What to Buy for a New Puppy
Welcoming a new puppy into your home is an exciting experience. Before your puppy comes home, you should prepare your home and buy some essentials that will make the transition easier. Puppies can be a lot of hard work that can test your patience and commitment; these things will make it easier for your new puppy and your household.
A suitable-sized bed
Your puppy will often sleep when they’re young, so they’ll need a bed where they can relax and get comfortable. It's also important for them to have their own space where they can take time out from the busy household environment. Make sure you consider the size of your puppy and how quickly it will grow when buying a bed. Get something that's not too large or too small; choose a warm, comfortable and suitable material for puppies. You might want to get a few beds if your puppy will be spending time in different rooms of your home. This will stop you from needing to move the bed around at different times of the day.
A crate
If you plan on crate training your puppy, you’ll need to buy a suitable size crate. Some people are opposed to crate training, but when used properly, it can be safer for the puppy, especially if they are very mischievous. A crate can provide your puppy with a space that’s theirs and an area where they can relax and sleep. In addition, if you have a very open plan house, it can be hard to confine your puppy to a single room to keep them safe when you need to pop out or can’t watch them, for example, during the night when you’re asleep. A crate can be used as a safe place for your puppy in these situations. Crates should never be used as a form of punishment, and puppies shouldn’t be left in them for more than a few hours at a time.
Food and water bowls
You’ll need some food and water bowls suitable for your puppy's size. Puppy-specific bowls are the best choice; you can switch to larger adult dog bowls when your puppy grows out of the smaller ones. Don’t choose large dog bowls, as your puppy could get into trouble and drown if the bowls are too large.
Dog training tools
If you plan on training your puppy to a dog clicker or dog whistle, it's best to start early and get them used to these sounds. Even very young dogs can learn simple commands when they’re taught in short bursts. Look up some simple whistle commands for dogs or clicker commands and start slowly. Don’t expect your puppy to sit or lie down straight away, but practice and consistency from a young age will pay off and speed up the training process.
Puppy toys
Your puppy will want to play and chew to keep them occupied. Make sure you purchase a range of toys suitable for puppies. Encourage your puppy to play and chew their toys rather than your belongings. This will help to keep your shoes, sofa and other items safe from your puppies' sharp teeth.
Walking equipment
Your puppy won’t be able to go out for a walk straight away, but you should get them used to a lead and a harness or collar at an early age in your home. Make sure the collar or harness is suitable for their size and that you have an ID tag with the required information. You’ll also need dog poop bags for when you take your puppy out on walks.
Puppy food
Your puppy will need to eat regularly to help them grow and become strong. Good quality puppy food is recommended for every puppy. Find out what they were being fed before so you can provide this at the start. Once they settle in, you can slowly transition them over to the food of your choice. Wherever possible, choose a high-quality diet for your puppy, as this will help with behaviour and overall development. Poor quality food can lead to health problems and behaviour issues in dogs. Do your research before switching your puppy to another type of food.