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It’s difficult not to get excited when you’re bringing a new puppy home, but don’t get so carried away that you forget to ask the important question: “What do I need for my puppy?”
There are a number of essentials that a puppy needs when it arrives in a new home. These items will help your puppy settle, help you address its health needs, and contribute to its socialisation and training at a crucial time in its life. To help you prepare, we’ve put together a new puppy shopping list that you can take to your local pet store, super-market, or online retailer to make the process that little bit easier.
Use our list to tick off everything you need before you welcome your new pup - but if you’re bringing home an older dog, don’t stop reading! We've focused on puppies here, but you’ll need most of these items for a dog of any age - so feel free to share the list with anyone you know who is getting a dog for the first time.
And when you've completed your shopping list for puppy essentials, why not run through our new puppy home checklist to make sure you've prepared your home (and family) for when your new best friend arrives?
1. Dog bed
Your puppy will need a place to sleep, relax, or simply hide away when there’s a little too much activity. A comfy dog bed will be ideal for getting them settled in: make sure you find one that has enough room for your puppy to stretch out and grow into. When your puppy gets a little older, you might need to replace the bed with a dog mattress, or a nest-style bed.
You might also consider getting a crate for your puppy. Crates serve the same purpose as dog beds, in the sense that they can be safe havens and sleeping places, but they can also be used for training purposes, and even transport. Crates are a way to get your puppy used to being alone at night, following a toilet routine, and preventing unfortunate chewing incidents when you can’t be there to supervise. You should also put a bed or blanket in your crate to provide comfort for your pup, along with water, food, and toys.
2. Puppy food
Dogs will eat a wide range of food, but that doesn’t mean you should let them eat just anything!
Protein should make up the majority of your puppy's diet, and they need to get it from quality puppy food. You can feed puppies dry food or wet food: some puppies find wet food easier to chew and swallow but it may be messier and more difficult to store long term. Dry food can have less protein but is often better for puppy teeth and easier to store. There are plenty of different brands to choose from, so find one that suits your puppy and your budget.
Some brands, like Pooch & Mutt, offer high-quality dry food without grains, which your pup will probably love. We'd recommend Puppy Complete Dry Superfood as it's antioxidant-rich and junk-free. Another great option is Edgard & Cooper, known for their nutritious and sustainably sourced pet food. Their range of pet food is crafted to ensure a balanced diet that supports your puppy's growth and health.
If your puppy is a rescue, you’ll need to check forallergies that might restrict the type of food it can eat - and that might mean you need to switch to an alternative pet diet. If you’re uncertain about what type of food you should give your puppy, it’s best to speak with a vet about the appropriate diet.
You’ll want to spoil your puppy every now and again so dog treats are also essential. Treats are used as part of reward-based training, and can be a helpful supplement to your growing puppy’s diet.
3. Food and water bowls
You’ll need something to hold your puppy’s food and drink! Plates aren’t really suitable for dogs because they typically push their food around, and normal household bowls or crockery might not be robust enough to stand up to your pup’s enthusiasm!
Puppy owners should get two dog bowls: one for food and one for water. For food bowls, look for non-slip designs for maximum stability that can stand up to puppies pushing their food around. Look for a water bowl that’s deep enough to ensure your puppy always has fresh water available.
4. Collar, tag and lead
Your puppy’s first collar and tag should be soft and puppy-sized. It’s actually a legal requirement in the UK that dogs wear a collar or tag that displays the name and address of their owner. If they don’t wear a collar and ID, they might be treated as a stray and picked up by the authorities.
Many owners opt for a harness when they walk their puppy. Harnesses are designed to pull evenly across a dog’s chest, rather than tugging on its neck, and they can be made with reflective straps to provide higher visibility and security.
You’ll also need to get a lead for walking and training your puppy. Make sure the lead is long enough that your puppy can have some freedom without getting too far away. Allow your puppy time to get used to any collar, harness, or lead you buy.
5. Transport
You’re going to need to transport your puppy in its first few weeks and months - not only to bring them home for the first time, but to take them to the vet for vaccinations and other routine medical procedures. To do this you’ll need a travel carrier, which you can purchase in a variety of sizes and styles to suit your dog.
What about longer trips? If you need to take your puppy on a drive, you’ll need a way of keeping it secure in your car. Fortunately, you can get a car harness for exactly this task: the harness will keep your puppy comfortable in the vehicle, stop it moving around (and bothering you!), and keep it safe if you have to break or swerve suddenly.
Like travel carriers, car harnesses or restraints come in a variety of sizes and styles to suit your puppy. Typically, harnesses fit around your puppy’s body and secure to the car seat or seat belt to prevent movement.
6. Puppy pads and poo bags
Toilet training is a big part of a puppy’s development. Puppy pads (sometimes called pee or potty pads) can help teach your puppy where it's appropriate to go to the bathroom before you start training it to go outside. Pads are quick-drying and help absorb any leaks and smells.
When you’re outdoors you’ll need to clean up after your pup. With that in mind, poo bags are essential for dog walks and allow you to safely and hygienically clean-up your puppy’s waste. You can get handy poo bag dispensers that attach to your dog's lead so you never forget them when you leave the house.
7. Brushes and combs
Puppies will inevitably get dirty on their adventures, which means you’ll need to clean them! With that in mind, you should get your puppy used to water, and being washed, and then gradually introduce grooming in short sessions.
You’ll need to find a puppy-friendly shampoo and the right brush for your puppy. Different dog breeds will need different types of brush to suit their coats. For example, a short-haired puppy may need a rubber toothed brush or a short bristle brush. Breeds with medium to long coats might also need a gentle de-tangling every day to keep them knot-free.
8. Toothpaste and brush
Once your puppy loses its baby teeth, you’ll need to start cleaning its adult teeth regularly. For good puppy dental dental care you’ll need to get a soft-bristled dog toothbrush, and dog toothpaste. It’s important you use special dog toothpaste because human varieties can be toxic to dogs.
Certain special dental toys and dental chew treats can also help you maintain your puppy’s dental health. Find out more about how to brush your dog's teeth or talk to your vet for more dental health advice.
9. Chews and toys
Your puppy is going to be excited and adventurous when it arrives at your home, so you’re going to need a range of interesting toys for it to play with.
Toys obviously appeal to your puppy’s sense of fun and adventure, but they’ll also help distract and prevent it from chewing on other things - like your shoes or the sofa. Look for toys that are suitable for your puppy’s size and personality. For example, certain types of chews are made from rubber with a special teething formula that makes them softer for young, brittle teeth, while others can be stuffed with tempting treats that keeps your puppy stimulated as it roots them out!
You don’t need to break the bank on puppy toys. Sometimes a simple tennis ball, or even a stick will be enough to keep your puppy happy indoors and outdoors!
10. Puppy insurance
It’s normal for puppies to suffer a few bumps and scrapes as they grow up but if your puppy picks up an injury you may have to take it to the vet for treatment. Unexpected and emergency vet visits can be expensive and, even if you’re lucky enough not to have to deal with an injury, your puppy could develop an illness that requires treatment, or need a dental procedure.
Don’t let your puppy’s welfare needs take you by surprise. You can take out a puppy insurance policy ahead of time to help pay for any unexpected vet bills that result from any mischief they might get themselves into.
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