Puppy Supplies - The Basics You Need to Buy
Posted by Clare Bristow
I still get embarrassed when I think back to how much stuff I bought for Zoe before I picked her up from the breeder.
It's so easy to get carried away in the pet store, but in reality you need very little - all our family dogs survived perfectly well on not very much!
Here is my list of what a new puppy needs:
A Bed - dogs do like the security of their own bed - somewhere they can go to and know they won't be disturbed.
The choice of beds is overwhelming but I'd start with a nesting style dog bed, similar to the one below.
What I like about these shaped beds is that they are really snuggly and make your puppy feel secure when he's in it.
Most beds you can put in the washing machine on a cold wash without any trouble - Zoe had a polyfil plush leopard print bed that was successfully washed and tumble dried on a weekly basis for over two years.
Crate - buy one of these if you are going to [tag]crate train your puppy[/tag] and/or will be travelling a great deal and need to get puppy dog used to one.
If you are crate training then you may decide not to buy a bed - it's less confusing for your puppy if he has just one place to go to when he needs some quiet time.
The crate needs to be large enough so that your puppy can stand up, turn around, sit and lie down in it comfortably.
Collar and leash - your puppy will grow quickly during his first few months so be prepared to buy a new collar at regular intervals.
A nylon collar is a good choice because it is both durable and easy to clean, and either a buckle or snap fastening is a good choice.
Zoe had a couple of leather collars which really were a waste of money because they were forever getting wet - not only did the collar stretch but when it dried the leather was quite hard and as a result the collar was probably very uncomfortable for her to wear.
A six foot nylon or leather leash is ideal - you can easily control your puppy when training and walking with this length leash.
Nametag - this is absolutely essential and I'd choose a plastic or metal one that can be engraved with your puppy's name and your telephone number on it.
Even if you haven't decided upon a name for your puppy, ensure your contact details are on the tag just in case he strays.
Food and Water Bowls - I've found that the best bowls are the stainless steel ones with rubber bottoms. The advantage of these bowls is that they don't slide around the floor and are easy to keep clean.
Plastic bowls have a tendancy to be chewed - not to mention picked up and run away with only to be found half buried in the garden!
Ceramic bowls are also a good choice, but be prepared to replace them if they get cracks and chips in them.
Toys - to start with a good chew toy, such as a [tag]Kong[/tag], and a plush toy for him to snuggle up to are all you need in the first couple of weeks.
You find that you are overwhelmed with toys when you have a new puppy as people usually bring them as gifts.
I've learned the expensive way that a puppy doesn't appreciate fancy collars and bowls - I'm not knocking indulging your puppy, but the above basic items are really all you need to start with.
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Keywords: crate train your puppy, dog bed, dog bowls, dog crate, Getting Ready for Your New Puppy, Kong, puppy supplies, what new puppy needs
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Helpful blog, right on. We invested more in our first year with Sir Jack than we had expected. The puppy fee is just the beginning… At first we considered an outside kennel for convenience. We decided on a fence and we are thankful we did it. Housebreaking was easy on the carpets since we used a gate between rooms; combined with a crate in the kitchen.
Honestly, toys were a weakness. $200+ easily on toys, most of which were destroyed. Our advice, seek out dog toy testimonials. Shopping online also prevents impulse purchases. We found the blue Orka brand bouncy ball to be a favorite for play, wish we would've purchased it sooner!
Budget for vet visits. We chose preventive flea/tick meds as well as heartworm prevention, again online can be a time-saver & cheaper. We neutered and had do-claws removed. Unfortunately, do-claws were attached to bone for an expensive surgery day. Pet insurance is tempting isn't it?!
Raising a puppy is a lot like raising a child isn't it? We learn as we make mistakes…seek training advice…you won't be sorry.
. . . and you haven't even got to the "I need a bigger car for the dog" and "we should move to the country, I'd really love the dogs to have a bigger garden to run around in" stage yet!
I think the true cost of owning a dog is much higher than we would care to admit - but I wouldn't have it any other way either.
Thanks for your comment!
Eric
Geat post. I added you to my blog roll!
hi
nice blog u have on pet supplies
Great post and a helpful insight. One thing I'd add to it is pet insurance.. Sure it's a big cost when you've just brought home a puppy, but it's so worth it should anything ever go wrong!