).
EXTRA DOG BED
It can be helpful to have another dog bed on hand either for multiple rooms or in case your puppy has an accident on one. They should always have a soft place to lie down and an extra bed will assure they always do.
PUPPY TOYS, TRAINING AND TRAVEL
There are all sorts of things you can get your puppy to make sure they’re always entertained. When it comes to training, sometimes these items can overlap. Here are some things you should get your pup that are fun, educational and that will help them get to know the world around them.
TRAINING TREATS
Get your puppy some low-calorie training treats so that you can reward them when they have done something right. These are great for potty training, leash training and tricks! You’ll be using these quite a bit the first few months which is why it’s important that the treats are healthy and low-calorie if possible.
CHEW TOYS
If puppies like to do one thing, it’s chew. Especially when they are teething, it’s important to have something in the house that they are allowed to chew on. If you don’t, you may find that they have designated their own chew toy out of one of your possessions!
The best chew toys are quality, durable and safe. You will need to assess your dog’s tendencies (do they destroy their toys, inhale or nibble on them) to determine the best chew toy for them.
PUZZLE TOYS/BRAIN GAMES
Puppies need to be kept busy when they are not sleeping, so having an interesting puzzle or brain training game around can be helpful. If your dog spends several hours alone, interactive toys are good for them (as long as the toys don’t require supervision). These toys can also help develop your pup’s brain and keep dogs that “need a job” occupied.
CHASE TOYS
For the pup with a lot of extra energy, chase toys can be incredibly helpful. While they won’t take the place of a daily walk, these toys can be thrown, rolled or moved about so that your dog can expend some energy chasing them.
NO-CHEW SPRAY
Even the most well-entertained dogs may chew on the house. This spray, which usually contains something safe but poor-tasting like tea tree oil or lemon, can be sprayed on any cabinets or furniture to deter chewing.
FROZEN TOYS
While your puppy is teething it can be helpful to have a frozen chew toy around for them to use. Most pet stores sell toys that are meant to be frozen, but you can also freeze a rubber Kong toy or DIY a toy using a towel.
PUPPY GROOMING
Even if you have a groomer that you frequent, you will want to purchase some puppy grooming materials for in-between visits. Most of these are optional, depending on how hands-on you want to be.
BRUSH (SOFT BRISTLE OR METAL COMB)
Most pets will require a weekly brush to make sure their coats stay soft and healthy. If you have a long-haired dog you may need to brush them out more often than that. A soft bristle or metal comb brush will work.
DESHEDDER BRUSH
If you have a dog that sheds quite a bit you might want to consider getting a deshedder brush. These are brushes that you can use to eliminate some of the dog’s hair which may not be removed with regular brushing or combing.
GROOMING WIPES
Pet stores sell special grooming wipes for dogs that you can use in between baths to keep them fresh and clean. These are also particularly helpful for dogs who have eye discharge, as you will want to remove them daily with these wipes. If you ignore eye discharge it can cause tear staining
TOOTHPASTE AND TOOTHBRUSH
Dogs need their teeth brushed just like humans. To prevent dental disease, it’s recommended to brush your dog’s teeth at home as often as you can — one to three times a week is best. It’s important to get your dog trained on tooth brushing early so that you can continue to do it throughout their life without any issue.
DOG SHAMPOO
If you want to give your pup a bath in-between visits to the groomer (or if you want to manage the grooming yourself) you will need a dog-specific shampoo. These shampoos are tear-free and formulated especially for your dog’s coat. If their skin is irritated, try an oatmeal shampoo!
NAIL CLIPPERS
Clipping your dog’s nails at home can be risky if you don’t know what you’re doing. However, many dog parents learn how to do so successfully. If you plan on learning how, get yourself a pair of dog nail clippers. Some have safeguards to ensure you don’t cut into their quick.
POTTY TRAINING SUPPLIES + CLEANERS
Teaching your dog to relieve themselves outdoors is a large part of puppy training. It can be frustrating, at times, and there are bound to be accidents. Luckily, there are all sorts of products to help ease the process along.
PUPPY PADS
These are pads you can place on your floor and train your pup to p*e on them if they can’t make it outside (or if they need to go during the night). They make cleanup a lot easier and are a great tool to have on hand when potty training.
ENZYME SPRAY
If your dog does happen to have an accident on the floor, spray it with enzyme spray. This special spray helps break down the natural starches, oils, fats and other proteins so that clean up is a breeze. It also helps with odor control
VACUUM AND CARPET CLEANER
If you have a pup, you will likely need a vacuum. Most dogs shed which can lead to unwanted piles of hair lying around the house.
While your pet is potty training you will also need a carpet cleaner just in case an accident happens on the carpet. It’s helpful to have this on hand after puppyhood as well in case they track mud or anything else onto the carpet.
DEODORIZING SPRAY
Puppies are cute, but they can also be smelly. Keep a deodorizing spray on hand to spray any pillows, blankets, couches or carpets that inevitably pick up their scent. This can be handy to spray around the house, but avoid spraying your pup directly.
