Things to consider first
Bringing a new puppy into your home is very exciting time, you’re bringing home you’re newest companion and family member. It’s great to be excited but let’s not forget that “R” word, responsibility. This little one is depending on you to feed them, bathe them, exercise them, and to love them and in return they’ll love you unconditionally. If you can barely take care of yourself at this point, maybe it’s better to wait before adopting a puppy. Plain and simple, another life is in your hands.
Things you’ll need:
Crate(kennel) – The first time I bought a puppy home, I didn’t even know what a crate was. Why would I want to put my puppy into a wooden box? With a little research I learned that they’re kennels or carriers. They act as their room and little get away in your home. I didn’t know the difference between an expensive crate and a not so expensive crate. In my personal opinion, there is none. The $60 crate I bought my first puppy was no different than the $25 crate I bought my second puppy, they both did their designed purposes. Pick one just right to the size of the dog. Too big and they might poo or pee on one side and sleep on the other, too small and they won’t be comfortable. There’s a trick though if your puppy is going to grow up to be a big dog buy a crate for the full size dog but stuff it with pillows to make the liveable space smaller.
Food and water bowls – This is pretty self explanatory. Dog’s need fresh water everyday, even a few times a day. You wouldn’t want to drink water that’s been sitting there letting who knows what get into it would you? Neither does your dog. Buy bowls that are a good size for your dog. Don’t buy the largest bowl if you have a tiny dog and vice versa. Something dish washer safe is convenient.
Leash and harness – You have to take your dog for multiple walks a day and these will ensure your dog doesn’t run away. When buying a leash for the first time I suggest buying a fixed length one. You have to teach them how to walk with a leash and they’ll understand better if they are allowed a fixed distance each time. The harness is what the leash connects to, it’s different from a collar. It puts the stress onto their chest area which is probably a lot more comfortable than around their neck.
Brush and shampoo – Bathing and general cleanliness of your new puppy is important for health reasons. Don’t use human shampoo on a dog’s coat because they have a different PH balance, if you don’t know what that means, just follow my advice and buy dog shampoo. Dogs shouldn’t be bathed everyday like humans, usually twice or once a month is enough. Brushing is very important and should be done everyday a few times a day if they have longer hair. The first brush I bought was a pin brush for dogs, what a waste of money. Most important piece of advice on picking a brush, the brush should massage the skin and promote healthy oils, not scratch them to no end and irritate the skin.
DOG toothbrush and DOG toothpaste – They have teeth too and like us, they can get gum disease. Brushing every night is important to the health of your new puppy and dog. First put a little bit of toothpaste on your finger and let them lick it off, then try to brush maybe just a little bit at a time till they get used to it. Trust me, they aren’t going to like it at first and need to get used to it.
Toys - Your puppy will be teething and will want to chew anything. To avoid ruining your nice expensive shoes or furniture invest in some dog toys. Decent ones will usually run you $5-$10. Try to get ones with different textures to help massage their gums as their teeth come in. Also buy more than one, they get bored easily.
Treats – Training your puppy will require praise and treats, more praise though. Buy good healthy treats from a good pet store, not the supermarket. Low quality treats have a lot of preservatives and other stuff you don’t want your puppy or dog to eat.
Food – This is a very broad subject because there’s so many different brands and types of dog food. There’s dry kibble, raw food, and wet food. Again, don’t buy grocery store dog food even if you saw a commercial for it. I’ve come to realize I don’t see a lot of advertising for the good food but lots for not good dog food. Dog’s can be allergic to certain ingredients too and switching food rapidly without getting them used to the new food leads to messy diarrhea. Research is your best tool here for picking up good dog food.
Sure it seems like a long list but many of these items aren’t very expensive and your puppy will be just that much better off. There’s more items you’ll eventually need but these are just the basic items you should have, or plan to get, before even considering bringing your new puppy home. Good luck and I wish both you and your new puppy well.
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